[Neither do I ask for reciprocation. Some part of Kagari wants to reach forward, grab Ninurrta by the goddamn collar, and shake him. Who the hell just offers up something like that and demands you take it without even the possibility that it would be returned. And why? Kagari wasn't his friend. They didn't even share the kinship of common experiences, a mutual unspoken understanding of being fucked up like the Enforcers did back in Japan.

What do you want from me?, he'd like to ask, but he realizes with an almost sickening clarity that the answer would be nothing, or effectively nothing, and he's struggling with his temper in this moment as it is.]

Look, I know you're trying real hard to convince yourself that I'm a Good Person so doing this isn't completely stupid, but you're really just wasting your time.

[He sighs, flopping back on the bed and pointedly staring at the tiles to avoid looking at his cellmate directly.]

But hey, it's not like I can stop you. So whatever.