City of Broken Dreams: Life's Bazaar

[Taren]

Rilian felt a hand fall on his shoulder. His entire body tensed and he jerked away. The grip wasn't that strong; he could break it. As he twisted, his head whirled around, eyes locking with hers for just a moment. His eyes betrayed fear. Anger. Desperation.

The grip wasn't strong. It wasn't trying to restrain him. It wasn't the tight, clamping grip of a guard seizing him as he held a lady's coinpurse in his hands. It wasn't.

He stopped and stood still. "Sorry. I... am not used to being touched." She had asked him to smile. After his reaction, he owed her at least that. His lips bent upwards slightly, as much as he could muster. It wasn't genuine, but hopefully it would satisfy her. "Y-yes. Let's f-feel good about what we've done. At l-least for now."