"Survival is all we can ask for, I think," Ildraniath replied with a hint of dark humor. Survival was all her people managed to eke out. And even that was tenuous. Helping them to navigate through a galaxy full of hazards was a part of her duty. But here, she couldn't even do that. At least not at the moment.

And there she went, getting lost in her own thoughts again. She glanced up at his touch and her free hand came up to cup his hand against his cheek in quiet contemplation. How long had it been since she had felt a touch like this? Before Zouichi.

Did it matter?

Ildraniath leaned up to press her lips against Zouichi's temple.