Tess stares at Ronin evenly.
"You're supposed to answer my question truthfully."
Ronin's confusion deepens.
"I don't understand…I'm not lying. Can you not tell?"
Tess frowns disapprovingly.
"You don't need to lie to hide the truth. You can believe something that's untrue, or you can tell me a different truth than the one I want to know. I don't know which you're doing, but you should know that my Nature also lets me sense your desires. I can feel it…your bottomless rage…how there's no surge of hope or longing when you talk about surviving your situation. That's how I know that survival isn't your main goal. So, I'm asking you…what is?"
Ronin's expression becomes slightly more tense as Tess stares at her evenly, her pale blue eyes betraying a shimmer of uncertainty as she falls into silent contemplation. Eventually, her voice becomes suspicious.
"Why are you asking me this?"
Tess doesn't hesitate.
"Because I think that you've given Rain the impression that you're just trying to survive…to find the freedom to live the life you want…but I don't think that's true. Tell me, what if tomorrow the clans called off whatever agenda they have against you? If you were certain they wouldn't be hunting you anymore. Would you breathe a sigh of relief and move on?"
Ronin falls into apprehensive silence, causing Rain to study her curiously.
'Is she…actually hiding something?'
Eventually, Ronin responds hesitantly.
"That's not realistic. They would never do that, and even if they said they would, I couldn't trust them. Naturally, I'd be neither relieved, nor able to live my life…not until my enemies are dead."
Tess sighs in frustration.
"Fine, I'll rephrase. What if they'd never come for you in the first place? What if they never sent that first assassin after you, never targeted your caretakers? What would you be doing with your life?"
Ronin is silent for several moments, but when she responds, anger is seeping into her voice.
"They still killed my parents…"
Tess smirks.
"There it is…your real goal…revenge. I wonder…you act like you have no idea why they're targeting you, but…might it be because you were already plotting to kill them? When did you decide that you'd accept nothing less than their deaths?"
This time, Ronin doesn't bother thinking her answer over, and her barely suppressed rage is evident, her voice cold as ice. Rain watches, confused by both Tess's aggressive questioning and Ronin's hostile demeanor.
"Fine, Tess…it was the day I accepted that my mother was dead. I'd been considering it for a while before then, after my father's death, but that was when I decided. They don't deserve to live after what they took from me, and I won't know another second of happiness until they've paid for it. Is that the truth you're looking for?"
Rain's eyes widen in surprise.
He's not surprised that she hates the clans, especially Godfrey Veyron and Klaus Abel, who she thinks are orchestrating her personal hell. Nor does he judge her for wanting revenge. It also doesn't change his opinion of her if she's only being targeted because of some sloppy prior attempt to punish the clans for killing her parents.
What surprises him, rather, is that she didn't tell him any of this, and that she seems so resistant to Tess coaxing it out of her. He feels that he was very clear that he's helping her for selfish reasons, and it's not as if Ronin particularly cares what Tess thinks of her. Not from what he's seen, anyway.
Tess nods at Ronin evenly, unperturbed by the blonde girl's scathing reply.
"Yes, now we're getting somewhere. And you intentionally avoided telling Rain any of this because you wanted to ensure that he'd help you, right? It's easier to support an unfairly persecuted orphan than a revenge-crazed girl who doesn't want anything else out of life."
Ronin's eyes slide away from Tess, briefly glancing at Rain, and her voice becomes quiet as her gaze drifts to the floor.
"Ah…so that's your game. Convince Rain that I'm manipulating him…using him for some selfish purpose. That way, you won't have to put up with this alliance anymore…"
Ronin pauses for a moment, then looks back at Tess with a frustrated expression.
"Well Tess, you may be right. But I never lied to him, and it's not my fault that Rain didn't ask more questions. I didn't even want him this involved in the first place…he insisted on it. I'm not ashamed of hating the people who killed my parents or accepting whatever help I can get in making them pay for it. I certainly don't owe him or you an apology for that. So, why...why are you trying to deprive me of my only ally?"
Tess rolls her eyes, then gestures at Rain dismissively.
"Is that what you think? You don't know the first thing about him if you think any of this would change his mind about helping you. I mean, just look at that dumbass…does he seem the slightest bit upset to you?"
Confusion takes root on Ronin's face, and she glances at Rain. He's just staring back at her with a blank expression, still mildly confused about why the conversation has become so contentious. Seeing her expectant gaze, he responds in a flustered voice.
"Uhm…I mean, yeah…Tess is right. Didn't I tell you from the very start? I really do sympathize with you, and I want you to find some peace and happiness, but…the hate I feel for your enemies is what got me involved. Even if you told me that you tried to kill Godfrey Veyron and Klaus Abel in broad daylight after your parents' deaths, and that was the reason they're hunting you, it wouldn't change things for me."
Ronin's eyes widen, filled with a complicated emotion he can't quite identify, and she stares at Rain for several moments, unsure what to say. Eventually, she turns back to Tess, confused.
"Then why…why did you force this discussion?"
Rain piles on, his tone confused.
"Admittedly, Tess, I'd also like to know what you wanted out of all this."
Tess purses her lips, averting her gaze slightly.
"The situation just bothered me...that's all. Despite what Ronin says, she feels guilty, like she tricked you into helping her, and I know that you don't want her thinking that. Plus, I don't want you having an ally that won't trust you with their true intentions. This was my way of showing her that she should. Because you're worthy of trusting...and because I'll know if she doesn't."
The room falls into silence. Rain mulls over Tess's statement, while Ronin stares at her with a conflicted expression. He doesn't know how, or even if, he should address either of those points.
If Ronin really was feeling guilty, she doesn't seem inclined to talk about it. Plus, he feels like any misunderstanding that was causing it has now been cleared up. He doesn't need to coddle Ronin...she's the last person that needs that, actually.
As for Tess's seemingly threatening statement about sending a message to Ronin that she'll know about any deceit, he thinks Tess is just roughing up her language to hide the fact that she's being empathetic. After all, thanks to her Quirk, she probably couldn't outright lie or decline to answer that question about her motivations.
Eventually, he decides that it's not worth pressing either issue further right now, as long as nobody's harboring any hostility. He clears his throat awkwardly, and glances between Ronin and Tess.
"Well...I think that Ronin has more than lived up to her end of the wager, so that's that I guess. Uhm...no hard feelings between anyone here, right?"
Tess, clearly aware of Rain's concerns, cuts him an amused look.
"No, I've said what I wanted to."
He glances at Ronin, and she continues to stare at Tess stoically for a moment before turning to meet his gaze.
"I have no reason to bear either of you any ill will."
Rain suppresses the urge to click his tongue.
'Yeah...that sounds like the diplomatic answer of someone who's angry, but considers their feelings unreasonable. Great...'
He groans internally, knowing full well that, even if he's right, there's nothing to be gained by pressing it further.
Rain forces a cheery smile to his face.
"That's great! Now then...anyone up for cake?"
*****
After his awkward proposal for cake, Ronin merely declined, shook his hand to suppress her Quirk, and excused herself from their remaining sparring time. Now, Rain and Tess have arrived back at his room. He flops onto his bed with a deep sigh, looking up at the ceiling thoughtfully. Tess stands a short distance away, watching him. Her voice reaches his ears, lighthearted.
"Central credit for your thoughts?"
He feels the corner of his mouth twitch, responding to her halfheartedly without looking over.
"Aren't you just as broke as I am?"
Tess smirks.
"Good point. How about a sexual favor instead?"
This time, he can't help but smile, and he spares her an affectionate glance.
"Sure...I think you're overpaying, though..."
She looks back at him, her eyes warm, and she slowly makes her way over to the bed, then lays down on top of him. Her lips quickly find his, her kiss softer than usual, then she pulls away and rests her chin on his chest with a smile.
"I'll be the judge of that, thank you. So...let's hear it."
He smiles, then nods hesitantly.
"Well...I was just wondering...Ronin was being evasive, right? You would have been able to tell, thanks to your Nature. Like, despite what she said, she's actually upset about our conversation today?"
Tess watches him thoughtfully for a moment.
"Yes...she's a bit angry with me. Don't worry, though. It's not a substantial grievance...it will pass soon. Just give her a bit of time without trying to fix it."
He raises his eyebrows.
"You sound pretty confident about that. Do you know what, specifically, she's angry with you about?"
She purses her lips, then nods.
"I believe so, but her emotions at the time were complicated, as though she herself was both surprised and confused by them. I think that when I revealed her belief that she manipulated you into helping her, she was honestly convinced that it would destroy your alliance. She felt genuine terror over it, in fact. Of course, that's normal when you are in a fight for survival and think you've lost your only powerful ally.
"However, at the same time she felt...loneliness...from that loss, and she also felt surprised by that feeling. My best guess is, perhaps without even realizing it, she has started to consider you as much a friend as a necessary ally. I don't know her well enough to be sure, but...that could be a new sentiment. Something precious to her, even.
"So, it might be that she felt, if only for a moment, that my actions were robbing her of the only friend she has in the world. Even if she's now rationally convinced that isn't happening and was never my intention, she can't just forget the loss she felt because of something I did. It will take time for her to quit associating me with that feeling."
His eyes widen, considering Tess's words.
'Like...she considers me her first friend or something?'
As he interrogates the idea, he can't help but feel there's some truth to it. Ronin's social awkwardness, the way she's uncomfortable having people help her, and the numerous times she's seemed interested in the concept of friendship and whether it applies to them. Tess's assessment makes sense, in retrospect.
He feels a pang of guilt at the realization. He's not necessarily surprised that Ronin doesn't really have friends, nor that she might consider him one. However, he never imagined that their relationship, outside of his practical support, was that important to her.
If so, how must she have felt when he suggested replacing their tea parties with doorway handshakes? Or all the times he insisted that they weren't actual friends? Or even when he reacted poorly to rumors about them being romantically involved? He can't help but grimace as he considers that with fresh eyes.
Rain lets out a deep sigh, then directs an appreciate look at Tess, who's just watching him patiently.
"Thanks, Tess. That...helps."
She smiles softly.
"Good...it was supposed to."
She leans forwards and kisses him gently once more, her lips lingering on his for much longer this time. She pulls away with a contented sigh and a smile, then pats his chest affectionately before sliding off the bed to stand.
"Alright, well I'm in desperate need of a shower before bed, so..."
She trails off and promptly walks towards the bathroom, leaving him alone with his thoughts. After a moment, he hears the sound of cloth ruffling and hitting the floor, but he realizes that he never heard the bathroom door close. Looking over in confusion, he freezes and his mouth goes dry as his eyes adjust to what's in front of him.
Tess is still standing in his bedroom, completely naked, staring at him with an expectant smile.
He stutters horrendously, intending to ask her what's going on, but fails to form a coherent sentence. Fortunately, she seems to understand what he's thinking. She chuckles, turning to display the curves of her body, and cuts her eyes at him seductively over her shoulder.
"Don't look so surprised, Rain. You did tell me your thoughts, after all, and I'm a woman of my word."
He stares at her in silence for several seconds, his eyes greedily exploring the curves of her body as she practically poses in front of him, her lips twisted into a smug smile.
After a few moments, he flashes her a dopey grin.
"Well, I am very pleased with this favor...it was well worth my thoughts."
Tess cuts him an incredulous look, then sighs.
"This? This is not the favor, dumbass. This is me stroking my own ego...I love to see those pretty eyes of yours glued to me. No, the favor...the favor is that your shower is big enough for two, and you're invited to join me. Are you interes-"
Thanks to a much needed infusion of Ichor, Rain is off the bed and shirtless before she can even finish asking if he's interested.
He is.