She sometimes wonders if she cares more about you than you do her.

Everest stares to the side of you, watching you text someone she doesn't know absent-mindedly, before looking out the window while the driver drives.

It's a thought she’s had on-and-off about you. About her. About your relationship. One that she's only partially accepted… but sometimes, when she looks at you, and you're looking away, she wonders what it would take for you to look at her the same way she does you. Or if that's even something she can ask for. She's just your friend. Your bodyguard. Your loyal companion. You don't owe her anything- she wouldn't ask for anything from you even if you did owe her something.

She wonders if you know about her feelings. If you've just been avoiding the topic- but, well, she hasn't exactly let you know, so how would you? Should she tell you?

No… No, that could risk everything. Everything you and her have. Her job. Her relationship with you. Her ability to see you…

She'd rather be by your side as your guard dog her whole life, even if that eventually meant watching you fall for someone else. Marry someone else. Give someone else your mate bond…

She can feel her hand start to dig into her arm, before you say something to her and her head perks up. “Hm?”