"Thea!" Arthur grabs Theo's shoulder and gives him a small shake.
Then he pulls him into a tight embrace.
"Thea, I don't know everything that happened," he says quietly, voice low and steady against the roar outside the bubble, "but I know you cannot blame yourself for this."
He strokes Theo's silky white hair slowly, rhythmically, like he used to when trying to calm him after nightmares.
"Thea, maybe you made a mistake," he continues carefully, choosing his words, "but you didn't do anything that would warrant your friend to die… again."
He pauses, the word feeling strange in his mouth. He knows there is history there. Another life. Another death.
He gently pushes Theo back so he can see his face.
"He chose to do it, Thea. You didn't force him. He chose his own path." Arthur's voice is firm, but not harsh.
"At least he got to choose how he died," he adds softly. "Nothing and no one killed him. He made that decision himself."
