Reno's face twists as if Rude's words caused him physical pain— Fuck up once, it happens. Fuck up twice, it's a coincidence. Fuck up three times and it's a pattern.

When his back hits the wall, and the imposing strength of his dragon Bonded keeps him locked in place, Reno groans and bends a little. Suddenly, suddenly he can feel Rude with the full intensity he allows. The frustration, the worry, the heartbreak.

The last time that was a close one, was the opposite of what happened with the Circle. It was a mission that has gone right, terribly right. And yet it ended exactly the same, with Rude carrying his nearly lifeless body.

"You think I wanted to fall for their bullshit?"

Holy shit, maybe he did. The enticement of someone being right, and being strong enough to follow their plan— no. That's definitely what the charm exploited, but he never chose to be under the influence. So he looks Rude in the eyes, voice strange and shaky. A small harpy challenging a large dragon... challenging or confessing? There's emotion there Rude's never heard before - shame.

"I keep wondering if they sit in my head still. If my thoughts are really my own— yeah, I fucked up. But they fucked with me first"