I glanced at Ilse. She was already looking back, both of us caught staring, and neither of us looked away first, not until the silence started needing an answer.
"What?" She asked, frowning hard.
"What?" I returned the gesture. Then I added, "You know at some point you'd really have to make peace with me. I have done nothing but diligently try to save you since we've been stuck together."
"You make it sound as though I am a liability."
I shrugged and gave her a smirk, slow and deliberate. By her standards, an annoying one.
"I never said you were, but I really have been saving your ass more than once, granted it's a fat one, and I don't regret it."
She glared at me briefly, shaking her head afterwards.
"Why do I even bother with you? You are forever going to be like this."
I smiled, chin lifting an inch, entirely too pleased with myself.
"The earlier everyone realizes, the earlier peace reigns. But don't joke about it, I can be serious when I need to."
She glanced at me.
