"So," Steph says, "You're good with people, right?"
Cass wrinkles her nose. "No," she says. "Not…people. Bodies."
Steph blinks. "Bodies?"
"Bodies. I can…tell. A lot of things."
Stephanie shifts, propping herself up on her elbows. "Like what?"
Cass hums. "Before…I didn't understand words. I could still—understand."
"What, like you could read minds?"
Cass shakes her head. "Not minds," she says, smiling. She presses a finger into Stephanie's forehead, rocking her back slightly. "Bodies."
Steph grins. "So," she says, "What, like…if I wasn't actually saying anything right now, you'd be able to understand what I'm saying?"
Cass shrugs. "Kind of. It's more…feeling."
"Okay," Stephanie says. She leans forward, her grin widens. "What am I feeling?"
Cass rolls her eyes. "Not like that," she says, exasperated.
"Then like what?"
Cass chews on the inside of her cheek, thinking. "Bodies are…messy. Feelings are the same. They are not—hm. Worried, excited? They are both—" She reaches out, taps right over where Stephanie's heart is.
"Less feeling," she says. "More…what does your body want? What does it want to do? When people speak—they want me to understand something. It is…hard to explain." Her hand lingers on Stephanie's chest. Steph can feel her heart thumping against Cass' palm, still slowing from the exertion of their spar.
"So," Steph says, "you don't know what I'm feeling?"
"I do."
"Why didn't you just say that, then?"
"Anyone can tell," Cass says. She lifts her hand, from Stephanie's heart to her face. She taps the corner of Steph's smile, which only makes it spread wider. "Cheating," she whispers.
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