He smiles briefly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze, at how quickly she made the decision to defend him. The next moment, though, the smile fades away once more. "It's hard to be around friends sometimes. Always having to keep part of me locked away, always wondering how they would react if they knew the whole truth. Knowing that no matter how hard I may struggle against that darkness inside me, I can never escape it."

And knowing that it will eventually consume him. He's already witnessed it.