'Funny how you kept asking me to trust each other and yet you were the one who kept their identity hidden.' Falcon was not looking at her, his eyes trained on his pistol, as his hands worked furiously.
'I just didn't think it was important enough, Falcon.' Aurelia sounded strained, like she was trying to keep a hint of apology out of her tone. 'And I have to admit, I forgot to tell you,' she said, wringing her hands.
'Not important enough? You forgot? This is worse than my-dog-ate-my-homework excuse.' He wiped the Glock's magazine with the disgusting rag. Falcon was irritated at the lack of cleaning solvent, so he was making use of a cloth he had found in the hotel room to clean the pistol just for the sake of it.
'Okay, I was afraid you would scoff at me if I told you I was the demon slayer from "Tales of Renatus." I feared you would take me for an exaggerating wimp if I claimed the legend is based on me.'
A part inside of Falcon understood. He knew the pain of being underestimated and criticized. At one point he had stopped telling his fellow trainees of all the locks he had picked lest they laughed at him again. But another part of him was furious, furious at her for claiming they should start trusting each other to make this partnership work.
'I was thirteen, then. Nobody would believe a young girl killed those mutant monkey-monsters back then. So our village's storyteller based them off on some imaginary male hero, and gradually people started assuming it was my Grandfather because he trained the lot of us.' Aurelia continued calmly, trying to make him see.
'They are legends, Aurelia. They are not meant to be believed.'
'All good stories are factual.'
'Monsters are factual? Demon slaying is factual?
'I said factual, not real. Factual is knowing the monsters can kill you. Real is the existence of the monsters that could kill you. Know the difference.'
Falcon did understand, but for reasons unknown to him, he felt angry. It was personal, he realized with a start, that Aurelia hadn't told him. He took a moment to answer, inserting the magazine back into the Glock. He had given up on the wretched rag, annoyed at the fact that his precious pistol wouldn't be cleaned today.
'You don't trust me, Aurelia. I am not blaming you, but this team has fallen apart.'
'What do you mean?'
He finally glanced up at her. In the glow of the dim bulb, her face looked crushed. There was an ugly glee inside his heart to see her look upset at these words.
'I mean,' he got up from the bed and reached for his bag. There was nothing to pack, the bag was zipped and ready and so was he. 'Our partnership ends here. I am leaving.'
He grabbed his jacket from the bed and shrugged it on. 'Goodbye.'
'What? No, what are you doing?' Aurelia's panicked stricken voice reached him and he smiled internally. A moment later he was disgusted with himself.
'What does it look like I am doing?' Falcon made for the door.
'Falcon, stop.' She got off the bed and hurried towards him. 'You can't leave like that.'
'Why not?' He didn't turn, kept his eyes on the door.
'Because Cyan is still in danger, we haven't rescued him yet. The only reason you agreed to help me was to find Cyan. You can't give up on him now,' she pulled at his arm.
Falcon felt his shoulders sagging, but he kept his resolve. A part of him was disappointed that was the only reason she had given to make him stay.
'Surely, the great demon slayer doesn't need help from a mere crook now, does she?' He said, turning the door handle and hoping his voice wasn't shaking.
'I do. I need your help, Falcon.'
Falcon couldn't believe his ears. Aurelia had admitted weakness to him, but instead of being happy, he felt guilt for making her say those words. He knew what a huge blow to her pride this must have been.
'And I really care about Cyan too. Please stay until we find him.'
He sighed. Cyan's face was still fresh in his mind, the urge to help him still raw in his chest. And he was so so tired, wretched to the bone, and soaking in fatigue.
He turned around, resting his back on the door, and nodded silently. 'Fine,' he said, 'But only until Cyan's saved.' Or until you find out what I feel for you, he added inwardly, then I'll just blow myself up.
Aurelia's eyes lit up and she smiled. 'Of course, thank you,' she turned to her bed and started rummaging in her bag again.
'Also,' he continued, and Aurelia looked up at him with her eyebrows raised. 'From now on, we talk business only. No personal stories. Only professional talk.'
She rolled her eyes and shrugged. 'Okay.'
The tower of hope he had built with uncertain twigs collapsed inside him. He was hoping she would object to it, but she pulled out a leather-bound book and settled back onto her pillows.
He glanced at the cover. It featured a large man holding up a sword against what he realized with a start was a gorilla. Aurelia was reading "Tales of Renatus."
'How vain,' he mumbled as he placed the gun back on the nightstand. His jacket felt like a burden as he lifted it off his shoulders and sighed.
'I heard you,' she said, throwing a pillow at him. 'I am trying to remember how I did it.'
'How did you do it, though?' he turned to her.
'Find it out yourself,' she handed him the book, but he frowned. 'No, wait. How do I know if what is in there is even true?'
He grinned stupidly as Aurelia frowned and settled back onto her pillows. Staring at her for only a second less than obvious, he turned onto his pillows and pulled the covers over his head. A guilty part of him was elated he was still there.