[Oh, what do you know. Child abuse again. You know, this was becoming something of a running theme in this household, and he should stop being surprised about it.

Vil took the pan off the heat and turned to put all his focus on Lyney.]

Hasn’t it? Because you’re falling apart at the seams without it, and I would say that’s a big problem you’ve likely been teetering around instead of fixing for a very long time.

[Vil waited for Lyney to get the pasta through the strainer , the last thing this boy needed was to get jostled while playing with boiling water.]

Lyney, come here.

[Vil gently and slowly took Lyney’s hand once he was free of his tail, and pulled the boy into a hug. He seemed to desperately need one right now.

This boy was so embroiled in that toxic masculinity “men don’t cry” nonsense, and he was having none of that.]

You’re not okay right now, and there’s nothing wrong with that. You’ve suffered trauma on top of trauma, and now you’ve been taken here. No one is expecting you to be fine. In fact, I would honestly be incredibly unsettled if you were completely fine.

I’m not sure what you’re trying to prove, or who you’re even trying to prove it to, but there’s no point. You’ve faced your hardships and come out on top. That’s enough.