He waited patiently for her to speak, or not speak. So long as he got to stand here with her, there was a part of him that didn’t care whether she chose to tell him what had happened or not. It didn’t matter, just as it didn’t matter whether this was a temporary bridge across the rift between them or a more permanent one. He was afraid to hope that things could be better between them now, only to have her move away and his insecurities stop him from going after her.

But she did speak, her voice breaking the silence of the night, and he did not interrupt her until she was done - just stood there with her so she could lean on him, so he could embrace her still.

Of course it had been his mother. His ears flicked backward for a quick moment when the Moon was mentioned but when he realized that Ampere was looking at him he relaxed. He had been ready to apologize on behalf of that divine parent of his but her look stilled the thoughts. Eventually, he needed to stop blaming himself for everything that the his mother did. He might as well attempt to do so tonight. It was a little easier to believe the cruelty of the gift that Ampere had been giving after knowing who her benefactor had been.

When she started to fade, started to chatter, he moved closer still so that he could, if she wished, embrace her more fully - his neck resting against hers, his body an anchor to keep her rooted to this beach and not become lost. He had to agree with her, he didn’t think that she wanted the bond. Not when it was causing a reaction like this. If there had been any part of her that had been prepared, would she be taking it so hard? He didn’t think the Earth God would have lied to her if that was truly what was needed in order for the bond to happen but maybe it wasn’t as simple as that. “Maybe… maybe it’s not that you wanted the bond. You went there looking for magic and that desire could have been strong enough to take the place of the desire to bond.” When it came to the gods, especially his mother, the difference between the two would probably seem inconsequential. Whatever magic Ampere had been going there to seek she might have just wanted it enough. “And as for your companion wanting it, they start out as little eggs and when they hatch they want food and love and safety the way any baby does.” Not that he knew much about babies, and he was still learning about companions, but Lucius had certainly been a needy little thing when he had hatched. A small smile in his voice as he continued. “It’s not so surprising to me that it would think it could get those from you.” Gladiator, Chancellor, leader of the Whatch, friend, mother... Ampere played many roles and he had no hard time having faith in her ability to pull them off. Or, rather, that she would try and sometimes that was all that mattered.

He pulled back then but it was only enough to try and meet her gaze, a soft bump to her muzzle with his to encourage her to look at him if she wasn’t. “You’re strong enough to do this, Ampere. Whatever the Moon asked of you, you can do this.”