#off tag

You still like your grunts of course, and they recognized this. You try to spend time with everyone equally, and they cherish the moments they spend with you. From the little conversations they had with you, where they savored every word that you directed towards them, to the times you used your strings to control them in battle-they loved every minute of being under your gaze and holding your attention. But that didn't stop the burning feeling of jealousy from setting upon them as they see the way the Batter is with you.

Sanford and Deimos would watch bitterly as you fret over your puppet's injuries, trying to treat them as best you could. They didn't know that he healed with tickets, nor that the lack of them was the main reason why you chose to treat his wounds yourself. To them, the way you gently wrapped bandages around The Batters' limbs and iced his bruises (looking at him with far too much fondness for their taste) was a show of you having deeper feelings towards him. You never did that with them; it was blatant favoritism, and it made them extremely uncomfortable. Even worse was the fact that your puppet didn't even seem to appreciate your actions, at least not to them. (He did, but the Batter was always very stone-faced so it's not like they could tell.)

2BDamned, simply put, doesn't trust the Batter at all. His motives were unclear and his relationship with you was weird. Why did he need to "purify" everything? And if he was so good at combat and so intelligent, what purpose would having you around serve? Is he trying to manipulate you through your care of him? But even then, he didn't seem to openly return your affectionate gestures, which was even more odd to him. The Batter was extremely unreadable, and the fact that Doc couldn't discern his true intentions with you annoyed him.

However, out of all the grunts, the Batter clashed with Hank the most. They were the most similar, and therefore there was a constant conflict between which of them should have your attention. Hank shows off a lot more whenever you're around but with the Batter there as competition, he's a lot worse. Oh, your puppet wants to murder a bandit who's been bothering you? Too bad, Hank already shot them and every other enemy within your remote vicinity. (And he'll look back at you with an expectant gaze, as if he's sure you'll compliment him for his efforts. And you do, because you did that with the Batter and you're trying not to show too much favoritism.)

The Batter is effective, but Hank will show that he's better in any way he can, as do your other vessels. But the Batter doesn't care for what "competition" they see this as. In his eyes, his place as your preferred vessel is already solidified. He doesn't see Hank and his brutality as a threat, nor Deimos' charisma, Sanford's sentimentality, or Doc's intelligence as anything really special. You chose him. And that was all the assurance he needed.