Renevere Mars: Part Three

Episode 36: Lie by Omission

Duren and Ren sat across from each other at his kitchen table, Duren reading the morning paper, which Ren chronically kicked into a pile by the trash at her apartment complex. She found it endearing he actually brought the paper in to read it.

"What's the latest?" she asked, sipping her tea.

He glanced at her from over the page. "There's more discourse around the Hashu family."

Ren's ears perked up. "How so?" It had been nearly a month since she and Duren had rescued Sam and Cara, providing ample information to Vertexia to support their campaign against the Hashus, but Ren was learning that politics moves maddeningly slow.

"Just more of the same," he said, shaking his head and folding the paper. "Hashu family is trying to influence treaty members against us in the divide. Vertexia has to be careful we don't lose too many assets if we sever the ties to the Hashu family."

Ren shook her head. "Like a sticky divorce," she remarked.

Duren nodded and said, "And we're the kids... whatever mess this divorce creates, it'll be the warriors of Ossilith who have to clean up."

Ren sighed heavily, chewing on these thoughts as Duren eyed her.

"How was your week while I was gone?" he asked.

"It was okay," she said. "I was worried about you by the end of the week," she admitted. "I guess I didn't expect you to be gone so long."

"I didn't either, I'm sorry about that."

Ren shook her head. "It happens. I don't ever want you to be worrying about me when you're off on a mission, or what choosing to stay gone longer will mean for us. Of course I'll worry, but the most important thing is you come back in one piece."

He smiled at her. "Always do."

"That's negotiable."

He snorted. "Correction; I always come back in once piece, unless you're on the mission with me."

Ren gave a bark of a laugh, because it was admittedly a little disheartening how true this statement was. She rubbed her forehead as she said, "Yeah..." She made a guilty face.

"What did you get up to while I was gone, other than sneaking off to my friends' houses for parties."

"Your friends?" she challenged.

"I mean, I knew her first. And Heath."

"Yeah, it's your hometown, you knew everyone first. Mecha's cool, I like her... Oo, me and Heath went to that noodle place that just opened up on 3rd ."

An infinitesimal furrow creased between Duren's brow before he cleared his features. "I thought you and I were going to do that."

Ren studied his features for a hint of anger, but they were entirely calm. "We still can," she offered. He gave two nods, but nothing else. "Are you mad?"

He shook his head, like he couldn't care less, but Ren knew him too well. "Not mad. I just hadn't realized until recently how... close you and Heath got. Just surprising... Especially since he very obviously has a thing for you."

"I don't think that's obvious—"

"It's obvious. He's attracted to you, at the very least."

Ren shrugged, a little forced and tight in the shoulders. She was feeling defensive, probably because she knew she couldn't deny this.

"Who could blame him," he added, gesturing to her and smiling a little before his face returned to slate again and he said, "And you're attracted to him."