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It took Sajahka two days on foot to make the journey from Nated to Edrao. In that time, he had passively hoped that eventually exactly what he intended to say to Leukos when he got there would come to him.

Surely.

Unfortunately, no matter how many variations or spins that he put on it, Hello, Butterfly, did you miss me? I am here because my only friend left me, I have no one in the world to speak to, and I am alone in the universe, and I was hoping breathing your air might help me feel less like dying… never sounded quite the way he hoped. He spent the night of the second day in Edrao, having arrived late that evening, and taking up ‘residence’ for the night on a suitably comfortable crate outside of an inn in an alley that didn’t look to be too infested with anything that would bite.

He woke before dawn. Aching from the sleeping position. Stiff. No more sure what he would say on seeing the man than he had been when he set out on his journey. But very awake, at least, and ready to make the trip out towards this training facility which was apparently some distance just outside of town.

Only upon arrival did he realize that not only would he need to have something to say to Leu, but it would have been beneficial if he had decided beforehand what sort of explanation he would attempt to make of himself to the other persons who worked there. He looked, probably, about as ragged as he felt, and it only occurred to him in retrospect that he likely also smelled like the alley he’d slept in.

No amount of one-sided arguing, however, convinced him to desert his post once he’d arrived at the facility’s entrance. And eventually, the man attempting to encourage him on his way, begrudgingly, gave him up as a lost cause.

So Sajah began his final wait.

Sajah had been waiting long enough before anything arrived that he had begun to fear he’d come too early, or on the wrong day, or that there would be enough time between his arrival and the amount of fussing done by the local ‘security,’ if that’s what it was, that someone would have time to be notified and come out and physically attempt to remove him from the property before he got what he needed.

The likes of which—he still wasn’t entirely certain on himself, other than Leukos generally as his last shot at something. Anything.

But he was not kicked off of the property. No one new arrived, other than a trickle in of other employees. Most everyone seemed convinced he was a confusingly misguided beggar. He managed, he hoped, to look only mildly offended, and patient. Inconspicuous. Harmless. Ideally.

He saw the wagon long before it was actually there, and at first, he couldn’t discern who was riding inside. But quickly enough it was impossible to miss him, and Sajah felt a swell in his chest unbidden. He had succeeded…in locating him, at least. The rest was yet to be determined. As the wagon drew nearer, however, the swell of elation at achieving that victory was overcome by a resounding stammer in his chest, because he hadn’t yet decided what he was going to say.

Sajahka?

Sajah breathed out, and felt an embarrassed dusting of heat climb for his cheeks in the morning air despite his best intentions. Leukos. He raised his hands.

«Good morning, Butterfly.»

Sajah’s pulse thrummed in his throat, and as Leukos looked at him. He must have made a sight, now that he thought about it, to be fair, he probably should have washed, or-

But that wasn’t the point. Perhaps Leukos did not look entirely pleased. But he wasn’t shouting. Guards, again, had yet to be called. He wasn’t being dragged or bidden immediately away yet.

So, what was he doing here?

«I…» He hesitated, frowning. «The Songbird…left.» Me. Everything. For a country so foreign he could hardly imagine it himself, but in the moment, perhaps all of that wasn’t the most critical. He had Leukos’ attention, and all he had to do now was not mess up. «I need a job,» he admitted, because that felt like a safe start. Then, although he didn’t want to over push it, under the circumstances, it wasn’t as though he could pretend not to be at least the slightest bit at the…disadvantage. So, after only a moment’s hesitation, he added: «Please.»

At the latter question, however, Sajah only blinked, and then shrugged.

How…did you follow me?

«I asked,» he responded simply. Of all possible targets, Leukos had actually been among the easiest to track, fortunately for his own sake in this case. «You are fairly conspicuous and leave an impression on more people than just me…but I am sure you knew that.»

Sajahka was conscious of the fact that there were onlookers, but as Leukos didn’t seem to be paying them mind yet, and still wanted more out of him, he opted at a moment’s notice simply to be honest, regardless of whoever was looking, regardless of anything else in the world. Because he did not know where else to go from where he stood besides the truth.

«It’s not you-» Already, that was wrong, and he shook his head. «I am not after you like…that, I don’t care what you- It’s that you’re the only one I know who can see and understand-» Perhaps it would be better if he started at the beginning, despite the temptation to skip to what felt like the most important points in whatever instant his brain was shoving a thought most forefront.

He swallowed, and drew a breath.

«The Songbird and I…fought. He wanted to hold auditions, so that we could form a troupe to travel the land. That was our plan. It kept…being delayed- But that isn’t what is important. We put up flyers, and were to have people come to try out, and he did not arrive for…hours. It was late, people left-»

He still wasn’t getting to the point fast enough.

«He arrived, I…he was upset with me, he said that I was delaying him and holding him back, he-» Sajah’s fingers bunched for a moment, and his lips pressed. At least the publicity of the situation didn’t lend anyone to knowing the details but Leukos. Small blessings. «He said things, and I punched him…and then I…» Sajah hesitated, feeling again that this was perhaps, in retrospect, a poor decision, «…kissed him, and I…» His hands slowed with reluctance as he recounted the tale, «…told him that I loved him…»

His fingertips brushed together, hesitating in the air.

«He told me that we would never go anywhere together again, and that I would be on my own. And…» Was there really more? His eyes wandered from the ground to the nearest wholly perplexed onlooker, and then up to Leukos. He was still stupidly tall. «There is no one else I know who understands I am speaking when my hands move…»

Leukos looked…

…burdened.

And in a moment, Sajah regretted his decision to put himself there. He hadn’t thought he’d be a burden on Nyko—they had always been together. Mutually supportive, he’d thought. Yet, even that apparently had been more than his ‘friend’ had wanted to deal with in the end. How could he have expected a positive response from a pretty stranger who already had everything going perfectly for him?

His shoulders rolled back and he resisted the urge to grimace.

Hey Leukos! … Do you need…assistance?

There was an immediate urge to whip and snarl at the man. He was not doing anything. Did it look as though Leukos was the one more needing of defense as between the two of them? Perhaps he could have been flattered, to be taken as ‘dangerous’, but he only felt like they looked at him and saw an animal. Pathetic because he couldn’t speak and untrustworthy thereof. Unpleasant, repulsive, bad luck. To be avoided, because what good could come of hanging with beggars?

If he could have screamed at them that he wasn’t stupid, he wasn’t diseased just because they didn’t understand him, he might have. But it would have done no good under the circumstances. There was a heavy temptation simply to leave. He didn’t want to be a pity case, and no matter how he spun it, he was. He felt angry, but more at the universe than anything else, for presenting him like a fool and robbing him of the ability to prove otherwise.

His teeth touched together, only just curbing the urge to grind, and finally, he signed: «Yes,» they were, «and no…» he did not have anyone else. No, he had no relatives. No, he had no friends. No, he had no contacts. «I am sorry to have bothered you. I will stop concerning your friends with my presence.»

With a sneer towards the man who had asked Leukos if he needed ‘help,’ Sajahka turned to go.

Sajahka had been afraid to turn. Because, as soon as he did — if Leukos had done nothing to stop him — there would have been no excuse to go back. Certainly not without coming off even worse than at present, and he didn’t think his pride, however minimal it was at this point, could handle any further whipping. And so, his pulse was hard in his throat as he moved, half of his body rebelling against the motion because he had come all this way. But not to be a burden. And if Leukos had better things to do, which of course he did-

A hand grasped his wrist, and Sajah’s heart, already beating hard under his skin, lodged firm in his throat.

Wait.

For a moment, he didn’t move. He didn’t look. He could have been hallucinating it, for as much as he wanted it and didn’t know how to let himself believe anything could go right.

But the grip did not budge.

Instead, it tightened, and when it did, Sajah felt a breath leave him of its own regard, shaky from his lungs and unintended. He made himself look back, daring the moment not to be real. And Leukos held his stare.

He’s my friend…

It shouldn’t have hurt to hear, but his throat tightened just the same, a heat climbing his ears. Then, there were no words even in Sajah’s mind to describe the feeling that came with the rest of Leukos’ words. Relief. But more than that, gratitude. In such an overwhelming amount, he didn’t have the energy to process it as much as it felt deserved in the moment, and Sajah had not been aware he could feel so tired. Surely his life had given him worse and better than this before—but it didn’t feel like it.

He swallowed, the tension in his stance easing a fraction, not so much because he was relaxed, but because he no longer felt the stamina to pull. It was enough just to stand. And Leukos had already given more than he thought he would ever be desperate enough to ask for. So, when he signed, his hand moving up despite the hold on his wrist, the motions were exhausted, but genuine:

«Thank you…»

When Leukos pulled, Sajah moved cooperatively without complaint, and he had planned he supposed, to get into the wagon, since that seemed to be where they were headi-

Except then Leukos was hoisting him upward—and Sajahka managed a half-offended scoff. He could climb. Did this man not remember how he had gotten into—? Did he not think he could handle a wagon-

But as Sajah’s grip clutched the side and he made it over and in, he decided with a light puff that perhaps it didn’t matter all too much for the moment. No one would notice the pinkness to his earfins, and he had other, far more pressing matters to concern his mind with.

Though, on second thought, being concerned about wagon-hoistings was less trying on the spirit.

He didn’t have long to think on it, in any case, for in but a moment, Leukos was beside him, and for an instant Sajah felt—easier. Still not relaxed. Not clean. Not full. Not happy. But not as though holding himself upright was a trial. It was just a day now, as opposed to a catastrophe that he didn’t know his way out of. And he could handle most days. He could even take the time to appreciate his surroundings, taking in first their company—he wasn’t sure how he felt about that boy’s stare—and then the surrounding property they were entering.

It was nice.

He felt, with sudden abashment as he looked out, and before Leukos even said anything, that he had been right: this must have been a terrific opportunity for the man to snag employment here, particularly if he had been chosen for talent alone in a happenstance demonstration as the word had been when he asked. Sajah knew he did not look the part of a promising introduction to the place, and no one here but Leukos even had the full benefit of knowing the contents of his ‘resume.’

He found himself glancing Leukos’ way, though, when he spoke, making his explanation to the leery boy across from them. Sajah supposed, given even his own impressions, he couldn’t entirely blame him for looking…unimpressed. And perhaps suspicious.

Don’t worry.

He curbed the urge to snort, and instead lifted his gaze when Leukos leaned toward him. Strange, he thought for an instant, how far they had come from their first encounter. Then, his attention moved to Leukos’ hands. At the words, he shook his head.

«I am at your command, Butterfly, you have nothing to worry about…» He frowned, slightly, as the gravity of his prior thoughts returned briefly despite the extent of his relief. «I will ask how much I owe you later…but I recognize that I am in debt, and I will do my utmost not to disappoint. I mean it when I give my thanks…and I will endeavor not to make you regret your…»

Pity?

Sajahka resisted the urge to grimace, and instead breathed out. «Kindnesses…I suppose. I am grateful.»

Sajah watched as Leukos signed, and it was peculiarly relaxing to watch in its own right. Nyko knew some signs, by virtue of having spent so much time watching him, mostly, but he could not remember the last time he’d used them. Of course, he hadn’t needed to. But it was strangely pleasant to see the familiar gestures for himself.

As for the words themselves—well, Sajah supposed he hadn’t truly been conceptualizing monetary repayment to begin with, aside perhaps from paying back what he had already stolen, when he could. Leukos’ terms, however, were as simple as could possibly be asked for. He rolled his shoulders, settling back a touch against the wagon side and giving a small nod.

«I’ll tell you anything you want to know.» It wasn’t as though there was anyone but Leukos now that he could share it with besides, and he had chosen to come with empty hands riding on hope—he didn’t have much to hide, at this point. Still: «Believe it or not…» he managed with the slightest wry grin, «I do not feel especially impressive at the moment. I promise not to exhaust myself trying.»

At the latter questions, however, an easy seriousness settled back into his expression. «Some,» he answered. «I performed manual labor, usually outdoors. The Masters were traders, so sometimes…often, even, there was large livestock for pulling, making deliveries to other persons in business. I lived in the capitol, but their property was on the outskirts and I sometimes guided animals in with merchandise.» Accompanied always by guards, other slaves, or a watchman of some sort, predictably, but still it was within his experience, and as to his comfort level with it: «I am not afraid of them, large or small. I would also do clean up work, hauling and carting goods…»

It wasn’t much, but at least Sajah knew he was accustomed to working hard. And it could only be better if there was the prospect of some actual payment to be earned from it all. Though he had begun by saying he needed a ‘job,’ he actually hadn’t given much thought to the concept before, and it was — a peculiarly promising hope.

He aimed not to let it get too high. Just in case.