Hiya everyone! This is actually, like, the LONGEST chapter I've EVER written... Yay me! This took me like, nearly the whole of the Paralympic Closing Ceremony... It's now the last song by Coldplay XD
In terms of TLP Sims 3 movie, I'm working on it :) PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW!

So kick back, chill out, and enjoy the rivalry between Lara and Kurtis!
I own nothing but the storyline, everything else (Lara Croft, etc.) belongs to Core Design, Eidos, and Crystal Dynamics. Happy days!

Chapter Three: Reflection

I was thoroughly enjoying the cool breeze blowing through the humid air. It was much like the times I spent in Egypt as a teenager, with Werner Von Croy. The thought of Werner automatically reminded me of the events in Paris, and Prague.
"Damn it, Lara." I muttered. I was frustrated with myself because I kept on reminding myself of the past. Something I never usually did. I jumped when I felt Kurtis' arm brush mine.
"Y' alright?" Kurtis asked, taking my hand in his.
"I'm fine." I lied, pulling away gingerly.
"I don't understand you, Lara. One minute you're head-over-heels for me, the next minute you just don't wanna know." He sighed.
"I don't know, Kurtis, I'm sorry. It's not your fault, I'm just confused, I guess."
"What about?"
"Don't worry. Hey, what's the time?" I changed the subject innocently.
"Around 6 o'clock, I think. Do you want to start looking for a place to set up camp?" He suggested.
"Yes, and food. I'm a bit peckish now." I smiled.

"You sure know how to kill 'em, Croft." Kurtis panted, out of breath. We had been chasing after some wild boar for about 10 minutes now, and I had successfully shot it down finally.
"It's a handy trait, Trent. Now, you can carry it, I'll get some wood." I tucked my guns away into the backpack again. Kurtis heaved the heavy animal up in his arms, and nearly stumbled backwards.
"You alright? Or is it too heavy for you?" I teased, pouting sarcastically.
"Shut up, Croft." He grunted, stabilizing himself.

I gathered together some fallen branches and piled them into my arms. I followed Kurtis as we ventured out to find a suitable place to rest for the night. Eventually, we settled down on a patch of dry grass where the trees towered over us, splitting the moon into several long streams of light. The white pools of brightness flooded the forest floor where we set the branches down, and the boar not too far away.
Kurtis was busy at work taking the boar apart into edible parts, whilst I was busy getting a fire started. My hands ached as the wind that had slowly built up kept blowing whatever spark I had gained out. The hard wood gnawed its way through my skin, and by the time I had got the fire alight, my hands were scarred with blisters. I blew on the fire, keeping it going long enough as I put more branches on. Kurtis came and sat next to me, sticking some slabs of meat over the fire. I was busy wrapping my sore hands up with bandages to notice Kurtis gently leaning against me.
"Your hands look terrible." Kurtis decided to make conversation.
"Thanks." I took a piece of cooked meat and took a hungry bite into it. Not bad.
"So tell me, Lara. Tell me about yourself." He leaned in close, resting his head on his palm.
"Only if you tell me about you afterwards." I negotiated.
"Agreed." Kurtis nodded.
"Well, I was born on the 14th February, 1968, in Wimbledon, London. My father wanted me to marry," I paused to swallow. "The Earl of Farringdon. He's dead now." I chucked the uneatable part of my meat onto the fire carelessly.
"Hold on, you were married?" Kurtis exclaimed.
"No! Let me carry on." Kurtis nodded obediently.
"Anyway, I was taught at home until I was 11, then I went to a series of schools afterwards until I was 21."
"21?" Kurtis' eyes were open wide.
"Finishing school in Switzerland. Fun, I know." I rolled my eyes. "At school Werner Von Croy, you've heard of him?"
"Yes."
"Well, he gave a talk at school. A few years later when I was 16, after I graduated from school, I went on an archaeological trip with him, after some discussion with my Father. It was across Asia, ending up in Cambodia to find an artefact. Afterwards, I carried on with schoolwork. When I was 21, after my marriage to the Earl was secured, I was in a plane crash on the way back from a ski trip, in the Himalayas. That's when something changed in me. I couldn't go back to my old life after living on wits for so long. That's when father disowned me, because I refused to be the way I was. Now I'm the 'tomb raider' you see today. And I live in Surrey. Just to let you know." I finished. Kurtis had a look of shock on his face.

"You sure do go into detail. Don't expect that from me." He tossed the bone aside and cleared his throat.
"I was born on the 26th June 1972, beneath the Utah Salt Flats. My father, Konstantin, was a very… serious, member of the Lux Veratatis. He trained me from the minute I could walk to be part of the 'Shadow War'. I didn't want any part in it though. Dad didn't care. He was fixed on his goal. So, I was pushed along a lot in my abilities. I remember very well being locked in an empty room on my own, in the dark, with nothing to do but practice." He lifted the Chirugai into the air and let it hover round in circles around us as he spoke.
"My mother, Marie, however, still wanted me to have an education. When we moved around a lot, between Europe and America, she would teach me things I would've learned at school. Eventually, we just stayed in Europe, moving between Lux Veratatis safe houses. The Cabal was always one step behind us, though. When I was 19, I left home and changed my last name to 'Trent'. I joined the Foreign Legion, where I was known as the Demon Hunter. But because unexplainable events always seemed to happen around me, I left. I did some mercenary work here and there, but never really stayed anywhere. News reached me that Dad was still alive, but I never saw him again." He hung his head low, and his voice became quieter. "He was tricked into thinking my mother was in danger, and that's when Eckhardt killed him. Mum sent me some things I had inherited, including this," The Chirugai landed in his waiting hand. "That's when I finally woke up, I guess. That's when I decided to get revenge on Eckhardt and the Cabal."
"And here I was thinking that you were just shallow for the sake of being shallow." I said.
"Yeah. You ain't so bad yourself."
"You didn't get abandoned in a fallen pyramid." I shot back.
"Nope. I didn't." He agreed. I sighed, and rested my hand on his.
"I'm sorry about your Father. But you got what you wanted. And now I have a question."
"What?"
"Why didn't you ever come back to me?!" I exclaimed. My eyes were filling up with tears again, just like before.
"Is that why you're mad with me?" Kurtis asked.
"Yes! I was so upset, Kurtis! How did you even survive!?"
"Physic healing powers." He touched a faint scar on his stomach.
"Boaz stabbed you?" I gasped.
"Yeah. I thought I'd killed her and turned my back on her for two seconds. But she stabbed me, right through the stomach."
"Nice."
"The reason I didn't come back to you was because I thought it'd be best if I stayed out your life, Lara. I didn't want to come back into your life and draw you into my problems." He ran a finger down my cheek.
"You're welcome to come into my life anytime." I whispered.
Kurtis leaned in closer, and I could feel his warm breath on my lips.
"Kiss me." I murmured, pulling his chin forward. Our noses settled together as our lips touched. Electricity ran through my body, as our kiss got deeper and more passionate. I felt his hand round my neck, and the other slid down my back. I ran my fingers through his hair, and held his face. Kurtis was the first one to break away.
"I needed that." He laughed.
"Yeah." I breathed.
"Come on Lara, we need some sleep. Long day ahead of us tomorrow." Kurtis laid down on dry floor. I settled next to him, allowing him to hold me close.

That was the first time I had ever felt so comfortable being so close to someone who used to be a threat to me.