[She does feel a significant amount of relief that Peter does not wish to yell at her. Ego had seemed to enjoy it, and Mantis must remind herself again that Peter is very much not like Ego in many of the ways that really count.

She does not say anything into the uncertain silence, but she does watch him, the shifting, conflicted expressions that move through him are frustratingly just almost readable, and not for the first time, Mantis wishes she could reach out and just... feel what was going on inside Peter. Gloved fingers twitch unconsciously in his direction the only indication she has this thought.

But that would be very rude. So instead, she is left with the impression that Peter simply looks...well, rather beat down. She feels, however, a strange sense of relief, when he begins to speak, and the uncertain look he gives her somewhat mirrors the worried look on her own face.

Mantis takes a long pause to gather her thoughts before speaking, because she knows this is important.]

I know I could never have destroyed him alone. I could have tried, or refused to help him but I think- I think he would have killed me too. I know I did not matter more to him than his mission.

[She frowns here, once again unable to meet Peter's eyes, and there are tears gathering in hers, guilty ones, full of regret and threatening to spill, that she does not want him to see. She does not deserve any pity, and she knows that.]

But I knew it was wrong. All the times. I always knew it was all wrong. [So far as the decades she had spent, watching it happen, each sibling, each new person that she was able to meet, only to watch them perish. Almost new friends, but never for long enough to count.]

I should have tried to stop him sooner, and I am very sorry that I did not.