Shock and terror crashed through Orion's spine, leaving him breathless, his hands instinctively curling over his stomach as if protecting it from words that felt sharper than any weapon.
Oh." Louise coughed lightly, turning his face aside for a moment. "Right. Sorry."
He covered himself again with his hand and released a slow, restrained sigh, clearly trying to regain his composure.
"But it'll hurt if I try right now," he admitted honestly, his voice lower than before. "If I wear something tight, it'll be painful. If it's loose, it won't help much either." He paused, then added more quietly, "Let it calm down first. Then I'll put them on."
Orion frowned slightly, confusion flickering across his face.
"Why are you even like that in the first place?" he asked suddenly, genuinely baffled.
Louise choked faintly on his breath.
