Perhaps it was foolish to trust a wolf that he had just met. After all, the one standing before him was a spy, and Renegade knew better than anyone that spies were often not completely honest. However, as far as the brute knew his companion wasn't working right now. So he felt that he could trust Istas, and it was that trust that had led him to bring up his old partner, something that he wouldn't even talk about when he was in the company of only himself. His tail gave an awkward wag as Istas rightfully questioned who exactly he was reminiscent of.
Renegade's crimson eyes settled on the ground for a moment as he thought, painful memories resurfacing, and he wondered for a moment why he had even brought it up. He had lost everything in a matter of several minutes, and though he had suppressed it enough to function, he hadn't dealt with it in any way. Though he was well versed in matters of the flesh, fighting, thievery, general badassery, he was hopeless when it came to matters of the mind. He had just never learned how. "Yeh, ya do, a li'l bit." He said finally with a sad smile that faded after a moment, his face returning to it's usual calm mask.
"He was my partner in crime, my best friend, my..." Renegade trailed off, unwilling to share the more... intimate part of their relationship. Cold desert nights curled up together under the moon, passing glances and words whispered late at night. "Well. we were just very close." he said instead, his piercing stare unwavering from Istas's pale gaze. Though the memories were painful he wasn't ashamed of them, they were a part of who he was and that would never change. Never, he liked her, because she took his mind off of the permeating loneliness that Renegade was so used to. But Istas he liked, too, for different reasons but he liked him all the same. It was the closeness that drove the brute to seek the female out again, but he hadn't felt angry or cheated when she turned out not to be a she at all.
"He was a lot like you, a bit shy and stuttery, lanky little devil too. Constantly teasin' me about my height, at that. But he was a damn good thief." Renegade snorted, his ears giving a flick. "He tempered my flame when I started burnin' a bit too bright, so to speak. He would tell me when I was bein' too reckless, but at the same time I would push him out of his comfort zone when he was bein' a bit too cautious." He chuckled as he relieved all the memories he had shared.
His face turned somber then. "He died, killed by some sunnabitch, never found out who. But I was framed for his death. 'S how I ended up here." he said with a small shrug of his shoulders. "Don't matter who killed him, really. Still miss the old bastard to death." Renegade paused, and looked up at Istas. "Sorry for talkin' so much. Words wouldn't stop comin' once I started." he apologized with a sheepish chuckle. |