Kijani leaned against him, her mouth gently pressing against his. She didn't understand Connor. She couldn't. She couldn't fathom how she could have so much power over him- and he just allowed her to have it? This was why she thought heroes were silly. Anything could happen to her, and she could be used to compromise Connor! And Connor, in all his goodness, would do anything for her sake. He was a fool... and yet, even after she pulled away from his kiss, she buried her face in his chest to hide her tears. 

She didn't know what to say. No one had ever fought for her before. No one had ever asked her to stay. When she had sued her parents, they had given up with minimal fight. The only thing they really argued about was the size of her inheritance. Neither of them even brought up the idea that she didn't have to leave, that she was worth changing for, worth keeping. Her brain could think of no response to the notion that she was worth effort for anyone.

“Connor...” That was all she could say before she began to sob into his shirt. She knew they were late for class, but really didn't care. How could she explain to Connor that she didn't understand what he was telling her, as if she were a blind person experiencing color for the first time?

Was she really, truly worth it?

–

Devika nodded slowly at Nicholas. “Well, I think I'll go...” She nodded at him, and headed quickly off to class. The images she'd seen, even briefly, were disturbing. Nick's anger was brimming just under the surface. Quickly she took a seat at the back of the class, trying to push her mind toward calm.