Buck paused, water cascading over his shoulders as he considered his brother's words. He'd never thought about it that way before, that the quiet, bookish girl he'd dismissed might have been savouring her only taste of normalcy. The idea that Elizabeth Pearson might actually prefer being treated like nobody special was completely foreign to him.
"Huh," he said finally. "I guess that makes sense. Still doesn't excuse her being so..." he searched for the right word, "cold."
Elliot turned his face into the stream of water, letting it wash away the sweat and dust from the training yard. "Is it coldness, though? Or is it armour?"
Outside in the eastern corridor, Elizabeth leaned against the cool stone wall, eyes closed as she allowed herself a moment of weakness now that she was alone. Her m
