A Real Fan

"Ryn." He repeated it, to commit it to memory, then nodded. The silence that passed helped him to concentrate on pushing his energies into his arms and speeding the healing process. It wasn't anything like what a Hunter could do, since he wasn't a made-to-die soldier like they were, but it was enough he could function.

Her questions and babbling brought a small smile to the man's face.

"To begin, I am a tengu—a celestial crow spirit. There is not a convenient translation." A pause, and he nodded, then went on. "As for helping, bandages would be nice. If you would turn away, I will change into a pair of trousers..." He started to stand, looking around. He did have trousers, right? He felt like he would have remembered to pack a pair.

After the first few fiascoes, at least.

"When you were robbing me, did you find trousers?"
 
"Tengu." she repeated the word quietly and as if it felt strange on her tongue. She'd have to remember to ask more questions about that. Later, though, because right now she needed focus on getting him bandaged. She wasn't too sure about her bandaging skills, but they couldn't be that bad. Whatever she did was probably better than nothing.

The question that followed brought another weak smile to Ryn's face. "I wasn't really looking at your clothes, but I'm sure I could find some if you give me a bit of time." As she spoke she tucked the little pouch with the ring in it into her pocket and then glanced around the room. She moved toward the stuff she'd been rifling through not too long ago and started going through his clothes. At the bottom of the stack she finally found a pair of trousers.

She held them up to him, "Will these do?"

Now that she was actively doing things, it appeared that she was calming down tremendously. Her breathing was even again, and though her eyes still were ringed in red from crying, the tears had dried. It was a false sense of calm though. As soon as she turned her back to Crow, and saw the door, she remembered the man probably waiting for her outside. Instead of dwelling on what was out of the room she started talking again. And it was later, after all.

"Can you fly? What's that like? How do you hide your wings? I bet flying is exhilarating." Ryn almost kept asking questions. Heaven knows she had plenty more, but she remembered to stop and let him respond before asking too many.
 
"Thank you." He accepted the trousers and moved to the other side of a tall chair before he began to carefully and painfully undress.

Her questions brought a helpful distraction from the movements, which left him covered in a thin film of sweat.

"I can fly. It's..." he trailed off and paused as he let the outer layer of his kimono fall from his shoulders. It was ruined, so he let it fall to the floor entirely, though he realized he could simply remove the sleeves to salvage it, to an extent.

He shook his head.

"It feels right. When I walk, I am used to it, but it's always felt like I should fly instead."

It was a shame his workplace was underground.

"I hide my wings by pulling them close to my body. Then, I use an illusion."

As he untied and let fall the last layer of his kimono, he was left in a pair of briefs. He found them more comfortable than several alternatives, and this brand didn't show lines through his kimono.

The man was well-muscled, but his chest and back had extra muscles needed to manage his wings. Despite his lack of height, his figure had a subtle, intimidating aura about it as the serious-faced man pulled on and carefully tied the trousers before he stepped out, pale and slightly damp from the struggle of using injured arms to tend to his clothing.

"That... was a trial..." he sighed as he sat on a nearby stool and secured his obi back into place.

Perhaps more noticeable than the sweat and pallor, he looked human again.
 
His answers made her more curious about him. So many more questions popped into her head, and she opened her mouth to ask them before realizing now was probably not the time for such things.

She turned to face him after she was sure it was safe to look and since she wasn't sure if it would be rude to mention the change in appearance again, Ryn opted to not mention it. Instead, she focused on what she was supposed to be doing and that was bandaging his wounds. There was only a slight problem. Ryn didn't know the first thing about bandaging wounds like this, and she sure didn't have bandages on her.

Shifting back and forth on her feet, she cleared her throat and shrugged slightly. "I don't know what to do," she admitted. "I do want to help though, so just tell me how and I'll do it. "
 
He raised an eyebrow at her, displaying tolerant amusement.

After a moment, he reached into his obi and withdrew a pair of rolled cloth bands and a shallow, wide jar stoppered with a cork. Next, a couple small towels, and then he looked at her.

"This is everything for basic bandaging. It is..." he paused a moment before he continued. "The jar contains a sticky ointment that will help seal the blood inside and keep out infections." He turned his gaze towards the towels. "The towels will help get the worst of the blood up so it will stick to my skin."

Finally, he pointed to the bandages.

"Then, wrap these around. I'll let you know if it's too tight or too loose, and there are little metal clips to help. hold in place."

He forced a deep breath. "Make sure to put ointment on both sides, and if I pass out... just keep going."
 
She watched with wide-eyes as he pulled everything she needed out and explained the process. It sounded easy enough, and she was ready to get started until he added that last bit of information.

"Please don't pass out," Ryn pleaded as she gathered a towel up into her hands and approached him. She didn't want to hurt him, so she tried to be as gentle as possible as she was wiping the blood off his arms. Her hands trembled, but her face was set in hard lines as she concentrated on the task at hand. She decided it would be best to do one arm at a time, otherwise she felt that she'd end up wiping blood away again and again.

Setting the towel down, she picked up the ointment and pulled the stopper. Gathering a healthy amount onto her fingers she approached again, her face lowering to be in line with the wounds. "I can't believe this happened to you." Her fingers smeared the ointment across the wound on one side of his arm. "And to get both arms like this... I'm honestly a little surprised you haven't already passed out. Surprised, but I'm glad you haven't. I probably would have freaked out some more if you'd passed out right after I got here." While she spoke she covered the exit wound.

"I don't know what to do now." The bandage was being wound around his arm as she continued. "I can't stay in here forever, I know that. I just can't leave now. Otherwise I might have suggested a doctor." One arm was finished. Picking up the towel she started the other one. Continuing to talk as she worked regardless of whether or not he passed out. Talking kept her calm and focused on something other than the amount of blood that she was cleaning off him. "You weren't looking too good when I first arrived, and you're even paler now, I feel like we did things backwards. We should have taken care of your wounds first then talked about other things. Can't go back and change it now, though." The blood was as cleaned up as it was going to get, so she fished in the jar for more ointment and started applying that. After this is done, you should probably rest. I can stand guard or something, I don't know. I probably wouldn't make a good guard. I'm too small to be intimidating like a guard should be. But I'll keep watch, at least. That much I can do."

She was finished. With a sigh, she moved away, wiping her hands on her pants.
 
He watched her work, using the visual to brace himself for every touch as he kept quiet, grunting quietly and nodding on occasion to let her know he wasn't ignoring her.

When she finished, a heavy breath escaped, and those dark eyes turned up to look at her.

"Funny thing... I think I did pass out, before you got here."

Still, he wasn't quite sure when she switched from applying the paste to the first arm, to wiping the second.

"You did well," he praised as he stood, then lifted a throbbing arm and rested it on her head. "You might have a future in medicine."

Though he was tired, his eyes showed a tiny hint of pride.

"Rest, though, sounds like the best plan." Another heavy breath, and he looked around.

"Close and lock the door and window. I will ward them to prevent entry."

He bent and picked up the bloody rag, then used it to draw on the floor once he moved a rug aside.

"This... this is blood magic. If you want to learn it, I can teach you. Do not try it on your own by copying, or you'll bleed to death."

The thick lines would serve him well, but he would need to bolster the magic so it drew on as little of the blood inside his body as possible. He added a node and dropped a crystal from inside his obi into the circle.

"This... just helps so I don't bleed to death. It's magically charged."

He wanted to collapse, so walked to the bed and did, laying on his stomach.

"You should... rest also. Alternatively..." He grunted as he drew a book from his belt, then placed it on the bed.

"This is about human anatomy... might enjoy..."

And then he was out, and his illusion faded again, wings spreading slightly over him to keep him warm.

He woke the next morning, to the sun in his face, and cut off the magic that created a shield around the room. They'd been lucky enough not to need it, but he prefered certainty over un-. He started to rise, but his arms throbbed and gave out beneath him, and his arms had turned ugly purple and blue during his rest.

"Fuck," he grunted as he tried again.
 
Ryn did as she was bid, and closed the window and locked it and the door and when she turned back around he was drawing on the floor with his blood. Hearing that it could cause her to bleed to death, Ryn wasn't sure she wanted to learn how to do it, and she definitely wouldn't be copying it on her own. Ryn watched with a sort of wide-eyed fascination as he dropped the crystal into the circle. She hoped he wouldn't bleed to death. There was too much blood everywhere but where it was supposed to be. But she didn't voice her concerns. She didn't really have a chance to.

He was asleep before she could respond, but he did give her something to look at while he slept. Gingerly she took the book from where it lay and found a comfortable corner to curl up in, and she read. Unable to sleep, she just kept reading until the morning light shone in through the window, and then she read some more. She wasn't really taking in the information though, instead she was using the text to keep her mind occupied on everything but what could be lurking, waiting outside for her.

Hearing him stir, Ryn closed the book and set it aside. She realized what he was trying to do, and rushed to his side. "Let me help you," she said, moving herself close to him so that she could actually help him up.

The dark circles under her eyes gave away that she had, in fact, not rested at all throughout the night, and her eyes were slightly bloodshot from spending so many hours reading.
 
"Thank you," he grunted as he finally sat upright. His arms refused to move more than a little bit without making him want to keel over. He wasn't even sure he could dress properly like this, and his head ached horribly.

He stared at her a few moments, then sighed. "You look like hell."

Crow closed his eyes and pondered a moment. "Are you hungry, or too stressed?"

Even as he asked, he pondered where to go and what to eat, and also what they could do about the ring.

Ideas were few, but first priority was to stop the attacks on Ryn.

Easiest might be overtly returning it, but based on what she said, it was too dangerous. Something more complex might be needed, such as a way to deceive the pursuers into thinking the ring disposed of or handed off to him—he could survive a lot, even if the current injuries hurt.

Crow didn't notice how his teeth ground together, or how he zoned out trying to think through the pain enough to miss if Ryn answered.
 
Ryn rubbed her eyes and frowned, imagining what she must look like. "You're not looking too hot yourself," came her reply. And it was the truth. Crow looked like he was in pain, and Ryn could only imagine what he must be feeling.

Her eyes never left him as he continued to speak. "Huh? I guess I should eat, I'm not really feeling all that hungry though." Her brain and her body were at odds at the moment. Her brain told her food was a great idea, but just the thought of eating made her stomach clench. She knew she should at least try though. "Maybe something small and light would be the best sort of breakfast for today."

Ryn shoved her hands in her pockets and leaned back on her heels. She ended up clenching the ring in one hand as she sat there waiting for a response. The idea of leaving the room for food had sent a spike of adrenaline through her and she was doing her best to keep herself under control. The truth was, she was still scared to leave. She knew she had to though. She needed fresh clothes, she needed a bath, and they both should probably eat.

"What if he's still waiting for me out there?"

The question was out before she could stop it, and the fear was all too apparent in the way her voice trembled as she asked. They couldn't stay cooped up forever, but Ryn felt like they couldn't just waltz out of there either. They needed a plan. Just in case something happened.
 
"I'll be with you," he assured. Even injured, he felt he could protect her, even if by simply being in the way.

"First, I need... It looks like a vest with elbow-length sleeves. I believe there is one somewhere in here."

With a deep breath, he started to look around for it, then nodded in its direction when he spotted it. "Right there. If you don't mind, please help me pull it on? I... think I can tie it..."

A bit of pink touched his cheeks as he looked away, ashamed of being so dependent like this, but he also didn't want Ryn to be unsafe, nor for them to appear improper, despite how undressed he knew he'd feel even with something to cover his chest.

"We can go to that cafe, the one catty-corner from here... And if anyone comes at you, just keep me between yourself and them."

A deep breath, and he continued.

"Even injured, I can protect you."
 
Ryn nodded and grabbed the vest and helped him on with it. Her assistance in the matter made her question everything he said next. Especially the part about him being able to protect her. It wasn't exactly that she didn't believe him; instead, Ryn felt that maybe he was overestimating his own abilities. Regardless, she kept her thoughts to herself.

Looking down, she noticed how rumpled and messy her clothes were. She'd managed to get blood on her sleeves and a few other places. With a sigh she smoothed her shirt down and shook her head. "I'm a mess," she said, suddenly desperately wanting, nay, needing a bath. "I'm going to need to go home."

Her words sent a jolt of fear through her that coalesced in her stomach making it twist itself in knots. "Home is a lot farther than the cafe across the way."

Pulling her bottom lip into her mouth she worried it between her teeth while she continued to contemplate the implications of moving all the way across town. "Breakfast first, though. I'll try to make it home after we eat. Food will probably make me feel better, anyway."

Ryn moved to the door and unlocked it. Part of her wanted to bolt. To run out as far and as fast as she could, but she knew that this problem wasn't one that running could fix so she smashed down those feelings, took a deep breath and turned back to Crow as she opened the door. "Ready?"
 
"I'll escort you, then," he assured, confidence in his tone. "I am not so low I would send a young woman into danger alone."

He stood slowly, then carefully tied his haori himo. It mostly involved his forearms rather than upper arms, but it still left him throbbing as he followed her out the door, then to the cafe where he bought her a tart before.

"What would you like for breakfast? The menu is limited for meals, but... everything I have tried here is delicious."

It was fairly normal conversation, given he had a hole in each arm.
 
"I didn't mean-- I mean, I wasn't sure--" Ryn sighed and shook her head the words she wanted just weren't coming to her. She hadn't meant insult, and she hadn't meant to assume. "Thank you," she finally said, feeling a lot more comfortable knowing that she wasn't going to have to traverse the city alone.

Upon arriving at the cafe, Ryn listened to what he had to say, nodding her understanding. She actually had never eaten at this place before the other day. It wasn't often that she typically got into this part of the city. Glancing over the menu her eyes settled on what she hoped would be a light enough breakfast. Her stomach was still in knots and she didn't want to risk breakfast returning.

"I think I'll try an apple scone." She offered Crow a small smile and folded her hands in her lap. "Any idea what you'll be eating?"

Ryn tried to keep the conversation light as it began, but her eyes were busy scanning the shadows and alleyways nearby. She didn't want to be caught off guard again. It was clear she wasn't fully invested in the talk. In her lap, she was wringing her hands together. She was trying her best to keep it together, but she was frightened.
 
Crow kept alert as well, though it didn't appear as obvious as her jumpiness. He nodded. "I think the egg salad croissant. It likely has what I need to help heal."

While he lacked the Hunter ability to translate food into rapid healing, it did help, even if only to a small extent.

Once their orders were both figured out, he waved a nearby member of the staff over and placed their orders. His included a small espresso, and a glance toward Ryn. "Anything to drink?"
 
"Just water, please." She told the waitstaff while still looking across the street. Every person that passed made her do a double take. She tried to get herself under control though. She knew acting like this was ridiculous. If they were going to be attacked it wouldn't be at a cafe in the middle of the morning with a bunch of witnesses around. She knew that logically if an attack was going to happen it would be on the way to her house, when they were on a small side street, away from the crowd. But logic and emotion were not communicating properly, and she continued to eye every passerby with suspicion.

The server left, only to return shortly with their orders. Ryn was thankful for the distraction that the food offered, and it also gave her something to do with her hands. Carefully she picked at the corner of her pastry, putting the pieces into her mouth one at a time. It was a while before she said something.

"Does it hurt?" she finally asked, her eyes drifting toward his arms. "I don't want to put you in the position to get even more hurt..."

The pastry was pretty much a mess of crumbs on her plate, though she'd eaten over half of it. It sat heavily in her stomach, but it didn't feel like she was at risk of throwing up. She'd eaten enough to keep her stomach from protesting, but not enough to upset it more than it already was. She took a sip of her water and watched Crow, unsure of what else to say. She felt guilty for involving him, and the feeling was made worse by the fact that he was already hurt.
 
Crow ate quietly, cutting his sandwich in half before he began to eat, and he let his gaze and thoughts wander. This was probably the safest place they could be in the entire city, so he lingered over his meal.

At least, he lingered until Ryn's question pulled him from his thoughts.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

He smiled slightly, looking worn.

"Yes, but I'd rather hurt than leave a woman unprotected."

He finished the last bite of his sandwich, then caught a chunk of the filling on his thumb as it tried to escape his lips. A quick push, and it was back where it belonged, and he wiped his thumb on his napkin.

Keen eyes stared at and through her as he pondered what to say next.

"Futsuu de."

His native tongue slipped out before he could catch himself, and he blinked, then looked away with a quiet grunt. "It's normal to protect scared women."
 
Ryn's head tilted to the side as the foreign language reached her ears, but she assumed that he had provided a translation. Still it made her curious and added to the list of questions she'd be asking at another time. "I feel guilty about enlisting your help, but I know I can't deal with it by myself. I'm in way over my head. So, thank you. I am scared. I'm terrified. I don't want to go home; they know where I live, but with you escorting me I feel safer, you know. Do you think we'll be intercepted at some point today? Would whoever it is wait until dark? Or is it the crowds that are keeping them away right now? Do you know other magic than the stuff you did last night? Can you fight them like that?" She was rambling again and once she realized it she managed to get herself to stop.

It was strange, but what she'd said was the truth. Despite the fact that he was injured, she did feel safer knowing that she wasn't going to be going home alone. She would have someone with her and that made all the difference. She paused momentarily and scanned the shadows across the street once again. Nothing moved, and she sighed deeply turning her attention back to Crow.
 
"The crowds are going to protect us, unless the enemy is very stupid." A simple nod, and he watched her.

She was scared. It was obvious as much from her actions as words as from her scent.

"Do you have a hideout you would like to use until we solve this problem? If not, I can wait for you to pack, and you can stay at my room with me. You will have the bed to yourself."

It was only right to offer safety.

"As for magic, I do have more. However, I am limited in what I may do. My black clothing is made to suppress my power, because otherwise, I would endanger those I wish to protect."

A pause, and a deep breath.

"I am also limited by the laws of my people. While I can directly protect myself and others, I may not use my full abilities, and I may not... meddle, for lack of better term."

He scowled. "But I can protect you, and I can instruct you."
 
"A hideout?" Ryn shook her head. "I don't have one. Though I'm sure I could find something suitable, it would probably be in the Ward though, and I'm not sure how safe we'd be there. I wouldn't want to take your bed from you anyway. I can always sleep on the floor."

Looking down at her plate she moved the crumbs around a bit absentmindedly as she continued to talk. "When you say "instruct" are you talking about instructing me in magic?" There was a hint of something incredulous in her voice. The idea seemed preposterous, Ryn certainly didn't feel like she had a propensity toward magic, but it wasn't really something that she knew about either. "I'm willing to try though, don't get me wrong. I just, am not sure I have the talent for such things. I'd never even seen magic before last night, and to be honest, I'm not really sure what I saw. I mean, you drew on the floor with blood, but there had to be more to it than that."

She paused, looking up from the pile of crumbs she'd constructed on her plate, her gaze moved back toward Crow. She wasn't sure why, but she did believe that he could and would protect her like he said he would. Maybe it was something in his expression.

"So, what's next exactly? I know we're going to go get my stuff, but after that. Do we wait or...?"