[spoiler]alright here, take it and leave. Lmao[/spoiler] (Page 81)      "So... I heard about the Mindbender. And what he did. That's uh, crazy, huh?" The hunter fiddles with a scrap of metal in her hands, staring at it as if it were the most interesting thing she had ever seen.      Variks grumbles, shifts in his seat. "Most disgusting of all the Barons."      Uncomfortable, Shadow's heart rate increases. "I've been curious for a while now. I mean, I wanted to know how you felt about, you know... the hive-inter-breeding and whatnot, that whole thing." She chuckles nervously.      Variks seethes through his mask. "Blasphemy. Repulsive."      Despair sets in the pit of Shadow's stomach. "Right... I mean, it's really disgusting to do that sort of thing."      Variks turns four bright blue eyes on her. "Is something bothering you?" His attention is drawn from the monitors in front of him.      She laughs weakly. "No, no. I'm fine."      "Why did you want to know my opinion of him?" Variks is smart. Too smart.      She's not sure when, but Shadow decides to be straightforward. Her golden eyes raise to meet his. "Well, to be honest, I was really taken aback. I never thought something like that would happen."      "And it never should have," Variks growls.      "Because they're hive?" The question is out before she realizes what she's said. Shadow freezes, fingertips digging into tough edges of metal plating.      Variks stares at her, taking a long, thoughtful pause.      Swallowing hard, Shadow struggles to hold the glowing gaze. How much did he know? And if he did know, why did he never say anything? Was he content to watch her make a fool of herself?      While lost in thought, the hunter hardly notices Variks lean closer to her. "Why do I feel no surprise of your interest in eliksni breeding?" He sounds amused, not angry.      Shadow lets out a breath of relief. "I'm interested in everything about the eliksni."   Pause.      She swears there's a smirk behind those sparkling blue eyes and wickedly sharp teeth. "Surely no other reason."      Shadow couldn't have been any hotter if she'd been thrown into the sun. She shrinks into her seat, lost for words.      Variks chuckles deep in his chest. He reaches a hand out to her, rests it on her shoulder. His grip is strong but gentle. "Yes," he answers. "Because they are hive." Shadow looks back down at her metal scrap, running a thumb over it. She fights back a smile. Variks leans closer. "Not awoken." Shadow catches her lip between her teeth, ducking lower to hide her flushed face. "Right," she chokes out. A ping catches Variks's attention.      The hunter exhales shakily, relived, as he turns back to his console. Noticing he seems to be responding to something urgent, Shadow stands. "I'll fetch Wolf." She dips her head in respect before turning to leave the room. "Shadow." She turns back. Variks glances over his shoulder. "Discussion for another time, yes?"