The question caught him off guard, and he sat there, for a second time that conversation, at a loss for words. The biggest problem with trying to answer her question was the fact that he was conflicted about it as well. He'd never had any style of relationship. Unless one night stands counted as relationships. Any friendships he'd had rarely lasted longer than a year and a half, like him and Shula's own situation. Hell, one of the only people he could think of was probably Alex, and that's just because he was good business. He wasn't even sure how he'd feel if he was interested in Shula, and his years in the Foundation make any thought of intimacy with her seem awful.<br/><br/>But was his time at the Foundation honestly anything to base a relationship off of? Of all the people he'd been forced to encounter, Shula was still the only one he could consider a friend. They were bonded too, so if he was ever going to have any sort of relationship, if it wasn't with her, he'd have quite a bit of explaining to do anyway. It wasn't exactly like bringing a girl home to Shula was ever going to work. But still, the thought of being with Shula jarred in his mind, making him uncomfortable. He thought back to all the times he'd seen humans fall into a demon's trap, with little more promise than a night of pleasure, and the results of that.<br/><br/>Yet, even now, the kiss wasn't necessarily something he'd try to stop. It'd be a long year and a half since he'd had anything in the romance department. Would Shula be a good partner for him? The bond they had had been compatible after all. But after this, would she trust him? Did she suspect he had feelings and they weren't reciprocated and she was concerned he was over estimating their friendship? The bond was a forced one, and if anyone could hold a grudge, it'd be Shula. Hesitantly, he states simply, "Well, after all this time, I hope you'd be able to consider me a friend. You were drunk anyway, it's not like I could hold it against you."