Spoiler fragment: "it's yours now"
"I just think it'd be less intimidating if I painted on it."
I can't help but raise a brow, smiling in disbelief.
Annie Cresta and her ideas.
"You've been planning this," I suddenly realize. "You never wanted to do my walls!"
Annie's eyes widen in mock-offence.
"I did want to paint your walls, but... I also want to do your arm."
I sigh, out-stretching my mechanical arm for her. She squeals in excitement, rushing closer with her paint box.
"Okay! Okay, what can I do?"
"Honestly? Anything, long as it's not... I don't know, Caesar Flickerman's face."
"Who do you take me for? I'll do Claudius Templesmith. Duh."
I laugh and she giggles too. It's nice.
It's so nice to have her here. Annie feels like a fresh breath of air in a hot, summer day. It's like she makes the air I breathe sweeter.
"They'll probably wash it off," I say as she grabs a paintbrush, sitting closer to me and grabbing the prosthetic in her hands. Annie looks up, meeting my eyes with those impossible, sea-green ones.
I try not to think about the other night in the lighthouse.
But it's pretty impossible when she's so close.
"Well," her voice is very soft as she dips her paintbrush in the paint and then gently slides it over my forearm, tracing something kind of like a wave. "You'll remember, won't you?"
"That's all I want," she whispers, still looking into my eyes. My gaze dips down to her lips. No. No. I can't. I shouln't even think of it. No. Finally, she looks back down at the arm and gets to work.