[ listen they didn't teach subtlety at spy school, alright. they didn't teach much of anything, really. ]

Me? Fine, just fine. I, ah, had a bit of a bike accident awhile ago but I've healed up completely since then and it's been... fine. [ nevermind the fact that he's currently injured, of course.

he starts looking a bit sheepish at getting called out, and the expression is only slightly put upon because he's genuinely embarrassed at his reaction in the first place. ] Oh. That wasn't... [ alex glances down at the notebook under his arm and winces. ]

You surprised me, is all. [ he offers weakly. ] I guess I've just gotten a little jumpier since. Since Ian died.