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“Why is your suit lighter than mine? Surely you haven’t cut back on protective ance?”

He stilled and curled up fro his boots He studied her for a h their respective helmets “Nobody ever noticed that before”

That didn’t answer the question, so she asked it again “Are you taking unnecessary risks?” The thought of hi recklessly with his life bothered her on a fundamental level She wasn’t entirely sure why Maybe because if he was hurt, there would be no one to save her

“No”

“Then why is your suit thinner?” She frowned at hih her mee vulnerability of being naked in front of so “Did you put crea it”

He made a move to rub a hand over his head, as he usually did when he was cornered, only to remember it was covered

“Tiht onhurt Do not ht Stay on the path There will be times e have to crawl Don’t put your head up unless I tell you it’s okay”

“But, your suit—”

He cursed in French before stor her upper arms The fury that poured froer,than he’d been a moment earlier

He gave her body a sharp shake “This isn’t the time for questions You need to focus You need to follow orders If you can’t do that, then I’ll take you back to Munroe”

She felt her blood rush through her veins He oozed danger and violence AShe’d becootten that she didn’t know hiotten how deadly he could be

“Got it?” he snapped at her

“Yes Yes I’ve got it” She jerked back, trying to break his overpowering hold Even through all of her layers it felt like her arms were in vices

“Do as you’re told Keep that big brain of yours focused on following orders If we h this alive, you can ask all the questions you want Until then, all you have to do is exactly what I tell you to do Your life depends on it”

“I understand” His one good eye seeht from the lantern For a second, the yellow flecks in the brown see him look eerie