[He touches her cheek, and she doesn’t shy away. Odd, that the gesture feels almost familiar, and she looks up to him when it drops.

[His eyes aren’t familiar. Not entirely…]

Does it always hurt…? [It’s meant to sound more suspicious than it does. Either way, Aubrey thinks she can take it; physically, mentally, hell with it. Can’t be all that new.

[Privately, she’ll be grateful for the company. The infection crawls, just out of sight.]