That was one mystery solved, but suddenly Shannon couldn't find himself caring that the she in front of him was actually a he. It was, in fact, entirely trivial when placed against the concern some stranger had that Shannon would hurt or had already hurt Eli in the past. While he couldn't deny that his continued friendship with Eli despite knowing of his crush probably wasn't the healthiest nor kindest course of actions, there was a definite line to be drawn. Shannon was not one lick like those other versions of himself that had nearly picked Eli apart and he wouldn't stand for being unintentionally placed on the same pedestal.

"I would never, could never, hurt Eli," Shannon said, his voice dropping into an almost-painfully neutral tone. Part of him understood that this was a friend of Eli's, just trying to look out for the kid that he knew, but Jackie walked into the oven fully intending to play with fire. Shannon was more than capable of complying with the request for more heat. "Your business is his well-being, but it is not your business to take his love life into your own hands. Especially not behind his back. Don't you ever try to imply that I would hurt him, either. I am not like that," he insisted, voice turning fervent although he worked as best he could to keep the volume down. Shannon would voluntarily give up his own existence before putting anyone in danger, Eli most of all. There was no question to that, and it raised his hackles that somehow it wasn't the most obvious thing in the world: water was wet, the earth revolved around the sun, and Shannon Vaughn would not harm Eli Delacroix. "I will never be like that."