For a brief, rage-fulled moment, Varian is extremely tempted to take off after Ercole. To burn this awful, nasty little person who threatened to hurt, to kill, someone he cares about a great deal. Something in the back of his head rages and screams to do it. To reduce him to ash. He does take a step forward, body tense, feeling an anger he hasn't indulged in for years.

But then Alberto whoops and his attention is drawn back to the younger kids. His hand clenches and the fire is snuffed out. He watches the giant man (god, he's as big as his own father and built just the same and that familiarity is enough to snuff out any remaining anger in him) steps forward, removing the final threat to the kids.

"Varian," he replies, glad his tone is more even now. "I'm... it's complicated."