It's hard to explain.
They don't love each other, not really. Actually, I think they both really hate each other. But Raul lets Daedalus get away with things no one else can, and Daedalus listens more to Raul than anyone else. At very least, they hate each other with poise.
I think Raul doesn't know what to do or say. The other day, he brought Daedalus a muffin. Like a well-earned token, he held it out.
"No, thanks," said Daedalus. "I can't risk getting food on these documents."
I know Daedalus didn't mean it. He didn't understand that it was a gift. But I saw something in Raul's eyes harden, even though he snorted it off. The muffin was meant to be a gift, but Daedalus turned it down. It upset Raul. He wanted Daedalus to take it, even if he threw it in the trash later or just gave it to me. It was like a test, and Daedalus would have passed, as long as he'd just taken the muffin.
But he didn't.
Daedalus is just as awkward. He wants to say something to Raul. I can see it in his face sometimes. But Raul doesn't understand; couldn't understand. Just as Daedalus did not understand the gift, Raul would not understand the words. But Daedalus tries. He sometimes manages to sneak tiny compliments into the things he says to Raul. He's not cruel, just defensive. I don't understand it, but I think that Raul does. He just won't say so.
Raul never knows how to act around me. I know he wanted to kill Daedalus for transforming me, but in a true display of effort, managed to calm himself. For anyone else, he would have simply beat them senseless. After all, he's already a flawed citizen. Might as well add another offense to the list.
But sometimes, I think that maybe they do love each other. But they don't show it normally. They cuss and scream and yell and say hateful words. But when all is said and done, Raul would rather stand with Daedalus than the city of Romdeau, and Daedalus never wanted to stand with the city beforehand.
"You know that I loahe you, right?" asks Daedalus suddenly, breaking the silence around us all.
"I expect nothing less of you," says Raul, acting as though he always knew it. And maybe he did, but he didn't want to hear the truth.
And Daedalus just likes to say those words. He doesn't understand why, he just does. He may loathe Raul, but the only person he'll ever truly speak to is Raul. He doesn't guard himself around Raul. It's fascinating, but also morbid. Like watching someone be run over by a car. It's horrible and scary, but you can't look away, nor can you bring yourself to help the person. It takes a special person to try and help.
I guess they're just ordinary people after all.
