"...Some people come back like that. Not -- just here. Just in general."

It seemed a throwaway comment. Cover-conversation as she withdrew her chastened hand and wrapped it back around her mug of coffee. "Losses. Right. A cost...did, uhm, your folks ever find out what my one good day cost him?"

There was an edge of hunger in her eyes when she asked. She had so little knowledge about the strong, near-silent man whose wings she had only too readily hacked from his body. Not sliced -- not like bread and butter -- but sawed. With brawn and muscle and grit teeth. And gore.

Bloody-minded little slip of a woman, she was. And she hung on his response.