"Don't touch me," Kaya snapped, flinching away from his hand so fast she nearly fell off the stool. The words were sharper than she intended, cold and absolute.
Veer froze, his hand hovering in the air. The rejection hit him like a physical slap, and his face fell.
The sudden, tense silence was broken by Cutie. He moved slowly, deliberately, getting up and walking over to her. He ignored the warning glare in her eyes, a look that had made hardened soldiers flinch, and gently placed the back of his hand against her cheek.
She was too surprised by his quiet defiance to pull away this time. His touch was cool against her burning skin.
Cutie reached out, pressing the back of his hand to Kaya's forehead. He frowned, his touch gentle. He looked from her flushed face back to his hand, then back to her face again.
"Her temperature is normal," he said, surprise and confusion lacing his voice.
