Roman was a wise man to walk on eggshells, and Lord El-Melloi II's total lack of pokerface showed a very visible flinch at the question. Fear wasn't the right word. It had a texture to it that was all wrong, all...all too easy to overgeneralize. Anxiety was probably closer to correct and...

Nope, he knew what it was

"It's hardly fear, Roman," he snapped quickly, before forcing his tone into something much more measured. "Try closer to an existential crisis."

Roman was a doctor, not a therapist, but at this point, he might as well add that credential to the resume.