[with Thomas]

[no_thief]

[A day or two after this.]

There are five of the liveried guardsmen in the inn now, and two in the stables.

Kaya hid the night in a storeroom bin that used to hold apples, and is now peering through a crack in the wall into the common room and trying to find a way past them.

Comments

[no_thief]

Yes, that's what they need! -- oh.

She runs her fingers carefully around the edges of the cloth binding his chest, trying to find where it's tucked under or fastened down.

One end slips free, and she tugs it down to tie around the injury.

[vagrant_malkin]

This, he can do, even on his worst days. Gently, he guides Kaya's hands into wrapping the wound tightly.

They can talk about his breasts when he's not bleeding out, anymore.

[no_thief]

If then. Kaya's seen them, and come to the obvious conclusion almost without thinking about it, and is focusing right now more on the wound.

She fastens down the bandage with trembling fingers.

[vagrant_malkin]

As soon as the bandage is fastened, Thomas is doing up the buttons of his shirt once more. Slowly. Methodically. Lest his own shaking hands get the better of him.

"There we go," he says, trying to soothe the girl. "It'll be okay now, see?"

[no_thief]

She nods, her breath hitching a little.





"How come you followed me?"

[vagrant_malkin]

If she'll let him, he's just going to slide an arm around her shoulders now, maybe tug her close.

"This morning, or...?"

[no_thief]

She stiffens a little, but doesn't pull away.

"This morning."

[vagrant_malkin]

He keeps his hold loose, just in case she decides she wants to get away.

"Knew those guards were crawling all over the forest, I didn't want to see you get hurt."

[no_thief]

She puts her face down on her knees, and her back hitches twice, but she doesn't make a sound.

(She still doesn't pull away.)

[vagrant_malkin]

He doesn't pull her closer. Instead, he scoots closer, squeezing her in a half-hug has the girl's back twitches.

Thomas doesn't say anything just yet, just lets her cry.

[no_thief]

He may be letting her cry, but she's not letting herself. Not for long.

She wipes her face with one ragged sleeve and looks up. "They'll be coming back after us soon. Can you move?"

[vagrant_malkin]

Thomas makes to stand, grimacing. It's a bit awkward and slow, but he eventually manages to get to his feet with the assistance of the wall of their outcropping.

"I'll have to manage."

[no_thief]

Kaya looks up at him, biting her lip.

"You might be safer," she says in a small voice, "if we went off in different directions."

[vagrant_malkin]

He shakes his head, a stubborn set to his jaw.

"Won't get rid of me that easily, Kid."

[no_thief]

Her mouth trembles again, and she presses it shut.

"Okay."

[vagrant_malkin]

She gets another hug, Thomas squeezing her against his uninjured side affectionately.

"Come on, then. We'll try to lose them in the river again."