[ Nothing she says stirs disagreement. On the contrary, there's a reluctant thread of guilty admission in the connection, still touched by his previous chagrin. It's enough to keep him quiet long enough to listen, and it's the only real sign that he's taken any of what she's said on board — the moment she's done speaking, the defensive temper kicks back up. ]

I'll do what it takes to avoid getting myself or any of the rest of you killed, but that doesn't mean I'll do it with a smile. [ His tone's flippant. The memories aren't — a man with his throat torn out, a field of dead soldiers — but they don't give him any pause. ] I don't need a minder to keep me to common sense.

( Bloody women. ) [ ... is less intentional, but a little too sharp to hide. Even so, it's backed by equal parts petty spite and reluctant fondness, more memories of familiar faces scraping at the surface. ]