[ Raven lifts a shoulder, watching her carefully. ] There's no reason for him to hide it, is there? You're not me and that's fine but he does care about me. He's never been particularly subtle. [ The quick defence for her brother comes easily enough - because, really, only she's allowed to say bad things about him most of the time. Complete strangers have no right to try and act as if they understand, at least in her mind, because they don't know. They weren't there.

Tilting her head up, she watches, waiting for whatever else the woman wants to say. She doesn't expect the rest of the words, though, and she swallows, pursing her lips. Of course someone that was her would know just what to say to get under her skin, undoing the layers and years of work she had put in to make herself stronger, prouder. Shaking her head, Raven steels herself. ] No, he doesn't always understand. But he tries. He tries with everything he has and that is what matters.

[ Now, at least, now that she can look back and understand. ]