Ibani reaches out to cup his cheek, run her thumb along his jawline. "I've found I need attachment," she says, smiling softly. "To remain myself, anchors in the storm of existence. Duty kept me alive and mostly sane until I found Milliways, but it would not have been enough to get me this far, I would have shattered long ago."

"Hypocrite?" she asks, raising an eyebrow. Two can play the eyebrow game, Ben!