Save for the tightening of their arms around Kitty, Ren didn’t move at all. They had gone very, very, still.

“Don’t,” Ren whispered. They weren’t sure if they were speaking to Kitty or Meena. Kitty, probably; their voice couldn’t have carried to Meena. “Please. Don’t do it.”

It was as though something vital had suddenly shattered in their chest. Ren raised their head away from the comfort and warmth of Kitty's shoulder. They had been indulgent--indulgent and stupid. So very, very stupid. "Meena." Ren's voice was low, quiet. It was a warning, but even moreso, i...

That the reunion was happening here and now meant that they had fucked up-- that they had been too slow, had left things to pure luck. Not that it mattered now. It didn’t matter to Ren in the slightest. Kai was gone, running, shouting, and Ren found that they had to resist following suit--why were t...

Ren nodded. "Right, it wouldn't--"

And then, without a word, Meena set off.

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Time passed. They walked. Things that wanted to be said were left unsaid.

Thankfully, there was no need to make sure that Kai was on the same page as Ren. He was ahead, if anything--he had names and places, knowledge that was actually actionable, a plan that was more than a vague trajectory. All good things to have. If Ren felt a twinge of disappointment when they realize...

Kai's hugs were good, even for someone as normally touch-averse as Ren. For a moment, there had been the shadow of a doubt--they should have asked for permission first, Ren of all people should know that--but by then Kai's arms were around them, warm and safe, tight enough to squish Ren's soul back ...

[Ren Vu continued from We Will Find You ] Ren stared, slightly unable to believe that it really was Kai in front of them, and slightly bewildered by this disbelief. They had entertained the possibility, that morning, when they heard about Kitty, a reward, and the bar in the town; they had wondered, ...

And so she went, without a word. Ren followed, needless to say (oh, but they wished they had something to say). Whatever catharsis Meena had found, it didn't seem to be good for her now. Which was--worrying, to understate things, though reassuring in some ways. She was visibly worse, somehow, or she...

And with that, Ren was left without questions. They closed their eyes, suddenly tired. Cedar dead, and now both Kitty and Meena were murderers. It was all just happening so fast. They had known it was coming, had braced themself, and yet here they were, struggling to believe what they already knew t...

Ren made a 'go on' motion with their hand, before realizing that Meena couldn't see them.

"Laughed at...?"

A pause, as Ren shifted their weight.

A note of strain entered their voice when they said, "Was there anything else, that she said? Or, just, anything else that was...like, going on?"

"Okay."

That made sense; the shots had been fired in fairly quick succession. So...Meena hadn't been trying to make Millie suffer, but she hadn't been trying to keep it particularly clean, either, which meant--

"Did Millie say anything to you, before you shot her?"

Ren frowned. It wasn't the answer that they had been hoping to hear, but it at least confirmed that Meena was being honest with them. And it wasn't the answer they had been hoping not to hear, either.

"Why aren't you sure?"

20 questions, Ren? Really?

There was no response, and Meena was refusing to look at them. Ren took a deep, shuddering breath. Alright. That was okay; they had anticipated this. They felt faint suddenly, weak all over, ready to collapse as the adrenaline began to leave their body. Meena not speaking wasn't ideal, obviously, an...

Ren stared at Meena blankly. Meena, who had just killed someone in cold blood (unless Millie had a weapon that Ren had missed?). Meena, who had point-blank refused the easy explanation they had--in a moment of blatant wishful thinking--carelessly offered. Why? The question reverberated in the air, e...