Nikko's flush lingered longer than she probably wanted, but Leon saw the way her breathing steadied. Her gaze softened into something… speculative.
'I wonder how it would feel…' The flicker of thought was gone almost as soon as it formed, replaced by a quick shake of her head.
Elizabeth caught it though. Leon didn't miss the slight grin curling at the corner of her mouth. Very soon, she seemed to think, like she was already plotting something devious.
To break the weird tension hanging over the room, Leon leaned against the arm of the couch and asked,
"Nikki… why are you here?"
That seemed to pull her fully back as she told them the reason.
"I'll be following you into the Trial World,"
The words hit like a pebble in a silent pond, small, but the ripples went wide. Elizabeth's grin vanished. Even she blinked at that, lips parting slightly. A second later, both Leon and Elizabeth spoke at the exact same time:
"What!!!?"
