His ears turn red. “Training, maybe. It’s usually when you have intense feelings. Like when…”
There’s a long pause.
“Oh god.” His lips form a thin line. “You know about Armin.”
“Yes.”
“And Marshal.”
He nods.
I don’t even mention the night with Miya. That one is on him.
“You feel all of that?”
He nods, again.
“I’m so sorry, Rupert.” The dining hall fills with students, all in various states of uniform. Why dress up when there’s no classes to go to? Or if you’re going to end up in the dungeon below the school?
“It’s not your fault. Something about this school has me off balance.”
Balance.
I nod in understanding. “You know, it’s interesting, just last night I was thinking about how us being here in place of the Guardians may have greater implications.”
He looks up, interested. “How so?”
“Maybe this place enhances what we walked—well, fell—in with. Maybe it’s enhanced your psychic abilities. Maybe it triggered Marshal’s unbearable narcissism.”
“It’s possible. What about the others?”
“I’m not sure. We’d have to talk to them.”
He studies me. “What about you?”
“I think I came here to lead, but really, I have a different role.” I push my hair over my shoulder. “To forge a bond. A deep, meaningful bond.”
Instantly Rupert’s nerves and insecurities return. “You mean sex.”
“I mean a close, intimate bond.”
“That’s not how I operate.”
“I know, and look where we are? We’re losing, and we’re going to continue to do so unless we come up with a plan.” The word plan catches his attention. “You like maps and plans and strategies, right?”
“I do—they’re concrete and unemotional.”
“What if I made a plan for us. Or even a map.”
“To what end?” He’s interested but nervous.
“Getting us aligned.”
“What would that involve?”
“You’d have to trust me.”
His lips turn down. “I do trust you.”