I wouldn't say irritating, [ he hedges, in the voice he uses when he is stalling. Trying to put space between them, for all that he holds still while she steps away. ] Surprising, yes.

[ It's the voice that cinches it. It's when I need you that holds him mesmerized, still looking at her like he means to puzzle out every detail, no matter how light he keeps his voice. ]

But as you can see, [ and he spreads his hands to the nonsense around them, the great empty ruin of a city neither of them ultimately care about, ] my plans are pretty sidetracked right about now. Maybe we can talk this out.