They do have an audience, here, which makes it feel that much more like it's happening on the edge of a knife. But he is always thinking, considering and noticing details, and the tattoo's absence had been distracting.

Not quite enough to interfere with the intimacy they did end up sharing, that time and others, but certainly enough to be significant and stick with him.

"Of course," he agrees quickly. "I know that I'm happier keeping certain things to myself, but if your Other was in love with a man who wanted to kill me, doesn't it make sense that I'd be interested in what you're getting back? I've never hidden the contents of my pulses from you, in the interest of informing and protecting us both."