1Once again, I wrote this purely for my own self-indulgence. Takes place off-screen within Bloodline, after their first hookup but before Paris dies. Also this helps me practice writing from other character's POVs besides Mika's. And not that it's a good use of my time right now, but I had fun fleshing out Renley's backstory a little more. Every day I distance myself a little more from the internalized aversion to OCs left over from growing up on the internet in the mid 2010's when Mary Sues and Gary Stus reigned supreme.
Chapter 2: Kinda Wanna Thank Him, Kinda Wanna Knock Him Out
Song: Whoever Broke Your Heart by Murphy Elmore
I kinda wanna thank him
But I kinda wanna knock him out
I kinda wanna push him up against the wall
I kinda wanna buy him a round
I kinda wanna make him pay
For whatever he put you through
Ah, but then again if it wasn't for him guess I never woulda got to you
The War of the Scars was a raw deal for everyone. There was no way around it. But if there was any silver lining to be found, it was that Vampire Mountain had become as much of a revolving door as it was during council. Of course it lacked the celebratory atmosphere, and visitors didn't usually stay very long. They'd trek in to update Mika and Paris on their progress, meet with some Generals, catch up with their clan-mates, recover from their injuries if they had any, and get back out to the field as soon as they could.
Mostly, it was great. Until that revolving door swung open to admit a ghost from your past who you'd rather not see.
Enter Egan McCallan.
General. 300 years old, give or take. Expert in axe warfare, big game hunting, and being a douche. Likes tattoos. He's the reason Renley has a full sleeve, if we're being honest. Renley has no regrets, though. At least not where the tattoos are concerned. At least he never got Egan's name inked into his skin. Egan can't say the same about Renley. Idiot.
Renley and Egan: a brief history.
Egan had already been a General when Renley was starting to advance through the ranks. Started training together once upon a time, training turned to hooking up, hooking up turned to dating. Head over heels, all that shit. Agreed to become mates for five years. After all, they loved each other. At least Renley thought they did, for a while. Then Egan simply fucked off. Like, all the way off. Claimed he was seeking an investiture nomination and didn't have time to waste with someone who wasn't even a General yet, and would probably never be. Oh, he also cheated. That was a pretty significant factor. Renley had literally just started training for his Trials of Initiation at that point, and he was crushed.
Fast-forward to now. Not only is Renley a General, he's probably (definitely) the best General in the current standings. His strike team has been consistently in the top three most successful throughout the entire war thus far, third only to Mika's and Arrow's. Unlike Egan, who's middle-management material at best. Also unlike Egan, Renley's on track to be a Prince within the next century. Not to mention he's fucking one of them on a pretty regular basis. That's confidential, of course. But it does put an extra spring in Renley's step.
But the catch is, despite Renley's sweeping success, he's not entirely over Egan. Why is he still hung up on someone who didn't have a shred of faith in him, and tossed him aside in favour of his own glory? Renley doesn't know. Why does Mika still flinch every time someone brings up the pacifist traitor who plotted his murder? Maybe we can't help who we fall in love with.
Their relationship ended a solid four decades ago. The only time they see each other is at Council, and they make a point of avoiding each other. The mountain is always busy enough at those times, it's not hard to do. Renley saw Egan in the Hall of Princes earlier that day. They made eye contact, and Renley promptly sat as far away as possible.
And as soon as the meeting finished, he got out of there to go take out his frustration on a punching bag in the Hall of Rush Flon'x. How was it that all these years later, the mere sight of Egan still made him feel as tiny and insignificant as it did the day he broke his heart? Renley hated himself for it. He was ten times the vampire Egan was. Egan was a liar, a manipulator, a user. Renley was young and naive when they met, and Egan took full advantage of that. In hindsight, even their good years together weren't that good.
So why the hell was Renley suddenly gripped with the inescapable need to distract himself by punching his knuckles bloody on an inanimate object?
Once he finally felt like his brain was clear of all that residual toxicity, he took a long, icy shower in the waterfalls and headed back up to meet up with his friends and get something to eat.
And found himself face-to-face with Egan in a dark corner of the Hall of Khledon Lurt.
"Egan." Renley greeted him with icy politeness. "Been a while, hasn't it?"
"Forty years, give or take." Said Egan with a rather sheepish grin. "It's nice to see you, spitfire."
Renley arched an eyebrow testily.
Nope. Fuck you. Not falling for it. You can shove your old nicknames back up your ass.
"I truly wish I could say the same." Said Renley calmly. "Can I help you with something?"
Egan grinned again and let out a low whistle. There was a haughty, obnoxious gleam in his eye.
"Damn, fame has turned you cold." He remarked. "All that time we spent together, and you won't even let me congratulate you on your success?"
"Congratulate me, then." Renley replied impatiently. "Get it over with. Kiss my ass, and carry on your way."
"Ren..." Egan murmured. "Come on. Don't be like that. It's been forty years. If wanting to catch up with you is wrong, then call those guards and have me locked up. Seems like half this mountain answers to you these days anyway."
He looked across the table, still smiling in that stupid, roguish way that used to make Renley feel so much. And then he winked. Like he was some kind of fucking heartthrob. As if.
"Please?" Egan wheedled. "Have a drink with me. Just one, for old time's sake." Then his tone changed. Softened. "I'm really proud of you, you know that?"
Renley didn't relax his glare. But he allowed Egan a brittle smile.
"One drink. That's it."
Whoever broke your heart, he must've been crazy
Whoever didn't see the girl I see right now, wasn't lookin at you baby
If he didn't do what he did then you never would've ended up here in my arms
If I know one thing is true
I ain't ever gonna be like whoever broke your heart
One drink turned into two. Two drinks turned into like, six. Or seven. Renley stopped counting. He also stopped keeping track of time. More and more vampires filed into the hall to eat, but Renley took no heed of them. Standing there by the bar table a few feet away from Egan, he felt like he was in his own little world.
Renley kept his guard up, but he had to admit Egan seemed different - their forty years apart had clearly been a period of great personal growth for him. He actually listened to Renley like he never had while they were together. He seemed genuinely proud of everything Renley had accomplished since then. Apologetic, too.
Renley was halfway through filling Egan I about his time in the field, and the impressive victories his strike team had secured for the vampire clan. And he realized that he'd never, ever seen Egan look at anyone or anything the way he was looking at Renley right now. As if he'd never even seen him before.
Maybe he really had changed.
"You look good, Ren." Egan murmured as Renley paused to take a sip of his drink. His voice was husky, and serious. "I miss you. Gods, I fucked up when I left you. Not a day goes by where I don't hate myself for it."
Renley felt a poisonous sense of vindication as he took in those words. He took another long drink, eyeing Egan coolly as he did.
"I didn't deserve that, Egan." Said Renley, speaking in the same low, measured cadence that Egan had. "I gave you everything and you burned me like it was nothing."
"I know, Ren." Egan replied. Once again there was that almost-whining undertone to his voice. He reached out and gently touched Renley's forearm, running his forefinger up and down the exposed sleeve of tattoos. "I don't even deserve to be standing here having this conversation with you. You've always been so much better than me... just took me this long to realize it."
Egan's eyes wandered slowly up until they locked onto Renley's, that forlorn little crease in his brows, those fucking puppy dog eyes pulling Renley in like it always used to.
And without warning, like a jet-black tiger shark hunting a defenceless seal, Mika Ver Leth came barging up to the bar table and practically bodied Egan. Egan happened to be standing in front of the bottle of whiskey, and stepped back just in time, otherwise Mika probably would've walked right through him. Egan recognized Mika immediately (obviously) and didn't react to the offhanded near miss.
Mika didn't spare Egan a second glance, though. He filled up his glass and nodded to Renley, who'd been standing there with a blank look on his face.
"General Azerion." Mika calmly greeted him calmly.
"Sire Ver Leth." Said Renley, just as calmly.
"I was wondering where you went." Said Mika. He arched an eyebrow at Renley, but it was so subtle no one else would've noticed. "Thought you'd be back in the Hall of Princes to weigh in on the vampet activity that was reported in eastern Russia. I recall you became very familiar with that area on your last mission."
"I was just heading back up, actually. Sorry for the delay. Got caught up reminiscing with an old friend." Said Renley evenly. Suddenly, he couldn't even see Egan, even though he was standing right there next to Mika. Or maybe that was why Renley couldn't see Egan.
"Good. I find meetings are more productive with your insight. You've been a good influence on the less experienced Generals." Mika remarked. His eyes ran up and down Renley's body. As usual, Mika's face gave absolutely nothing away. But Renley clocked the micro-expressions in his stormy eyes, and had to stifle a laugh when the realization hit him like a ton of bricks. Mika hadn't missed the way Renley was staring into Egan's eyes, or the way Egan's hand had traced sensually down his arm. Mika was jealous. And by the gods, that was about the funniest thing Renley had ever seen.
Unlike Mika, Egan had no semblance of a poker face, and he was clearly becoming more and more baffled by the way Mika hadn't so much as looked at him. Mika was known for being aloof, detached, haughty even. But he was rarely outright rude.
"Sire Ver Leth. Good to see you again." Egan finally interrupted rather loudly, holding his hand out to shake Mika's.
And the exchange that followed was peak comedic gold, as far as Renley was concerned.
Mika glanced at Egan, down at his hand, then back up. He looked politely puzzled as though he had no idea Egan had been standing there the whole time. He reached out and accepted Egan's handshake after a hesitation, and he went about it in a way that suggested he was being handed something he didn't particularly want, such as a slimy dead fish. Renley had sat in enough meetings with Mika to know he normally gave very solid handshakes. Whatever Mika was doing was on purpose, and almost certainly for his own amusement.
"...Have we met?" Mika asked. He blinked a couple times, and flavoured it with a blank, fleeting smile that radiated insincerity. And Renley lived for it.
Egan's face fell.
"Uh, we've met a handful of times - I'm Egan McCallan. I was in two different meetings with you today..." Egan explained, suddenly appearing flustered. "I spoke at length with both yourself and Sire Skyle earlier this evening?"
Mika tilted his head and frowned, a thoughtful look on his face as he feigned pure innocence. It took everything in Renley not to burst out laughing.
"Today? Really? I don't think I was there, was I?" Mika asked curiously.
"Y-yes, Sire. You were absolutely there." Said Egan, shooting Renley a funny look. "I gave a report on a vampaneze we interrogated in the south of France last year..."
"Oh, you mean the senior General conference?"
"Yes, Sire." Egan's face was reddening. He was currently living through a compulsive social climber's worst nightmare.
"So... you're a General?" Said Mika, one eyebrow raised. He spoke with crisp calmness, as though commenting on the weather. "Are you sure?"
"I... yes. I'm quite sure." Said Egan. Now he was looking at Mika as if he was crazy. And Mika's facade of ignorance remained rock-solid. Of course he knew who Egan was. Mika knew everything about everyone.
"Hmm. What did you say your name was?"
"Egan McCallan, Sire..."
"Egan? That's an actual name?"
"My mother seemed to think so, Sire."
"Hmm. Reminds me of egg. Never liked eggs. Anyway, I know all the Generals. And I'm confident I've never seen you before." Said Mika with an indifferent shrug. And then he hit Egan with a cold, vindictive smile and added, "Oh well."
"Guess you didn't leave much of an impression on the boss, Egan." Renley chipped in. He winked amicably and clapped Egan on the shoulder, but there was nothing fun or flirtatious about the physical contact.
Mika flipped his gaze back to Renley, with an expression of utmost seriousness.
"General Azerion, can I arrange to meet with you in private?" Mika asked calmly. "Regarding your proposal for simplifying our future strike team deployments. I was very impressed by your suggestions during the meeting. I'd love to go a little deeper. Do you have time tonight?"
Renley smiled slowly.
"My evening's wide open. Just say when, Sire."
"Does now work?"
"I'm all yours."
Renley knew he was the bigger person. It wasn't hard to hold the moral high ground over someone like Egan. But before he followed Mika out of the hall, he couldn't resist the urge to pause and glance over his shoulder. He couldn't believe how close he'd gotten to falling for Egan all over again.
Egan was still looking at him, jaw practically on the table in disbelief. He shot Renley a look that practically screamed, 'YOU and HIM?!'
And Renley returned Egan's dumbfounded stare with the most obnoxious, condescending smirk he could possibly muster. He wasn't proud of it, but it felt good in the moment.
Renley had been meticulous in the way he interacted with Mika. He didn't leave so much as a shred of evidence that they had a secret not-relationship. But he knew Egan would catch on regardless, because Egan had always been able to read him like a book. That tied in with being a master of manipulation, after all. But Renley also didn't care, because Egan wouldn't tell a soul, no matter how much evidence he had. What would he even say?
"Hey, remember my ex, Renley? The one I said would never amount to anything? The one I psychologically tortured when he was too young to know better? Well, you already know he's been more successful in a decade than I've been in my entire life. Well, get this: on top of all that, he's also fucking Mika Ver Leth."
Yeah. It was safe to assume Egan would be keeping his mouth shut about that one.
I don't even know his name
But I got a couple for him
Yeah I don't know what he was thinkin, what he was drinkin
But he must've kept pourin
'Cause nobody in their right mind
Would've ever said goodbye to an angel like you
Yeah there's a lot of things I'd like to say to
"Jealousy's a hilarious colour on you." Renley smirked under his breath as he grazed his lips down Mika's neck once they were locked away in Renley's room. Mika had him backed up against the wall and they were making short work of peeling each other's clothes off, pausing here and there to kiss roughly.
"You're wildly misinterpreting the entire situation." Said Mika, rolling his eyes as he dug his fingers into Renley's hips, thigh jammed between his legs as they made out like desperate high school kids after the prom. "Who on this earth do I possibly have to be jealous of? Sure as fuck not Egan McCallan, my gods."
"Well, I'm not proud of it, but I was about two minutes from letting Egan rail me into next century." Renley replied conversationally as he pulled Mika's belt off and threw it unceremoniously on the floor. "And maybe I'm wrong, but I got the impression you picked up on -"
Mika's lips forced his silence. Renley was more than okay with that. He'd gotten his point across.
"What the hell did he do to make you look at him like that?" Mika muttered as he paused for breath. "You don't even look at me like that, and you're obsessed with me."
Renley let out a harsh bark of laughter and leaned in to kiss Mika aggressively on the neck again. Those kisses would leave bruises but they made Mika sigh in a way that was gospel music to Renley's ears.
"Don't. Be. Cocky." Renley whispered, enunciating each syllable with his lips so close to Mika's ear that he shivered.
"Thought that was your favourite thing about me." Mika countered in a low growl, his fingers raking across Renley's back, keeping him close - as if he'd go anywhere. "Now tell me what McCallan's deal is."
"If you truly must know, we were mates once upon a time." Said Renley in a way that was light, but guarded. He ran his hands roughly through Mika's hair, wishing it was longer so he could grip a handful and use it to pull Mika's face back into him, keep him from any follow-up questions. Because no way was Mika letting that revelation slip past.
"You had a mate? General Playboy had a fucking mate?! Oh my gods. I can't handle this." Mika laughed incredulously, and Renley could feel it vibrate within his own body.
"Fuck off." Renley grunted, shoving Mika back against the wall, hard. "Wasn't exactly the highlight of my life."
"Really?" Said Mika sardonically, grinding his hips against Renley's, teasing him without mercy. "No fond memories from five years with that slimy chunk of deadweight?"
"Thought you didn't know him." Said Renley, punctuating the word 'know' by snapping his hips into Mika's and eliciting a shuddering but appreciative moan.
"I know everything about every vampire in this fucking clan." Mika muttered, hands gripping Renley's waist possessively. "I know he barely passed his trials. I know he lies like he breathes. I know most of the Generals hate working with him. Is all that new information to you, Ren?"
"Of course it's not. I know exactly how he is."Renley growled, trying to ignore the tingling in his spine at the way Mika said Ren. In the thousands of times Egan called him that, not once did it make him feel how he felt now.
"Then how'd he get so close to laying you down tonight?" Mika's hands were roaming below Renley's waistline now, making it hard to focus the question.
"Moment of weakness, I guess." Renley signed. There was a hitch between the last two words as he inhaled sharply with pleasure. "Why the concern? You've made it clear you don't do exclusivity, and that's what I like about-" Mika's rough kiss silenced him mid-sentence for the second time. Renley closed his eyes and leaned into it. With every movement of Mika's lips, hands, and body, he felt the painful, ugly memories of Egan slip further and further from his mind.
"What'd he do to you?" Came Mika's deep, intoxicating rasp as he drew back from the kiss for a moment.
"Doesn't matter." Renley's response was clipped and gruff, trying to lock a door he didn't want to open. "Was decades ago. I'm over it."
He tried to press his lips back into Mika's, but Mika leaned back just out of reach. Teasing Renley with the irritatingly mock-serious way he arched his eyebrows and bit the side of his lip. Mika really had no business wearing that expression so well.
"You didn't look over it." Mika remarked conversationally. "You looked all about it until I showed up."
Renley groaned in exasperation and threw his hands in the air.
"Fuck, Mika! Why does this matter?" He snapped, feeling like his face was on fire and knowing full well it also looked like it was on fire. "Do I fucking grill you about Kurda Smahlt during foreplay? No, I don't! And since when do YOU want to talk about anything?"
"Wow. Fuck. Sorry I said anything." Said Mika, with reproachful suspicion. He raised his hands slightly, a display of 'jesus christ calm the fuck down'. "I'm just trying to figure out how someone like him ends up with someone like you. Don't let it go to your head, but you're impressive. And he's... not exactly on your level. By the way, I'm telling you this as your boss. Not as your fuck buddy."
Neither said anything for a moment. He just held Renley's gaze and observed him with that same studious look in his eyes. And even though Renley knew full well Mika didn't have feelings for him, his look of mild interest still felt more sincere than any look Egan ever gave him while they were together. In what universe did that make sense? Renley gave Egan everything he had. His heart, his soul, and everything in between. And Egan claimed to love him, when really he tolerated him. And then when he got bored, he burned him.
"Egan used and manipulated me when I was too young and stupid to know better." Renley growled under his breath, hating the rasp in his voice. "He made me feel like he was doing me a favour by putting up with me. Like I always owed him something. And I fell for it every fucking time. I learned how to play his games and it still wasn't enough. He said I'd never be a General. That I should just give up. So after five years of putting up with that, he finally had the decency to break up with me! Well, maybe decency is the wrong word, seeing as he didn't actually dump me until I walked in on him fucking Viktorya Akimov in my bed four festivals ago!"
By the time he finished, he was shouting. His face was burning more than ever at the memories, and his throat felt raw and tight. Mika had stepped back as Renley started to yell, and was standing about three feet away with his arms crossed lazily in front of his chest and his head tilted to the side. There was incredulity in his eyes, some exasperation, and maybe some trace amounts of sympathy?
"Sorry to hear that. Want to hear my breakup story?" Mika asked bluntly after a long, weighted pause.
"Yes, please do turn this into an episode of The Mika Ver Leth Show." Renley deadpanned.
"My ex sold the entire clan out, and plotted my murder. And he would've gotten away with it if not for the feral kid showing up in a flour sack. It was all pretty public, actually. He was on trial and everything." Mika explained blithely, as if any of that was news to Renley. "So I win."
And finally, just as soon as he'd intruded into Renley's hard-earned inner peace, Egan faded back into irrelevance where he belonged.
"Everything's a competition, isn't it?" Renley whispered, closing the distance between himself and Mika.
"Normally I'd say yes, but taking your mind off McCallan was way too easy. I didn't even have to try." Mika replied, just as softly, eyes blazing.
Renley wasted no time steering Mika forcefully down into his bed of thick, cushiony animal skins. He laid him down there slowly, deliberately, palms running all over Mika's lower back - always such a sensitive area. Renley's touch quickly achieved the desired effect, and he felt a thrill of satisfaction as Mika moaned into his kiss.
"Don't let it go to your head, but laying you down is one of the best parts of my day." Renley growled.
Mika shivered at the sensation of Renley's lips brushing against his ear, and Renley responded by starting to kiss a slow, sensual trail down Mika's body, starting at his neck and ending exactly where you'd expect.
"What'd you just say about not letting things go to my head?" Renley heard Mika remark. "Didn't think that one through, did you?" The words came out as a weak chuckle. Which was probably a result of what Renley's mouth was occupied with. But knowing Mika, it was just likely that he was revelling in his own stellar comedy.
Renley didn't spare Egan a single other thought that night. And judging by the way Mika responded so eagerly to every kiss, touch, and thrust from Renley's body, Kurda Smahlt wasn't on his mind either.
Mika was very much in the habit of making a swift exit immediately after they finished, but tonight he lingered for a moment, catching his breath before getting dressed. Renley had worked him hard, after all.
"Glad you were around tonight. I would've made a stupid mistake if you hadn't been there." Renley sighed wearily, still lying on his back with his arms crossed comfortably behind his head. He glanced over at Mika, who was laying a few feet away. Mika rolled onto his side and propped his head up so he could see Renley better.
"If it was anyone but McCallan, I would've stayed in my own lane. You can fuck whoever you want." Said Mika, arching an eyebrow. "I don't do exclusivity anymore. I just saw the way he was looking at you, and I had a bad feeling. You know why he was looking at you like a fresh piece of meat, right?"
"Because now that I'm successful, he thinks I've earned his attention. Trust me, I'm not that naive. Not anymore." Said Renley firmly, holding Mika's gaze. "I've raised my standards."
"I wouldn't be here if you hadn't." Mika replied with an aloof smile as he slowly sat up. "I'm not as superficial as you think I am. I respect you as a person because you respect yourself. That's why you get to disrespect me when the clothes come off." He added matter-of-factly, taking Renley by surprise.
"Then I guess I can thank Egan for that. I wouldn't have built myself this way if he hadn't broken me down first. That's about all he ever did for me." Said Renley. He sat up too, keeping himself level with Mika. Mika rolled his steel-grey eyes impatiently.
"Why are we still talking about Egan? He doesn't even deserve your thanks for that." Said Mika.
"You're right." Said Renley, shrugging. "But you do. So thanks. For everything."
Mika frowned slightly.
"What do you have to thank me for? You seem to have your life together for the most part." He countered. "But me, I'm just trying to survive one day to the next. Not that getting in bed with you every night is a healthy coping mechanism, but it's been working so far."
Renley laughed.
"Are you saying I'm good for you?" He snorted.
"Gross. I'd never say that." Said Mika bluntly. He rolled his eyes again and stood up.
"Not saying it doesn't make it not true." Renley goaded Mika as he slowly pulled his clothes back on. Mika left as he always did, but he did pause in the doorway to shoot Renley a smirk over his shoulder. That irresistible smirk that obliterated all of Renley's impulse control.
"You know, I stand by what I said that night at your homecoming party." Renley called before he could stop and think it through. "Smahlt had no idea what he had. I don't know what went wrong in his head for him to stab you in the back, but maybe I should be thanking him for-"
Mika half-turned around to fix Renley with a withering stare that was impossible to read, and Renley stopped mid-sentence, knowing he'd put his foot in his mouth.
"What we aren't going to do is pretend your ex is in the same league as mine." Said Mika. His voice was suddenly clipped and cold again, and all of the light had vanished from his eyes. "They're not even playing the same game. Goodnight, Ren."
Whoever broke your heart, he must've been crazy
Whoever didn't see the girl I see right now, wasn't lookin at you baby
If he didn't do what he did then you never would've ended up here in my arms
If I know one thing is true
I ain't ever gonna be like whoever broke your heart
After spending hours kicking himself for bringing Kurda up, Renley finally got a few hours of sleep before getting back to work. He was in the armoury the next day, preparing to lead a training session for a group of young General prospects when he heard an obnoxious, familiar voice behind him. Egan walked into the room, accompanied by one of his cronies and halfway through what was clearly a furious rant.
"-And suddenly I'm fucking reassigned?!" Egan was snarling. Renley was concealed behind an open cupboard of spears, and he remained hidden there, listening.
"I can't believe this! I had first dibs on leading the mission to Belfast! It was confirmed by two Princes and six other Generals!" Egan whined. Judging by the clattering sounds echoing off the walls, he'd opened his weaponry locker and was throwing shit around. Typical. "I worked my fucking ass off in the field for five and a half years! And for what? To get reassigned at the last minute?!"
"What's the new assignment? Surely it can't be that bad!" Came the second voice, one of Egan's stupid friends who's name Renley didn't bother to recall.
"I have to spend six months leading a bunch of cubs around a frozen wasteland in buttfuck nowhere because there was a rumour that ONE high-profile vampaneze MIGHT have been spotted there, LAST YEAR!"
"Maybe there's been some mistake." The friend offered hopefully.
"It wasn't a mistake!" Egan growled, sounding even madder. "All that shit goes through the Princes! It would've had to be one of them! Gods, I can't fucking believe -"
His loud, ugly, belligerent voice faded into the distance again as he left the room with his friend in tow.
Renley stepped out of the spear cupboard, a smug grin working its way across his face. He didn't usually talk to Mika telepathically, but he couldn't resist.
RA: Hey.
MVL: What? I'm working.
RA: Get over yourself. This is work related. Apparently Egan just got reassigned from a big important mission, to a year of snow patrol.
MVL: Sucks to suck, I guess.
RA: You wouldn't happen to anything about that, would you?
MVL: I don't even know who he is, remember?
Renley laughed out loud to the empty room. No matter how hard he tried to convince Renley otherwise, Mika cared. He did it in his own backhanded, roundabout way, but it was still the sincerest form of affection Renley had ever known.
Whoever went and did you wrong
Whoever left you all alone
I'm sure glad that he's gone
I just wanna help you move on