( the name should be a scar. but kyna's been peeling back the tissue and it's healin' clean. grief chokes him, but he swallows it down. nate's earned it, an' reggie wouldn't hardly mind the man musclin' in on his territory anyhow.

he settles on somethin' like a smile, just turned up faint at one edge. there's a sadness to it he can't shake, but it's real. )

Oh, trust me, Nathan, that ain't escaped my notice. That you're accustomed to all manner of violence bein' done you ain't hardly a secret.

( he wears it in every line'a his body. that casual acceptance of pain. )

But just because you can take somethin' sure don't mean y'should have to.