Even as Senji had pulled back the covers to reveal nothing he'd known that, this time, he would taste defeat. Although the blankets had been properly bulged and folded, there had been no resistance between himself and the mattress.
Already a thousand reasons for his failure had crossed his mind, and all of them had been dismissed. Senji did not make mistakes. The reason for this was simply a matter of familiarity. Maverick had been his student for many years, and his friend, partner, and lover for many more. They simply knew each other too well. Maverick would have likely met with the same failure had their places been reversed.
All the tension that had been building up inside of him, waiting for this very moment, melted away. He'd played his card, now he could only wait for Maverick to show his hand, as it were. The wait was not long, mere moments. Despite himself, he could not keep a chill from running up his spine at the sound of Maverick's voice. How long had he yearned to hear it? Longer than he would ever admit to anyone, including himself.
It wouldn't have surprised him to have a knife pressed against his throat and that voice whispering in his ear, but no, the voice came from across the room. Instead he got barely contained laughter. He'd have almost preferred the knife. At least Senji could deal with an aggressive reception with more aggression. Ah well, that was just how it was. He couldn't really be surprised by this. Maverick always did have a way of getting under his skin in ways no one else alive ever could.
Rather than lash out, Senji twisted his body and stretched out comfortably on the bed, throwing one foot over the other, his back pressed against the head board as he made a show of tucking the dagger lazily back in his boot. The blade had only been for show, he wouldn't have really harmed his dear Maverick. Well, not much, anyway. He was the picture of comfort. Were one to look in on them right that moment they would never suspect that Senji had only moments before been intent on attacking anyone.
"Oh Maverick, Maverick, Maverick...A long time, indeed. Were you hoping for me sooner? Perhaps lying awake at night fantasizing about this very moment?" Oh wouldn't that have been sweet, but he would not ever get such a confession from Maverick, whether it was true or false. He would never had confessed to it either.