It was everything that he had left not to cross the distance that separated them to be closer to where she stood. Somehow, the twisting need kept him rooted on the spot to enjoy the discomfort that it caused him, and especially because he knew that she would be dealing with her own discomfort at the same time. It was a nice thought really... she suffered when he did. There were very few people who could appreciate and still hate that reality, but he did and relished the hate he felt for the situation.

He refused to let any of that show as he stared at her like they were in some kind of stand-off. Perhaps they were. He was curious which of them would break first, and he liked to think himself a better man than that or just more used to enduring pain the longer that they were separated. The pounding in his head to get closer and not further was very much present after all.

"You know we can't do this forever or even more than a few more months," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders, shifting the bag of groceries to his other arm. "Eventually, we're going to have to get a little close to avoid agony. Of course... acknowledging a bond makes it worse, doesn't it? You haven't told Rogers yet, have you?"