Because of my what? I didn't... How is that what you got from that story? I was sharing a childhood trauma here!

[Is that a huff? Mmmmaybe. Or maybe falling into a sass routine is just easier than dealing with loss right now.

But he does look at her arms because they are nice arms.]

I am able to physically defend myself. And I do work out. I train with Excalibur all the time? And I'm hiking and climbing and running and crawling through narrow spaces and swimming and jumping down cliffs and fighting angry megalomaniacs...

Well, I can't do it. Because he will be smug and insufferable if I give in now, so clearly I can't. Ever. [It's a guy thing. He thinks.]