Knights Against the Night Part 27

There hadn't been much point in staying.

Beano had circled around the issue carefully.

He wasn't about to leave again. Not without saying anything. Not without preparing the bear for the eventuality. Mars was too jumpy for that.

"I didn't know." Beano had said carefully. "I didn't think you would take it so badly. I thought you didn't need me. I thought I was hurting you by staying."

Mars rarely let the small mouse out of his sight.

Except, Beano insisted.

Mars was paranoid.

The brightening of Beano's blade, that small flicker of light, of hope, was matched in the darkening of Mars'.

"I won't do it again. I won't leave without you."

It didn't help.

Beano still spent all his time going over dusty records, compiling infomation on who knew what.

Mars couldn't help. Wouldn't help.

Beano was lost in his own little world most of the time.

All his progress had stalled.

"I need to get away." Beano said a few days later.

Mars was starting to agree with him.

"Where are we going?" Mars asked, and Beano gave him a look.

"Not both of us. That's a bad idea." Beano had said, looking up from his books.

Mars felt his heart stop.

"No. Don't go."

Beano flinched.

"I can't stay here." The mouse curled in on himself.

"Then i'm coming with you."

Beano sighed. "Later then." Turning back to his books.

"Beano..."

"It's fine. I'm fine. Everything's fine."

"You never talk to me anymore." Mars said.

Beano looked up, considering. The light that had been there just a few days had faded into nothing.

"I know."

Mars glared, irritated beyond all reason.

"You could talk to me. You know you can trust me."

Beano faltered.

"I knew I could, once."

Mars couldn't hide his hurt.

"You can't anymore." Mars said, drawing away.

Beano's ears dropped.

"I thought..." Beano shook his head, "I'm making things worse for you, I'm dragging you down, you don't need my problems on top of your own."

"And what would you do if I told you that? How would you feel? If I was hiding things from you?"

Beano's eyes dropped, "I would tell you to stop being an idiot."