[Destined to fight evil draws a troubled veil across Paul's expression, paints a thin crease between his brows. He knows enough of monsters to be able to imagine what that might be like as a burden.]

She's lucky to have people by her side. I wouldn't say that's 'just' anything.

[There's too much feeling in the words. He swallows visibly, throat working around a snag.]

Do you know it hasn't stopped? I know that's what people say, about how it's meant to work.