Colin was trying. He was. He could feel his heart starting to race again and his whole body felt hot and for the first time, in a very long time, he felt embarrassed. His fingers covered the scar. He'd never been embarrassed by his scar because it was a necessity. It was important. It was normal to have it there. Now? Well...now someone found it abnormal. He felt awkward and uncertain and emotions he used to be much better at controlling.
There was fear there, too. It took everything in his power to keep his breathing calm and even as Dennis made him look up. This was terrifying. He'd faced scientists and the law enforcement before. He'd faced men who could have killed him if they knew or hurt him or even put him in Azkaban, but this was the thing that terrified him. If they'd been in the Wilds...this wouldn't be.
He watched Dennis, almost certain he'd been entirely unable to keep from expressing everything he was feeling. Everything was there...and he didn't want Dennis to be worried. He was okay. Things were always difficult and he'd had to be careful, but he was okay. He was alive. That was the part that mattered. "How do you know they won't?"