<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">Eivind and Louis had a few moments to just stare at one another that just dragged on. Perhaps he wasn't used to dealing with people like Eivind, or maybe he just wasn't used to dealing with <i>men</i>. Real men who could conduct themselves without losing their shit when put under a bit of pressure. Eivind had a long time to deal with people criticizing him. It didn't bother him any longer. He was hardened to it, and the only thing he'd done wrong in this situation was not get Blue out sooner, or better, before Lofgren had a chance to touch him at all. He didn't think they'd found any common ground, by any means, but he was making it difficult for the man to argue with him. Eivind, under normal circumstances, was typically slow to spur to anger. Circumstances that didn't involve someone touching Blue, anyway.<br/>
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Eivind felt his mate leaning into his side. He'd come prepared for this. He knew exactly how he had to act, and he couldn't run like he would have preferred when Louis had turned his scorn onto him. It hadn't been pleasant by any means, but he'd suffered through because Blue had asked him to be there. Katherine was the wrong to break the silence, and he found he was filled with more dread with her speaking than he was with Louis. With Blue's father, he was starting to understand what to expect. Even where it came from; a desire to protect his family, at least when he wasn't being judgmental.<br/>
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Katherine expression how much she missed her son, and her worry. Eivind frowned. Unfortunately, she'd had reason to be worried. He had vanished, and been hurt very badly. Eivind hadn't kept him safe at all, and for that, he felt bad for lying to them. He was fairly certain Blue would have have stayed away for so long except that Lofgren prevented his escape. He'd nearly died. Hell, his own pack had come to kill him. Blue had nearly lost his live more times than Eivind wanted to sit and count. There was nothing he could say about that, and he hoped she took his expression for compassion for an upset mother, and not the guilt that it was.<br/>
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She asked Blue is he was stayed, and her son told her the truth. He was leaving with Eivind, as he'd intended walking in. Unable to deal with that, she got up and left the room, and then it was only Louis left, and he'd grown angrier with his wife's upset. Eivind felt his hackles rising as Blue took a lashing that wasn't deserved. Perhaps his words would seem true to someone looking in who didn't know the whole story, but Eivind knew. His words grew increasingly harsh, but there was no defense against them besides the truth. It wasn't fair to Blue, and he was crying. Eivind had a hand on his back, seeking to comfort him, and Blue apologized for something he never should have had to apologize for. Blue got up to leave, and Eivind stood, watching him go. He turned back to Louis for a second, frowning.<br/>
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“You didn't go wrong with him. Not until this; rejecting him when he needed you most."<br/>
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Eivind said nothing else before he turned and trotted out after Blue. He was already in the truck, and Eivind climbed into the driver's seat, his hands on his mate right away, trying to soothe his sobbing. He pulled him close and was kissing his face, unworried that they were still in the driveway of Blue's family home. Instinct and desire was too sharp, responding to his distressed.<br/>
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“They just don't understand,” Eivind told him. “It isn't your fault. You're not selfish, and you're not a child. Your father was angry, and I'm sure he's going to find regret later at his words.” Anger started to bubble at the surface, for Louis not responding properly to his child. For Lofgren still being able to impact Blue's live.<br/>
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“This isn't your fault,” Eivind repeated, a little slower this time. He didn't want Blue to replay his father's words over and over in his head, though he knew likely that was easier said than done. Some of it had been downright cruel, wrong even if Blue was those things he stood accused of. It had been a stressful day, made even more unpleasant by Blue's family. Perhaps Blue would tell them more of the truth one day, but Eivind didn't feel that this was the day. If they'd either not believed Blue, or insinuated that it had been his fault in some way for his actions, Eivind would not have been able to remain pleasant. Tempers were running too hot to risk something like that.<br/>
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“They will come back around. They're just upset. Hey, at least your father didn't shoot up me. I was fairly certain he was going to when you blurted about our sex life,” Eivind said, hoping to ease Blue's grief with something more pleasant. He started the truck, letting the engine idle. He couldn't safely drive with Blue pretty much all the way in his lap at that point, but at least his family would know they were intending on going.<br/>
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Eivind was kissing Blue on the mouth then, a sorrowful sort of kiss. He pulled away, and looking at Blue's face, a deep sadness held across his harsh features.<br/>
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“I'm so sorry, Blue.” He was trying to do everything in his power to keep Blue from reminders. To clean up any fallout from the attack, but some messes couldn't be helped. This was one of them.</span></span>