I wonder how he can be so... pleasant. I might even hazard a guess at chipper. It can't simply be the difference between typical navy and the fabled Elite Forces. It has to be something else.

Maybe it's just something about him.

He wouldn't be the first.

I take a sharp breath to distract myself from a momentary spike of pain behind my ear. I try not to let the pain show on my face, and instead smirk at him. "Funny how that works."