Narc rage

I've noticed there's a lot said about narc rage, but it has started to make me doubt myself again. My xN did not show much rage. He was more into ignoring me. After an argument he'd tell me to call later if I wanted, and then when I did he wouldn't answer; stuff like that. There were a couple times when he yelled, a little, but then immediately said that he didn't want to yell 'especially at you', he would say. At first I thought that was nice, but the next time I heard it I thought it was odd. Does that sound to anyone else like maybe he had gotten into trouble somewhere along the line for his anger? One other time he threw something when I was questioning him about something. I figure now that was just to deflect the conversation off the subject. Do narcs have to rage?