[ He didn't really think that a sock to the face would shut the man up, but wouldn't it have been nice if it'd worked? Even stupid baby tears would have been better than the lecture that Stampede decides is the right response, grabbing Wolfwood's collar and blathering on about pushing people away. Pushing people away is a great idea, Wolfwood thinks, and shoves Stampede back, hard, to get the man out of his face.

But he just won't stop talking! Won't stop calling Wolfwood all kinds of names, like afraid and stupid and violent. Well, one of those things is sure accurate, as Stampede is about to find out. ]

Will you shut the fuck up? [ He's swinging again, punch after punch, big hard fists aiming for the asshole's flapping mouth, and for his gut, to try and knock the wind out of him. ] The only one who's afraid here is you, asshole. You're all tied up in knots because there's things you didn't have the balls to another version of me, but you don't get to say 'em to me! I'm not him! I don't give a fuck about you, and I sure as hell don't want you to make me better.