She met his eyes as she carefully, almost tenderly, pulled the bandages to one side and watched a jet of blue flames come out, almost as if it had been waiting for her. The skin around the edges was torn, almost raw.

It was, somehow, both worse than she'd imagined and easier. Worse in that it looked painful; easier in that fire, at least, was familiar.

She let the bandage snap back into place. "That" -- she swallowed -- "That doesn't hurt you?"