Though the glib attitude was definitely pissing Brandon off, he did little to show it other than to allow his lips to form a thin straight line and his eyes to narrow just slightly. Irritation was winning out over the desire not to fight, but fortunately (he wasn't quite sure for whom), his throbbing fist didn't allow him much of a chance to challenge the other man. Maybe another time, maybe next time he saw Zimmerman and remembered the infuriatingly calm look on his face while Brandon's hand throbbed.
Snorting a laugh, Brandon raised a shoulder in a shrug and watched Zimmerman's stance change. "We aren't really so different, you and I," he pointed out with a half-laugh. At least when it came to defending their family. Zimmerman didn't even need to say that was why he'd gotten detention. Brandon had a much similar experience, defending his sisters. "Fucking weird to think about, but it's true." Brandon wasn't fool enough to let himself fall in love or knock a chick up, so their defensiveness of their siblings was about the end of their similarities, but for the sake of civility, he didn't bring that up.
The other man's scrutinizing gaze was met with a suspicious one from Brandon. He kept his left side facing Zimmerman, but eyed him sideways, catching sight of the curious look on the other man's face. Brandon's own eyebrow arched, and he was vaguely thankful for the momentary distraction from the throbbing pain in his hand.
That distraction was all too brief. He watched Zimmerman approach and watched as the man lifted his hand to examine it. He winced at the movement but ignored the pain, let Zimmerman do his thing.
He asked Brandon to move his fingers and he shrugged, flexing them tentatively, lightly. "Yeah. Hurts like a fucking bitch but I can do it," he said through gritted teeth. "Jammed? Like... dislocated or some shit?" he asked.
A bitter laugh and Brandon shrugged a shoulder. "My normal sparring partner's off being all fucking self sacrificing back in the city, and I'm trying not to punch the unwilling as much as I used to," he added with a derisive laugh. They were all on the same side. Times like this it was hard to remember that, though.