Cutie flinched at that, gaze dropping to the floor.
"But I want this," Kaya said, more quietly. "I'm tired of not having a roof that's mine. Tired of not having a person I want to come back to. I want someone I can go home 'to'. I want to live for myself, with someone in my arms, not just keep running until I fall over."
Her grip on Veer's wrist loosened, but she didn't let go.
Veer looked at her—at the calm face, the tired eyes, the small, stubborn line of her mouth—and felt both fear and fierce joy twist together in his chest.
Veer watched her in silence.
Kaya's fingers were still around his wrist, warm and steady. The things she'd just said moved slowly through his head, like his brain was lagging behind his ears.
"You really think… it's not a bad idea," he said finally.
She hummed, a small sound. "Mn."
Veer exhaled, long and shaky. Then he turned his hand under hers so their palms met, his fingers curling around her knuckles.
