Jon does not recoil, if anything he relaxes some, though the lump in his throat remains hard to form words around. He doesn't argue Martin's point though he wants to, taking a moment to breath before answering.

"I used to think your optimism was naive in ways, yet this whole damn time I was convinced you could be... be spared this somehow. Spared getting dragged in any deeper, spared-" his humanity, but he can't bring himself to say that so he doesn't. After a beat he continues. "I wanted that for you. I foolishly and arrogantly though that was what was best for you, like I had any right to decide as much."

He exhales another shaky laugh. "And now I think you're the heart, like he said. Lord Martin, you deserved so much better than this."