No, it wasn’t who they were; they existed in their own orbits, and yet part of the same solar system. They went months without seeing each other, working on their own goals and survival, but close enough to rely on each other.

But he wasn’t sure if Caleb was at a point where he could fully trust him yet, and he had offered this as an option of transparency. Essek had nothing to hide, at least not on this. He knew with time it would get better, but this was not the time he had expected.

Still, Essek was surprised he said no, watching Caleb’s face for a moment before the drow finished working on bandaging the arm. When it was set, his fingertips lingered on the gauze, unwilling to let him go either.

“Then what is it you want?” It was a vague and raw question with a million different answers, but he asked it anyway.