Alex didn’t know what those words meant, but he figured everyone was different.  He didn’t care that Andreas was a sociopath, whatever that was, as long as he cared. "He must care about me then if he went through all that trouble.  That means  my father was wrong about him.  Right? He was wrong?" Alex mumbled hopefully.  "He didn't want me to go home because it wasn't safe, but I made him take me home so I could get some things. I should have listened to him. "  Alex said as he cupped the belt mark on his cheek for a brief moment.<br/><br/>He didn't comment on the beautiful statement, lots of people tell him that, but the only one he ever cared about saying it was Andreas.  He liked when Andreas said he was beautiful. Most of the time he just felt weird for looking the way he did and liking the things that he did.  Andreas made him feel safe in every regard.  He didn't judge the underwear, he didn't judge the long hair or the girly colors.  He didn't judge the bruises or blame him.  Alex did wonder if he would be judged for the stuffed animals, which is why he hid them under the bed.<br/><br/>"Maybe he<i>was </i>mad at my mom for that." He paused and didn't know if he should say more about why Andreas should be mad.  Alex's brows furrowed for a moment as he thought about it. Should he be hurting at the news of losing his mother? About his home burning down? He nodded to himself.  He was a little freaked out, thats why he went to hide, but it was quickly dawning on him that he was afraid that his father was right, not that he had just lost literally everything.  Alex looked up to meet Raff's eyes and knew he should feel something about losing his mother, but He didn't. Alex already mourned her loss for she had been gone for a very very long time before she died..<br/><br/>Alex chewed his lip, "I didn't see him do any of that stuff. Not a witness to anything.  Will he like me more if I am tough like you? Maybe I could be."  He hesitated before continuing,  "Maybe not, shooting a gun is very scary.  It's so loud.  He laughed at me."  Alex offered the man a soft awkward smile.