So, we finally get his motivation for being an asshole... and it's pathetic. Not surprising.
Not even just that, this is his motivation,
period.
This is why he's here at all. He's not fighting for himself, he's not fighting for the ones he loves, he's not even just fighting for his people (though he mentions them, they're more collateral than the main reason he fights). Now
that's pathetic.
Omg, enough of flashbacks, this isn't Naruto
A particularly salient remark. Really, of all the times he could be reminiscing about her mother, is
NOW truly the best time? In the middle of their grand comeback? While she's finally doing something (and something
useful, at that) and turning the tides? This couldn't have waited until what's-his-face's head had rolled?
It couldn't have been a far more poignant (for a given value of poignant, anyway) moment where, after she basically saved the day, he'd go up to her and say something like "I fought alongside your parents, you know. I was 15 at the time. Far too young for the responsibility my post entailed. They died to protect me and everyone else that day. They requested I keep you safe in their stead if they didn't make it. I thought that would be my raison d'être, and I was ready to lay my life to do it... but today, you showed me I didn't need to worry."? Or something better, mind you, I came up with this in 3 minutes as I was writing it.