Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"What? Ah, no, sorry. It's just- I asked a few of the canine handlers and they said it helps with the bond if you're the one that feeds them. No, the dangerous thing I mentioned was about Beth. About not seeing her flaws," Aveline clarifies, handing him a bowl.

[Carver Amell]

"I see them," he says softly, stepping toward Silence. He sits her with a hand command -- he's been working on them with her, the same ones as he uses with Hunter -- before he puts the bowl down. "Oh, uh, and this is Silence, not Hunter. Beth sent her."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline frowns. "I know... isn't Silence yours? She's always with you, I assumed..."

[Carver Amell]

"Huh? No. Hunter is mine. I leave him to protect Beth when I can't. And she sends Silence with me to look after me."

[Tethras Clan]

"...that's kind of adorable," Aveline decides softly after a moment. 

[Carver Amell]

Carver looks up at her. "...huh?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Nothing," Aveline says with a soft laugh. "Let's get these two heroes feed- and there's some ham bones for after," she adds.

[Carver Amell]

Carver lets Silence eat, then, moving back to the table, where he shoves his own food around with a fork in silence for a bit. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Eat," Aveline orders. "You need to build up your strength after your idiocy. I'm not going to go easy on you this next week," she warns him, totally intending to start a bit slow now. "Now. About Beth and her flaws."

[Carver Amell]

"Beth has flaws," he says, dully. "Lots of them."

[Tethras Clan]

"Then why can't it be her fault about you talking to her?"

[Carver Amell]

"I... I guess it can," he sighs. "I don't like to think about it."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline nods a little. "It's hard. Admitting the people we love had flaws and problems," she agrees quietly.

[Carver Amell]

He flinches. "I can talk more about Dad," he admits. "Dad... he kept something from us that he shouldn't have done. It makes it hard to trust him. But Beth... I can't. When I think too hard about it, it hurts."

[Tethras Clan]

"That's that danger again. Something we learn on escort and protection missions. If you can't honestly and fully assess your charge, flaws as well, then you can't protect them properly. When they do something wrong, when they make a stupid choice or indulge a sin, you're freeze. Just a for a second most of the time, but that can be enough."