.broken (open)

[Ginny Sulai]

Ginny gently touched her own cheek, confused for a moment before recalling that Larus had punched her. She hadn't realized he'd left a bruise. Usually he was more careful than that, she was his show girl after all.

He'd grabbed her arm, twisting her to him as it snapped and then with one movement punched her in the face. She remembered lights popping in front of her eyes, stars and birds.
She'd hit him back though, hard enough that he backed off. That was usually all it took.

"How about you just show me the office and I'll just admit I didn't fall down the stairs. Or run into a door."
She even smiled. If she didn't laugh, she'd be dead by now.

[Xaver Xian]

She touched her cheek almost as if she hadn't expected to feel tender flesh beneath her digits. Almost as if she was surprised.
Xaver bit down his own feelings, his own genuine, animal response, though he couldn't hide the fire in his blue gaze, or the pounding of his heart.

"I suppose you are lucky enough," he said with a wink.
With a slight sigh, he shook his head.

He glanced at her arm then turned his gaze tothe skies.

"How would you like to travel, my lady?"

[Ginny Sulai]

She watched him glance skywards and suddenly found herself very nervous. She wasn't sure if she was ready to fly with him, as much as she wanted to. It was scary.
It was much like climbing on the back of a motorcycle for the first time. The thought of flying down the road with only a helmet between you and the road is terrifying.

"I don't know. I think I might have had enough thrills for one day. Can we just take the subway or something?"

She didn't hide the nervousness she felt. And indeed her life was very much like a thriller that day. As evening drew near, all she wanted was some peace and quite.

[Xaver Xian]

He was thinking about the skies, the clouds, when he asked her. Spreading his wings and propelling into freedom. His shoulders actually itched in anticipation, begging for release.

"Can we just take the subway or something?"

Taken almost aback, Xaver wrinkled his nose and made a face.

"The protection of my wings are surely more safe than an infested subway," he said, gaze falling back to her. "But, if you wish it.."

He gave a small smile, bowing his head slightly in acceptance. She was the injured party, after all.
Xaver was a gentleman and kind beyond most expectations, having been raised literally in the courts of old ages. He was still very much a man, however. He would go along with the overfilled traveling tube of cockroaches if she wished it, but it wouldn't be without a little bit of grumbling.

He moved to her uninjured side and offered her his arm.

[Ginny Sulai]

"Whiny baby."

She hooked her okay arm around his offered arm. She gave him a sideways glance as they started walking towards the nearest subway enterance.

"Besides, I bet it's hard to hear someone talking above the air."
Ginny wasn't sure if she wanted to talk.

She needed someone to confide in. She knew it was harder to sleep at night when she didn't share what had happened. But she wasn't sure how much of it to tell.
Some of it was simply horrific.

It had started over something simple. It always did with him.

[Xaver Xian]

"Whiny baby."

Xaver gave her a look, a wolfish 'hmph' more or less swallowed by the roar of passing vehicles on the street. Her arm around his own, he held it to his chest and rested his free hand over hers.

"Demanding brat," he retorted.
His grin down at her was almost boyish, the softness at the corners of his dark blue gaze taking away the harshness of his words.

"Luckily for you, the subway entrance is rather close," his low tones said into her ear as they rounded the block and the wide steps to the city's underworld came into view. As they neared them, he gave her hand a squeeze.
"I would wager it is hard to hear, but only tell me what you'd like. I'm here to listen, not to pry."

Xaver gave a small, easy shrug, not unaware that they themselves were almost strangers.
Finding he didn't mind, either.