Mikkel hesitated and then felt the pang if guilt over being dishonest. "I punched him in the mouth earlier when he tried to buy me."

Maybe it would make Sigurd mad but better this mad then from finding out the Dane had been lying. Mikkel pushed himself nearly into Sigurd's lap when they got in the taxi.

"I can hold my own." Maybe he couldn't but he wasn't about to admit it even if he was melting into that hug for safety.