Theinstanttheetalpiercedherskin,Crasuckedinasharpbreath,browstwistingwithpain.Herfiriedtojerkandcurlreflexively—
ButElian’sbroadhandheldherdownlikeacmp.Shecouldn’tmoveatall.
“Alldo’sokay—rex.”TheoreoffastripofbreathabletapeandsecuredthecatheterlytothebackofCra’shand,thenlookeduptoadjustthedriprate.
OnlywhenEliansawtheclearliquidbegintotravelthroughthethintubing—dropbysteadydrop—intoCra’svein,didhisjawfinallyloosen.Hedidn’tpullhishandawayrightaway.Heonlyeasedhisgripslightly,stilllooselyholdingherlefthand,whichhadgotlecoldfromtheneedle.
“It’sin,”Eliansaid,watgCra—eyesstillsqueezedshut,likeshedidn’tevendarebreathetoohard.Hisvoicecarriedahintofindulgenceheprobablydidn’trealizehehad,alongwithpureresignation.“LinChu-Qing（初晴）,youopenyoureyesnow.You’resafe.”
“No.I’mnotopeniellmewhenit’sdone.”
Cra’svoicewasmuffled,thickwithanasaltone—andadefenseless,sulkystubbornness.Likeanostrichburyingitsheadinthesandatthefirstsignofdanger,sheturnedherfacetothesideahereyesshuttight,refusingtoevehetubetapedtoherhand.
Elian’smouthtugged,amuseddespitehimself.Somuchforthecalm,rationalsce-studentimage.Hedidn’tforceher.
Hepulledasmallpsticstooloverandsatdown.ThehandthathadbeencmpedaroundCra’slefthandloosenedalittlemore—buthestilldidn’twithdrawit.Hekeptalight,hhold,lettiifffingersrestagainsthispalm,herasmall,steadywarmthtogto.
TheIVwouldtakeabouthalfanhour.
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