A hawk and a girl sit at one of those tables in the bar that's conveniently out of the way. In the corner where there's not too much foot traffic. It makes it easier for the hawk to stay calm
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For once, Rachel hasn't actually been putting off talking. Not consciously. It's just that it's a lot easier to talk to someone when they're willing to talk back.
Tobias is perched on the back of a chair watching her. It's not the intense animal stare that had been all he'd been capable a week before, but it was still intense.
His words, when they eventually do come, are aprupt.
The stare is something she's gotten used to. He's looked at her like that for years now, if not for so long of a stretch. But that's another thing Milliways is teaching her - how to be in his company for so long, with nothing more pressing than each other's company.
And certain topics.
Blue eyes dart up to him the moment his voice is in her head but Rachel doesn't speak. Partly because her throat has already tightened.
She was so careful - as careful as she can be - making sure he wouldn't see how she came back. Wouldn't know that she'd had to be healed before she saw him.
He wouldn't see the knife she brought back - and still has.
Or capable of it.
She's not sure which applies anymore.
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His words, when they eventually do come, are aprupt.
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And certain topics.
Blue eyes dart up to him the moment his voice is in her head but Rachel doesn't speak. Partly because her throat has already tightened.
She knows, already, what he wants her to explain.
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He simply sits. And waits.
The fact that she didn't answer immediately tenses him up, though. And it's obvious.
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"What?"
She's going to make him say it first. After a week of silence... if he can.
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...
He tenses up further.
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Short, clipped, annoyed.
It wasn't on purpose. It wasn't a choice. She didn't mean to.
And the guilt makes her defensive.
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It wasn't her fault. She didn't choose this.
She wasn't heartless when she did choose to leave him.
She said goodbye.
"I woke up there. Someone else did, too. A girl I kind of know. I went to sleep in the room and I woke up there."
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He wants to know more.
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"It's called the Labyrinth. That's what it is - a big maze. It only felt like two days, but when we got back..."
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He actually wasn't sure how long it had been. He'd lost his sense of time a few weeks in.
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If he knew the exact days he would say it.
Use it.
She's not surprised that he lost track of time, of days so quickly. Rachel only wishes she could be.
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He's not sure if he's talking about what she went through or what he went through. Maybe both.
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She was so careful - as careful as she can be - making sure he wouldn't see how she came back. Wouldn't know that she'd had to be healed before she saw him.
He wouldn't see the knife she brought back - and still has.
"I know."
No, she doesn't.
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