He soothes him as best he can, unrelenting even as Inigo embraces him fully, the boy's voice tearful and hanging by a thread. Roland shakes his head, prays for fate to have mercy, for once. Every word Inigo says is a stab, twisting at Roland until he feels the bleed and the throb. That he's been tired all this time, but didn't feel the need to let any of it out because I just want to make people smile.

He holds him tighter. It finally dawns on Roland how much Reno's taunting could have traumatized Inigo given how much he was already hiding from others. To hear the very worst parts of you spoken out loud, even validated physically by getting beaten in a fight...It's no wonder Inigo retreated completely. It's no wonder he thought so little of himself, even now as he clings for help. I hoped all this time that someone would just come save me...

Roland swallows his own feelings down, shoves it aside for an instant response, swift and impassioned. "And I'm here. We're here. Help's come, Inigo. The cavalry's arrived. So you can be at ease now, son."

He won't have to keep himself locked away. He'll be stronger. He'll be loved. A hand makes its way to the back of his head, stroking his hair down to give him some semblance of peace. If rest is what he wishes for, then it will be granted. If becoming stronger is his desire, then Roland will pledge to that too. Inigo's kindness has always been what drew the chief consul to the boy's side, but he didn't see past the surface.

The halidom was a place that gave him scars for his kindness. It was unfair. It wasn't right.

So it falls to them to pull up a mirror for Inigo to see the truth - that his strength never left him. They just need to draw it out to the light.