How Do I Care for You? | Darksparks

"Quit the Games, Natalie." Renee's voice was stern and unstable. She was no longer able to meet my gaze, "I'm serious. Leave..."

At the end of her sentence were words that she didn't - or maybe she did - know were dangling in the air between us. The plead was unsaid, but ever so evident. She thought I couldn't see through her true intentions. She thought being harsh would scare me away. True, most of the Legends did believe I was naïve, after all. Why would she believe I would be able to dissect every painful crack in her voice, the lines or worry that tinged her brows, the sorrowful flame that lay in her averted gaze?

"I've said it once before, Renee," I moved closer to her, trying - and failing - to get her to look me in the eyes, "To you, it's a gauntlet; to me, it's home. I will defend it until the end. Besides...where else would I go?"

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Written directly after "The Obvious Mole" quest. This was written BEFORE the week 7 quest, so there may be some things that have changed.