[At that, he does look up, his eyes hard, defensive and angry. He dodged a bullet, he knows, and maybe he made a bad call, but given the choice again? He's not sure he'd have chosen differently. Not because his life has no value- he knows how much he's worth, and it isn't nothing.]

Mutants aren't monsters. Mutants have free will, thoughts and emotions, the ability to understand right from wrong or friend from foe. That isn't what a monster is. And I told you- it was supposed to be a last resort- if there was no other choice. If it was a choice between me or someone else, someone healthy and sane.

[Like her, or - god, Pepper, the real victim on the day Cap died - or Teddy- if someone, if Loki had been there before he lost it and attacked Teddy and there'd been no way to save them and bring them back- he'd have been very, very glad for that promise, because Teddy would live and he'd be spared the knowledge and memory that he'd eaten alive the one he loves more than anyone in the world.]

I don't care. I don't care how it sounds, to you or to anyone else. I would rather die than take someone else's life. Anyone's life, but especially the life of someone I love.

[There's a pain in his voice that can't be measured, memories and history and a lot of unspoken fear. But there's determination, too- pure conviction. The voice of someone who doesn't regret his choice at all.]