Nothing is What it Seems... (Degu x Shadow)

[Night Shadow]

The usually crammed sidewalks were nearly empty as a lone figure made their way along the shadowed pavement; A ghost in the shadows that was only briefly illuminated by the occasional street lamp and store sign, revealing a sheen of short, soft blue hair and blood red markings that contrasted starkly against pale porcelain skin. Despite his tall frame and slightly muscular build, his steps were light and soundless as he walked..

More like stalked...

His face was impassive, almost bored, but there was a keen alertness in his eyes as he sniffed about subtly; The anticipation building even as he fought against the urge to quicken his pace. Black pupils slashed vertically through iridescent gold irises added a distinctly predatory aspect to the otherwise calm facade and allowed him to see easily even in the dimmest conditions. Pupils that narrowed further as he slipped into a darkened alley, muscles tensing with each step. Using the obstacles in the narrow confines to conceal his approach, he carefully picked his way through the rubbish and debris scattered along the dank corridor towards a lone male that stood up ahead; One shoulder leaning casually against the red brick with his attention fixed straight ahead. No doubt observing the few humans out at this hour. The blue-haired male paused behind a parked van as his target turned to glance absently back over his shoulder before turning forwards again, returning to his task. A breeze blew back through the alley, carrying the distinct scent he had been tracking..

'Dirty little weasel...'

Known for being opportunistic and particularly under-handed and vicious, he didn't dare rush and alert the wretch to his presence. Not if he wanted to make this as clean and quiet as possible. The distinct scent of musk wafted back and he resisted the urge to snarl at the impudence this creature had to disturb his carefully kept peace; His meticulously maintained order. Word had reached him of a series of particularly brutal cases where women had gone missing, only to turn up -

Bile rose in his throat as he remembered the last body that had been recovered. His own men had been attempting to track down the sneak but, true to his nature, the bastard always seemed to slip away before they could corner him. All conventional methods had been pursued to no avail, but this wasn’t a conventional case and he had refused to simply sit idly and wait while someone so openly defied him. He’d given the humans three weeks to resolve the matter before he had decided it was time to take matters into his own hands and made arrangements to visit the morgue. Once he had the scent, he had immediately started his hunt- methodically scouring the city until he picked it up again.

That had been three days ago. It had been a tedious and painstakingly slow process. Unlike some of his past targets, this male wasn't stupid; He’d covered his tracks well and was exceedingly cautious- taking his time to plan and prepare between prey. But he had been just as careful himself; Slowly compiling evidence and ensuring that there was no doubt that this was the right demon. Weasels were well known to have large families and the last thing he wanted was one of them coming after him in some mistaken attempt of revenge.

While distinctly more savage than human laws, even demons had a code they followed and unauthorized killings such as these were simply not tolerated. If someone had a score to settle and wanted it settled permanently, they had to go through the proper channels. He was certain he could handle whoever felt confident enough to even try, but it was still annoying; A waste of time and life. As the Lord of the region, it fell to him to ensure the code was enforced and to punish those who chose to ignore it- thereby putting the rest of the population under his care in danger of discovery. Even so, he tried to be fair and just. Unlike some of his predecessors, he made a point of living by the same rules as those he ruled over. By taking a few days to gather evidence, he had hopefully avoided decades, if not centuries, of headache later.

He paused in the shadows of a recessed doorway, watching and waiting... Though it seemed he wouldn't need to wait very long. Roughly half an hour later, his target made their move. The area was mostly empty when a lone red haired woman happened by, digging through her purse as she passed. His lips curled back in a silent snarl as he watched the creature grab her arm and pull her into the alley; A claw tipped hand going to her throat and cutting off any noise as he pushed her up against the cold brick.

Wasting no time, he made his way up from behind while the other was distracted- anger building at each jeering remark leveled at the terrified woman. Something in her eyes must have tipped the weasel off, but even as the male turned, he palmed the side of their head and slammed it into the brick next to the woman- watching with contempt as they slumped to the ground. She staggered for a moment before catching herself on the building; Coughing and gasping for air even as she struggled to get further away from the unconscious form laying face first on the asphalt. He kept his distance, not wanting to scare her anymore than she already was, and offered hushed reassurances- making sure she hadn't sustained any further injuries before sending her on her way with the promise that he would make sure her attacker would be taken care of.

Once she was out of sight, he dug his cell phone out and lowered himself down to sit on the unconscious body while he quickly made a few calls; The first to make sure one of his men on the force picked her up and handled all of the questioning and another to have one of the special detainment cells prepared until the piece of trash could be transferred after the mock trial. As soon as that publicity farce was out of the way, the piece of filth would be relocated to a more private facility and quietly executed, as their laws demanded. The resulting investigation would last maybe a few days tops before it was buried within the archives as yet another prison murder that would go "unsolved" and soon fade from the minds of the masses who only cared that the killer was caught- allowing them to return to the delusion that they were safe once more. In two to three weeks, everything would blow over and his little corner of the world would be back to normal. Or rather, as normal as could be expected.

With a heavy sigh, he rubbed his temples in irritation. There was likely a pile of paperwork waiting for him after his extended absence, not to mention a few meetings that had been rescheduled. He was mentally planning his itinerary for the next few days when a sharp pain suddenly lanced through his calf. Snarling, he grabbed the male as he stood; Turning and throwing him against the opposite wall. The knife that had been slammed into his flesh dislodged in the process, falling to the ground with a metallic clatter but he ignored it for now along with the pain. Quietly, he leveled a glare at the smug face sneering at him.

"That's what you get for getting in my way, you fucking snake." The brunette taunted, the nasally voice grating on his ears. The other male's glee was short-lived, however. In a burst of speed, he lifted the smaller male off the ground and pinned him to the wall by his throat- an involuntary thrill tingling under his skin as the windpipe under his palm was crushed with the force. Fangs bared, he growled as he brought his face inches from the other, golden eyes boring into terrified black orbs as he watched them struggle for air.

"That would be Lord Seiryuu, to you.." he corrected, trying to ignore the deep sense of satisfaction at the brief moment of horror as recognition lit his face before it all slowly faded away to nothing. The limbs twitched briefly, then finally went still; The blood seeping out of the weasel’s mouth and nose trickling down his arm as the now lifeless body dangled limply from his grasp.

 

[Degusaurusrex]

How had it come to this?

Despite nearing her twenty eighth birthday, life was anything but grand for Alexai. She had no family in the immediate area, no one that cared to help her and thus she had been reduced to living in a tiny, rundown apartment. Could it even be considered a functional apartment, when it was barely big enough to house her and the small number of things she owned? It put a roof over her head, gave her a place to sleep, shower, and eat, but even eating was basic and limited by her humble income. The tiny diner she worked at didn't offer much of a livable wage, but short of becoming an exotic dancer and forgoing her self respect it was the best she could currently find. She had been searching for months now, but between the lack of a vehicle and how long of a commute taking the bus would be, nothing had actually come to fruition yet. And so, she continued the long, miserable hours that included unwanted hands on her body, crude comments her way, and general rudeness from customers who had been drinking far too much before slinking into her work.

What other choice did she have? The only family that still remained was distant in both relation and distance, and those that were still alive had never been very kind to her to begin with. Reaching out and asking for help would have resulted in nothing but laughter, denial, and her hopes being shot down none too gently. Better to just suffer through it until she could pull herself out of the water without having to beg.

Tonight had been long, almost a full thirteen hours on her feet before they'd finally allowed her to finish the shift and leave. Her work clothes were still tucked into the bag at her side as she walked down the street, green eyes sweeping around the darkness to observe her surroundings at the late hour. The constant attention she'd endured at the diner, comments about looking exotic with her dark skin, her high cheekbones, and any number of other perverted comments had made her quite aware she wasn't unattractive, and as such she knew better than to zone out while walking home alone in the dark.

Alexai sighed and continued her walk, fighting back a yawn as she tucked her hands into her jacket to shield them from the wind. A sudden noise caught her attention and made her head snap to the side, dark hair momentarily blinding her vision before she shoved it out of the way with a gasp. Had she just heard growling? Her instincts demanded that she move away from the sound, but her tired, overworked, and curious mind ignored the instinct and instead sent her to investigate what kind of wild animal she might need to keep her eyes open for.

"What the fuck?" There was no animal to blame the source of the noise on. No, there was a shock of blue hair and a limp body on the ground that looked like it was probably dead. Her voice came out in a much louder squeak than she had anticipated and she immediately backpedaled, forcing herself into action as she turned and bolted. She ran, and ran, and ran until her legs were on fire and her lungs burned with the need for oxygen, the combination of both sending her to the ground where she caught herself with her hands.

"What the hell did I just see?"

 

[Night Shadow]

His head snapped to the side as a small noise reached his ears, angry gold locking on startled green before the ravenette turned and ran. With his instincts so close to the surface, it took everything in him not to bolt after her- to give chase to the woman that smelled... absolutely delicious if he were being honest, and his muscles were practically twitching beneath his skin, but first things first-

He pick up the limp form and tucked it behind a nearby dumpster for now, sending off a quick text before turning and quickly following after the girl at a brisk walk; Trying to not attract any more attention than absolutely necessary as he tracked her down. Blood had been spilled and the scent of a fresh kill blew on the wind; Many of the lesser creatures would be drawn to the area only to be drawn to the tinge of fear that now lingered in the air. He preferred to avoid unnecessary casualties as much as possible and he needed to figure out just what she'd seen before she potentially caused an even bigger fiasco. The last thing he needed was for her to show up at the police station and give them his description. There wouldn't be any evidence by the time day broke, but even just the implication would cause a myriad of issues. As one of the top corporate executives in the country, he'd rather not have his name splashed across the tabloids any more than it already was. He liked his privacy, and nothing drew attention like a potential scandal, not to mention the affect such an accusation would have on his businesses...

Glowering at the thought of yet another onslaught of reporters swarming his properties, as well as an on coming headache, he picked up his pace- long legs making short work of the ground as he closed the distance. The faint trail grew stronger as he neared, while his stomach reminded him he'd barely eaten since this whole thing had begun and that he was absolutely starving. He absently went through a list of nearby businesses, intent on grabbing the closest takeout the first chance he got. The rest of his senses were on edge- alert for anyone, or anything, that was in the area.

As his luck would have it, they weren't alone..

---

Blue eyes watched curiously as a black haired human dashed by, obviously terrified though he couldn't see what had caused it. If that wasn't enough to pique his interest, the shapely rear end as she sprinted away certainly did. With only a brief moment of hesitation, he turned to follow after her, occasionally throwing a glance behind them. It wasn't until she came to an abrupt halt that he attempted circling around and approaching from in front.

"Hey there..." The tan-skinned brunette called out softly, a mask of concern carefully painted on his face as he glanced around. He doubted there was anything he should be worried about out here and a quick scan seemed to confirm his thoughts. Turning back towards her, he crouched down low so that he was no longer towering over her- a psychological technique to seem smaller and less intimidating. He really didn't want to scare her any more than she already was, nor did he want to chase her down again. That certainly wouldn't garner him any favors; If anything, it would make his plans a lot more difficult. Though, now that he could see her up close, he was actually glad he'd run her down; The woman was gorgeous and the way her clothes hugged her body right now hinted that underneath would be just as pleasing... "You okay? What's got you so spooked?"

 

[Degusaurusrex]

She looked up and shrieked, fingers scraping along the concrete as she caught sight of the man in front of her. He was the complete opposite of the one she'd just seen, normal and looking rather concerned as he questioned why she was so frantic. She struggled for words, already exhausted from a long day at work and partially in survival mode after just witnessing what was almost certainly a murder. Her brain fought to process the chain of events and how to cope with them, and after a brief moment she all but launched herself at the concerned man and wrapped her arms tightly around him as she began to cry.

"I'm sorry-- I just--God it was so horrible." Her voice was muffled against his clothing as she sobbed, fear and uncertainty rolling off of her in waves as a new thought occurred to her. It was awfully convenient someone came to check on her immediately as she ran from the scene of a crime, what if he was working with the blue haired man? The possibility was enough for her to push him away abruptly, gripping her bag tightly before fleeing down the street. Of all the ways she could die, this wasn't how she wanted it to be. All the effort she'd put into making her way through live, only to be pushed back two steps for every one she thought she got ahead. Hell no.

 

[Night Shadow]

Eyes widened in surprise as the smaller woman recoiled, then launched herself at him. Not what he was expecting, but he could work with it. He gently engulfed her in his arms and rubbed her back, growing increasingly curious at what it was that could have scared the poor woman so badly. But before he could ask, a fresh spike of fear tinged her scent and she shoved away from him, catching him off guard and knocking him onto his ass as she took off again.

'What the hell?!'

He'd been looking for an easy score - someone to pass the time with and send on their way - but she obviously wasn't just spooked by a shadow like he'd originally assumed, which made the situation much more serious. Setting his libido aside for now, he stood again and ran to catch up; Genuinely concerned for her safety now... This wasn't an area you wanted to get lost in. Not at this hour and especially not if something was already going down. It took him several seconds to regain enough coordination to put on an extra bust of speed, but soon the alcohol in his system began burning off faster due to the adrenaline dump and he quickly began closing the distance as he tried to cut her off. He was beginning to recognize their surroundings, and f she didn't change course she was going to end up in the Old Forest preserve...

"Oi! Hold up!" He called out as he caught up. "I'm not gonna to hurt'cha, Lady. I'm jus' try'na figure out what happened!"

 

[Degusaurusrex]

Alexai's lungs burned as tears threatened to blind her, the burning in her legs increasing as she forced herself to run as fast as she could. The sound of the voice calling out from behind her made her utter another noise of fear as she glanced back, cursing as the mistake cost her her balance and she tumbled to the ground.

"Fuck!" She winced as concrete bit into her skin but pushed up nonetheless, scrambling to her feet and looking around for a possible route of escape. Damn the strange man and his long legs, he'd caught up to her so quickly.

"No fuckin' way, for all I know you're with him." She shifted between feet as her heart thudded against her rib cage, trying to keep down the bile rising in her throat as she panicked harder. Her face was growing hot as she struggled to breathe, little pins and needles prodding at her skin as her legs buckled and she hit the ground again with only her hands to hold herself up.

"Don't touch me!" She managed to gap the words out as her vision swam, her surroundings growing dimmer and dimmer as her injured hands slid across concrete and her head thudded against the ground.

 

[Night Shadow]

The brunette winced as she went down again, the smell of copper and salt tinging the air, but before he could begin to help she'd already scrabbled away. Even from here, he could hear her heart racing wildly. Who the fuck was this 'him'? What had she seen? He wondered briefly if it had anything to do with the case they'd been looking into, but he wasn't going to get any answers in her current state. Her pupils were near pinpoints as they darted around frantically- breathing becoming increasingly erratic in her hysterics. He tried to talk her through it but his words didn't seem to register, and he could only watch helplessly as she staggered again before collapsing to her knees once more; Her head bouncing off the pavement as she finally passed out.

Cursing under his breath, he sent off a text before scooping the limp figure up and moving out of the road to sit on a set of steps nearby- cradling her against his chest and arranging for a take out delivery while he waited for the cab to arrive. Fortunately, it didn't take very long; The car pulled up within minutes and he carefully buckled her in next to him. He took his phone out again to send off another couple texts then a call when those went unanswered, only for it to go straight to voicemail. He frowned at the screen before tucking the device back into his pocket and turning his thoughts to the evening's events trying to recall if there had been anything else out of the ordinary. Try as he might, there was nothing that stood out. Frustrated, he thanked the cabbie as they pulled up to the building, flashing a false smile as he carried the woman up the stairs and into the building.

----------

Pinching the bridge of his nose, the blue haired male nearly sighed in exasperation as the scent he'd been following intersected with another. Of course it would be the mangy wolf that would be the one to find her. Though, from what he could tell, his friend's usual charm had failed him this time. Part of him was glad she'd at least run into someone he knew, but he couldn't help but feel sorry for the woman for having to put up with the pervert; His guilt only worsening as he pieced together what he could of their encounter. She was terrified, injured, and now had an obnoxious demon to deal with...

The trail went cold at the edge of a sidewalk and he quietly growled in irritation. He'd kept his pace steady, not wanting to draw unwanted attention as he tracked the young woman, but had lost valuable time in the process- missing the duo by mere minutes. Running his fingers through his hair, he sighed before setting off again... His phone was dead and the penthouse he'd been staying at was across town, but he had a private estate that was closer. He could stop there to get food and make some phone calls and try to figure out which den the mongrel had carried her off to while he waited for his battery to recharge. It was a relatively uneventful journey compared to the rest of his night; The miles slipping by quickly once he reached the edge of the forest preserve that served as a boundary between his estate and the bustling city. As he jogged up to the front door, he caught the strong smell of food- almost missing his friend's scent in the process. At least something was going right tonight... He slipped off his shoes by the door and followed the smell of food to the kitchen, immediately going to grab a take out box off the counter before sitting next to the brunette with an exhausted sigh.

"Yo, Shin-ah. Did ya get my text?" they asked in a hushed tone. Chewing quietly, he shook his head and showed them the black screen. "Well, you might wanna keep an eye on downtown. I don't know what happened but I found this chick freaking out. Might be related to that case you were looking into."

He paused, poking at his food as he swallowed a bite. "Ah. Y-yeah... About that..." He gave a brief recant of his evening and the events leading up to the moment he saw her flee.

Blue eyes stared at him for a second before cursing softly under their breath. "I heard you were looking into that case, but I didn't know you were actually on the hunt. You never make it personal. What in seven hells were you thinking, getting caught like that?!"

Shrugging, he finished off another bite before speaking again. "I wasn't expecting him to come around so soon. He could have been faking it, I guess, but-... I was just- I was waiting for transport, and he managed to stick a knife in my leg. I don't think he knew me, not by face at least, so we can probably rule out any locals, but he caught me off guard and I- ..." He didn't bother trying to finish the sentence; He didn't need to.

"... Fuck... No wonder she was terrified..."

He nodded. "Yeah... So I'll need to know where you sent her. I need to have her picked up and brought in for questioning."

His friend snorted in amusement. "How do you even survive, you overgrown lizard... She's here. Back in one of the rooms. She needs cleaned up still, but I had to get some food first." Golden eyes widened and he abruptly stood, abandoning what was left of his dinner and heading back in the direction the wolf had indicated. Sure enough, there she was- raven hair sprawled across grey satin pillows while long dark lashes rested against soft, smooth skin. Her brows were furrowed slightly, however, a sign her distress still lingered even in her sleep. He hesitated before sitting next to her on her bed. Picking up one hand, he carefully began cleaning her injuries; His tongue moving gently over the torn skin as he carefully removed the dirt and debris, spitting it aside to be swept up later. He didn't have any medicine on hand since demons generally healed too fast to need them and, aside from a few select species, their saliva had many of the same properties only more potent... Anti-inflammatories, anti-bacterials, anti-microbials, sedatives, painkillers... Humans would be appalled if they knew where many of their most popular pharmaceuticals really came from...

"Might check her head too. She smacked it on the ground pretty good." He jumped slightly before narrowing his eyes at the guy leaning against the door frame.

"Do you have to be so sneaky?"

"I don't 'sneak'. You just have the worst hearing of any demon I know. It's amazing that no one else has figured it out yet."

"It's not that bad," he protested as he located the spot they'd mentioned. "Why don't you do something useful for once and get me a washcloth."

"Hai, my lord."

He wanted to roll his eyes and growl at the mocking tone, but instead he just shook his head as he gently prodded around the site. There didn't seem to be any fracturing... That was good, though she likely had a mild concussion. And she definitely would want something for the resulting headache once she woke up. Taking the cloth the other male dangled obnoxiously close to his face, he wet a corner in his mouth before dabbing gently at the area; His mind a whirl of thoughts as he tried to figure out how to he was going to get her out of the mess she'd gotten tangled up in. Sightings were extremely rare anymore, especially as more and more of their less-than-human features could be explained away as tattoos, body modifications, or cosplay. Unfortunately for her his face was too well known, and there was already a second witness who could place him at the same scene if things went public. He had to find a way to convince her to stay quiet - that he wasn't the monster she'd seen - but things like that took time. Time he didn't have.

... Unless...

"I know that look... What're you planning this time?"

He nodded towards the kitchen as he eased her bag off of her, standing at the table as he perused the contents. Locating her wallet, he grabbed the pen and paper from before and wrote down her information before handing it to him.

"Take this to Eiya. Find out whatever you can about-," he looked at the ID again. "About Alexai. Pull all the stops. Have her belongings brought here and then call her work. Tell them... Tell them she fell and hit her head and has amnesia. Get a doctor's note for authenticity. You know who to talk to. She won't be going back... not until she's fully integrated. I want it done by this time tomorrow, Zach." The wolf nodded, suddenly serious, and headed out the door... leaving Shin-ah to his thoughts.

Until... Not unless... He wouldn't allow himself to even consider what would happen if she were to reject his offer. He couldn't. Failure wasn't an option. Depending on how this little experiment went, it could very well be the final step to the goal he'd worked towards his entire life-

True co-existence.

No more secrets. No more double lives. No more living in the shadows...

A small squeak drew his attention and his countenance softened as he caught sight of the furry critter sniffing at the take out boxes on the counter. Putting the- Putting Alexai's belongings back in her bag, he stepped over to the counter and picked up the chestnut coloured squirrel and nuzzled her affectionately.

"You can't have this Ao. It's too spicy for you." He admonished- waiting as she climbed up his arm then nestled in the hair on top of his head before digging into one of the cabinets for a sack of plain nuts they'd gathered from around the preserve. Handing her an acorn, he went back to eating his dinner... occasionally picking out a bit of shell as it dropped from above.

 

[Degusaurusrex]

Alexai had stirred slightly when picked up and placed in the cab, but aside from a small whimper she didn't otherwise protest. Between work being exhausting and the mixture of panic and adrenaline that had forced her heart to race, her body had simply decided it had had enough and caved into the darkness of unconsciousness.

The smell of food eventually broke through the gaze enough for her to shift and wrinkle her nose momentarily, but even that faded quickly and left her still for the remainder of the ride. Her eyes barely opened as they arrived, and she tried to grab onto whoever was shifting her around before realizing that her limbs weren't cooperating.

It was all a blur, and by the time they'd reached the first door she'd fallen unconscious again, brow furrowed as she was laid carefully in the bed and then left alone. Images danced behind her eyelids as she dreamed, her face twitching and lips parting when the sound of voices intruded on her dreams and gentle touches attended to her wounds.

It wasn't until the room was empty again that she fully stirred, blinking slowly and looking around in confusion. Her head pounded, a serenade of drums from the fall and impact her skull had made with the concrete. It made a hangover look like pure heaven, and after holding her head momentarily she forced herself to stand on legs far shakier than she would have liked.

The voices that had intruded her dreams and eventually woken her were coming from the other room, and she crept cautiously to the door before peeking out. How many of them were there? She could only see one now, but there had to be more. She looked for her escape options, green eyes landing on the door as she bit back a noise of victory. All she had to do was reach it and get out, then she could run as fast as her legs would take her.

She waited until the man with the squirrel atop his head turned his back, and then she ran, bolting down the hall and to the door before throwing it open. There was no hesitation as she bolted out, glancing backward once before she took off despite the pounding in her head.

 

[Night Shadow]

A black muzzle sniffed the air; The low rumble reverberating through a broad chest as it bared six inch fangs. Green eyes darkening,it bounded from branch to branch, moving to intercept it's target.

Intruder.

The long muscular body dropped down several yards in front of the woman, yowling angrily as it padded slowly towards her, tail swishing and muscles coiled taught. Ready to pounce at a moment's notice, the feline stopped and huffed as it sniffed the air. This person was a stranger, but the other scents that still clung to her were ones she knew too well. Humans didn't belong on the preserve.. So why was this one here?

She yowled again, this time lower: A warning. Eying the woman, the sleek form stalked back and forth, preventing the ravenette from going anywhere.

----

Ao perked up on his head, before jumping down to the floor and darting down the hall. He shrugged it off at first, until a series of sharp squeaks drew his attention. Going to investigate, he was confused at first as to why the door was open. Thinking maybe the wolf hadn't shut it properly (the guy had been raised in a cave after all), he was getting ready to close the door when a loud noise stopped him in his tracks. Forgoing shoes, he dashed out the door, Ao darting along beside him. He knew that voice, and if she was risking discovery, then it was something important... A jaguar wasn't exactly common around this area after all.

Sure enough, he caught sight of a large mass in the distance, pacing, with Alexai not far away. He walked up slowly, nodding politely at the beast. "Fair moon, Nanaba," he greeted semi-formally. "My apologies for any inconvenience my guest has caused you. Please, stop by later and I'll ensure you are compensated for your time."

Large haunches lowered as the animal sat down, ears still pinned back as she glanced from him to the woman and back. Lifting her chin, she chuffed before staring at him skeptically. Ao chose that moment to dart from her spot by Shin-ah's feet over to stare at Alexai, head tilted to the side curiously, and Shin-ah just shook his head- slitted pupils flitting between the three as he wondered just what he'd gotten himself into..

"I'll explain tomorrow. For tonight, just know that this woman here is under my protection. She is not to leave the property, however. If you would inform the others, I would greatly appreciate the assistance."

The large black head shook rapidly, obviously annoyed, but even so- she stalked up and butted against him before turning back towards the nearest tree. With one final look at the human, she huffed before climbing up the massive trunk and disappearing into the canopy.

Taking a step to the side, Shin-ah gestured back towards the massive building they'd left behind. "Please... Let's go back inside. It's cold out here and there's a lot that needs to be explained. Nanaba is one of the more docile residents we have here, but there are others who... won't be as friendly if they catch you alone."

At her feet, the little squirrel squeaked before patting her foot, looking up at her with hopeful eyes as she waited to be picked up.

 

[Degusaurusrex]

She hadn't run very far when the large animal dropped in front of her, and she screamed before finding herself on her backside on the ground. What the hell was a jaguar doing out.. Well, wherever they were? She scooted back and looked around with fear filled eyes, realizing that even though the animal hadn't struck, she had no idea what to do. There was zero chance she could outrun something like that, but staying put would mean almost certain death.

The sound of a familiar voice made her flinch before she stood and glared at him, trying to figure out why he was talking to the animal like it was a person. Even stranger than that, the jaguar seemed to understand and even show him affection! Alexai took a few more steps back and trembled, jumping at the sound of a squeak that came from her feet. The squeak that came from a squirrel patting at her foot like it was perfectly aware of what it was doing. She reached down to give it access, squeaking in surprise at the feel of its little feet.

"What the fuck is going on??" She continued to back away from the blue haired man that had appeared, not understanding any of what he was saying. "You keep wild animals here? Just what are you gonna do to me?" She gave a near hysterical laugh and raked her hands through her hair, wincing as she brushed against the bump from where she'd hit her head earlier.

"Great, I've been kidnapped by a lunatic who's going to murder me just like the man in the city." She knew she had no choice in the current situation, far from home and threatened by beasts she could never dream to fight.

"You're fucking insane. If you're going to kill me, I'm going to haunt you for the rest of your days." Her lip trembled before she turned away, stalking back to the house with the squirrel riding her shoulder. She slammed the door and found the first couch she could, sinking down onto it and holding her head in her hands before she began to cry.

Fuck, I don't want to die.

 

[Night Shadow]

His pressed together slightly but he refrained from speaking, choosing instead to let her vent before trailing behind her as she returned to the house. It wasn't like he could fault her for being so upset; This night had been anything but typical by human standards and, while they were hardly just "wild animals", it wasn't like she knew any better... And now was hardly the time to correct her. He wanted her to settle in better and get more comfortable around him as a "human" before trying to implement the next phase of his idea. But first he needed to prove that he wasn't insane, nor was he interested in harming her in any way.

Of all demonkin, his kind were traditionally more stoic- viewing emotions in general as a weakness and altogether unnecessary. He himself, however, tended to be more open in casual settings than his more traditional peers, though he still tended to refrain from exhibiting them like humans did. It was one of the many things he found fascinating about the creatures: Their expressiveness and their resiliency, despite their inherent vulnerability. If anything, this woman seemed to be coping rather well, all things considered. She wasn't trying to attack him, but she wasn't simply cowering in fear either. Both were promising signs to him; It meant she was still capable of logical reasoning, though he'd still rather let her get used to him first befo-

He stopped abruptly, wincing at the loud sound as he narrowly avoided the door that was shut in his face.

He deserved that...

He waited a few seconds for his ears to stop ringing before opening the door softly and padding soundlessly down the hall. As he neared the main living space he paused, heart dropping at the sounds coming from the living room.

Oh no... no nononononono...

He'd had very little experience in comforting anyone, let a lone a human female. He tapped out a vague query, scanning over the search results as he tried to find something he could do given the current situation. His understanding of human etiquette was rather limited, but he was pretty sure "Give them a hug" was out of the question, considering she thought he was some mass-murdering psychopath...

Tucking his phone away, he silently made his way to the kitchen and put some water in a kettle to boil as he shuffled through the cabinets for some of the items that had been recommended before placing them on a serving tray- Cookies, chocolates, an assortment of sweets and snacks, packets of various drink mixes and tea blends... He was debating on whether the tub of ice cream would fit next to the sugar and milk when a whistle signaled that the water was ready. Deciding to forgo cold things for now, he added two cups to the ensemble and balanced it with one hand before picking up the handle for the metal pot with the other... Only to remember there wasn't a table to set it on near the sofa... Hesitating, he debated on getting one but ultimately decided against it. He didn't really have anything nearby that would fit anyway, and he didn't want to leave her alone like this. Instead, he carefully sat it on the cushion beside her before sitting on the floor nearby, hoping that giving her the higher ground would help put her at ease. It was technically a submissive gesture - a forfeiture of power - though he wasn't sure if humans understood those kinds of nuances.

"I- I didn't know what you would like..." he apologized awkwardly, his voice feather soft as he focused his gaze on the floor to his right. "I know... things look bad. And I can't really... explain just yet, but.. I really don't want to hurt you."

 

[Degusaurusrex]

Alexai felt the small animal on her shoulder moving around, and she shifted her hand around until she felt fur and carefully lifted the creature up. She looked at it sadly and stretched out her arm, allowing it to move freely to the back of the couch without risk of falling.

"At least you have freedom." Why such a small, normally undomesticated animal was so willing to be friendly with her was strange, but she gave it another brief pet before sucking in a deep breath. It was impossible to keep her emotions at bay when she was feeling so overwhelmed, the stress of work and now the fact that she was being held captive in a stranger's home.

Not just a stranger, but someone she'd seen kill someone else just earlier that night. It hadn't mattered how fast she'd run away, her encounter with another man had left her so panicked she'd passed out and hit her head. It still hurt from where it had smacked on the hard ground, and she rubbed at the spot carefully with a groan before tear filled eyes shifted toward the squirrel.

She flinched at the sound of the man moving around, somehow acting normal despite everything that had happened. She wanted to scream until there was nothing left in her lungs, until he was forced to cover his ears lest the volume cause him physical pain. It seemed a futile effort though, and wouldn't solve anything other than to make her throat hurt from the strain.

Her head snapped up at the sound of footsteps before she shrank further into the couch at the sight of him. Her eyes darted to the serving tray before they narrowed in suspicion, and she nearly picked it up to throw the entire thing at him.

"If you don't get that fucking thing away from me I'm going to throw it in your face." It wasn't like her to normally be so rude to a stranger or to threaten them, but this situation was unlike any other she'd been in and she felt he deserved all of her ire.

"If I didn't know what you were capable of, I would throw the entire thing and hope to break your nose with my foot." Her face twitched in annoyance before she curled up tighter on the couch, wishing that the action could make her physically disappear on the spot. Her shoulders tensed, brow creased as she looked at him with the expression of a cornered, threatened animal.

"You don't want to hurt me? You should have thought about that before-- Whatever you did--What is this, one of those situations where you keep me here until you figure out whether to kill me, or sell me off to someone?" Her lip trembled as she drew her knees to her chest, dropping her head down with an audible sob. "I just want to sleep and then wake up from this nightmare." The only problem was that it clearly wasn't a nightmare, and even sleep wouldn't change her situation.

"If you're not going to kill me, then go away and let me sleep." She raised her head to look at him with teary eyes before taking the tray and letting it thud to the ground, rolling over and pushing herself into the cushions with a sniffle.

 

[Night Shadow]

Ao squeaked as the tray was dropped to the floor; The sweets and snacks she'd been sneaking towards now out of reach. Wide-eyed himself, Shin-ah barely managed to keep the little pitcher of milk from tipping over and carefully moved the tray to the other couch. He'd put the milk away later- the rest could stay out in case she changed her mind.

"I- There's no reason for you to believe me, I know... But that guy..." Sighing, he shook his head at himself. It wouldn't matter what he said. She wouldn't believe it if it came from him. "I'm sure it will be on the news tomorrow... Bedrooms and bathrooms are available in both halls. You're welcome to anything in the kitchen and… If you need to change your bandages, there's a first aid kit under the sink in each bathroom."

Catching Ao as she once again tried to reach for a cookie, he gently poked her nose in admonishment.

"No sweets after bedtime," he chided softly before nuzzling the soft brown fur. "And I'll know if you do... So go to sleep, little one. I'll need your help taking care of our guest tomorrow."

He stood slowly, watching as Ao gazed at the tray longingly before hopping up on the sofa and scrabbling over Alexai's shoulder to curl up under her chin. Once she was settled, he picked up the milk and put it away then grabbed some fruit from the bowl on the island. As he did, he silently took out the phone he'd spotted in her bag earlier and pocketed it. Shutting off all the lights except the one over the sink, he padded over to his door where he stood for several moments, debating about offering her a pillow and blanket. Eventually, he thought better of it... She was obviously ready to be done with the day - or more specifically, done with him - so he left the door ajar behind him and crossed over to his office where his own phone was charging. Once powered on, he texted Zach to wait for word from him before bringing the truck. He wanted to make sure she was well and truly asleep in one of the spare rooms rather than risk the hoard of them waking her while she slept on the sofa.

Turning her phone to vibrate for now, he booted up his computer and began catching up on all the work he'd missed while he was out "sick". He had left his office door open as well, per usual, so that Ao could come find him if she needed anything. She was doing better than she had a few years ago, but sometimes she still had bad dreams and couldn't sleep without someone nearby. If Alexai got up at some point and left the tiny mammal to sleep on the couch, he wanted her to be able to get to him.

 

[Degusaurusrex]

How he talked to the small rodent would have been far sweeter if she didn't know what he was capable of. She could feel the fur moving over her skin and sighed, then brushed her lips briefly over the small animal. She still found it so strange that it was domesticated enough to curl up with a complete stranger! Maybe it just sensed that she needed the comfort, but whatever the reason for it she was glad for the company.

Alexai dozed for barely an hour before she found herself unable to get back to sleep. It was difficult to stay comfortable on the couch, and after carefully scooping up the squirrel and cradling it in her hands she trudged around to find the room she had previously been in. Her jacket and shoes were tossed crelessly on the floor as she climbed into the bed, setting the animal carefully beside her and sighing.

"I think you're the one good thing here right now." What a hell of a way for the night to turn out. Or was it morning now? It was hard to remember what time it had been when everything had taken a turn for the worse. "Fuck." What was she going to tell her job? Nothing, because she probably wouldn't even survive the next twenty four hours. Despite what the man had said, she didn't really believe he had no ill will toward her.

She closed her eyes and tried to relax, absentmindedly stroking the squirrel until the repetition soothed her back to sleep. None of the noises throughout the remainder of the early morning hours disturbed her, and when she finally woke in the morning it was with a gasp as she sat upright.

A quick glance around confirmed that last night had indeed happened, and after a moment she put her head in her hands and began to cry again. The sounds were muffled behind her drawn up legs as she shook, torn between anger and a feeling of complete helplessness at her situation.

 

[Night Shadow]

He was going over a progress report on one of the latest projects when he heard her stir in the other room. Marking his place with the cursor, he waited silently to see what she would do- silently relieved as her footsteps receded and he heard one of the doors shut. Humans were frail creatures, after all. Things like food and sleep were essential parts of their routine and, in his observations, they did poorly when they lacked proper amounts of either.

After half an hour of silence, he sent word for the truck to be brought over and had one of the other bedrooms prepped for Alexai within minutes. He and Zach moved everything up while a redheaded woman carefully unpacked their new guest's belongings. She had arrived with the documents he'd requested, but had thoroughly scolded the two of them (for reasons he still didn't fully understand) before shoving them both out of the room. Since then, when she wasn't actively glaring at them, she'd been carefully folding and putting away every single item and arranging the few personal items artfully around the room. Offers to help were met with bared fangs, until the two finally retreated back into the safety of the kitchen.

It seemed like no time at all when day finally broke and Shin-ah began to put together a breakfast as a thank you for their help. Only Eiya's intervention prevented him from cooking up an entire buffet out of sheer nerves as he waited for Alexai to come out of the room. The kitsune had been less than reassuring as she bluntly informed him that it didn't matter what he cooked, or how much; Food wasn't going to earn him any favor. He'd actually frowned at that comment. Mostly because based on the results of his efforts last night it was likely true, but still... He felt it was the least he could do, all things considered. Not that he had any better ideas...

"Just give her time and be yourself. Unprovoked, you're about as ferocious as a newborn kitten."

He shot them both an unamused look... Her for the comment and the brunette for his snort of agreement. The strongest demon in the territory, he could make most others tremble with such a glance… But not these two. No. Instead, it only served to instigate them further as they dissolved into an undignified fit of snickers and giggles. He wondered absently if the other Lords had "friends" such as these, or if he was the only one unlucky enough to be cursed with such a fate. Fortunately for him, as much as they enjoyed teasing him, they were also discreet about it. Both were fiercely loyal, for reasons he had yet to fathom, and while they tormented him relentlessly in private they would annihilate anyone who attempted anything so demeaning in public. Sometimes it was easy for him to forget that, while they often acted like idiots, they both were still demons; Each was extremely intelligent - when they weren't playing the fool – as well as highly sociable and charismatic. In all honesty, he doubted he would have accomplished half of what he had over the years if it weren't for their constant support and timely interventions.

A fox, a wolf, and a dragon.. An odd trio to be sure but, despite their eccentricities... He wouldn't trade them for anyone else in the world…

Now if only they'd stop referring to him as 'adorable'...

Shaking his head once more, he tapped his phone screen a few times- turning on the TV and switching it to the news as he attempted to ignore their constant chatter about the vixen's latest shenanigans... Something about a chat and excessive amounts of inappropriate humor...

 

[Degusaurusrex]

After an entire night of drama, Alexai wanted nothing more than a meal, and a hot shower. She was still in her clothes from the night before, the smell of food clinging faintly to them and reminding her of work. Her only comfort throughout the night had been the small ball of fur beside her, and even that did little to soothe her now. It still hurt to move around as she drug herself from the bed, groaning unhappily as she stretched out slowly. Her stomach grumbled loudly and she cursed, staring at the doorway before hesitantly trudging toward it. If she was going to be locked up, then she was damn well going to be annoying about it.

"Where the hell is he?" She rubbed at her eyes, following the noise of the TV before stopping and sleepily mumbling. "I need a shower, and I'm hungry." She trudged across the floor again and yawned loudly, barely making it to the couch before she sprawled out. The pounding in her head was slowly receding, replaced by a high level of annoyance at her situation. Her only hope was that this was some kind of sick joke and she would be released anytime now.

She gave an exaggerated groan and pressed her face against the couch, legs curling against her body as she voiced her displeasure. "I don't know if I need coffee or a drink." She lifted her head and cracked an eye open reluctantly. "Where is that cute little squirrel?" Despite the fact that she'd spent the last several minutes crying, Alexai was still exhausted and the sleepiness in her voice was evident.

"I'm pretty sure I hate every single person in this house except that squirrel." She dropped her head back again and mumbled incoherently to herself before sighing.

 

[Night Shadow]

'Where the hell is he?'

Two pairs of eyes turned from the girl who'd just entered to stare at him as the woman came out of the room while he tried his best to not look too guilty. He was getting ready to say something, but a swift kick to his shin and a head shake from Eiya had him closing his mouth again. Rubbing the abused area, he scowled at her, a mixture of confusion and annoyance evident. 'Be yourself,' she'd said... Except for right now, apparently, because that was clearly a sign to shut up and let her do the talking.Though from the looks of things, Zach had gotten a similar treatment. It seemed like despite her banter a minute ago, she was still annoyed with them for whatever it was they'd done wrong last night. Which he still hadn't figured out.

Females...

"Sorry for the mess these two idiots have drug you into... I swear, they cause more trouble than I ever could, and they don't even try." She began, shooting a glare at the two males. "Here- Let me show you where the bathrooms are so you can freshen up a bit, if you haven't found one already. If you get hungry, there's practically a full breakfast bar ready. Shin-ah, the tall and quiet one, tends to cook when he's anxious. There's also plenty of coffee, thanks to his caffeine addiction. Though... You might hold off on picking a drink until after you see what they've done to, and I quote, 'help you feel more at home'."

He wasn't sure whether she was more annoyed at the situation, or that her title of "Queen of Chaos" might be in jeopardy... Either way, that still didn't explain why she was making such a big deal out of it. The woman needed clothes while she stayed here and while they were there, they figured they'd pick out some of the personal items as well. Objects that smelled strongest of her were likely to be things that she touched frequently and having something familiar around tended to make everyone more comfortable as they settled in to a new place; It was basic nesting. Surely humans weren't that different?

... Right?

She was currently saying something along the line of not being able to leave the two of them alone for more than a few minutes when she suddenly went silent, taking her plate over to stand behind the empty couch and stare at the tv, head tilted to the side as she studied the image on the news report.

"Hn... You're right... He even looked like a dirty weasel.." Shin-ah choked on his coffee, spitting it into the sink and coughing as she continued, oblivious to their incredulous stares. "I mean... Look at those beady eyes and that greasy hair... You said he was the one responsible for the killings? It's a good thing you got to him before me... After what he did to those women, I wouldn't have been so quick about it.."

Finally able to breathe again, he wiped his face with a napkin before making an exasperated noise. "I didn't mean to... W-Well, I did, but it wasn't like I thought- ... Nevermind; It doesn't matter anymore. It's done and I can't change it." Shame laced through his words as he set about cleaning up the kitchen. He hated losing control like that- hated letting someone else "jerk his strings," as Zach called it. Speaking of... The ookami was being way too quiet this morning. He glanced over his shoulder suspiciously at the usually loud and obnoxious male, who hadn't said more than a few muttered words since his guest had made her entrance. Mostly between him and Eiya though, since the sounds were too hushed for human ears to register. As he watched, he noticed him slip something under the table before glancing his way- having enough decency to at least look embarrassed at being caught. Eyes narrowing, he dried his hands on a towel as he walked around the table. Sure enough, there was Ao... chewing happily on a strip of bacon...

"You know the grease isn't good for her," he admonished as he picked her up, but not before she stuffed the rest in her mouth; Her cheek pouches bulging as he gave her a disappointed look. "Your stomach is going to feel sick later, you know.." Her ears drooped slightly but she refused to relinquish her prize, so he simply shook his head and sat her on top of the table before slicing off pieces of an apple and setting them on a small plate for her along with a small scoop of dates and nuts.

"At least eat something good for you as well.." he told her, scratching the top of her head gently and heading back over to finish the dishes just as Eiya finished sending off a string of texts.

"Alright. Now that that's all taken care of, let me know when you're ready to take that shower. I want to take one too before my stuff gets here."

Reptilian eyes locked on hers as she gave him a sweet smile- which always had the opposite affect for those who truly knew her.

"What? You didn't seriously think I was going to leave the poor girl alone here with you two, did you? You're both morons when it comes to the other species and Gods only know you two have 'helped' quite enough. Us gals have to stick together, right Ao?" There was a tiny squeak in response and Eiya nodded, grinning widely at the little rodent. "See? It's settled. I'll just borrow one of the spare rooms until things settle down here. Even you can't deny that it will be beneficial to have an extra fighter on hand if word gets out. At least this way, we can put off the rumors for a little while longer. Everyone will just assume it was some elaborate scheme of mine and that you're forcing me to move in so you can 'keep an eye on me'..." she mockingly air-quoted. "It's a win-win!"

Both males stared at each other before Zach finally spoke up.

"Ya know... It's almost scary how your mind works sometimes. I don't know whether to be amazed or appalled at how easily you think of these things... I swear, I wouldn't be surprised if you were the spawn of Loki himself."

 

[Degusaurusrex]

Alexai barely paid attention to the other people, still too wrapped up in being tired and caught up in her emotions. Now that it was established this was fully reality and not some sort of nightmare, she had to figure out the best course of action moving forward. The house was so large that escape seemed impossible, and after her run in with the jaguar she had little desire to get lost outside.

Her head whipped up at the sound of another woman's voice, wide eyes locating the source before they narrowed. This woman was much too cheery considering the situation, acting like everything was perfectly acceptable! It was overwhelming, her words barely registering at first as Alexai slowly stood.

"I assume someone will be giving me clothes, then?" She rubbed at her head in aggravation before it whipped toward the television. Was that the man that had been murdered last night? She barely made it from the room and to the nearest bathroom before she threw open the toilet lid and vomited. Her chest heaved as she whimpered, taking a moment before flushing and then rinsing out her mouth.

"What, what?" By the time she returned to the other room, the woman was speaking about remaining there! "Just-What-How many people am I going to be stuck with?!" She stomped her foot down with an angry screech before glaring at the blue haired man who had started the entire thing.

"Fine. Show me what they did so I can shower and hide in the room. I don't want to see anyone but that squirrel or I swear I'll scream." She stalked away, pausing only momentarily to wait for the other woman to lead before she silently followed along in search of a shower.

 

[Night Shadow]

The three of them barely refrained from wincing, ears ringing as they stood and the guys began to clear the table. Eiya held out her hand, waiting for Ao to make her way up to her shoulder before catching up to the irate woman and leading her towards the room that had been set up while she was sleeping.

"Mostly it'll just be Shin-ah and Ao. When I'm on a project I can disappear for days, and Zach, the tan one, is usually away on business. He'll be in town for a few days before heading out again. I'm Eiya by the way. Shin-ah said your name was.. Alexai? Is that what you prefer to be called, or is there a nickname that you like better?"

She opened the door and waited for the ravenette to enter, respectfully staying just outside the door way as she continued. "I'm sorry. I kicked them out as soon as I found out what they'd done and put everything away myself. I figured it was better than the two of them going through and man-handling everything. They really do have good intentions... Even if their ideas are about as well thought out as walking a chimera down Main Street..."

 

[Degusaurusrex]

"Zach can kiss my little white ass, then. Chasing after me through the street." Alexai's anger refused to allow her to meet the woman's eyes as she was led away. "Alexai is fine." She spoke through clenched teeth, ignoring the introduction and skirting around her to look.

"What the hell-- Oh, I don't even-- I can't handle this!" She threw her hands up with an angry scream, yanking the drawers open with no particularly care for their well being until she found clothing and some of her personal products. "Don't take this personally, Eiya was it? But I trust you about as much as I trust them, and that's not at all." She stormed into the bathroom with an armful of things, slamming the door and tossing the clothes on the ground.

"Why?!" She wasn't sure if she should be more angry or frightened at that point. It was an exhausting combination of emotions warring inside her as the shower started, and she decided she was going to take her sweet time before dealing with them again. What had Eiya called the first man? Shin-ah? That must have meant that the squirrel's name was Ao, although she was still confused on the fact that it was both domesticated and named.

She lost track of how long she was in the shower before forcing herself out, wiping steam off the mirror before drying herself off and getting dressed. Dark jeans and a tank top followed by a shirt worked well enough, and even though she looked very much lke a drowned animal, she made her way back down the hall and crosed her arms over her chest.

"So, who is going to tell me exactly how long I'm prisoner here?"

 

[Night Shadow]

Eiya threw a look towards the kitchen as the two men looked over, one that clearly said 'I told you so,' before turning on the bathroom light and getting the bathroom set up so that Alexai could pick which shower she wanted. She purposely ignored both males as she walked past and into Shin-ah's room to borrow some clothes before returning and getting into the other shower. As the door closed, he and Zach shrugged at each other- the brunette exhaling slowly. So maybe she was right when she had said the woman wouldn't appreciate someone going through her belongings without express consent..

By the time Alexai returned, Eiya had already finished and was typing on her laptop with Ao nestled in the wet hair piled in a bun on top of her head. At the opposite end of the table, the two guys were currently going over portfolios and discussing potential acquisitions. All of them looked up at her question, before looking at each other, silently wondering just how much they should tell her. There was only so little they could say before the damage was irreversible. Once the secret was out her life would never be the same, and none of them were certain that she would be able to cope just yet. Humans found a sense of security in assuming they were at the top of the pyramid. With their wits and their technology, the only threat they truly face was themselves... Or so they liked to believe. Many of them would be terrified at the prospect of beings as lethal as the 'beasts' they thought they ruled over potentially having more knowledge than any group of scientists or historians could ever hope to acquire. But ignorance was bliss, as they said, and in this case it was also the basis of the tiny bubble of peace that both sides currently resided in.

It was Zach who finally broke the silence, his cheerful demeanor slipping away as he fixed her with a serious look.

"Quite frankly, Miss.. There's no way for us to know. Contrary to whatever is going on in that head of yours, this little mishap may have just saved your life. Mr. Humble over there is actually pretty important.. Not only does he run most of this city, he also has major dealings around the globe- most of which you aren't supposed to know about... Which is where we have our little problem... Whether you realize it or not, you saw something you shouldn't have and there are those who would kill you if they found out. So long story short: You're alive right now because he says so. He hates unnecessary violence, and since your only crime is being in the wrong place at the wrong time, he's going out of his way to-"

"Зак..." It was spoken softly, subdued, but the brunette took the hint. Shaking his head, he went back to pouring over spreadsheets and graphs.

"You're too soft sometimes Shin-ah," Eiya remarked from over her screen, green meeting gold as she smiled sadly. He merely shrugged. Others often thought him weak for taking the peaceful route... until they tried to walk it themselves. Most didn't realize how easy it was to resort to violence to get results, but he didn't just want results. He wanted something better...

Killing was was all too easy... But while he knew it wasn't always avoidable, he preferred to keep casualties to a minimum and was willing to put in the effort to do so.

 

[Degusaurusrex]

"So what, I'm supposed to be thankful?" Alexai snapped at the man and barely bit back another scream. "Because some big name... Boss... Whatever, made sure I didn't die on the street, I'm supposed to bow down and kiss his ass?" She threw her hands up in frustration, having already lost her appetite. "Do you really think being trapped here away from my life is any better? Sure, I guess rotting away slowly with strangers is better than someone shooting me in the head." She was shaking as she looked between the different people and finally shook her head.

"I don't want to be here. I think I'd rather be dead in a ditch than surrounded by people who think they know what's best for me." She'd rather take anything she could get her hands on and throw it as hard as she could at anyone within range. At the sight of Ao, however, her gaze softened, but it hardened as soon as she looked away.

"I'm not hungry anymore." Her lip trembled slightly before she turned away. "I'm just going to stay in that stupid room until I'm allowed to do anything other than just occupy space." She'd barely gotten into the room before her foot connected with the wall and she screamed. The throbbing coming from the injured body part was intense for a moment as she hobbled around, screaming obscenities through the open door.

"Fuck you for this!"

 

[Night Shadow]

Two pairs of eyes flitted between Alexai and Shin-ah, neither happy with the accusations but refrained from speaking further. As much as they hated the insinuation that he would ever expect such behaviour from anyone, let alone a human, they both respected him too much to speak out after he'd made it clear their interference wasn't wanted right now. During her entire rant, Shin-ah never once looked up from from where he stared at his clasped hands. He looked as impassive as ever, but they knew him too well to believe it. They knew all of his tells, and right now the guilt and conflict he felt was as obvious to them as if he'd said it himself. All three flinched as she cursed and screamed from the next room.

"Аи саи ви гив хер ват ши вантс..." Zach grumbled under his breath. "унграитфул бић..."

"не, Зак. Аи форбид ит... ши дид нот аск фор дис. ду нот би упсет вит хер." He admonished softly, patting the brunette on the back before going to the cabinets and shuffling through the contents.

"Аи tаут ју маит саи дат... Ју рили ар ту наис, шинах. Ју ар а димон лорд; Ју кан нот ђуст лет озрс трит ју лаик дат. Ју хав а репјутеитион то маипнтаин. Дер ар ту мани лаивс ат стаик. Ар деи вурт вун хјуман?"

"не, оф корс нот... дат сед- ју вулд би унхапи алсо иф ит вер ју. Анд аи вил нот гив уп он хер јет. ваил ши ис хир, ви кан протект бот." He replied easily, picking out a couple small items and moving back over to the table.

"анд иф дат дуз нот взрк?" Еiya asked; The only sign so far that she had been following their conversation.

".. ви вил хав ту ваит анд си..."

Neither of the other two looked satisfied with his answer, but there was no use prodding him further so they each went back to work as he picked up Ao and carried her over to the open doorway. He almost walked in, but he was trying give her the space she apparently wanted. For all intents and purposes, this room was effectively her "territory" and he wanted her to understand that- hoping that if she had even just a little control, she would feel more comfortable in her new home. So instead, he knelt down on one knee, nuzzling Ao gently before sitting her on the floor along with the snacks he'd pulled from the cabinet; Ones that were lightweight and that wouldn't make Ao sick if she ate them as well.

"теик кер оф хер, Ао... Ком фаинд ми иф ју нид енитинг." His voice was tender as he scratched the top of her head gently, receiving a squeak in return as she grabbed the packages between her teeth and began pulling them across the floor. He watched her for a moment, nodding in approval before rising and turning to the woman. "My apologies, Alexai, for Zach's outburst. While what he said is true... There's more to it than that. If you want to talk later, or if you wish for anything at all... Feel free to ask Ao. Just know that I don't expect anything from you. Nor do I blame you for feeling upset. Regardless of why, you are being held against your will. I want nothing more than for you to return to your life; I only wish it were so simple..."

He stepped back away from the door, slitted pupils landing on Ao once more before turning towards the common area where his work was sprawled out on the table still.

 

[Degusaurusrex]

She didn't understand whatever language they were speaking in the other room. Hell, she didn't give a damn what they were saying unless it was going to change her situation for the better. She jumped at the footsteps that grew suspiciously close to the doorway before scrambling back with an angry expression. His interaction with the squirrel was watched curiously before she scoffed and shook her head.

"If I hadn't seen what you did, I might think that was cute. That creature is the only bearable thing in this house." She all but ignored his apology as she shrugged and paced around the room with a frown.

"I don't want material things, I want freedom. Even if it was a shitty life, it was my shitty life." She refused to look his direction as her face twisted up with a deep sadness, and she focused her attention solely on the wall until she heard him leave the room. Only then did she make another angry noise, but managed to refrain from putting her foot into the wall and injuring it again.

Fuck it.

She found her boots and yanked them on over socks, lacing them up before storming out of the room and in search of him. It was a quick discovery and she stopped just shy of him, placing her hands flat on the table and staring at him.

"I want to go outside."

 

[Night Shadow]

He didn't even blink at the little woman, despite the close proximity. In his mind, it was actually an improvement. Not only was she comfortable enough to get so close, she was finally letting him know what she wanted. As a result, he was starting to get an idea of things she might enjoy out here. Nodding once, he closed his folder and stood up; His six and a half foot frame towering over her where she leaned on the table as he stretched.

"Would you like a tour? We can start with the outer facilities before returning through the front. I don't think you've seen the rest of the house yet."