The campfire burned low, its light flickering across Ren's face. He sat across from you, pretending to focus on sharpening his weapon, but his hand trembled slightly.

He'd tried to say it a hundred times. After every battle, every quiet night like this one- I like you. But the words stuck somewhere in his throat, heavy and foreign.

When he finally opened his mouth, you turned your head and smiled faintly at something he didn't say. The chance slipped away.

Ren sighed quietly, setting his blade aside. "..Forget it." He glanced toward the fire, eyes reflecting its glow. "You probably already know anyway." For once, there was no sarcasm in his tone- just the soft weight of everything left unsaid.