"'Cause I wasn't trying to figure out when the pain stopped, I think."

"Okay, can we repeat that or something effectively similar without the confounding factor in case the injury all by itself is affecting your speed?"

"Sure," he says, holding his other arm out to Ethan.

Who cheerfully breaks it.

This time the morph is much faster. A little slower than coming back from Robin the first time, maybe, but not as obviously so.

Bella times it and writes down the times.

"Incrementally nastier. Don't overdo it, and I don't think we should experiment with anything that could cause brain damage."

He shrugs. "All right, so don't hit me in the head."

Ethan playfully taps the handle of the hammer against Trouble's forehead.

"C'mon, that barely hurt," he giggles.

So Ethan does it again. Several more times.

Bella times him. When he's done, she says, "Distracted or actually slowed down by being hurt?"

"Distracted," he says. "That's how it slows me down - it's hard to concentrate through it, you know?"

"Do you think practice would affect it?"

"Maybe. Probably. Let's see."

This round, Ethan puts the hammer down and breaks all of Trouble's fingers. And then picks it up again to finish the job, prodding carefully to verify that no bone in hand or wrist remains intact.

"Are we inspiring you?"

"Inspiring me? I don't think I'd describe it like that, what do you mean? Trouble, do of course say so if you need another break."

"Inspiring you to unscientific observations."