[He pauses when she offers up her question. The answer he wanted to give came into his head immediately, but -- the fact that she had asked at all means he needs to examine it. So there is some silence, as he turns it over in his head.
Did he hate her? No. Then what about this still bothered him? There was still something else, or he would be able to engage with this without issue.]
No.
[It comes out, even in the middle of his self-reflection. Because however bitter he might be that he didn't get to do things his way -- he doesn't hate her. That's a stone fact.
Plus, he doesn't miss the fact that she'd chosen to keep him around and alive. Anyone else would not have done that. So, how could he hate someone who seemed to have a vested interest in keeping his company, when so many others had scorned it?]
no subject
Did he hate her? No. Then what about this still bothered him? There was still something else, or he would be able to engage with this without issue.]
No.
[It comes out, even in the middle of his self-reflection. Because however bitter he might be that he didn't get to do things his way -- he doesn't hate her. That's a stone fact.
Plus, he doesn't miss the fact that she'd chosen to keep him around and alive. Anyone else would not have done that. So, how could he hate someone who seemed to have a vested interest in keeping his company, when so many others had scorned it?]