[He knows to put so very little stock into any of this. Connor had already called him out on being self-destructive, and Markus thinks he’s witnessing this first hand, with all the pieces of explosive shrapnel directed at him this time. They still cut and sting — any emotional creature can’t be completely unaffected by words like that — but ever patient, ever trying to be steady while a storm swirls around him, Markus still replies calmly.]
I don’t believe that. Not at all.
[Plenty of others could have stitched him up. Hell, Markus would’ve aided him even if they were just two strangers that were unlikely to get along. Markus is helpful, yes, even possessing something of a bleeding heart — but he is equally stubborn, hard to keep on a ‘leash’ with his own brand of willful spirit. There are easier targets by far, if the point was manipulation. He knows that Jason must know that, too.]
Why are you pushing me away? If you need to time to breathe, or to detach yourself from this conversation, then just tell me. I’ll respect that.
private
I don’t believe that. Not at all.
[Plenty of others could have stitched him up. Hell, Markus would’ve aided him even if they were just two strangers that were unlikely to get along. Markus is helpful, yes, even possessing something of a bleeding heart — but he is equally stubborn, hard to keep on a ‘leash’ with his own brand of willful spirit. There are easier targets by far, if the point was manipulation. He knows that Jason must know that, too.]
Why are you pushing me away? If you need to time to breathe, or to detach yourself from this conversation, then just tell me. I’ll respect that.
Otherwise, I’m just trying to understand you.