[ and this is why he can NEVER. KNOW!!!

... if she says no to this then that's

he'll know. she can't afford to be suspicious. ]

... Fine, as long as it's just my hand.

[ reaching out and grabbing his and holding it. ]

You see? There's nothing to it.

[ except her hand is warm and small and in spite of the number of tiny scars on it and the fact that her fingers are starting to terminate into talons and there are teeny tiny feathers beginning to protrude here and there, surprisingly soft? maybe she's been using lotion on them recently..... ]