#do you know the restraint Thomas had not to ask Stephen more? to inquire about why walter did it - what the family did

[cosmic-walkers]

I realized this was purely a power move for Stephen. This conversation had no actual benefit to him, if anything, it benefitted Thomas more than it did Stephen, but he still wanted to rile Thomas up. He still wanted to show Thomas that he had power over him in a way Thomas didn't even realize. He has power over him in a way not even Henry does. Stephen finding a connection to his past and making him question his relationship with the man who abused him has undone him in a way no one else has. He has Thomas literally reflecting back on everything.

Thomas thought that Stephen found dirt on him, and even if it seemed as if he did, it was fruitless in the end. But still, Stephen wanted to put him on edge. They both threatened each other here, granted, Thomas has offered Stephen many olive branches, but Stephen is Stephen.

Regardless, the idea of Stephen leaving Thomas speechless, and laughing as he's walking away - omg. He is the only one who can do that to Thomas, the only one who can leave him dumbfounded in such a way that he questions his relationship with Walter and his life leading up to that point.