Yes, I know it is difficult to maintain empathy for someone who offended you, even when you understand where they are coming from.

It could be that he anticipates attacks, and could be that he have became just indifferent or annoyed.

I'm at an odd position. On one hand, I believe my reaction was expected, and my perspective isn't wrong. I didn't offend out of cruelty, but because I was, myself, offended, and believed my situation was cruel. On another hand, from the moment I saw that he was willing to truly and honestly talk I saw a way out, and that alone erased a great part of the anger. Not only that, but I observed things that are commendable and for which I'm grateful.

He isn't a complete jerk and isn't an idealized professional. I believe most of what happened was out of ignorance, although one detail stands doubtful.

I desire, now, to reach at least a neutral place. He offended me, I was willing to try to understand his position. But whether he will understand or accept my position is something I have no control of.

... and thus I've reached a situation where I'm looking for a way to recover a neutral ground.

The only solution I find is be frank and fully explain my point of view, including both the negative and the positive perspectives, but I fear that is... manipulative in some way. And don't really and to do this to "get it from my chest", but to try to reach mutual understandment at the least.

This reply is probably more than you asked, though.