Connors didn't realize that it was sparkling water until he had already drunk some. A confused expression plastered itself across his face, like a cat who just now realized you swapped out the cat food, before it was replaced with resigned tiredness as he continued to drink the water.

"The feeling's mutual," he managed to say, though it was obvious that the words were requiring some effort. "Especially considering we both want the other permanently gone." He made no bones about it: the Lizard wanted Connors out of the way just as much as Connors wanted a cure for his condition. Their arrangement was tentative at best, constantly combative at worst.