For Richard, there would always be a need to shroud himself. To keep the outside where it belonged, outside and away from damaging him. No matter how much he softened to Alex that would always remain the case. Not everyone was Alex, after all. Not everyone would try to protect him; in fact, most would try to tear him down with barbs and slander. That was what he had grown used to after twenty years of Coralee being missing, of being completely alone.

Ignoring the soft plea was hard, Alex had always been an emotional person. Someone who empathized with everyone to an annoying degree, but this was different. It was a promise that they both knew she couldn't keep. Outside in the real world, who knew what Warren was planning on doing to them. He could do anything so long as they were here. "I'll rest, the get what I need." He wasn't going to relent on this. He didn't want someone else getting things for him. Picking out what they thought he would look like, choosing the ever important armor that he wore daily. It wasn't acceptable.