She tipped her head up to him at that, a crease between her brows as she looked at him. "Are you trying to tell me you feel 'protective' of me? That's... hilarious. I don't need to be protected." It came out without her even thinking about it, and she realized, belatedly, how it might sound. "I can take care of myself, is what I mean, Clark. Been doing it my whole life."

And look how well she'd done so far. Sad trombone noise.