advanced | PSL for Renart

[He doesn't really know what to do with this, and it just makes the flush in his cheeks even more evident. A tiny traitorous whisper tells him that she's not with anyone any more, would it be so bad to flirt back? His feelings for her have never gone away despite their ups and downs, and--

--no. Damn it. No.

Even if he wanted to, it would be wrong to do it now. She's hurting, grieving, and he's here to be a friend, not some foul jerk who takes advantage of someone vulnerable.]

Have you ever been arrested?

[Maybe being obtuse and clinging to the thing that's absolutely not the point in what she said will help?]

[Realistically, she knows she shouldn't expect anything from her flirting. He's been adamantly against it, even with Monty gone, and she knows she's being pushy, but... she wants to. She wants to indulge herself, and a tiny part of her hopes he'll respond positively.

Absolutely unrealistic, but she still hopes.

His question, since it isn't completely dismissive, makes her want to push him a little more.]

Plenty of times. A few of those were in the bedroom, too.

Renart.

[It's a warning, a low growl of her name that's not entirely anger. He wants her, he's wanted her since he's known her, but it can't be. Why does she insist on torturing them both this way?]

Just-- stop it. I told you already, I'm not interested in being a substitute for Monty.

[In an instant her expression shifts to something more closed off, and she abruptly turns away.

It's selfish and petty of her, she knows, but she doesn't want to be anything but selfish and petty right now.]

I was only teasing you.

We should set up camp.

[He thinks about apologising, but in the end wouldn't that just lead to more of this same tangle of awkwardness? He can't be a proxy for Monty, even if he would let himself want her that way, he wouldn't want it to be like this. Not the poor second hand to what she really wants.

So he simply shrugs and turns to begin lighting the fire. It takes a bit more time with just one hand, but he's experienced enough that he gets it going eventually and leaves her to set up any kind of shelter.

It's not until the flames are crackling and he's set some rabbit meat to cook on a spit of wood over them that he speaks again.]

You know we couldn't do this in Norfinbury? Camp out, I mean.

[Renart, meanwhile, finds a log to go sit and sulk on. Very visibly sulk, even though she's fully aware of how childish this is. She doesn't care, she wants him to feel bad.

When he speaks up she glances over, frowning at him.]

Camping in the snow wouldn't be pleasant for most humans.

[Normally he'd try and pull her out of the sulk, but she earned it this time. Even if she's hurting from losing Monty, that doesn't mean he's here to be the substitute.]

Even worse there.

[He's not going to draw attention to her pouting if she's not, just continuing as if they're both behaving like adults.]

Everyone who stayed out past dark died, no exceptions.

[Oh, she can see what he's doing and she doesn't like it. It's petty, of course, but she doesn't care.

She looks him square in the eye.]

Did you?

Die? Yeah.

[He shrugs as if it's matter of fact, because it is to him, there are much worse things than death.]

But not that way. Most everyone died at least once there, some people seemed to make a hobby of it.

[She's a bit disappointed he's fine with the question.]

That's rather morbid of them.

Yeah, well, some of 'em were pretty morbid. Crazy, too.

[Like House, for example.]

John got killed a lot, he was always charging into danger like a dumbass and getting himself into trouble.

John?

[Though... when Bucky explains it, she hesitates.]

Well, I suppose that shouldn't be surprising. He's only human.

Most of the other humans were smart enough not to fall into obvious traps, but not John. The only thing anyone had to say to get him to come haring out, alone, to some abandoned place was just that you needed a doctor.

[If he sounds irritated, it's because he was. John was an idiot, and highly stressful to have as a friend.]

Lured him out that way myself once.

[Ugh, part of her wants to keep up being sulky, but another part of her is getting curious. And with Renart, curiosity usually wins out.]

... Why did you need to lure him out, exactly?

[That’s pretty much what he’s banking on, her curiosity breaking through this bad mood and the awkwardness around them both. It’s why he’s willing to share things he doesn’t usually.]

I just found out that he’d been lying to me, he knew who I was from some movies back in his world. I was scared about what he might know, and mad at him for lying.

[His voice and expression flatten.]

I tortured him for information.

[Oh.

She can't stop herself from staring at him. That isn't entirely surprising, but it's still hard to hear. He's always been a sweetheart around her, if a bit awkward, but with his past....]

Goodness, and you're friends even after that.

Yeah, he's kind of a moron like that.

[There's a fond smile at his lips as he says it.]

He tried to tell everyone that an aquarium fell on him to keep people from being mad at me.

[She frowns a little, looking away.]

He's a good friend. He was protecting you.

He was an idiot, and that wasn't his choice to make. I didn't want him to lie for me, I never want anyone to lie to cover up my mistakes.

[John still doesn't always get that.]

Besides, nobody came after me. I just got my name put on some guide as a dangerous individual, that's it.

[Oh, she understands what he's getting at, but part of her still wants to be petty, so she huffs.]

You couldn't even be happy that he tried to do something nice for you?

Not then, no.

[He raises an eyebrow at her huffing, as if to ask if they're really still playing this game. When he replies, it's with the tiniest hint of a smile and a dryness to his tone.]

I was confused and angry and I felt guilty, nothing like the emotionally stable person I am now.

Mmm, you're the picture of emotional stability now.

[She wants to push him a little more.]

Hey, you don't see me tying people to chairs any more, do you?

[Not that he doesn't want to sometimes.]

I assume you're smart enough to not do that in public.

[So of course she hasn't.]

[He gives her a slight scowl and edges closer to the fire.]

I don't do it in private any more, either. And believe me, sometimes I want to.

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