~~~
“Y...yes.” He said sounding just a little uncertain. “They of course, denied it, but it was their forces.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes. “If it causes any damage, lord forbid that they claim any part of it.” He sighed.
“Things were coming out of the walls as well, golems almost, but night was honestly the most dangerous time, there were, they were called ‘eyes’, some kind of guardians. Leopard Eye, Seal Eye, and Quail Eye, It was not our finest hour…” He sighed. “We only ‘won’ a fight against the damned quail, but Leopard eye, well… it had some power over fire. So when we faced it, he sighed. Well, I was a determined young officer, just a fresh Lieutenant… and we found ourselves dreaming of a vast field of Lava, and a flaming Leopard, who thought it would be wonderful to make introductions my giving me an enormous, burning, claw filled hug.”
He flashed a charming smile.
“Not the kind of thing, unfortunately, that you can go to a hospital for.” He clicked his tongue
“And my… team mate at the time, well his knee got smashed at the same time, it was not our best night. Needless to say we tried to get him at least to a hospital, he still walks with a limp I think, at least on the bad days, and I try not to go without a shirt, ever.”
~~~
“My god.” It was hard to fathom something like that actually happening, if anything it sounded like a page taken out of a sci fi or fantasy book. But if Zac said that was what happened then she had no reason not to believe him. “That sounds… painful” Sunburns in the summer were bad enough but his description was enough to make her wince.
“You know though, there was a study done that showed men with scars are more appealing than those without.” She nodded her head in an almost as-a-matter-of-fact like. “It signifies strength or bravery even if it may have been from an accident or could be evidence of a risk-taking personality.” Phedre’s gaze traveled down to his torso for a brief moment before looking back up at his face and smiling. “At least that’s what I hear…”
“I have to ask though, if neither of you were able to go to the hospital what did you do? By the sounds of it you both needed medical attention and not one that a simple doctors visit could fix by putting a bandaid on your injuries.”
~~~
“He, could have gone he didn’t want to at first, I think we, finally coerced him because broken knees are far easier to explain than “I got into a fight with a flaming garden implement” He said and winced.
He rubbed the back of his neck and looked embarrassed.
“We…. my cousin and I, learned a great deal about burns that night, some by trial and error, a lot of swearing, a.. Yes, we didn’t at the time have anyone whom was an officer and a doctor so…” He shook his head. “ I was incredibly lucky.
But, I don’t think there is anything particularly handsome about them, if anything I’m lucky to still have such good mobility, I’ll thank the Queen herself for giving me a heavy coat to claw through or it would have been worse.”
“Needless to say, after that I, very much advocated trying to get us a nurse, or better yet a doctor within city limits, someone who wouldn’t ask questions if we had another, incident or worse.”
~~~
“I guess there is a benefit to wearing so many layers, at least you don’t have to worry about getting cold this time of year.” Unlike her own uniform which was missing a portion of the front, everything below the knees and no sleeves; it made something as trivial as the weather something to be concerned about.
“I take it you were able to find someone though?” If the fact he was still standing,let alone walking, was any indication she suspected if he was successful in locating a clinic or doctor that met his needs they were probably on their side now. If not then, well perhaps some careful persuasion might be in order…
~~~
“Roundabout, not all professional, but yes.” He nodded and then laughed softly. “At least there is something with the uniforms that keeps me from having heat stroke, and by that same token while you might be cold, I know at least you won’t turn up with frostbite? Not that I won’t lend you my coat if you need it.”
He cleared his throat.
“So… things are better, we’re better organized.”
~~~
At his offer to allow her to wear his coat it was Phedre’s turn to blush. Wow, quite the gentleman. She turned her head to look away as if something else had caught her interest momentarily until she was sure the pink tint to her cheeks had gone away.
“Sounds like you found the silver lining to an almost tragic situation though. Got to take your wins where you can I suppose.”
“That is one thing I noticed though, how unorganized the white moon senshi and their knights are. They have their Prince and Princesses but I don’t feel like they are really leaders.” If anything they seemed rather aimless with the only exception of getting in their way.
Never had she actually seen one of them in a team or group with the exception of the time they had invaded the Dark Kingdom. That kind of made them easy targets with the exception of the one that had actually managed to break Meridiana’s magic and punch her in the face. Mistakes were made that night but in the end she was left undaunted. “I guess that’s the difference between Prince and Princesses and Kings and Queens.”
~~~
“Personality…” he said and gave a small nod. “I doubt I’m without my flaws. I could probably name quite a lot of them.” He grimaced. “But, yes, I.. I think at least some of them, I think they feel like, like, well like rank is the same as respect, but it’s not. I’ve seen many before whom were powerful, but they weren’t…” He shook his head. “Power doesn't give you respect, sometimes it grants you fear, but… that’s beside the point. What kind of tea or coffee do you like?”
It was not exactly the most subtle topic shift.
~~~
Phedre smiled and shook her head. “I can take a hint.” A light laugh escaped her as she leaned over to bump him with her shoulder mid step.
“Hmm..” She tapped her lips in a contemplative manner. “I typically gravitate towards the seasonal drinks this time of year. I’ll be honest though, I feel like peach green tea is usually my default go-to.” That or just something fruity. “And you?”
~~~
“Oh.. I’ve a terrible fondness for a good chai.” He admitted. “A nice rich one, not the watery affairs that some of the bigger name places serve up, which is why I’m fond of this shop. They do lovely things, and while It might be a bit more for their pastries, which is why I’ve still half a mind to fight you for the check, I hope you’ll find it worth it. I do recommend their mini cakes, or their cinnamon rolls.
~~~
Phedre flashed him a look that suggested it would be a fight he could not win, not this time at least. And so, with a wave of her hand she dismissed the notion entirely rather than offering him the same courtesy he had given her earlier, just before she had kissed him, to ‘try’.
“Chai tea and warm cinnamon rolls sound really good right now. Do you think they will they let you bring Abby inside or should I order for us?”
~~~
“Abby can sit at one of the tables on their covered deck, that shouldn’t break any health code rules, and we can collect her on the way out since otherwise she might not be able to resist talking to someone ‘just because she can’” He eyed her and she cast her brilliant green eyes to one side trying to look innocent.
“I mean, people should be used to the idea of cats talking by now. What with magical people prancing on the rooftops at night and all that.” she huffed and bobbled her tail back and forth.
“Like I said, she can sit outside.” He repeated. “Or, she can go home… which I very much doubt she’ll do with an eclair on the line.”
~~~
“Sounds reasonable enough.” She reached up to trace her finger along the edge of abby’s soft pointed ear affectionately. “How about this, you wait outside and I’ll even ask for extra creme for you to have when you two get home? Deal?”
~~~
“OHhHhhhhh..” Abby said and looked considering, like maybe she was considering trouble but then she said brightly. “Okay!” before hopping down and standing before a screen door that lay just up ahead waiting for Zac to open the door.
He pulled it open to the chime of small bells, and she darted inside to take up a very prim spot at a chair.
“Well… don’t hesitate to try some of their seasonal things if they appeal.” Zac said gently, I’ve no objection if you want to try the chai too but, don’t limit yourself on my account?”
~~~
“I don’t really find it to be a limiting option honestly. It’s no different than trying out a new Mexican restaurant and ordering your favorite meal to see how it compares to your usual place. Kind of sets the foundation on if it is a place worth coming back to. That aside though, I trust your recommendations.”
Endejester
Follow-up to Challenge Accepted
