[Maybe it should go unspoken, maybe it could, but Adam can't quite put words to the complex mix of emotions he feels when he hears it. He wants to be important to Ronan, he knows that he is, but actually hearing it is something else. But it's true, he knows that, because of course it's true for him too. Simply the idea of losing Ronan is enough to make him go cold inside.

Adam has always been independent, has always had to be, and maybe his need for Ronan makes him weaker but he doesn't know if he cares anymore. He certainly doesn't care right now, when he's already so weak, when he wants nothing more than to stay here. The world outside the circle of Ronan's arms could cease to exist, and he doesn't think he would care.

Talking to Ronan like this is helping, is pulling him out of the state he's been in. He knows it should be more than that - that he should be remembering his responsibilities, the things he needs to do, what Gansey needs from Adam now that he's gone. But right now, Ronan is what he needs, and all he wants to do is take this comfort from him and offer what support he can in return.

It helps, feeling needed. Maybe that's selfish or self-centered, but it does.]

I wish we could too.

[More for Ronan's sake than his own. Ronan has lost so much, so many people. Adam has lost things too, but not like that. He wants the world for Ronan, he wants happiness and a home and an easy life for him. Love. Whatever he wants.]

But you can't - you can't take that on yourself. You've done so much already. You can't do everything. You can't take responsibility for the things that have happened.

[He closes his eyes, focusing only on Ronan's voice, on Ronan's arms around him, his soft breath against Adam's neck.]

I would be lost without you.