"Oh, is that so?" Karen asks, a little surprised by both the way he's kissed her and the implication in what he's said, but not terribly so. It's sort of relieving, actually, after the brief flare of worry she'd had after receiving his text message, to stand here now, her forehead leaning against his, and know that he's alright. The fact that that one day might not be the case just makes her more appreciative that this time he is. In spite of the risk, or maybe, in an odd, counterintuitive way, because of it, she counts herself lucky, too. No one has ever understood her as well as he has, or known the worst parts of her past and accepted her anyway. And the work that he does outside his cover job, dangerous as it might be, is part of what made her fall for him in the first place.

She's always been willing to take on everything that comes with that.

"I mean," she continues, soft and teasing and fond, "I can take your word for it, but I don't think I'd mind that, either."