[It's hard to keep up with defensive anger in the face of that gaze. It's hard to keep arguing against something that can't truly be argued. He clenches his fists tighter for a moment, as though he's about to start up again...and then lets them relax instead, shoulders slumping.]

[He puts a hand to his forehead, dragging it roughly back through his hair and letting out another one of those odd, bitter laughs. He mutters, more to himself than to Arceus:]

I really have gone soft, haven't I? Being chosen to help save the world and actually doing it.

[He raises his voice to a normal volume, intended for Arceus to hear.]

Hell, if you asked again I'd probably do the same thing.

Fuck me.

[This world is more home than Amestris could ever have been. And apparently, he'll fight to defend it if he has to without even thinking about it.]