[Is it any wonder that someone so keenly attuned to another's safety and comfort would note the sudden tension and confusion gripping him? He had initially assumed this was simply born of spontaneous impulse, the way so many of Kalim's schemes are--but he actually seems distressed right now. As though he hadn't actually meant to say it. As though he regrets it? Why say anything at all then, unless it was some heat of the moment confession..... in spite of the fact that the moment wasn't heated?

Since when can Kalim keep secrets from anyone, let alone him? What had happened to him? Is he sick? Drugged? Poisoned? He had seemed fine when he arrived, and he hasn't eaten or drank anything since he got here--even ignoring the fact that anything Jamil made would obviously be clean. So..... poison, then? Do any bats have venom? It's certainly possible; those damn vermin probably feed on blood. Who knows what kind of transmittable diseases they could be carrying, too?

He knew handling those things bare-handed was a bad idea. Dammit! He can circle back around to actually letting himself think about any of this when there are less pressing matters to take care of.]

If you still feel that strongly about it, we can discuss it more when your contract expires. For now, you should at least sit down. How do you feel?