If he asks, it was to keep him from tensing up and anticipating the pain, but let's be honest - Benevenuta isn't a healer, she doesn't know how much difference that actually would've made. There's every likelihood it was at least fifty percent being a little shit where she can get away with it.

(Always an ulterior motive.)

...she rolls her eyes at him, too, glancing up from what she's doing underneath her lashes. It's a sidelong, sly thing that doesn't really argue for or against it being a good idea to tease her, since his mileage may vary on whether it's actually a good thing that she might react other than prissily repressive. Does he need any encouragement. Should he get any. Probably the answer to both of these questions is a resounding 'no', yet here we are.

"I am a firm believer that if you want something done, you should do it yourself."

She doesn't delegate well, historically.