Heh.

[He crosses his legs, shuts his eyes, and his expression isn't quite a smile, even though it resembles one -- it's too wry and resigned, too sharp.]

I know that what Javert did hurt a lot of people terribly. Just because it didn't happen to me doesn't mean I don't understand those feelings!

[He looks at Ryou, evenly, neutrally.]

If you want to know why I want to help him, I'll tell you -- but you don't have to. I also won't try to change your mind about him, or anyone else's! You have every right to be angry.

And I promise, no matter what happened because of his circus, I won't stop being friends with you.

[He means it. He highly doubts it's worse than some of the things he's heard.]

So, you can tell me.

[Getting it off his chest, stopping it from eating at him, keeping it from being a big terrible secret...Atem thinks it's a good idea.]