Getting kneed in the balls or punched in the throat is so par for the course in a fight that it flew completely under his radar and melded seamlessly into fuel for his fire.

Even the scrabbling of fingers around his eyes wouldn't do it, but then there's a fucking thumb up his goddamn nose craning his whole head up and the sensation is so singularly jarring that he snorts aggressively on instinct as he jerks back, mouth clear of John's tentacle.

Then the next thing he knows is impact that cracks his nose and snaps his head back against John's chest - and he goes slack in John's arms for a few seconds as he blinks, rapid and blearily, as the thirst for blood suddenly drains completely, leaving the tang of copper in his nose and adrenaline crashing through his body.