Haunted Wood Private eyes, are watching you

The boy was cracking. The tears were evidence of that. He was close to breaking but it was a tender moment. Vengeance wasn't all that good at mental manipulation. His strength laid in overpowering individuals with his strength, weight, and size - to play with someone mentally purely on wordplay felt alien to him... and he wasn't as confident in his ability with it as he would be if he had chosen to throw the boy around like a ragdoll again. 

The boy had a word caught in his throat - and Vengeance smiled. Of course you don't. His tail flicked at the tip, curling ever so slightly as he continued to slowly pace around the walls of the pit. But that flame needs tending for it to grow before it sputters out. You don't need anyone, but you desire someone. Something. What is it that you want? He would keep pressing until the boy was no longer amusing.