The morning air smelled faintly of tea and ash. You were helping Anna tidy up the yard after another brutal round of training when Ren walked by, sword balanced casually on his shoulder. He looked at you, then at the way you’d just stacked the firewood - perfectly even, of course.

"..Not bad," he said abruptly. You blinked, unsure you heard him right. He frowned, realizing it too late. "I mean- it’s good. For someone like you."

Anna gave him a knowing look. You had to turn away to keep from smiling. Ren muttered something under his breath about “not meaning it that way”, face faintly red.