[He actually smiles then, a faint and wry thing. It's funny, that's all - it's a twist of fate that for once Ronan is being the practical, logical one and Adam is making promises he can't keep because he doesn't even want to consider anything else. But he knows Ronan is right. They can't promise to protect each other, not when it'll just end in more pain and a sense of failure. There will always be something new here.

Adam wishes that weren't the case. He wishes he were strong enough or powerful enough to protect them both - or at least to protect Ronan, who's been through so much already. Part of it is selfish, of course, when you get right down to it. Adam just doesn't think he can keep himself together if Ronan dies again.

So he'll do whatever he can to keep that from happening. But making a promise - well, they both know that if something happens, he won't be able to keep it. They've both had to accept that.]

You were protecting me then. You saved me.

[He pulls back from Ronan, just a little, so he can meet his eyes.]

I'll do what I have to do, I just - I don't want to hurt you like this again.

[But even saying that, he knows that he will if he has to. If it's a choice between Ronan's life or hurting him, Adam will always choose the option that helps him survive, even if it makes things between them fragile.]