"It doesn't have to be like this."

Zhane sounds so genuine but at least her hesitation is enough to allow him to try and grab for her staff. If he gets it, he attempts to hold it in place so they can talk face to face, far be it from him to take someone else's weapon away in the heat of combat. He wants her to understand it, the fact that he doesn't want to hurt her, and he needs her to listen to him before it is too late.

It isn't just for hers and Andros' sake. Their attempt at a date might have flopped spectacularly, and he's had time to get over the sting of rejection, but he still cares about her well-being. If she would have him, he would even be her friend and give her that shoulder to cry on.

"I can't bring him back," he begins with a raw and honest take. If only she would open her eyes, she would realize he knows her pain better than most. "And I can't make your pain go away but Astronema, don't go down this path. You're better than this and you know it."

Some part of her has to know that otherwise she would have killed him by now.