You cut out my brain. Those words bring that sickening nightmare back with a jolt, and a little of the color drains from Miles's face, too. He couldn't possibly have guessed that from Miles's subconscious. The kid really thinks he's only here as some replacement body, or -- waste disposal, at best. Oh, hell.
"You think I brought you up here just to kill you?" Miles's voice comes out a little choked, but that might just be the exhaustion. Doesn't the kid realize that bringing him up here wasn't just a return rescue, but a gesture of trust -- an attempt to affirm that Mark could make a choice, make a difference? It's a hell of a security risk to have him up here -- Elli had pointed it out, and so had Ivan, even though no one had asked for his stupid opinion -- but Miles had done it anyway. He rakes a hand back through his hair with a noise of consternation.
"If I was going to kill you, I'd have done it back at the safehouse, not bring you to the Dendarii. I don't do murder in cold blood, thanks. And if I wanted a replacement body -- well, I don't. I've been to Jackson's Whole. I've seen enough of that whole operation to be permanently turned off by the idea, and not one I was a fan of to begin with. Listen, M-- " He cuts himself off with a frustrated sigh, gesturing uselessly with one hand. "Listen, you saved my life just a few hours ago. You saved Galeni's life. Hell, you saved your own. I don't generally repay deeds of that magnitude with backstabbing."
That isn't why he'd done it. He'd have done it anyway. But it doesn't hurt.
no subject
"You think I brought you up here just to kill you?" Miles's voice comes out a little choked, but that might just be the exhaustion. Doesn't the kid realize that bringing him up here wasn't just a return rescue, but a gesture of trust -- an attempt to affirm that Mark could make a choice, make a difference? It's a hell of a security risk to have him up here -- Elli had pointed it out, and so had Ivan, even though no one had asked for his stupid opinion -- but Miles had done it anyway. He rakes a hand back through his hair with a noise of consternation.
"If I was going to kill you, I'd have done it back at the safehouse, not bring you to the Dendarii. I don't do murder in cold blood, thanks. And if I wanted a replacement body -- well, I don't. I've been to Jackson's Whole. I've seen enough of that whole operation to be permanently turned off by the idea, and not one I was a fan of to begin with. Listen, M-- " He cuts himself off with a frustrated sigh, gesturing uselessly with one hand. "Listen, you saved my life just a few hours ago. You saved Galeni's life. Hell, you saved your own. I don't generally repay deeds of that magnitude with backstabbing."
That isn't why he'd done it. He'd have done it anyway. But it doesn't hurt.