Kwared flopped down on Phandrins couch, his tail hanging off the side as Phandrin set his bag down. He was tired too, but he did want to talk to Kwared about what he'd be wondering before they slept.
Kwared turned his head to face him, Phandrin smiling at him and sitting on the edge of the table infront of the couch.
"Fire away," Kwared hummed, waving a hand as Phandrin paused, glancing down.
"Well, uh," Phandrin paused, rethinking how he'd exactly ask about the issue.
"Kertia mentioned something to me about an old friend, or supposed friend I guess, from before we met? He said alot has changed, and I just wanted to ask about it I guess," Phandrin rambled quickly, biting down on his nail as he waited for Kwared to respond.
Kwared stared at him, trying to think of a response as he recalled what Phandrin spoke of. He knew Phandrin had little Intel on things he'd done before they met, only knowing some because of Ace.
"I didn't have friends before you," Kwared shrugged, blatant as Phandrin paused, his chest twinging a bit.
"..none? Who was he talking about-?..." Phandrin trailed off, Kwared sitting up and glancing at his hands, extending his nails for a second.
"Do you remember the tiger kid?" Kwared said, glancing up at Phandrin who nodded.
"Didn't he pass away? I don't know much," Phandrin thought back to the kid for a moment, only knowing them as he took part in arranging the school's funeral.
"He was killed in a quadrant match..." Kwared trailed off, staring down at his hands again.
"His death was the reason so many precautions started being taken in the arena.. and the final reason," Kwared paused, glancing around, everywhere but Phandrin as he hesitated. Surely Phandrin wouldn't hate him right? It was Phandrin after all.
"The reason everyone started hating me for good," he finished, Phandrins eyes widening slightly as he paused, furrowing his eyebrows.
"... you killed that kid?" Phandrin muttered, leaning down to try and match Kwareds gaze again but to no avail this time. Kwareds atmosphere seemed to grow more distant than before, Phandrins chest tightening.
Kwared didn't answer, staying quiet as his ears pressed back, his tail wilting downwards.
"What happened?" Phandrin continued, Kwareds shoulders tensing slightly.
"In sure Kertias told you, I didn't exactly- start out like this," Kwared laughed slightly, motioning to his entirety as Phandrins eyes narrowed.
"That kid.. he was relentless and I was fed up. I did so much for them, I-" Kwared paused, running a hand in his hair before gripping it tightly, his eyes clenching shut. He hadn't thought about this in a while but it was always there.
"I tried so hard.. to get them to like me. I was so open with them, I made them gifts I- I did everything I thought they'd like... And they just..." Kwared shifted, Phandrin staying quiet but sitting down on the couch beside him, beggining to recognise the shifty movement. Kwareds hands were right and the thoughts back to his past physically made him sick.
"Everyone just hated me.. before I was mean even, they would crush my stuff and destroy things I'd worked hours on.. even Ace and Kertia hated me.. but I just wanted friends at the time, I just got out of the hospital..." Kwared continued, his tail wrapping around himself.
"I thought it would be better than the facility, like people would be more friendly... but they hated me, and I never figured out why. They would harrass me and beat me up and one of them even snapped my IV out of my arm.. my literal life support," Kwareds rambling got quicker as Phandrin set a hand on his face, tugging his head down to Phandrins collar, Kwared shutting his eyes.
