it left me blind

"I have no given you reason to fear those. Perhaps I have only given you the gift of waiting for them with expectation."

"Expectation, is it?  And what of you?  Do you expect my sharpened beak?  My talons?  The beating of hasty wings?"

"I would be utterly daft if I did not expect that and more."

"It seems we both know to expect danger in the other's presence, and yet...I see no danger now.  How peculiar," he mused, a smirk tugging his lips.

"I prefer to act your beast of burden.  Some may find shame in it, but for me it has always been an honor.  Granted, you have steered me into many sticky situations in the past…but we are good at making the best of them, aren’t we?"

"Rejecting such a window of opportunity for what, exactly? To play Atlas, it seems. You are a man after my own heart, Xiahou Dun. You are as much a crutch as you are a danger, I fear."

"Come now.  How would you have me play Atlas for you today?  I will spin the world as you see fit."

And keep both of my eyes. Let’s not forget that.

Did you say something, Li Dian?

"You’ve nothing to worry about. Tigers only bare their fangs should they be provoked. This one is only admiring the sights."

"Ah, my worthy adversary.  Do not mistake recognition for concern—I fear neither your growl, your fangs nor your claws.  Perhaps provoking you is not something I would mind."

"I have no given you reason to fear those. Perhaps I have only given you the gift of waiting for them with expectation."

"Expectation, is it?  And what of you?  Do you expect my sharpened beak?  My talons?  The beating of hasty wings?"

"What’s all this then."

"Ah.  I knew I smelled a tiger in our midst."

"You’ve nothing to worry about. Tigers only bare their fangs should they be provoked. This one is only admiring the sights."

"Ah, my worthy adversary.  Do not mistake recognition for concern--I fear neither your growl, your fangs nor your claws.  Perhaps provoking you is not something I would mind."

"What’s all this then."

"Ah.  I knew I smelled a tiger in our midst."

"So tell me.  Where should I cut first?"

"Perhaps I should lend the reins to you, Xiahou Dun, for it is you that has lead and protected me down this path of conquest."

"I prefer to act your beast of burden.  Some may find shame in it, but for me it has always been an honor.  Granted, you have steered me into many sticky situations in the past...but we are good at making the best of them, aren't we?"

"Now, help me cut a path to conquest."

"So tell me.  Where should I cut first?"

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5

"...."