He tells himself he doesn't need people's approval anymore. At home, he and Nightwing kept their distance from each other. Walked in different circles. That's not the case here. He's being told point-blank that he deserves this. Maybe in his timeline, he does. The Kyle over there? Maybe not. He doesn't know how different they are, but if they are anything alike—

'What's more important, getting the power of a ring, or protecting my family?'

It's that simple.