[Holding himself still was keeping his processor focused on other matters entirely--namely, the procedure at hand--and not on what had happened, on what was broken between them now. And it helped to keep himself from wincing as heat was applied to aching, broken parts.

Still, his intakes hissed, and big hands tightened at his sides.

It had been a terrible idea to seek out fights. But that hadn't really sunk in until the second blow to the chest, driving armor and metal into sensitive parts.

He looked up at the ceiling, swearing softly.]