He's gone. He didn't want to go back to the Fade and he... [He takes a shaky breath.] He wanted to stay when I didn't want him to, so when he was forced out, he was... twisted. No longer Justice.
[She arrives two hours later, looking a little harried, and a bundle in her arms, but the moment she arrives, she immediately puts it down on the nearest surface and heads straight into his arms for a hug.]
[As soon as she's there, he's wrapping his arms around her and holding tight. Over the last few days he's hurt so many people, but she's not injured. That's one he cares for who is okay.]
You didn't have to do all that. But thank you. I... Thank you.
[Letting go is a little difficult, yet he manages to do so and take a step back before turning and starting to rummage through what supplies they have.]
Do you want... I can find plates. I'm sorry. My head's a little scattered. Thank you for looking in on Nate, too. I've been there but it's... hard.
[They're warm. They're blueberry and warm. For a moment he holds the tea in one hand and a muffin in the other and just looks down at them. He's not actually sure he's eaten today. Anders takes a seat and isn't even sure where to start.]
I would. I just... You're you.
[Of course he'd do it for Kallian. She's sweet and young and he treasures her. He's Anders, murderer. It's still hard to wrap his head around people caring, sometimes.
Anders' stomach grumbles and he gives her a slightly sheepish look before taking a bit of the muffin.]
[She really is very pretty when she blushes, but this time he can't quite help but grin just a bit wider.]
You know, if you keep blushing like that, you'll never get me to stop teasing you about things. I'm not serious about having something to eat, you know.
It's, um, not really something I can help. I... could treat you to breakfast in the morning, though, if you want? It wouldn't be anything fancy, but... you deserve my thanks.
I mean with Hope, I can't. There's not even... spirits aren't readily transferable. I'd not leave you vulnerable like that, and I'm not very hopeful. We'd have trouble working together. I can still heal some, simply not as much as I could. But if you want to stay a time... I'd appreciate that.
[He's significantly weakened, but he's also not willing to rush into something with another spirit. There's no guarantee any will work with him again either.]
That's... not usually how she works. You might not be, but I am. And I have hope that you heal... that... maybe another one will come to you. She would take that and try and find you someone, more than likely. If there's one to be found.
[She leans into him.]
But I'll stay. At least for now. I don't want you to be alone. If you want... you can teach me. Now that everyone knows... well...
I could use that help... but not yet. Not today, maybe not this week. Justice is dead because of me. I don't want to push things, or be... disrespectful, something like that.
[He takes a sip of his tea before setting it down so he can put an arm around Kalli.]
In the meantime, please. I'd like to teach you anything you want to learn. Healing, other magic, do you have your letters? Something constructive.
I don't know how long something like that would take. I've never heard of anything like it ever being done before.
[She nestles easily into the embrace.]
I know how to read and write, in two languages. My mother taught me. I taught Jamie some, even. But I want to learn whatever I can. Whatever can make me helpful. Needed. Not someone to be afraid of.
No one's ever done what I have before, as far as I know. And...
[He considers, holding her close.]
How are your barriers? We could work on those first if they're not there yet. You'll be protector, then. Or we can work on Haste as Adelaide applies it to cooking, sprouting a seed as Pel showed me, the options are limitless. Freedom means choices. What would you like to start with, Kalli? The choice is yours.
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