{FAILED LOCK}

Really, the most irritating thing isn't his words. The opinions of others mean absolutely nothing; I'm certainly never lying when I say that. He'd like to think that he can get under my skin, and I'll admit that I've slipped up a couple of times in that regard- but that has been taken care of; it won't happen again. No, the most irritating thing is that he's right.

I doubt that it's fear. It would be characteristic of her, I suppose, to fear me- but for some reason, she doesn't. I also doubt that she's just "waiting to see me fall"- that could easily be done from the sidelines. It's that third theory of his that I've considered before (I hope he doesn't think for one moment that he planted the idea in my head; that I allowed him to create such an... insecurity). That she really, truly hasn't realized yet that I am a monster. At some level, I'm sure she does (why else would she have said...)- but once she starts listening to those other friends of hers; really listening to them...

Ty Lee has always been easily convinced of things.

I am a monster. I always have been. I've never denied it. But I don't know why the idea of her recognizing it and calling me out on it is so... tsk.

It's an inevitability. I shouldn't bother deluding myself into thinking otherwise.

...

That smug detective really does need to be taught a lesson.