When flinching is trained out of you (trained isn't the most accurate word but if he goes fishing around for them then he'll think on it too long and best not, not in public) you adopt other ways to do it. Shaking his hair out of his face is a production his collar gets involved in when it gets down there too because you don't flinch when people touch you, that's the first big mistake you make after all, then they know weakness sure as the wolf spots the weak, the very old, the very young first in the flock.

"What's there to say?" It's a long time ago now (not that long ago though, Kit one of the few people who could hazard a fairly accurate guess at his age) so he shoves down whatever he's feeling, puts on a smile he practiced enough that it's good, better than good, looks right convincing. "Grew up, didn't get m'self killed. Had plenty to say on the crystal I think."