[He begins to rub her back, her words like lances through him, but he knows that he needs to take responsibility for this. It hurts, knowing that it was ripping her apart inside to not know if Aether was okay or not, that she might even still be blaming herself a little bit for what's happened. For moment, he wishes he could go back to before this had upended their lives, but then...he wouldn't of gotten to meet her either, and he can't imagine a life without her.]

I did. I'm sorry for that too.

[He takes a deep breath, shoulders wracked with stress as they rise and fall despite trying to relax his muscles.]

I'll fix it, [he begins, voice earnest and somber.] Can we figure this out together from now on? No more trying to go on our own. It's not...

[Ajax's eyes close, wandering back to their concerns, their deepest fears about this, and thinking that there must be a way to cut through it without having to put themselves through this.]

...it's not working. And we have to find something that works.