"I'm sorry, Larsa. I didn't mean it like that." Penelo sighed quietly. She'd only meant to assure him that he didn't have the worries that were on his shoulders at home. Instead, she'd managed to insult him. Maybe things really were more different than she'd expected.

Still, he was holding her so close. This much was familiar indeed. And it dawned on her that he had been shouldering everything alone, and from such a young age. Just because he was capable didn't mean he should have to deal with that burden.