"I do and I don't. I can count on my hands the number of people who've ever felt protective of me, before I came here. Minus a teacher or two when I was a really little kid."

He reminds him, with a small smile.

"But you be careful, Mister Fox. Of the five of them, two resented me for it for a very long time. Don't you let me gradient be something that makes you compromise yourself."