Faraday feels a pang of loss as Vasquez releases him – stupid of him, considering Faraday was the first to put some distance between them in the first place. He lets his hands drop to his sides for a moment, and at Vasquez’s words of reassurance, Faraday feels some of the tension drain from his frame. His expression softens a little, warms a little, because they rarely speak aloud how much they trust one another.

It can go unsaid, Faraday knows. By now, it would take a bigger fool than Faraday to understand that they trust one another with their lives, but hearing it still makes his chest clench a little tenderly.

He shakes it off when that dark look passes Vasquez’s face, though, and Faraday frowns at him. For a few seconds, he bites his tongue, uncertain of whether he should point it out. He nearly lets it lie, but in a shocking moment of clarity, Faraday recognizes that if he leaves it alone, it might distract the both of them. They have to ride into town with clear heads.

He ignores Vasquez’s question for the time being, tilting his head to better examine Vasquez’s expression and body language.

“What was that about?” he asks, a bare edge of concern slipping into his voice. “You had a peculiar look on your face, just then.”