It's not funny, [ Rex snaps. This is how they are, isn't it? They joke under pressure. They always joke under pressure. Others may not see it as jokes - they're admittedly a little flat in their delivery - but that's what they are nonetheless, toying with each other in the midst of battle. This is different. ]

We don't know what that stuff could have done to you. Might still be doing to you.

[ But sometimes -- sometimes, the jokes don't work anymore. And it's at times like these, when someone who ought to be functionally immortal suddenly isn't. He eases off on her a little bit, pressure on her chest lessening until he finally relents entirely, hand slipping down her arm to press against the inside of her wrist. ]

Let's not do that again.