Every inch of Adam was completely formal and Ronan hated every minute. It wasn't supposed to be like this. They had been friends, and Ronan... Ronan had loved him, even if he never had the chance to pursue it. From the ache that was building in his chest from Adam's appearance to his behavior, it hurt to realize that it was all too likely that Ronan loved him still. There had been no one else.

Well. There had been one flirtation, one that hadn't gone anywhere either, but Joseph Kavinsky was a different animal all together. Their parting had been ... a little rough, and Kavinsky hadn't seemed over it. It wasn't likely they would see each other again, though, so Ronan wasn't concerned about the things Kavinsky had sworn.

Ronan had to keep his eyes off of Adam lest he stare. So his gaze was focused ahead, steady and fierce like the animal he'd become. "I don't care," he said, "if Declan hears that we're talking shit about him. He's awful. Only thing he was good for back when I was a kid was managing money, but I wouldn't be surprised if he spent it all on whatever woman he's trying to snatch a virtue from." It disgusted him, how loose his brother was. Yet Declan wasn't about to change his ways. Just like Ronan wasn't about to change his.

But he didn't press. If Adam was worried, whatever he was worried about, Ronan wouldn't try to stress it. So he merely shrugged and continued to the Barns, relaxing once they were far from enough from the mansion. He had always preferred the animals they kept rather than the house.

There was a horse out for grazing. Ronan approached him and rubbed his nose gently, pressing a kiss between the colt's eyes. Animals always got sweetness from him.

"What happened, Adam?"