[There's some time before he sends a reply. In part, Mika does make a valid point. It would be far more logical to side with actual hunters. If he can take what he knows of Mika so far, though, and assuming (if not giving the benefit of the doubt) it's all fact, then he also doesn't see why he can't call him an ally.
He could say, too, that all of this doesn't need to be complicated, but Zero would be the very first to say that nothing is ever easy. For him, nothing is all black or white. Not anymore.]
I'm more up front about being a hunter. I won't lie about the vampire part, however, if the conversation veers off towards that kind of thing. Like ours had.
But whatever the person wants to do with that fact is up to them. Hate me, be scared of me. I don't really care.
[The only way he'll fight others is if they attack first.]
I won't say I won't decide to meet or speak with those hunters or anything. Again, I'm not going to expect anything from you, either. If you don't feel like letting me teach you a few things about fighting, then that's fine, too. I'll just say that I'll have your back, whenever chaos really kicks in here.
[Because he already knows it will.]
There's always a chance of that when people get to know each other, no matter who they are, or what their life is like. It takes a whole lot for me to really feel betrayed, as well as to truly hate someone.
[How do they always end up talking about such heavy things? It's probably Mika's fault. He doesn't talk to anyone back home but the two closest to him know it all anyway. Maybe that first text was like a floodgate was broken down between them. Zero is easy to talk to... having gone through some of the same things he has.
They also pretty much have the same opinion and approach to being a vampire as well, apparently. Because that's exactly what Mika intends to do.]
I can't and wouldn't tell you how to handle the situation. Honestly, I wouldn't want to be in your position of being between me and them - being like me and being like them. At the moment, we have a tentative truce for complicated reasons but we are still on opposing sides.
Just because I don't see them as livestock like the rest of the vampires of my world do, doesn't mean I'll risk my life to save them. In fact, I despise them and the rest of their species as much as I do vampires.
[Yep, just admitted to hating humans not hunters.]
If there does come a time when it's me against them, I will fully expect you to take their side no matter what sort of alliance you may claim we have. I won't be looking to you to stand beside me because I simply can't take the risk of trusting you.
[There is clearly more at work here than the story of a vampire killing his family to ingrain this kind of mistrust so deep in Mika.]
You should think carefully if you're going to attempt to trust me. There is still much you don't know about me yet.
[There isn't anything he'll even say in turn to the dual hatred. Zero knows and believes well enough, even in his world, that humanity can be an ugly, wretched thing. He won't claim to despise them, as Mika does, but he certainly doesn't love or appreciate every last one.
Once again: Mika is far more black and white, to Zero's muddled grey.]
I could say the same for myself. There's a lot more I haven't said a word about.
And I have no obligation to you and following your expectations.
[Didn't that go both ways, too, anyway?
Regardless, all he follows up with is straight up.]
All this started with was my saying I could give you a hand.
My master- the hunter who trained me, and helped to raise both my brother and I, still did so even after I was turned. Even though he knew it was possible that he might have to take me out.
[Although, that was more of a mutual understanding. Yagari also pushed him into overcoming things, to a certain degree. Tough love.]
Maybe it really is a stupid idea. If I decide I don't feel like offering anything to you, then I won't. I'm only saying that it's there should you want to take it.
There was trust between you two before you were turned. This is different.
[He may also be seeing something that isn't exactly there in the relationship between Zero and his master. Years of believing that humans would just use each other is responsible for that. All he can see is that this master might be taking advantage of the fact that a hunter suddenly has the full strength of a vampire.]
no subject
He could say, too, that all of this doesn't need to be complicated, but Zero would be the very first to say that nothing is ever easy. For him, nothing is all black or white. Not anymore.]
I'm more up front about being a hunter. I won't lie about the vampire part, however, if the conversation veers off towards that kind of thing. Like ours had.
But whatever the person wants to do with that fact is up to them. Hate me, be scared of me. I don't really care.
[The only way he'll fight others is if they attack first.]
I won't say I won't decide to meet or speak with those hunters or anything. Again, I'm not going to expect anything from you, either. If you don't feel like letting me teach you a few things about fighting, then that's fine, too. I'll just say that I'll have your back, whenever chaos really kicks in here.
[Because he already knows it will.]
There's always a chance of that when people get to know each other, no matter who they are, or what their life is like. It takes a whole lot for me to really feel betrayed, as well as to truly hate someone.
no subject
They also pretty much have the same opinion and approach to being a vampire as well, apparently. Because that's exactly what Mika intends to do.]
I can't and wouldn't tell you how to handle the situation. Honestly, I wouldn't want to be in your position of being between me and them - being like me and being like them. At the moment, we have a tentative truce for complicated reasons but we are still on opposing sides.
Just because I don't see them as livestock like the rest of the vampires of my world do, doesn't mean I'll risk my life to save them. In fact, I despise them and the rest of their species as much as I do vampires.
[Yep, just admitted to hating humans not hunters.]
If there does come a time when it's me against them, I will fully expect you to take their side no matter what sort of alliance you may claim we have. I won't be looking to you to stand beside me because I simply can't take the risk of trusting you.
[There is clearly more at work here than the story of a vampire killing his family to ingrain this kind of mistrust so deep in Mika.]
You should think carefully if you're going to attempt to trust me. There is still much you don't know about me yet.
no subject
Once again: Mika is far more black and white, to Zero's muddled grey.]
I could say the same for myself. There's a lot more I haven't said a word about.
And I have no obligation to you and following your expectations.
[Didn't that go both ways, too, anyway?
Regardless, all he follows up with is straight up.]
All this started with was my saying I could give you a hand.
[It seriously became too long-winded.]
That aside, we might as well agree to disagree.
no subject
Which I'm still not certain is a good idea. Teaching someone you may have to hunt later.
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[Although, that was more of a mutual understanding. Yagari also pushed him into overcoming things, to a certain degree. Tough love.]
Maybe it really is a stupid idea. If I decide I don't feel like offering anything to you, then I won't. I'm only saying that it's there should you want to take it.
no subject
[He may also be seeing something that isn't exactly there in the relationship between Zero and his master. Years of believing that humans would just use each other is responsible for that. All he can see is that this master might be taking advantage of the fact that a hunter suddenly has the full strength of a vampire.]
I'll think about it.
no subject
All right.