Redhawk Caldera woke up feeling like a new james dean.

With everything they'd gone through, Penn had always felt like she just got it. He never really had to explain himself to her, nor had he ever required it of her. They were just on the same page. So when she dismissed his confession so venomously, Penn was left stunned, angry, and very, very hurt. 

He didn't have words for a moment, which was a first for him. Penn shook his head to clear away all of the emotions he'd let himself feel, swallowing them down and burying them. That bullshit had never done him any good. He shouldn't have bothered with it. He shouldn't even bother with her.

Except...

"So let me get this straight... You would've picked me?" Penn said as he trotted after her. She could try to leave all she wanted, but with that limp, she wasn't getting away from him that easily. He pulled up alongside her (leaving enough space that she couldn't reach over and bite him), glancing sidelong at her with smug curiosity sparkling in his brown eyes. She hadn't told him he was wrong--she'd just dismissed the whole thing. Almost like she didn't want to admit something.