I love when the King is more assertive and doesn't view John anything more than his fragment, but consider
King, who after finding John expresses joy and happiness. Who cradles him against his chest, right where his heart used to be, where John used to be. Who holds him gently in his hands, afraid to accidentally hurt him but too scared to lose him again.
The King who plays along by calling John by his chosen name. The King who explains to John how they were separated, how scared the King was for John, how distressed he was. How he tried so hard to find him again, to bring him back home, where he belongs, where he can be cared for and attended for.
The King who gives John time to process information, genuinely promising Arthur's safety, maybe even rewarding Arthur with something for taking care of his fragment.
The King who gives John time to acclimate but still wants him to rejoin him. The King who has great patience for the many changes that John has now but still believes that they are one. The King who never actually threatens Arthur but whose kindness is so great that it makes you think how much worse his anger can be.
