[A few years ago, when they were both younger, what Anya says may have shocked him enough to get a visible reaction; he would have been hurt, and because everything back then transmitted instantly into anger, he would have been angry. He's calmer overall, now, and it's not exactly a surprise, not for this place and its wardens, he's certainly been called soft before. He's been called that by Anya, too, though not with this kind of venom, not with her blood pooling under her and him trying to help her.
He's just shocked enough - and the anger, that hasn't gone anywhere, but rather tempered and settled - that Beatrix gets the jump on him even with his position between them. It's terrible timing, overriding his attempt to answer, joke, stay calm and diffuse the hurt - also, apparently, still present - and instead dumping adrenaline on top of his temper.
He knows. He knows he's soft. He's trying, goddammit. Bea lunges and there's the flash of the knife and Dean doesn't even think about it, he just lashes out for her hand, knocking it from Anya's face and down into her shoulder instead. He snarls, wordless and guttural, and throws himself at Beatrix, his own razor flashing in his hand for any part of her he can reach.
Maybe he won't kill her, but he will certainly make someone feel something.]
[spam]
He's just shocked enough - and the anger, that hasn't gone anywhere, but rather tempered and settled - that Beatrix gets the jump on him even with his position between them. It's terrible timing, overriding his attempt to answer, joke, stay calm and diffuse the hurt - also, apparently, still present - and instead dumping adrenaline on top of his temper.
He knows. He knows he's soft. He's trying, goddammit. Bea lunges and there's the flash of the knife and Dean doesn't even think about it, he just lashes out for her hand, knocking it from Anya's face and down into her shoulder instead. He snarls, wordless and guttural, and throws himself at Beatrix, his own razor flashing in his hand for any part of her he can reach.
Maybe he won't kill her, but he will certainly make someone feel something.]
I said back the fuck off!