"And you respect me far too much to give me a pity prize, anyway." There's a touch of fondness to his words, even if his smile retains its sharp edge. "But I suppose in lieu of a cat, I'll have to teach you everything I know."

There's something almost comical about this. A nagging feeling, tugging at him...

That night, at Penguin Sniper...

"It's not unlike the offer I gave you before, without the betrayal. Not that I ever expected you to take it in earnest."

A part of him was relieved when Ren didn't. It meant he stuck to his guiding principles, even if it meant "certain doom."