[ she can't imagine there will ever be a good time to talk about it. Normally, she would have been perfectly happy to never mention it ever again - she doesn't do comforting. Other people's woes only matter to her when she can take advantage of them. But Shadow's not "other people." If he's struggling... Well, who else does he have to turn to? It's either her or nobody. She'll just have to do. That's why she'd made the offer to him before in the first place.

That said, Rouge half expects him to lash out at her for daring to mention Maria, even if not by name. The fact that he doesn't is either a sign of his trust in her, or how badly he needs to let some of this out. Maybe both. All she can do is shake her head in response. ]

Never had anyone like that.

[ Shadow's a textbook example of how love can hurt you - exactly why she decided she was done with it a long time ago. Still... admitting it does make her feel a pang of unpleasant something-or-other. Total independence has its price. ]

But she must really be something special to have you so hung up, even after you said your goodbyes. [ She probably should have tried talking to Maria, Rouge thinks. She probably had some amusing insights on her dour friend here, but the situation was tense enough as it was. ] ... What's on your mind?

[ she can guess... but she won't. It feels intrusive, even for a professional puts-her-nose-in-everyone's-business sneak like her. ]