“Honestly?” Mason’s expression darkens and Cephas’ heart drops to his stomach. Even in the most trying days of the revolution he’s never seen the woman like this. “I’ve been doing a lot of planning shit, designating troops, handing out weapons, patching up fighters, and I could just see Angel and Morlene walk in and out of here and I’ve just been… dammit… this motherfucker right here…”
Mason laughs dryly.
“We’ll bring her back.”
“She’s weird, right?” Mason steps over to Vale and crouches down next to her. “Like, she’s so unpleasant. Zero manners, she says dumb shit just to annoy people, nothing she says is even remotely funny, and she’s so sure she’s the coolest person in the room, it’s infuriating…”
“You dated her.”
“I did,” Mason chuckles. “It was great. We liked each other a lot, our dates ruled. But she was a criminal and I was guard commander. Even if I was just a tool so she could get close to the High Castle and Zavier, I didn’t mind. I just never understood her. Why not use all her skills to become a hero? Yeah, yeah, she doesn’t owe Caelmoor anything… but still… there’s so much good in her and she fights so hard to hide it.”
“If she heard this she’d kill you,” Cephas grunts, slightly agitated for reasons beyond his understanding. He feels like he could punch Mason. “She’d hate you for putting her on a pedestal.”
“You know, Cephas, you changed each other so much,” Mason smiles. “Have you noticed? You, the sheepish little outcast who wouldn’t even bloody his sword, you look at me like you just want to start a fight. And Vale, this selfish dick so far up her own ass would rather die than have to live without the people she loves… it’s incredible…”
“I want to get drunk,” Cephas says and stands up, only slightly towering above Mason as she straightens up too. “You wanna get drunk?”
“Always, but I have some other stuff to do right now,” Mason nods as Cephas begins to leave the room. “But do yourself and Vale a favour and be smart. She’s counting on you.”