[He bears her statement without flinching. He doesn't need to confirm it. They both know.

Her question makes him falter slightly.]

Yes. No. I don't know. [He breathes in, then out.] No, yeah, I do. It's about protecting you, but that doesn't mean I think you can't hold your own.

[He lowers his shoulders gradually, though he's still afraid she'll--what? Yell at him again?

No, he's afraid she'll leave.]

It's just. If I have the power to stop something bad from happening to someone I care a lot about, why wouldn't I do it.