[ Krouse blinks, and then laughs, a grin slicing over the tension he's still holding in his expression. He leans back against the couch and props his elbow against the top of the frame to make a support for his head, palm pressed against his temple as he takes a second to marvel at her.

She really does keep working the angles, whatever the circumstances. Just another quality to add to her list of admirable traits. ]

Oh, absolutely. You could have wrung me out for assurances, caveats, promises of future favours...maybe thrown in some subtle hints about crossing the aisle to feel out the competition?

I'm actually not sure if I'm flattered or insulted you didn't think you needed the leverage.

[ He's neither, but the flutter of reassurance flitting around his chest is closer to the former than the latter by miles. It's oddly uplifting to be able to joke about this, his free hand coming up to wave lightly through the air despite the pangs that shoot out from his stitches when he does. ]

For the record, though, I don't usually extend this kind of offer. You've just been exceptionally reliable.

[ Which falls short of the things he wants to say, but she wouldn't appreciate him dragging sentimentality any further into this than he already has. He is capable of keeping his goddamn mouth shut occasionally. ]

Which is why I'm also hoping no one holding anything against you shows up, either. Hard to imagine them as reasonable people.

[ His smile fades to a sharper, closed mouth version, his levity deliberately held steady. He's not going to jump ahead to pledging to fight hypothetical battles for her, because that's another thing he's sure she wouldn't appreciate.

He'll just do it, if it comes up. For the sake of allyship. ]