[His eyebrows furrow a little at that, and stay that way as she goes on. It's not like he hasn't always thought exactly that: he's not a good person. He's a monster.

It was Charles who first made him think differently, and now he's not entirely certain. It becomes less important, when you have something to fight for. When you aren't just out for revenge, when you're pursuing justice. Real justice. But it's a blurry line for him: revenge has been his whole life. It's hard to change. And sometimes you do have to change.

He gets up slowly, goes to sit beside her again, leaning one hand against the bed so he can face her.]

If there's bad in us, there's good, too. I'm not trying to become Charles. [If anything, he thinks distantly, Charles has become a little more like him. He thinks he should regret that, but he can't quite manage it. A wry smile crosses his face.]

You can be right, too. And just because he can be wrong doesn't mean he's always wrong. [Because he thinks they both deserve to have a decent relationship again.

Straightening, he scratches his jaw, and turns his head to glance at her again.]

I can't say I'm glad you're here. No one would be here, if I had my way. But I can count the people who would fight for me on one hand. So - thank you.