His hand met hers immediately, even as he masked the anger that leaped up in response to what she'd said. You left because it got to be too much.
"I will not fail again," he vowed. Safety did not concern him, except to ensure that he could continue fighting for his city. But the thought that he - that one who'd come before him - had failed so utterly and gave up his mantle to another, even one who seemed quite capable, was utterly maddening. He fought not to let her see the disgust, the fury. She would misinterpret. She could not understand. And he hoped she never had to again.
"We should begin by..."
The night was too short for his plans; he knew it even as he began talking through their next moves. Communication sync. Intelligence upload and download. Research and development. Joint access to all work areas. Specific preferences, even. Priorities. Projects. Everything.