"It's not my bloody self-esteem," he cut back in a way that said yes, it was his self-esteem when it came to women. Though he might not have admitted -- nor have fully realized -- the extent to which his mustacheless upbringing colored the way he perceived himself as a mate, his body did the talking for him: his muscles tensed, fingers twitching as he continued to avert his eyes to cover for his lie. The topic made him nervous, as it was well into uncomfortable, unfamiliar territory. He could talk about hunting all day, and sniping was both a profession and a pastime, but women and courting them were different beasts, ones he wasn't used to facing.

"You don't know how I am with them, Pyro," he continued. "You didn't see me make a bloody mess of things."