[ Echidna's back up in an instant, crouching on her knees on the table's edge so that she is, yes, straddling his arm and the axe's handle, lewdly preventing him from pulling it back out (without hurting her, of course). With one hand stretched out so that her nails ghost just under his chin, any passing soul might get an entirely different idea if they saw.

But they can't see her eyes; the Once-ler can. And her desire isn't pure, or normal, or anything he could even begin to guess at, but it is a yearning and it is volatile. ]

There's no room for fake heroes anymore. To protect her, if you love her, you must be willing to do anything.

Next time you swing a weapon at me, aim to kill, or you won't get a second chance. Understand?