[Far more synonyms than is helpful, but it's the pictures which hurt. Kratos frowns down at the book, and follows Skulduggery's gesture toward the other angels, and shows nothing of the pang in him. 'Friend' is the wrong word. 'Friend' is very, very far from being the right word.

[When he speaks, he deliberately doesn't shake his head, or otherwise make a move that would indicate to the angels what he might be saying. They may still be learning curiosity, but he doesn't want to give them something to think about and worry over later.]

Not friends. They're ...

[There was another page in there, about social relationships. Kratos turns a few more pages, looking for it. There's no single one image which suits his needs, how he feels about the angels under his protection; but there are two. One, of clear military officers, one superior and one subordinate; the other, of a woman crouching beside a beggar in the street.

[Silently Kratos points to to the subordinate and the beggar. Soldiers, yes -- but unfortunates without life, without family. His responsibility.]