[ Bingo. His denial only convinces her that she's right. To her disappointment, being right in this case isn't as satisfying as it usually is - knowing your friend (friend?) is struggling isn't exactly gloating material. Rouge's lips press into a thin line in lieu of an immediate response; she looks at him, wet, battered, bloody, and once again trying to get her to leave so that he can deal with it all himself.
It's supremely hypocritical of her to criticize him for that. She's the same way, after all - handling her problems alone. Typically, that's how she prefers it. But things have changed, even if only a little. She has Omega, and - more pressingly in this moment - she has Shadow. And as much as she tries to play it off as purely practical, he's more than just a useful business partner. She'd told him as much herself. That's why she's here crouched in front of him, contemplating how she can help, instead of running off deeper into this facility to grab her treasure.
Ugh. She's gotten so soft on him! ]
All business, as usual, [ she mutters drolly after a moment, rising back to her feet. Rather than leaving, she simply folds her arms and stands beside Shadow, looking back out into the facility before turning her eyes back to him. One ear's still swiveled outward. Just in case reinforcements do show up... ] You're a real handful, you know.
[ despite her earlier irritation, there's no bite in her tone now. Rouge is thinking. Truthfully, when considering things that might be bothering him, the culprit is dreadfully obvious. It wasn't all that long ago that Shadow had to face off with his past again, and much more directly. He'd cried; she knew. She never mentioned it to him, or to anyone else. It was her little secret - and proof positive that he was shaken by it all.
Who wouldn't be? The real dilemma is how to address it. ]
no subject
It's supremely hypocritical of her to criticize him for that. She's the same way, after all - handling her problems alone. Typically, that's how she prefers it. But things have changed, even if only a little. She has Omega, and - more pressingly in this moment - she has Shadow. And as much as she tries to play it off as purely practical, he's more than just a useful business partner. She'd told him as much herself. That's why she's here crouched in front of him, contemplating how she can help, instead of running off deeper into this facility to grab her treasure.
Ugh. She's gotten so soft on him! ]
All business, as usual, [ she mutters drolly after a moment, rising back to her feet. Rather than leaving, she simply folds her arms and stands beside Shadow, looking back out into the facility before turning her eyes back to him. One ear's still swiveled outward. Just in case reinforcements do show up... ] You're a real handful, you know.
[ despite her earlier irritation, there's no bite in her tone now. Rouge is thinking. Truthfully, when considering things that might be bothering him, the culprit is dreadfully obvious. It wasn't all that long ago that Shadow had to face off with his past again, and much more directly. He'd cried; she knew. She never mentioned it to him, or to anyone else. It was her little secret - and proof positive that he was shaken by it all.
Who wouldn't be? The real dilemma is how to address it. ]
You're thinking about her, aren't you?