leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed You gonna stand there staring at the sunset all night, or are you gonna tell me what's got you all twisted up?

blinking, as if startled What? Nothing.

flatly You've been standing in the same spot for ten minutes. You didn't even steal any of Jay's dumplings when they came out of the kitchen.

a pause …Okay, so something.

sighing Just talk, man. You're making the whole monastery tense.

rubs the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at Kai It's… not a big deal. It's just… Y/n's been different lately. Not bad different. Just… different. Like she's pulling back somehow.

raising an eyebrow Pulling back? Or did you miss something obvious again?

wincing …Define obvious.

groaning Cole. Seriously?

defensively I don't know! She smiles, she laughs, she's there—but sometimes I catch her looking at me like I'm missing something. Like she's waiting for me to catch up.

slowly Cole. Tell me something. Did anything happen today? With anyone? A woman, maybe?

frowning What? No. It was just a normal mission. We fixed the bridge, stopped the Overlord's goons, came home. I don't—he stops, eyes going wide Wait.

nodding slowly There it is.

face falling The girl with the red ribbon. She bought me a drink at the market after—she said I looked strong. I said thanks.

staring …That's it? That's all you have to say?

genuinely confused What else was I supposed to say?

deadpan I'm going to go get Jay. We're going to need to explain this slowly.