[Regis sighs, letting his head rest back again Cor, forehead pressed to the back of his neck. The answer is so Cor, that Regis isn't surprised at all. In fact, the familiarity helps ease the pain he is feeling a little, just enough his voice is no longer shaking when he speaks again, even if it does crack on a word or two.]

That's not how standing by my side or anyone else's side works, my lion.

[And here, once more the nickname that started this all slips out unbidden.]

We stand together so that we can share each other's burdens not so that one person carries them all for another. You want me to carry extra burdens no more than I want you to carry them, but to not tell me your burdens so to avoid even the risk of burdening me more? If feels as if the person I am standing next to does not trust me, that they are a stranger. I cannot stand the thought of those who I have let close to me being strangers.