[ Thomas sobs again, tears dripping from his eyes now as he tries to cringe even further into the corner. ]

N-niisama helps, he. He.

[ Niisama helps, but--

(but sometimes nothing he does will ease the ache and the burn)

(so he locks Thomas in, lets him howl out his pain and his desperation and bruise himself up throwing himself at the door)

(but--)

(but that's right, isn't it?)

(because it's wrong, it's animal, and niisama helps where he can but there's only so much he can do to help with something so uncivilised)

He shivers. ]

Niisama deals with it...