[ Later, he'll have the good sense to be embarrassed about it, and remind himself to reign his emotions in. It won't work, but he'll certainly try, because the spill of naked feeling over his face at that question is embarrassing, too much. He looks away, swallows hard. His back is rigid. ]

It will not sound like the truth, but— one killed me. Just last week. I shouldn't be... Their lethal intent was clear. This is not a safe place.