[ Mm. Some soft sound, lightly tracing his thumb over a cheekbone. ]

Good.

Selfish as it is, if anything it's in my best interests to keep you here. You know how bad I am with losing friends. [ Just kind of honest. He's tried to be honest with himself in his evaluation of this whole thing, in what he thinks would be best for you, but it's difficult. ] I'm really not about to be commandeered any time soon. I'm your friend, not some war asset.