Even with the mask, Brainstorm is expressive. Without it, he can't hide the open mouthed, wide eyed look of terror as Tarn pulls him close, the hand on his shoulder squeezing enough to ache slightly. His armor is thicker than it was before his run in with Chief Justice Tyrest, but Tarn's strength wasn't something to scoff at.

"I-- I--" he starts to stammer, trying to find the words of denial and coming up blank, and he stumbles as Tarn pushes him away, barely catching himself against the bench and knocking a few things over.

There was that rattle that he had been trying hard to hold back.

"Of course not, Tarn, I just..." Just what? He just tried lying to his face. "It's just that, we're not lovers. I-In fact, I was a virgin. So, you see..."

Brilliant. Nailed it.

Brainstorm makes a staticy sound as he resets his vocalizer, his hand settling on the briefcase on his table. He tries focusing on his venting.