[Oh.

Something clenched in his chest with worry already when her smile was fading, but when she starts trying to back away he reels backwards a little himself, watching with wide eyes. He's not used to such obvious, outright fear at just the mention of his name, even if--

"You make them so afraid" and "the man who can turn an army around at the mention of his name" but she's not from his universe as far as he knows, she's from Inara's and Simon's, so it... It can't be him, can it? But it still hurts, twists his hearts (or just heart, now? He hasn't looked closer, because what if) in his chest because wouldn't this be the form of that fear?

And the worst thing is that he has no idea what to do.]

River. River, I don't-- I'm not--

[It's not the "the" part that gets to her, it's the "doctor" part, so. So...

He doesn't want anyone to be afraid of him.]

I'm not a... It's just a name, I'm not even a doctor and I wasn't born with that name. It's just... I don't have my own name anymore, and this is what I have instead. You don't...

[Swallowing, he licks his lips and his gaze flickers to the side. Maybe there is a reason Time Lords never interfered. Maybe people should be afraid of him.]

I don't want you to be afraid of me, River.