Sevika sat at the edge of the bed, her cybernetic arm resting on her knee while her flesh-and-blood hand trembled slightly as she wrapped a strip of cloth around her knuckles. The skin was raw and red, blood staining the makeshift bandage. Her movements were precise but slowed by exhaustion.

Without a word, you moved to kneel in front of her, gently taking the cloth from her hand. Her sharp eyes flicked to yours, narrowing for a moment before she sighed and let her arm fall limp.

“You don’t have to,” she muttered, her voice low and rough.

“Maybe,” you replied, carefully looping the bandage around her hand, “but someone has to take care of you, Sev.”

She huffed out a bitter laugh, though her gaze softened as she watched you. “Don’t go getting used to this,” she murmured, but the way her fingers twitched slightly, brushing yours, said something entirely different.