[It hurts, but he doesn't flinch; even these days he has a high threshold for pain. And even though he doesn't enjoy pain, the fact that it's due to something Thorn is doing to him —for him— kind of makes it ...enjoyable, in some strange way. It feels like the physical proof of... something. Trust? Ownership?? Attention?

The unfamiliar weight of metal feels like a continuing reminder that Thorn was there, and he likes it, to the point where even the pain is not unwelcome. He feels gratitude, and comfort, and a lot of other emotions he can't name and wasn't expecting to get out of this particular experience.]

...Thank you.