Both Shou and Reeha looked away, the former at the the ground and the latter pointedly at her cards. “Yeah. A little tough.”
“Shou is still salty over me stabbing him the first time we sparred.” Osora said simply, shrugging a shoulder. “I don’t see why. He healed fine.”
“Hold up. You stabbed him?” Tali’s eyes widened considerably. “Wait wait wait. Don’t stab me, I don’t heal like you guys do!” He exclaimed, blinking a few times.
Now he understood Shou and Reeha’s attitudes towards this. Maybe he should come prepared for their sparring.
“The worst part is, I don’t have faster healing like her family does.” Shou grumbled, hand moving to his abdomen, presumably where she had stabbed him. “I just summon things. I heal the same you would.”
“Can nobody here handle a little stabbing?” Osora asked, crossing her arms over her chest and rolling her eyes, face as expressionless as ever.
“You’re not supposed to stab your friends!”
“I think stabbing anyone is frowned upon, Osora.” He shook his head but laughed. “Honestly… I can’t believe you stabbed Shou. No wonder he’s hesitant to train with you.”
"To be fair, I did warn him. I specifically said we were sparring with weapons, and he didn't seem to think that I was serious." She deadpanned, arching a brow at Shou, who threw his hands up.
"Who stabs someone during their first time sparring together!"
"Obviously, Toki does." Reeha said, patting Shou's shoulder almost patronizingly. "And yet, you still dated her for a year. Too bad she won't stab the new boy toy."
"Not a boy toy." Osora corrected, shooting Reeha a look and earning a grin in response.
“Most of the time you don’t get stabbed even if using real weapons.” Talk pointed out, snickering at Shou as he complained.
His snicker turned into a dramatic gasp at Reeha’s words. “Too bad? Boy toy? Ouch. I’m starting to think I’m not wanted here.” He pretended to wipe away a tear but smiled nonetheless. He wouldn’t let the sadness And guilt he felt at being called a boy toy show. He knew that could fully be all he was and he was willing to accept that for Osora’s sake.
"Of course you are. And you're no boy toy." Osora said, something flickering in her expression as she continued to look at Reeha. Finally, Reeha sighed, adjusting her hijab.
"Sorry. I meant it as a joke, not as something to be taken literally. If it makes you feel better, that's what I've called everyone else she's ever dated, too. Shou, that kid in tenth grade, and that girl you brought home last year. Obviously not boy toy for her, but point still stands." She said, bowing her head in apology.
Tali just shook his head and waved it off. He smiled at Reeha, laughing. “Oh no, it’s really alright. I don’t mind at all. It’s not the first time I’ve been called that and those other times were mostly serious. I caught onto your joke.” He promised. “Don’t let Toki bully you into feeling guilty.”
"She just bullied me into apologizing. You posture change made me feel guilty." Reeha assured, shaking her head at him. "Your shoulders slumped and your eyes dropped, which either meant sadness, shame, or hurt. Or all three." She stated, motioning to him.
"Reeha doesn't apologize often. Take this while you can. The chances of seeing another apology ever again are just higher than the chances of me ever actually smiling."
He hadn’t even realized he had done so. He sheepishly laughed and drew Osora closer so he could hide his embarrassment. “Sorry about that. It’s really alright, though. I don’t mind. But thank you for apologizing.” He replied quietly, smiling at those around. “I feel special then, if Reeha doesn’t apologize often.”
"Good. You should." Reeha said simply, returning to dealing cards to the people at the table with her.
Osora shook her head fondly, looking up at Tali. "You ready to go, then? Keith closes at one, usually. Breakfast and brunch rushes are over by then." She said, arching a brow at him and playing with his shirt.
He chuckled, glancing down as Osora spoke. “I am. Direct me to the eggs.” He replied with a wider grin. “Down the street? On this street? A few blocks away?” He asked, waving goodbye to those in the kitchen as he made his way to the main entrance of the home.
"First, it might be a good idea to grab our shoes at the bottom of the stairs." Osora pointed out as they neared the last flight of stairs before the convenience store. "And it's two blocks. You're not carrying me all that way, you know. I'll walk."
He frowned deeply but slowly set her down once they had reached the bottom. “Alright but I’m carrying you most of the way.” He argued, slipping his shoes on.
"You can't carry me that far. I don't want you hurting yourself just to try and carry me." She said, shaking her head at him. She leaned against the wall to slip on a pair of strappy sandals that had been laying next to her boots, not wanting to attempt getting those boots on. "I can walk. I'll be fine."
“Let me at least be a crutch. I don’t want you hurting yourself.” He sighed deeply and watched as she slid on her sandals.
With a shake of his head he slid into his tattered tennis shoes and opened the door for her.
“Let me at least be a crutch. I don’t want you hurting yourself.” He sighed deeply and watched as she slid on her sandals.
With a shake of his head he slid into his tattered tennis shoes and opened the door for her.
"Only if my knee hurts too bad. Otherwise, I don't want you feeling like you have to do anything." Osora insisted, adjusting her weight onto her good leg before limping to the door. She stepped out onto the sidewalk, offering him her hand to hold.
Tali pouted but regardless of his worry decided to let her do her own thing. She was stubborn but he knew she was smart enough not to injure herself more. Or at least he hoped she was.
He took her hand happily, bringing it to his lips in a gentle kiss. “Tell me if it hurts too much.”
"I will." Osora wouldn't. She would keep pushing it until she couldn't walk anymore. But that was what she was used to doing, that was how she survived. Her friends and family had long since given up on trying, because she had refused help religiously from anyone.
"It's down this way." She said, leading him along the sidewalk, holding his hand with just enough intent to make it obvious she was happy to have a hand to hold at all.
“Thank you.” He hummed, relieved to at least hear words of confirmation. Tali always worried. He guessed that was what anxiety did to you. Didn’t mean he liked it any more.
Tali followed her like a loyal puppy, his eyes taking in their surroundings. He needed to get out more. It was lovely here in the streets of Osora’s home. It felt more calm and peaceful to him for some reason. The streets could be busy and full and he’d still feel relaxed and calm.
Something about the place felt like home. He blamed it on Osora but in a good kind of way.
Osora kept her limp barely noticeable as they walked, cutting through side streets most people would never think to take. It didn't matter how dark or shady looking, Osora cut through without fear. Like she was comfortable in the belief that she was the scariest thing on the streets.
And she was.
So comfortable, in fact, that even when she noticed the shadow they had, she didn't bother taking safer routes, or ducking into a shop. Why should she? You've protected these streets for years. You can sure as hell protect Tali as well.
It took Tali quite some time to pick up on their shadow. He never was the brightest when it came to situations like these, as he was used to being around important people who always took safety precautions.
He glanced at Osora nervously, but upon seeing her so calm he relaxed himself. She knew what she was doing. “Do you always take these routes?” He asked gently, standing up a little taller.
"I switch them up day to day, but essentially. I prefer the back streets." Osora said, not necessarily casual, but as casual as one would expect from her in any normal circumstance. She gave his hand a small squeeze, letting him know that things would be fine. Then she came to a stop in the alleyway, turning around.
"You know, it's much easier to chat when you can see the person who wants to chat with you."
"Too bad I don't want to chat, then." The clicking of a gun was where things maybe started to go wrong. It being pointed at Tali was a step down.
Tali didn’t reply, only gave her a nod as he grew ever more tense. Now that he was aware of the tail they had he felt on edge.
And then Osora had stopped. Someone spoke. A gun was pointed at him.
The muscles under his skin visibly waved as his form changed ever so slightly. He had brought more muscle to his upper body.
“I don’t feel much like chatting either. But I don’t think pointing a gun at a respectable couple is very good manners for the public.” Tali sneered, his body rigid as he stared down the barrel of the gun at the one holding it.