While Shannon wasn't going to go anywhere, he did appreciate the possessiveness Eli showed in their relationship. It was good to be wanted, coveted by your significant other. There was a difference between Eli being all right with Shannon having sex while they worked on their own related issues and Eli being all right with Shannon giving his heart to someone else just because they had a pretty body. Anyone who was fine with sharing their beloved's heart was not someone Shannon wanted to give himself to anyway. Having their friend with benefits be someone who was also a genuine friend was where the true stumbling block came in, even if Shannon knew he wouldn't suddenly fall over himself for Michelle's charms.

"Hot mess probably describes it best." While unaware of Eli's inner thoughts, Shannon did know that Trigger's old chassis was going to be a large problem in holding Eli down once they were comfortable enough to try switching roles. At the very least, it would give Shannon time to think of alternatives. He wasn't one to let something like that get in his way. "Which is for the better," Shannon pointed out. Having his powers was a worst-case scenario, and they still had to deal with the fact that Shannon had tapped into them at all. "Puberty must have been hell."