He pulls back as she comes forward this time, reluctance hidden behind a defensive posture. His eyes level on her critically - even if he couldn't feel her emotions instinctively, he could hear it in her voice. He knows what the sound of that pain should mean to him.

But he doesn't feel anything. Everything else is consumed by the aching fire inside of him, leaving nothing in its place.

"And now you believe me?" he asks, ignoring her questions. Mostly because he doesn't have the words to answer them.