"You don't need to apologise. To me or Them," Cole promises softly. He lets Ben move away; even though he really doesn't want, Ben wants to put some distance between them for a bit. "What was done to you and Them by him isn't your fault. It's his. Not being miraculously able to recognise that what you had known your entire life was wrong with no other point of reference isn't a personal failing."

He hums and sways, then bends to pick up his hat and push it back on, casting his face into shadows again. "I don't know if you can, but I can. So I can get you food even if it tries to keep you out."