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It was a subtle tell, but Thancred saw it early. A nagging suspicion hooked behind his thoughts the first time a prompted question left the man murmuring something about a kernel of truth. Elyan was always the type to bite his tongue and nod along. He had noticed that about him back in Ul’dah, a near lifetime ago. For him to offer dissent seemed strange, even with the weight of some years time between when he last worked alongside him.
Whenever the ascian spoke, whether it be in the Ocular, or in his vexing appearances whenever it suited him to offer exposition, Elyan would listen with a care that sat poorly on Thancred’s shoulders. Orange eyes carefully tracking him while he spoke. His chin tilted upward, just slightly, when the witch was close enough that he needed to look up to meet his eyes.Thancred noted how his gaze lingered when the ascian left. The way that he seemed to alternate between shrinking away from him and leaning too close when the opportunity struck.
It reminded him of watching a child put his hand on a hot stove. Though in this case, the stove leered back. Looming over Elyan, speaking in a lowered tone when he wishes for only him to hear. Following him with eyes that belonged in the skull of an animal more than a man.
Thancred had his misgivings long before his wayward companion had strayed from the group to walk with the sly devil through the bowels of the Qitana Ravel. It was some days after when a lingering glance shared between them was enough to finally make him break. When the ascian at last stalked off to parts unknown, he stepped to Elyan’s side.
“I don’t care for how he looks at you.”
Elyan turned to him, a small line furrowing the space between his brows. “How he looks at me?”
The reaction was genuine. Confusion, trepidation. Thancred wondered if it were really possible that the man was so shaken up by a little reprimanding after the Ravel.
His lips pulled into a thin smile. He patted a hand against his shoulder. “Forget I said anything.” With that, he left.
I don’t like how you look at him, either .