Something on Wen's face must have shown because Tov's tone took a slightly softer note. "I can give you coordinates," he said slowly, looking at Clara for confirmation. Once she nodded he continued, "what you do with those has nothing more to do with either of us, understand?"
"Fine." Wen snapped, standing up. Truthfully, this had gone quicker than he had expected, but every second was one too many.
Shan had been quiet for a while, watching the scene in front of him unfold in uncharacteristic silence. "Why don't you leave?" He asked Clara, his voice quieter than usual.
Clara stared at him.
"You guys are clearly…you know!" He waved a hand between her and Tov, "But you still stay with those guys!"
"It's not that simple," Clara said sharply, as Tov tensed next to her. "Loving someone doesn't magically fix everything. Besides," she glanced at Wen, "you could ask him the same thing."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Wen froze on his way to the exit.
"Just that you of all people should know. It's not that easy, is it?"
"Isn't it?" Wen's voice came out more forcefully than he intended.
An eyebrow raised, "You think I should have left with him."
Wen didn't respond, but he could tell the answer was evident on his face.
"You're no better, you know. Thinking you can have your empire and your man. You always have to choose. Looks like you already did."
Wen leaned forward to respond, but Caid had already begun ushering him out the door before the tension in the room could grow any worse. "Thank you for your help, we owe you both." With that, he pushed Wen out of the room and into the waiting car.
Not bothering to wait for Shan, Wen instructed the driver to head to the Green Sea's base, where they could gather supplies before setting off. Despite getting all the information he needed, he was now in a foul mood and figured his brother could find his own way back.
"You usually don't let those sorts of things get to you," Caid said, halfway through the ride back. Wen was sulkily staring out the window with arms crossed.
After a few moments, Wen quietly admitted, "I don't even like my job."
Caid's eyes widened. He wasn't sure why this was such a surprise. Did anyone in their line of work like their job? But if anyone would, wouldn't it be Wen, who did everything with such absolute purpose? Or at least, wouldn't he at least be the one person who never thought about such frivolous things as liking or not liking a job?
As if hearing his thoughts, Wen quietly added, "I never thought about it, not until him."
Caid didn't need to ask who Wen was referring to. It was obvious. Even though he had always distrusted the man, he couldn't help but notice that when Day was around, Wen was different. He was no longer perfectly predictable and absolutely contained. He was human. And as annoying as it was to deal with his new whims, Caid found that the part of him who saw Wen not as his boss, but as his cousin and something of a friend, liked it.
"Whatever their situation," Caid said slowly, "it's not the same as yours. Or if it is, that doesn't mean you have to do the same as them. Both you and Day are weird enough, you'll find a different way, whatever that means."
Some of the tension fell from Wen's shoulders, and his crossed arms relaxed slightly. He didn't respond, but the corners of his mouth softened slightly.