Well, for actual _physical_ suffering, I'll choose just about anyone rather than Avon, it seems. Whether I like his coping mechanisms or not, I think they're up to it.

Agreed! After all we've seen of what he does go through, why would anyone think being hurt would make him turn to someone for comfort. It's more likely to make him withdraw. He's much more likely to reveal something of his own emotions when there's a real need to protect someone else who's right in front of him (he is bad about out of sight, out of mind when it comes to giving a damn).