Midnighter's grin sharpens. That was adorable.

"Stopped a gene pirate in Louisville, thought I'd celebrate. Either winning or getting out of the south, I'm not sure. So why're you here, if you don't usually go to places 'like these'?"

He's never been soft or gentle or subtle. It could occur to him that cutting right to the heart of it with no preamble or warning could be a bit much, but he'd have to be a different kind of person, first.