Tonks was about to refute him with further acts of physical aggression when she stopped, looking at him gravely. "Is it.. Are they all really like that? I know we've talked about it but.." She frowned then, "Can they all just see through people like that?" It was a frightening thought. Only the highest ranks in MLE got training in all levels of Legilimency, simply because of the sheer power something like that took. To think it was a downright common trait among Death Eaters, and one that came so easily to their leader was.. Overwhelming. "Do.. All of them know it?"
Her breath caught in surprise then, and it was stupid and some part of her knew it was stupid but a cold wash of terror crashed through her, "She's going to take you to him?" Well, duh, her mind answered. He was their leader, after all. But.. But. "But.. So soon?" Tonks could feel her spirits dampen, her expression falling, "Do you.. Do you know how long you'll be gone for?" She tried to focus on the feel of his hand hand stroking her hair, tried so hard to focus away from the idiotic worry she still felt until she looked back up at him in a different kind of horror. How could he just sit there and talk about his wife killing him with such a.. Resigned manner? He wore his heart on his sleeve, but she knew he loved his wife when the proud man could so easily talk about coming in second place to anyone. And it pained her. Tonks reached for him, tilting his chin up so she could look directly into his eyes, "You will never be second place to him because you've got something he never will: Humanity." She brushed his hair away from his face, stroking his cheek with the back of her hand, "A soul. Compassion. Is it really love if the.. thing she's in love with is incapable of understanding the emotion, much less actually experiencing it?" She smiled even as her heart broke, "And who knows, maybe there isn't a second place. Maybe she loves you just as much, but in a different way." Vaguely it occurred to her then that she was one to talk of coming in second place when everytime she held his hand she could feel his wedding band, when he had to go back in the mornings to his rightful place in his wife's arms. It hurt, but maybe she could get used to it, if only it meant staying by his side.