"They deserved it, and you were worth the mud in the face." He grinned at her despite himself, thinking of the Anye of those days compared to know. As different as they were, he had felt a kinship with her even then, although maybe it was because neither fit in quite right with their peers. Anyway, he was a born protector(apparently) and she just seemed to attract chaos so it seemed inevitable almost.
Shoving boys into lockers who called her names in third grade probably didn't help his reputation, but if it made them back off of her then that was all that mattered. He shrugged at her comment about sparring, "Maybe. You're faster than I am." Smarter too, but he didn't say that. If he was protective over her than she gave back in equal measure, especially when he insulted himself.
Nick paused briefly at the crosswalk before walking across without waiting for the signal to change, grateful they were in an area where traffic wasn't bad. "Subway or foot?" The question was overshadowed by him reaching out halfway across the intersection to press a cold hand to the side of her neck, an echo of a mischievous grin on his face.