[ And here, he moves upon reflex, drawing upon his will to survive, bringing an arm up to at leas shield his head -- but that arm will bruise badly. ] Stop it! How can you expect me to think with your attacking me like this?!
[ But he has to admit -- at least to himself -- that being called a tyrant, with the words spat out with so much venom hurt almost just as much when Tieria had told him that his plans for humanity were all wrong... ]