"You want the truth?" He said, his voice accusatory, but firm. "I tole ya the reason, 'Nara, so drop it," because he seriously thought that she would laugh him out of the airlock, via telling Mal anything he had to say on the matter.

"What answer are ya lookin' for anyway? What magical answer do ya want from me, huh? Confess my soul, an' for what? So, you can look down on me as per usual, but with the added bonus of the truth?" His words were intense, but there was an actual fear driving them, and it showed.