"Call it past scars and trauma I guess. I've been hit enough times to start hitting first to make sure I'm not a target again. You can probably blame that on the fact that I knew someone that fits your description, but she didn't have any special mental powers. She's also my grandmother, so, you know, lasting physical and mental damage and all that shit."

While his soul searching shortly after being disinherited had taught him that not everyone was an asshole, his first instinct still tended to be attack first given the first indication of hostilities.