"I was going to die either way, Max. I wanted to walk out of that arena with ya, but I didn't have a choice. I thought--"

He cut himself off, supposing it didn't really matter what he'd thought. He'd been wrong.

He shook his head, swallowing thickly as he looked away, up at the distant tree tops and the narrow streams of golden light peeking through the wide leaves.

"I ain't okay with it. It ain't even the last thing I want, but I do want ya to be happy." He finally looked back, trying to hide the pain the words caused him. Trying to distant himself before he found himself having to live it. "Whatever that means."

Even if it meant he wouldn't be.