"I'm worried."
I turn my chair to see Lara stand in my doorway. Her ability to creep up on me has only improved after Yamatai. I almost flinch at that thought, envisioning her creep up on a faceless Solari and sink the axe into his neck-
But I hide it, and frown. "About what?
"You."
I scoff. She flinches, and I can't help but feel guilty.
"I'm sorry Lara." A part of me isn't, and I think she knows. "But how can you worry about me?"
She frowns, genuinely puzzled, and I sigh, crossing my arms. I try to find words, but the only ones I find are hollow and leave a bitter taste in my mouth. "I mean... You... Don't you think- Goddammit."
There's that twitch in her mouth again, and it makes me want to smile and hit her at the same time. I hiss out a breath. "I think out of both of us, you should worry about yourself first."
Her almost-smile disappears so fast it hits me like a sucker-punch.
"Sam..." Her tone is warning, cautious. Dangerous waters are ahead.
"No, I mean it." I grit my teeth, this has gone on long enough. "I can't watch you destroy yourself like this. You alienate everyone who cares about you, even me! How am I supposed to help you if you do that?"
There is lightning in her eyes and thunder in her fists. The storm within her so intense she shakes with its rage.
A reckless stupidity overwhelms me, and for a moment my thoughts are right on the surface, pouring from my mouth in a waterfall of truths.
"I can't take much more of this Lara. I care about you, believe me, I do, but if you keep pushing me away... After a while I'm going to stay away."
She jerks back, blinks, uncomprehending. "What are you-"
"I'm going to leave."
AN: Consider this fast second upload an apology for taking so long. Thanks for everything that you've given me, it still makes me smile after all these years.