He can't help it, he blushes hard at her. That's more effusively sincere praise than he's ever gotten from a lover - C.C's love is a quiet love, its words couched in sly teasing but all sincerity showing in her touch alone. Annie's so emotive in contrast, so open and unashamed and for his embarrassment's sake there's only one explanation for her enthusing so hard, so soon, while they're still half-strangers.

"Are you drunk?"

She's holding a full shotglass, which indicates she's been imbibing. He takes the shot from her hand and gulps it down, planning only to judge from the burn just how alcoholic is is before his Code burns the poison away - and his mouth is full of cinnamon and his mind is reeling.

"Oh." He looks at her and sees her. His eyes slowly grow round as he cups his hand over hers on his cheek. "I have been pushing you away, haven't I?"