[ Gavin stutters too, feeling the back of his neck heat up despite himself. It's easy to pretend it's just a flush of anger. ]

D-Don't dodge the issue! Hank hasn't hurt anybody and he's made sure I haven't hurt anybody either! So I don't know what your goddamn problem is!

[ His heart is thudding again though, for a different reason. Mate? Mate? With Hank? His heart wants to leap out of his chest.

Beth looks between them dully. ]

Really?