He kept looking at her. The regret slowly faded from his eyes. Not because it was gone (it was never gone, ever), but because he was building the mask up to hide it. Inscrutable emptiness replaced it.

"You're making things even harder on yourself, then," he finally said, his expression now perfectly composed. "Now you have to find a way to save everybody, even those who don't want to be saved." He gestured casually at himself as he said that. "I told you I would hate you if you chose to save me over the worlds, so you've only got that choice left. Save everybody. Of course, I know it isn't possible."

He paused. "But, you know, if anyone can prove me wrong, it's probably you."