[Silco would convince himself that he could and would be Jinx's safe space where she could open up and tell him anything. He liked to think that, but he knew there were limits to even his tolerance. Still, keep an open mind, he told himself. The boy had to had to have some redeeming qualities regardless of him never seeing them.

He did wrinkle his nose a little at the l-word, but he held his tongue. It wasn't for him to say he knew the depths of her emotional attachment, even if her previous history of attachments had plenty of people raising an eyebrow.]

Possessiveness is natural when so much has been taken from you. However, I would advise against grand bonfires or explosions to draw him out. [He sighed from his nose. He couldn't believe he was going to say this, but...] He'll come to you when he's ready, I expect. And if he doesn't come, then he wasn't true to you and never intended to be.

[He tightened his grip on her shoulders in an attempt to be comforting.]

Then you can burn everything so he comes out of hiding. [A silent insinuation of all that bad things that would come after that event followed, of course.]

[He actually sighed at her complaints and lack of patience, and he wanted to school her with a speech about how everything they ever wanted came because of a long history of patience. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, and it also likely wasn't true in this case either.

There had been a time a long, long time ago when he recalled such all consuming obsession. It was hot and uncomfortable, spreading from his chest to his brain like an infection and then sliding down limbs until it took over everything. He'd been young - still driven - but far more easily distracted. He'd desired and pined and waited impatiently. Back then, finding a partner wasn't difficult, but seemingly finding the right one was.

That was a long time ago, and good riddance to the emotions. Now it was far less complicated to buy one of the by-products of love by the hour.

Still, her teenage angst was something he could understand, even if the idea of her and that boy together made the back of his throat burn with acid. No, he wasn't going to throw up over her little obsessive love affair over someone not worth her time, energy or affections.]

He chases the demons away, I expect, which is more what you think you need. You forget that they are part of you, and they will never truly go away. You've simply replaced your many personal demons with a single one that has now left you behind.

[Silco had extreme reactions to betrayal, and even the idea this boy had betrayed his daughter's trust was enough for him to want that one dead. Or maybe, on a level he wouldn't admit, he didn't like the competition for her attention. He wouldn't be self reflective today to admit to it.]

If he hasn't answered you by the change of the year, we'll find you someone who can respect you. Letting this one have such a hold on you will eat you up, Jinx, and I never would want that for you.

[Silco has picked up the pieces of Jinx's life when Vi had abandoned her, and it was very similar to that time now, just replace the sister with the boy. He took that responsibility rather seriously, and the parallels of that time were certainly adding up. He was about as bruised as he had been back then, and he spent time on the ground with Jinx hugging him then too.

Thankfully, they had the benefit of experience and history with one another this time, so he liked to think that he was better prepared for assisting her with her mental demons than he had been back then. She did seem further tormented, but he had seen he recover before so this was a hiccup.

His mismatched gaze shifted to regard her when her head lifted, and he noted the panic on her expression. He was mostly unsympathetic, knowing it was for the best to cut that one out before it could go too long. Short term pain, fine, but there were plenty of better prospects in this place. Besides, maybe he died on the island and hadn't returned. Heroic and all that nonsense.

Yet, he was caught off guard at her words, stiffening where he leaned on the couch. He did not currently have the emotional or mental capacity to hold his expression in its normal neutrality. He swore he tasted bile at the back of his throat. His jaw worked for two instances as he tried to master himself.]

You already knew that before meeting him. Does that mean you believe it when he says it?

[Teenage love drama is the absolute worst.]

[Her clear obsession with the boy told him a different story, but he would never hold it against her. She was as wild and free as Zaun should be, even here - especially here in this new sunnier Hellscape. He knew that she would never purposefully cut him out, but she was 'in love' and that did things to people. Even the most important connections could be fridged for new and shiny relationship.

If he had rested and maybe been a touch less sore, maybe he wouldn't be quite so sour. He might not be in a habit of running away - he'd been certain to establish that very early in their relationship so she knew he would be there even when she drove him to temper. And there was no where to go anyway.

In the state she was in, it was unfair and even cruel to consider getting up and walking away even to clear his head. So he didn't consider it an option. He would never turn his back on her.]

I know. I don't fault you for establishing connections beyond us, but I want to protect you. [He refrained from usual 'everyone betrays us' mantra, wincing as her hands cupped his cheeks.] I dislike seeing you in such distress. I dislike thinking he uses my words on you, and if this relationship fails, the words will be tainted.

[He lifted a hand to lightly curl his fingers around her wrist. He couldn't look away, but he could close his blue eye - it was rather swollen anyway.]

You are my reason for being here, my reason to brings this place under our control. To give you the home you deserve, the home I promised all of Zaun. It will always be you.

[He did not enjoy seeing her growing more and more upset, especially knowing he was the cause of this new bout of pain. However, he had arrived with her in such a bad place to begin with, and as always, he felt obligated to see them through to the other side of it. He had taken the title of her father, and so he leaned hard into that role even when maybe he shouldn't.]

Just... be careful who you give your heart to. I may not earn those words, but I did what I thought was right to bring you up to the heights you're at. [And if she was broken down with similar words, he would surely do something deadly.] I'll be here until the day I can't be.

[His shoulders twitched and his neck tightened subtly as her thumbs stroked over bruises, some of them hidden by road dirt and grime. He didn't stop her, of course.]

We shouldn't avoid this topic because it upsets us, Jinx. I need to know that you will be alright, or I need to know what you need from me to be alright, if it's something I can help with.

[He opened his eye to peer at her.]

When was the last time you slept though?

[He raised the only eyebrow he had at her words, shaking his head just a touch. His fingers lightly tightened around her wrist, aware that she had abandoned the conversation from continuing for now. He supposed that he had said his peace, and he was too tired and sore to demand it continue. Later, he told himself.]

Everyone needs sleep. You looked like you might sleep against me not that long ago.

[He gave a tug to her wrist before releasing it as she moved them away from his face. He shifted where he sat on the floor to find a new more comfortable position. He wanted a bath and a few hours of sleep very much, but no, it would wait.]

I can do that later. You need some rest.

[He also might fall asleep with her so close, knowing they could and would guard each other.]