[ that sparks a humming laugh. she watches him go, cleaning it up without her asking, and wonders at the ache in her chest. so familiar yet so foreign. ]

It’s clever. [ said with a sliver of a smile. ] Making us wonder about each other, suspect if we’re even safe… this might be even better than the hallucinations at inspiring paranoia. No one wants to have their secrets exposed, after all.

[ … a sigh. Only for him will she admit: ]

Even I’m … starting to get tired.