[ Gamora is— genuinely surprised when he curls away from her like that, like he's expecting another blow. That's just as unfamiliar to her, and the reminder draws another twinge in her chest. ]
It was supposed to.
[ She doesn't reach for him again, but she watches his movements intently. ]
I thought perhaps I could goad you into retaliating.
[ That if she'd pushed harder, he'd be inspired to fight back to defend himself instead of just taking every blow as it came.
... Apparently, that hadn't been especially successful. ]
no subject
It was supposed to.
[ She doesn't reach for him again, but she watches his movements intently. ]
I thought perhaps I could goad you into retaliating.
[ That if she'd pushed harder, he'd be inspired to fight back to defend himself instead of just taking every blow as it came.
... Apparently, that hadn't been especially successful. ]