Arie leans his head into that touch like the affectionate cat he is and finally meets his brothers eyes. There are torn feelings there, obviously not certain about anything. He fucked things up in the past too, Ulysse has no monopoly on that. Arie made sure that this thing with Damian is a whole puzzle with so many levels and layers of hurt feelings and expectations that it's going to dizzy both of their heads before they're out of it. Even Ulysse would expect that Arie isn't going to take Damian's feelings into account and he's earned that by being an asshole on so many levels before.

"What if I'm just going to hurt him again?" Arie asks with a grimace. "I hate that. I hate that so much. I would punch myself if I could. And I kinda wish he would, I would deserve that."