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Rohan hated winter.

Not only was is bloody cold, but snow made things ten times worse. Once snow was stepped on, it turned into a mushy, slushy brown muck that stuck to his feet. It left and utter mess on his door steps when he went home. Then of course, there was the fact that snow meant ice, and ice was slippery, and slippery surfaces meant constant danger.

Not only was there a risk of freezing alive, but he had to keep a constant look out in fear of slipping on a patch of stray ice. Focusing on the ground and his surroundings meant he couldn't focus on a book or reading the notes he'd taken the previous day. All in all, it made him grumpy and as he walked, the man looked like he was trying to bury himself inside the old coat he was wearing. If Khalla looked like a beacon, all in white, Rohan looked horribly out of place in mismatched browns, tans and blacks. Only his hair stayed white - and it was starting to get wet from the random snowflakes that drifted and clung to it.

The only reason he was braving the outside world was because his food supply had run horribly low in the past couple of days. He's tried to remain holed away and it just... wasn't working. He cursed the need to eat to whatever gods were listening and extracted a short, sloppy shopping list from a pocket, lifting it up to read it.

Of course, that was a mistake, for putting his mind on the note meant he was taking his eyes off the sidewalk and his surroundings. He felt some bump into him; too late to prevent it, really. Automatically, his free hand shoot out as his head lifted to see the girl stumbling back and he grabbed her just as she reached out to him. Rohan was left in a rather awkward situation when he realized he actually knew the girl. He'd had half a mind of lecturing the stupid pedestrian, before realizing it was Khalla; for some reason, now he kind of wanted to bee-line out of here as swiftly as possibly, mostly because a small voice at the back of his mind was telling him that staying could not end well for him.

He should leave, leave, leave.

Instead he frowned down at her, "You weren't looking where you were going..." a pause followed as he noticed that in the confusion she'd also grabbed the hand he'd been using to carry his grocery list and it had flown down to the floor and lay soggy, dirty and brown on the snow. Rohan made a small noise at the back of his throat that strangely resembled a groan and then let out a sight, "I hate winter."

He kind of also hadn't been looking where he'd been going... but then again, no one had to know that! Everything would have been semi fine had she not proceeded to look so horribly guilty. Rohan had to refrain the need to facepalm at the situation; all he'd wanted to do was to get some stupid supplies and hole himself in his apartment, preferably under a small mountain of pillows and books. Smelly, dusty, old books that he thought were comparable to small national treasures.

Now he was feeling mildly guilty because SHE was feeling guilty. Had this been a stranger, it would have been a lot easier. It was becoming increasingly hard for him to deny that he was starting to forge some small ties with the girl. But then again, this wasn't his fault; she spent almost every other free period holed away in the library with him working on something or other. He'd started to wonder if she even had a social life, given the fact his was nonexistent and she spent more time with him than anyone else he knew of. In a way, she was the only person he'd spent more than a passing five minutes with, classes not withstanding and... work also not withstanding. He tried not to pick up names in either cases anyhow.

If she knew him well enough (which he really, really hoped she didn't - he tried to keep her at arm's length, and it wasn't really working, specially taking into account the fact he was still holding her up), Khalla would know he wasn't angry, just grumpy in general. Finally realizing that he should probably let go of her, he made go to release her arm, looking down at her hands gripping him and then back to her face with an arched brow, "It's... fine. Really. he day started out rather rotten anyhow. It was a miracle the list-" his brain froze over for a moment and he forced himself to backpedal over what she said, realizing she was inviting him to have a cup of tea.

Which meant people.

Which meant socializing.

He found himself stiffening as mild panic gripped him - he was trying damn hard to think up some sort of excuse to give her as a response but he was practically expecting her to grab him and drag him away, given the tone of her voice. He really didn't HAVE authority out here. And barely had any in the school anyhow, given the fact he was a mere helper, "Uuuuh..." he said unintelligibly - for all Khalla knew, it could have been an agreement as much as a 'plzletmegetoutofhere'.

And... there was the dragging he'd half jokingly predicted in his mind. He hadn't really expected her to do it. Not really anyhow, and it was that fact which caught him by surprise, "I... just-" he found himself mercilessly dragged into the shop and the bitter cold turned into warmth as the doors closed behind him. He made an almost comical movement of his free hand, gripping the air as he was dragged further away from the door and thus further away from freedom.

Also, he still had to shop for supplies.

Another small groan was released and he considered pulling the scar he was wearing around his neck up to hide most of his face. He really didn't want to be here. At all. He would have given his soul at that moment for one of those metaphorical 'Get free out of Jail' cards but he'd never been all that good at telling lies, which meant he was probably going to be better off keeping his mouth tight shut till he'd thought this all over. Mostly because something told him that he wasn't going to get out of this with a simple 'Hey must leave to go buy groceries even though I don't know what I need without my stupid note'. Knowing the girl she'd probably volunteer to come with him - she'd possibly even volunteer to take the damned groceries into his apartment for him and yes - maybe humoring her was the best idea.

He took the seat that he found was a tad in the refuge of the corner and hesitated before taking off his coat and scarf. He looked awkward and entirely out of his element, like a child that was being forced to sit in the front row at church when all he wanted was to be outside frolicking - well maybe that wasn't the best comparison... but still. Right along those lines.

"Menu?" he seemed genuinely baffled for some reason, "You mean there's enough teas to pick from to make a whole menu?" apparently, someone didn't get out much. Still he glanced down at the menus and frowned, looking like he was reading algebra, "..." mostly because he had no idea why there was a need to mix and mesh so many flavors in teas. After a moment he lifted his gaze up to her in an awkward manner; he was failing to notice the roles were being reversed and he was looking for her to... more or less guide him through this. She was the teacher in this situation.

Had anyone bothered to ask Rohan if he thought there was a NEED for the world to have enough varieties of teas to fill a whole menu... well, his answer would have been a rather resolute 'no'. As it was however, something told him that telling the girl in front of him as much wasn't going to get him anywhere. Specially if his goal was to humor her enough that she'd let him make some sort of bee-line for the exit and rush off into the distance.

He did, however, arch a brow at her, almost as if silently telling her that he thought Humanity could spend it's time in much more fruitful ways than making up hundreds of tea types and flavors (Then again, he spent his 'free' time engaging in rather questionable activities, so he wasn't about to throw the first stone).

He placed the menu back down on the table as the waitress came over and Khalla ordered for him and herself (personally, he would have rather had an apple pie on a plate - if you needed a tea that had apple pie taste... why the hell not order the REAL thing? The logic of the situation was clearly escaping him, and it was clearly apparent on his facial features). Unfortunately, Rohan was not allowed to continue pondering such a topic in her head, for the girl dropped the proverbial bomb by asking him what he'd been doing during the winter break.

Again, something was telling him that answering her with a 'I've mostly been hiding away in my apartment. Oh, and killing random civilians. That too. But only when the weather permits it,' wasn't going to fly. Again he stiffened and his mind blanched, "I've... mostly been home, really. I don't like the cold. I've only been coming out when I had work to perform," which was true enough - there. Now he hoped she wouldn't pry and would assume it had mostly to do with the school and the extra classes he'd been performing.

Come to think of it though... "I've not seen you around the extra credit classes," then again, he also hadn't seen in the classes the school had set up to help the few students that had been struggling during the holidays either. Which was probably a good sign.

Good god, he couldn't believe he was talking about school. In a tea shop.

Rohan arched a brow that seemed to voice out that he didn't quite believe the story she was feeding him. However, it was obvious he was ready to let it slide; mostly because he had secrets to hide, and him prying down that train of thought would inevitably get her questioning him right back and... that just wouldn't do. Thus so, he simply shrugged it off. However, he did find himself alarmingly preoccupied worrying over if that meant their arrangement would be finalized and she would not come down to the library any further after the holidays.

The notion was more than vaguely worrying for some reason, and the fact it was worrying him was in turn distressing him because quite honestly he shouldn't have given a damn if she did, or did not come down to the library. In fact, it should be making him happy because it meant he would be left alone and he would thus have more time to keep on researching what he'd come to the school to do. Sadly, the more he pondered that, the more he realized he'd come to... appreciate her presence in the library ('Appreciate' seemed like a safe word). She was quiet, polite and he often found himself comfortable enough around her that he practically forgot he was with someone to begin with (which was a big deal for him, given the fact he was so used to being jumpy around people).

"Ah," he found himself saying, then squirmed trying not to look horribly awkward as he continued, "Does this mean you won't be returning to-" and he cut himself off and tried again, because honestly, that wasn't sounding right, "Uhm, does this mean you won't be requiring any more help further down in time?" did that sound horribly stupid and mildly desperate? Oh, god, he really hoped not.

Refraining from slapping a hand over his face in frustration, he forced himself to sit still in his seat and TRIED to not look horribly stupid. He was trying, honest he was.

"Uhm," this was awkward, he decided. There just was no going around it, "I've been called in to give a few catch-up lesons and extra credit lessons during the holidays, but that's all. I was only called because the other professors... " you know, the real professors, "Are busy with Christmas," he murmured, and then arched a brow at her. Something told him that his taste in books was not going to be quite like hers, "Some good books, but I don't think they'd perk your interest. Unless you're into old literature," and he really meant ancient old when he said 'old'.

Awkward, awkward, awkward. Where the hell was that tea?!

"No!" it came out way more forceful (not to mention desperate) than he'd planned it would. Actually, he hadn't planned anything at all - perhaps that was the problem, because just as soon as the word came flying out of his mouth, Rohan had to refrain from slapping his hands over it in fear he'd say something even more compromising. As it was, he mentally kicked himself several times and sank into his seat, "I mean... no," he tried again, this time much more calmly, "I don't want you to... need you to?" another awkward pause and he sank another inch into his seat, "Your presence doesn't bother me at all."

Of course therein resided the problem, he realized. The ground was doing a horrible poor job at opening up and swallowing him whole. He felt embarrassed, awkward and was heavily considering making up some sort of excuse and rushing out of the blasted tea shop before he stuck his proverbial foot in his mouth again. He was, in fact, mind pondering some sort of excuse when the tea arrived (blessed tea! Blessed interruptions, oh dear God, he was considering making tea his new favorite drink in thanks - that's how much he loved tea at that particular moment in time).

Rohan took his cup and focused his attention on the swirling liquid his whole life practically depended on it. Which at the moment, he really did believe it did, amusingly enough. It was sadly, all too soon when the waitress left them alone again, and Rohan rubbed his temples, feeling mildly stressed out. As soon as he got out of here, he was going to walk for several miles - snow be bloody well damned. Walks helped him relax and ... relaxing was apparently what he needed.

Khalla's voice snapped him out of his reverie and he had to remind himself that yes, he had company, and no, he couldn't just drift off into his thoughts right there and then, "Uhhhh..." for an English literature TA, he was having trouble remaining articulate today, "I have no bloody clue, actually. I don't drink tea often. I'm more fond of coffee," he was looking at her again though (which was an improvement since he'd been avoiding her eyes for the past five minutes since his mild outburst) and seemed to be asking her what she thought his tea required.

She had no idea just how right she was in her opinion about him. At the same time, she had no idea just how wrong she was, either; stereotypical bookworms did not use the dead of night to murder people (because yes, he was well aware that this was he was doing in his 'spare' time - he did believe he was fighting a war though, and that excused his behavior. More or less).

Rohan allowed her to drag his tea cup away from him to add in whatever she thought was necessary, which just so happened to be a tad of sugar and some cream, "Thank you..." it was said almost quietly as he regained possession of his cup and took a long moment to stare down at the swirling liquid. He was so busy asking himself what the bloody hell was wrong with him that her words once again surprised him horribly - both due to the fact she was restarting the blasted conversation that had embarrassed him so, and because she seemed to be reassuring him that she was, in fact, going to return.

His head snapped up to look at her again, his tea forgotten in his hands, only to notice she was watching him, and there came that horribly awkward feeling once more. Except this time and accompanied by something else that he was hesitant to call relief and happiness? Then she smiled and he actually found himself standing in one sharp movement, probably attracting the attention of other customers, "I..." he needed to get out of here, and he needed to get out of here fast. Granted, he had no idea why he needed to do so, but he did, so thus, he took a moment to lift his arm and pull the sweater he was wearing away from his wrist to reveal a watch, "I need to go - I forgot a prior engagement. I need to... go back to the school. I'm sorry," oh god, oh god, out, out, out, out now, "I'll get going then," he paused, looked down at his tea and then took it in his hands, draining it down in a couple of very long gulps (which didn't help because he could feel the steaming hot liquid travel and burn it's way down to his stomach). He coughed a couple of times, looking horribly out of place, shot her one last look, took his jacket and was about to leave when he paused again, "You're welcome to 'invade' my fortress anytime," and that said he made a beeline for the damned door, stepping outside into the actually welcome coldness.

He didn't stop to look back till he got home. Groceries be damned. He just hoped she'd bought his stupid excuse.