When Kai fell silent, she risked a glance at him. He was staring at her hands [which she always holds mechanic gloves over to hide her...you know, cyborg hands]...<br />"Do you ever take those off?" he asked.<br />"No."<br />Kai tilted his head, peering at her as if he could see right through to the metal plate in her head..."I think you should go to the ball with me."<br />She clutched her fingers..."Stars," she muttered. "Didn't you already asked me that?"<br />"I'm hoping for a more favorable answer this time and I seem to be getting more desperate by the minute."<br />"How charming."<br />Kai's lips twitched. "Please?"<br />"Why?"<br />"Why not?"<br />"I mean, why <i>me</i>?"<br />Kai hooked his thumbs on his pockets. "So if my escape hover breaks down, I'll have someone to fix it?