Holy shit what an awful smell. He actually gags so hard, he lets go of the sword, covering his mouth and closing his nose. Why do they all smell so bad?? What living thing smells like this on the inside ugh.

This is to say, he misses most of the conversation up until Rory suddenly hugs him. Despite the heat in the air and the scent clinging to his nose, he melts into the touch a little, loosely wrapping an arm around her and reaching up to pat her on the head. You did good Rory, though he doesn't say so, only offering her a smile before he turns his attention in Luka's direction.

"When you touched the ground, the monster lit on fire. It's... It melted, I guess, when it died," he says, thoughtfully? Like he's turning the events over in his head still. "Let's get away from here. It's hot."