It really is a good thing Alec wasn't cooking stir fry right then. He'd have dropped the frying pan. Andrew has many, many faults. Alec isn't blind to that. He knows that. And he knows Andrew has a temper. But that?

"No," Alec says, suddenly feeling sorry for the kid. Whatever the hell happened to him. "He'll never hit you. Batya doesn't do that." He says this completely seriously and firmly. "Only weak people need to hit kids."

Which is true.

As far as Alec knows.

Jack's question startles him enough he doesn't realize what he just called Andrew out loud until after he said it. Thankfully Andrew isn't there to hear him.