( a flicker, but he's been studying jai's face for years. well. he's known it for years, been studying it for some months. there's a bit of a difference there. but aidan knows him well enough to read when his face breaks, to know when something--hurt. )

You said not to touch. ( repeating, before he takes a breath and continues on. ) You don't like touching, you especially don't like sharing. But if I'm reading this wrong, tell me. Before shit comes up in front of people you don't want it to.

( he's just being smart here. )