He stood, wiping the blood from his knuckles and raised a brow at her. He couldn't help the half smile that tugged one corner of his mouth. Always the same reaction.
"Can't exactly be close when they do." He took a step back and they came out, slowly recreating that tear in his knuckles he'd done hundreds of times before. His teeth clenched together against the seering pain.
Marie had asked him once if it hurt. She just never asked how much.