Leila glanced few times in Amante's direction, but seemed to pay him no attention rest of the time. It wasn't entirely true, though. The girl was quite aware of his presence and there was a mixed emotion bundle in response of his attitude. She ignored it to her best ability, but this man really had a talent of making her frustrated and confused.

Leila rose her eyes from the book, when now somewhat familiar nose of the cat reached her ears. She looked at the tunnel, but it took about five more minutes for the machine to arrive. It stopped just a bit before crashing into the first tent. Aiolia climbed out, shot a stern look Leila's way and walked over to Amante. "Hey, I am on my way to Surface and thought I could check on you."

Her tone was a little stiff, as if she was ready for another verbal rejection, and her posture switched to closed, arms crossing across the chest. Some would be able to say that she most likely bore some unpleasant news as well, but were they directed at Amante or not, it would be impossible to tell.

With a disheveled shirt, he glanced up and paused, cursing when he got a spot of coffee sludge on his shirt. He flicked it off and sighed. His clothes always became rather filthy rather fast but it didn't always bother him. It's probably why he never bought new clothes- they always got fucked up. He never wore anything nice. Ever.

Amante looked over at Aiolia with a quirked brow and flipped his magazine shut. "Do you need help?" He wouldn't opposed heading up there to get some things but he had a pretty specific skill set when it came to topside... like go through trash and going into places no one else wanted to or places that were a bit more dangerous and may have resulted in the loss of a limb. The only reason he didn't hop in without asking questions, aside from not being in the mood to really talk to Aiolia, was the fact that he had been slacking off on watching Leila and that was his main objective.

Aiolia huffed, looking down at the man. She rubbed her forehead, in clearly nervous manner. It was rare for her to express such unease.
"No, I don't need your help. Can't I just come and check on you, after that little display few days ago?"
Another glare went to Leila, but she watched everything in silence, without any movements. There was no way the assassin would move from her spot, so, if they wanted more private talk (or what they thought to be such), they would have to move. It was interesting to watch their interactions and Leila wondered what was that 'little display'. Maybe some attack, while drunk?

Aiolia sighed heavily. "Anyways, I also have some news to tell you. It's about Alice." The girl walked ahead, motioning him to follow. She was sure Amante wouldn't want for Leila to hear everything, the problem was that she knew not how far Leila's hearing reached, so, although they walked to the outer edge of outpost, it wasn't enough.

He was blatantly disinterested but sighed when she mentioned how he had acted. She did push him but, then again, he wasn't aware enough to have avoided the base in the first place... damn O'Connor and his blasted brew! But his guilt twisted into something else when she mentioned Alice and he looked up, totally aware. Amante nodded and slapped his magazine down onto a crate with his mug ontop of it. Without a word, he got up and followed her off to the side of the camp.

"What is it? Is she ok?" So many questions spewed through his mind- Had Elek found out anything about her? Her powers? How she was feeling? Was she still going to be able to stay there despite her display?

Aiolia's brows furrowed and she stared up at him, with a little guilty and angry, but more like worried expression. "Alice..." Aiolia began, unsure how to convey her message. She had thought about it all drive long and still had not found the correct way. Realizing that the wait was making everything only worse, the girl decided to simply 'spit out', as it was.

"Someone has cut Achilles tendons in her legs, they can't support her weight nor she can walk. However, doctors are pretty sure they can fix it. I am heading to Surface to gather medicine for her and some extras of other meds." There. The cat was out of the bag, and Aiolia mentally cringed, at what could come. "She will be fine, I promise. Elek won't let this pass unattended. After a year, she should be walking already. So the doc said." She reached to take his hand, but then pulled back, not wanting to invade his private space more. "I... I didn't want to tell you, until we're sure all will be fine. But... It's only fair if you do. You love her."

"More than all your friends put together," she added mentally, but kept the bitter comment away. For now. There was another reason why Aiolia couldn't keep quiet about these news - Elek would be disappointed, although would understand her point.

Leila's eyebrows arched, at what she heard. This Alice had to be the white haired girl. But who had done such a thing to her? That sounded worse than most of her tormenting poisons, because they at least finished with pain relieving death. And as she had guessed, Alice was indeed dear to Amante. Intriguing...

The news brought everything in him to a stop as if an explosion had happened right by his ears. He thought he could barely hear anything, eyes wide as he staggered inside of his own body, fighting for control. He shifted up against the wall with an arm propped up to keep him steady. He choked back a should as he tried to breath, his gaze stuck to the ground. She couldn't walk.. she couldn't walk. Someone had cut her up-badly, from the inside. "They.... they crippled her." His voice was low, quiet, shocked.

With fingertips burrowing into the cement wall, they scraped along as he started to fall to the ground. The process was slow but he couldn't be stopped He fell down and then onto his back, hands slapped over his eyes as teeth ground together. "What.... what the FUCK!?" Amante jerked up, slamming a fist into the wall with his other hand still shielding his face. Air surged out from between his tight, gritted teeth, along with a dab or two of saliva. He was furious and wasn't sure how to handle it. Lines of fur were tearing out from under his skin as proof of his frustration and, quite likely his hatred.

Aiolia watched helplessly Amante's rage and desperation consume him. She could bet that he hadn't heard most of what she had said, after the first sentence. Maybe she should have started from the good news end... "Amante, listen to me! Listen!" Aiolia wanted to shake him by shoulder, but a small voice talked her out of it.

"She will be fine! She will be healthy! And we will find those fuckers, and make them regret it!" Aiolia promised, watching him in horror. But not because she was afraid (although she was, a little) - it was because Amante suffered so. She had prepared for quite a reaction, but this was more out of the hand.

Leila did not have to possess empathy to feel the rage coming from the scene. Turning her head, the girl narrowed eyes. The darkness seemingly split before her sight, and Leila clearly saw the scene. Amante was raging and the signs he was showing pointed at one thing - shapeshifting. Taking into consideration how the transformation was triggered by emotions, his abnormal healing, strength and pain tolerance.... He ought to be a were of some kind. It was hard to know which one, and it was not so much of importance. But with this knowledge, she could prepare for their confrontation, that surely would come one day.

How could she stand there and try to make it sound like it was going to be ok? It was NOT going to be alright! His fist smashed into the wall beside him and he started to stand. With his vocal cords shifting, his voice dropped lower and gurgled. It sound like he was growling or perhaps he was speaking with two different tone levels. What it was he did say was difficult to say. However, he was furious.

Those people would pay. It could have been anyone- anyone in that forsaken place. But he would find them, all of them, and he would tear them apart one by one. Graphic horror spilled across his mind, his face snapping out as bones shifted and he roared. Turning away from Aiolia, he sprinted down the tunnels. A long gash mark had been torn into the cement with ease and left what could have been a marker to show which way he went.

His roars echoed back to her and part of the camp. He was gone, in more than one manner of speaking.

Aiolia knocked on the doors, waited for a brief moment and then walked in. "Hello," she said to the girl laying in the bed. Without saying much more, Aiolia busied her self for a while, moving the nightstand so it would be easily seen from Alice's position. Then she reordered things on it, so there was place for vase with flowers. When it was all done, the woman sat down on the chair. She seemed a little stiff, as if unsure of her place here.

"I am Amante's friend, Aiolia." She smiled a little. "I bought these, thinking maybe you miss some color in your room," Aiolia glanced at the flowers. "I do." The confession was quiet, but sincere. The smile turned in more awkward expression and then went away. "Amante sends you warm regards and best wishes, you know. He didn't leave you, he just had his duties." Although Amante had said nothing of this kind, the woman knew it was in his heart. Whatever had made him leave, be it Ryan or something else, had not changed his feelings for Alice.

Aiolia tried to not think about what had happened earlier, unsure how much Alice would see in her mind. She was used to be like an open book so Elek would have easy time reading the most basic information from her mind, but even she had things she didn't want others to see. And the fact Amante was so enraged could hurt Alice.

Ryan had just finished his discussions with Elek. The outcome had pleased him, just like Alice's attitude towards his small announcement. It was true she didn't know all the details, but that way, she would be hurt less. Now he headed towards Eve's house to let her know he would be joining her with tomorrow. He wondered if she wanted him to attend to group classes - that would be even more brutal that way - but Ryan was up for it.

Alice shifted when she heard the knock at the door and turned to see Aiolia coming in with a beautiful vase of flowers. She smiled and sat herself up, grabbing an extra pillow and pulling it to her back to help her sit up better. It was quiet in between Aiolia's words but, when she mentioned Amante something just didn't seem right. It was apparent on her face that she thought this but she did not push the issue.

Eve was in her home, laying in bed. It was dark and quiet, actually silent aside from the breathing coming from the other side of the room. The sudden knocking on the door stirred them both. A loud hiss jerked into the air and a body shuffled in the darkness. Eve sat up and moved over to the door, popping it open. When she saw it was Ryan, she stepped out, fully clothed, and shut the door at her back. "What?"

"You're quite the mystery to us all, Alice. It's strange that no one really knows anything about you, still everyone cares." Her voice was thoughtful. It was no accusation, she did not oppose this opinion, in a way, Aiolia shared it. "It would be nice if you would someday speak and we could get to know you." The woman smiled a little and helped to make the pillows more comfortable for Alice. It was strange to talk with someone who did not reply. It freed tongue, and yet, it was like speaking with recording device that had soul and mind. Whatever she said, it would not be forgotten.

Aiolia knew she had come here to maybe find out something more about this girl, about her past. Any clue, any information at all would be a great help. Ryan knew only so much, but Alice could possess much greater knowledge. But to ask her when she was like this, when they were even strangers, it felt wrong. And Aiolia was curious - what was it so special, so unique that two men were willing to kill each other for just a bit of attention? Was it this.. fragility, the wish to protect that Alice woke in others? Too bad she would never be able to afford being weak, sweet, soft... Crushable.

"I finished rehab. I am starting lessons tomorrow, either with your group or however you had in mind. When do you usually start?" Ryan got straight to the point, no fancy greetings and well wishes. Not really his style, and he could bet that it wasn't Eve's style either. She was probably a mercenary like him, nothing more, nothing less. Just brute force - power and physical wise - and cunning, to get them further in life. Diplomacy was a dying art.

She liked hearing the compliments and kindness from Aiolia and tilted her head a bit when the other woman spoke of her... speaking, in the future. She hadn't really tried talking, not with her throat. Maybe if she tried harder to communicate with other or... something. She didn't even know if she had powers or, if she did, what they were. It was unlikely these words even took shape as thoughts.

He was done with his therapy and had come to her for training. She glanced over his arm and told him, "The group starts at 9AM, right at the start of breakfast." She changed the time so everyone would cram their faces and make it there with a full stomach. The more uncomfortable they were, the better. "Don't come by today. Tomorrow, 6AM. We'll work on it in a more controlled environment." One on one, more likely.

"It's awfully quiet here, isn't it," Aiolia commented, a little absentminded. "Maybe next time I will bring you some music records. I wonder what kind of music do you like, Alice?" The woman tilted head to the side, deep blue eyes meeting pale ones. At that moment, Ryan walked in, and nearly literally froze in the mid-step. His eyes first stopped at Aiolia, then at Alice and finally to flowers, and man's expression was somewhere between surprise and displeasure. Aiolia chuckled softly at such reaction. He indeed was ready to fiercely defend his position now. If Amante and Ryan found a common base, such as needing to find Alice, after they stopped blaming each other, they would make a formidable team.

"I need to have a word with you, Ryan," she said, the light amusement fading from her voice and heart. "Sure?" Man's brows furrowed further and he walked out of the room. Aiolia quietly shut the door behind her and then faced Ryan. It was too bad, really, she had to be the bad new bearer for second time this day.
"Without operation, special medicine and year long rehabilitation, Alice will never be able to walk, unless miracle happens." She said this as quickly as possible, and then swiftly continued. "Luckily, we can provide all this."

Ryan's face went blank, and white as sheet. "What? Why?" His voice was quiet and still, as if the information had not fully reached his brain yet.
"Achilles tendons in her legs are cut. She can't support her weight or walk."
"I don't know what the hell is that or what it does, but why would someone do that and how can it be fixed?!" The anger was building up now, quickly, a bit more and he would see red.
"I don't know any of that, just that it can and will be fixed. You don't have to threaten Elek for that," Aiolia grabbed the man's sleeve, as he was already turning around, ready to march into a new discussion.
"I will find those fuckers and..."
"You weren't any help with that, though, but maybe Alice..."

A rather explicit threat series followed, Aiolia's words drowning in it. After few minutes, Ryan quieted, though. He ran hand trough hair, then glared at Aiolia.
"Fine. Fine. I will try to find something out. I will pay you, or whatever. Just help her! And leave us alone for now!"
Pushing past the woman, he entered the room again, resisting urge to slam the doors. Heavily, Ryan sat down on her beside, taking Alice's hand and then spontaneously pulled her closer - into a hug. He said nothing, just held her so for some minutes. Inwardly, he was struggling with wish to cry and need to punch someone, comfort Alice and never let her go.

Aiolia watched for brief moment trough the window, then sighed and headed back to Elek's place. There was lot of debriefing to do.

Alice greeted Ryan with a little smile when he came in and watched the two leave the room shortly after. She eased back against the pillows and stared over at the wall, listening to something in the air. She could feel something building up on the other side of the wall and looked away from the window. Watching it, she realized it was the wrong one, eyes following up along the ceiling to the window and the door.

She could barely see the two of them. Mostly, she saw Ryan's shoulder. Every now and then she would get a glimpse of Aiolia's arm or her back. Things were getting heated and she could tell despite hardly being able to hear them. It was... strange. It felt like the wall with the door and window was starting to buckle in under the tension but it didn't- and Ryan came in so quickly she almost jumped out of her skin. She must have been caught up in... whatever was going on.

Concerned, she tried to ask him what was wrong but could not form words. He came to her so suddenly and held onto her. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, she didn't react immediately but within a few moments her arms moved up and she hugged him back. Maybe if she did this holding thing, it would do for him what he was trying to do for her.

Ryan held Alice hugged for a long time, then finally let her go and helped her lay back in the pillows, with a smile. For her, he couldn't express any of those conflicting emotions right now. Alice needed calm, soothing atmosphere where she would recover and feel homily. Maybe then she would speak finally, and some things would clear up. He was dreading the moment he would have to tell the girl about the operations.

Pushing those thoughts away, knowing that if he would linger on them, the rage would return, Ryan tried to start up a casual chatter, so usual for them. "I see she brought you flowers. Do you like them? I am trying to guess now, if it has your favorite flower in it. Hmm." The man stared at the bouquet for a long time, because he was trying to picture Alice with flowers - and the image turned out to be really cute.

"I think... Your favorite could be lily. Or rose." In reality, those were basically the only flower names that Ryan knew. For him, all flowers were pretty, but he couldn't tell them apart. Not that he had any chance to learn them properly in his past. Lilies he remembered from his mother's wedding day. She had wedding bouquet of those. He had often stared at the photo, trying to will that smiling, happy woman from it to the present time. But the drunk, depressed version never left.

"I like lilies." "And wouldn't it be nice to have a big garden one day? With big trees, swings, fountains and what else goes with that..." Ryan tried to picture something out of tv shows about the rich people, or soap operas. The thought that she might never be able to walk on her own feet trough such scenery, made him frustrated and Ryan tried his best to think about something else.

She smiled and nodded when he asked if she liked the gift and watched him, listening. When he started to list a few flowers he thought may be her favorite, she shook her head no. Holding her hands out flat, she counted off numbers on her fingers and then pushed the fingers down into her hands, held her hands to her chest and seemed to... cuddle them. Alice liked all flowers.

At the mention of a garden, in their future, she lit up. A garden would be... amazing. The girl seemed to glow with delight at this prospect. Now she wanted to see all of the flowers in the world and put them in one place- with herself and Ryan.

At first, Ryan was disappointed that he hadn't guessed correctly. Then, he watched with interest what she tried to show him and then laughed a little. "I should have known. It sounds so like you, to like them all." She was a sweet girl, probably the sweetest person he had ever known. Somehow pure, untainted by all the pain and horrors she must have gone trough - and still did. Yet, Alice did rely on him, and he would not let her down.

Ryan smiled, even more honestly now, to see her so happy at the thought of a garden. Another thing in his imaginary list for future, then. Although it was already turning into mansions of sorts, and would require a lot of money, he didn't bother with making it more down to earth. Once in a while, everyone should be allowed to dream.

Ryan stayed talking about random things and envisioning that possible garden (to his rather limited knowledge) for a while more, but then nurse came and told it was time for bed. He had missed dinners and the man's stomach reminded it loudly. After giving her a soft kiss on forehead and bidding Alice good night, Ryan left to find something edible and have some sleep. Tomorrow would not be an easy day.

Ryan arrived about half hour later. He was now used to about 4-6 hours of sleep, so he naturally woke up after that. In a way, it was good to live in a place like this - you could sleep as much as you wanted, eat something when you wanted and feel safe, at least for now. But although he had wanted to reach such level for years, Ryan was restless. He now wanted more, he had true goals and dreams. And someone to take care of.

His arm was still stiff, and Ryan hoped Eve would not just break it out of elbow joint, or off his shoulder, but it was already quite usable. He sat down on one of the empty house doorsteps, staring at the opposite wall in silence.

Alice enjoyed his company and just listening to him go on and on. Somehow, she was able to see what he imagined- a large, beautiful home with a luxurious array of flowers growing up vines that cascaded down pillars and... and... her eyelids started to drift shut, head turning down and to the side as he spoke. It was only a few moments before she'd fallen asleep and then a nuse came in to retrieve Ryan for bed...

A roar followed after a metal desk that had been torn out of the ground and flew across the room. It slammed into the wall, breaking in half. Furry arms thrashed out at chairs and other objects. There was nothing. No information, no paperwork, no security cameras- "Nothing!!" His arms lashed out again, roars sounding with tearing and smashing. Elek had given him the address a while back and he'd been able to find it but the bastards had moved.

They never stayed in one place for too long, and this was no exception. How could he be so stupid, so hopefully stupid, to think that they would still be here after Alice had been taken away? Right out from under their noses no less.

Amante slammed his furred arms onto the table and roared at the wall. The muscles in his neck bulged out as saliva flung in specks and globs. It felt like his eyeballs were going to pop out of the sockets from the sheer rage that threatened to consume him.

Shortly after he arrived, Eve stepped out of her little home and locked the door behind her. Seeing Ryan, she shoved some hair off of her shoulder and motioned to him. "Good, you're on time." Thankfully she didn't have to go over that number. "Now, we're just going to work on getting your arm into fighting condition. If I throw you in with the rest of the animals you'll be back on the table within a few minutes and then you'll have to start physical therapy all over again."

She moved a little way off from the buildings so they had some open space and she motioned him closer. "How much hand to hand combat experience do you have?"

Ryan stood up immediately Eve came out. He stood quiet, listening to her, nodding a few times, but at her question, shrugged. "Some gang battles, most of my tasks - kicking well taught apes. But I usually mixed my powers into it."
Indeed, he usually relied on his powers to make him invisible or make his punch carry more force. Without his powers, he was your average man with average fighting experience. His trump was surprising with force and speed.

"We're doing this with no power aid, ye?" He had heard she possessed some great power, but what exactly, Ryan did not know. The man was not afraid, just a bit wary. Of course, if he could use his powers, it would be easier, but maybe not help the goal. Though, what bad would be in absorbing some of the punches and kicks she threw at him?

She huffed, though a partial grin tugged at her lips. "We're doing this as average people. There won't be any combat going on until we're certain your arm can keep up with your natural reflexes. We've got to start you from square one, understand?" Eve put her hands up toward him in a fighting position and used her eyes to tell him to do the same. When he was ready, she reached out and slowly started to move her hands around as if she were to hit him, but he'd have plenty of time to block. Their training would become more rigorous and pick up in speed through out the day but they still moved rather slow.

Once it was time for her to teach the masses, she grabbed his arm in a hold and held it, glancing over as people approached the area. "Alright, that's enough for today. Go get something to eat." She let go of him and tossed her bangs from her forehead.

It was yet another peaceful day - like all when Amante was gone. It seemed he always brought unrest wherever he went. Certainly, in her life at least. Leila did not rejoice for his pains and suffering - too much. Part of her felt slight compassion even. Leila knew how it was when a dear person suffered, and there was nothing you could do about it, or to revert the time and change the happenings...

However, mostly she did not think about Amante much. Or tried not to. There was something about him that made her puzzled. And Leila loved to figure people out. Trough that, she came to terms with her self, seeing how twisted and cracked people around her were. Trough that, she distanced her self from people even more. There was space separating her from others, always, as long as her memories remained, imprinted in her brains, returning in nightmares, or painful thoughts.

Wrapped in shadows, practically invisible without trying, Leila floated down the sewer. Not high up, but still good deal above the ground. Her eyes were half shut, but she was aware of each brick or movement in every direction. So, Amante's slumped form she noticed long before she reached it. Becoming more visible, but only slightly, she floated above him, head tilting to the side. "Hmm..."

The man lay on his stomach, arms and legs bent up and splayed out, making little to no sound. He had been up for days, rampaging and tearing things apart, and when he was done he got wasted. Again. He reeked more of booze than he had any other time Leila had found him, though no bottles were to be found.

His clothes were dirtier than usual and his skin had a thin layer of dirt, mud and something else on him. His facial hair had grown out and become a bit unruly; he just needed to shave. The mess of a man was fast asleep, likely passed out from a drunken stupor, and he almost looked... old. His features were a bit more drooped but he still looked stern or even upset, even as he slept.

Leila floated there in silence for a short while, looking down at the man, out cold. To get drunk like this... Rather despicable trait. Although she sometimes doubted his sensibility, she thought he would know better than getting drunk to this point. Like a homeless dog, he got wasted and slept where he could, with no true attachment. The friends he picked seemed to more often bother him than aid him. Yet, Amante had picked someone whom could put him in this state - and worse than that. The girl meant so much to him? Apparently.

Thoughtfully, Leila floated off. It was the last round of the patrol, after that she could go to sleep. But the past few nights, she had been more busy working on her shadow net tightening, or writing, than sleeping. The anxiety of no drugs had to be worked out somehow, to not make her even snappier than usually.

He took in a sharp, raspy breath and coughed with his mouth shut. The cough raked harder on his throat and he opened his mouth to let it out. Sitting up, he groaned and touched a hand to his face. If last night hadn't been enough to throw him on his ass, he didn't think being drunk ever again would be possible. Amante rolled onto his back and sat up when he heard the crunching sound of plastic beneath him.

Amante reached back and grabbed a plastic water bottle from his pants and shook it. There was hardly a gulp left but he opened it up and started to drink it up. His head didn't hurt but he felt relatively numb, which was good. At least, that's what he thought.

Leila was on her way back, when she felt movement. The direction was forward, so it was likely Amante. The girl shed most of the shadows, not particularly interested in hiding from him. When she came in his sight, Leila floated upwards, sitting down on one of the pipes, purple eyes glinting for a second. She stayed there still, looking down at the man, in silence. She did not have a threatening posture or expression, but normal person would still shiver and get away from the scene as quickly as possible.

Leila seemed to search for something on him, in him. Her gaze was persistent, but not too tight.

Her ways did not bother him and it was evident. With his tongue stroking the inside of the bottle in an attempt to get more water, he glanced up at her and crushed the plastic into a ball. Tossing it aside, he cleared his throat and motioned up at her, "Looking at me isn't going to get any kind of answer- what do you want?" He knew that look- the kind that thought it could tear into your soul and find what the bearer needed, though they never did.

She remained silent for a while longer, then shrugged nonchalantly.
"I don't need anything from you."
It was the truth - although Amante made her curious, the unanswered questions would not haunt her life. She could kill him right now, if needed to be, and he would be forgotten in a week's time.

In fact, after all the bitterness and heart ache Amante had caused her, killing him seemed like a nice option. Leila had pondered if in all the chaos that would ensue soon she would get the chance to finish him off, once and for all. She guessed she managed to always piss him off, but he did it just as perfectly for her - right from the beginning.

"I am just pondering if you are either partially fake, or somewhat complicated person." Her words were blunt, voice emotionless. But it was not meant as particular insult. Everyone was a little fake these days, trying to appear more brave, more social, more sweet or fearsome... Whatever they lacked in reality and thought they needed.

His brow perked up, "Fake?" He had never felt more so insulted in his entire life. "I don't know what you're on about and I'm not sure I want to know, but I assure you, I am anything but fake." Amante started to rub at his head, shoulders lowering. But the man perked up as he pointed at her, "And I can get you signed references on that issue, if you'd like." He couldn't help but grin, even a little, as he was partially joking.

Water droplets hit the floor up the tunnel, making a soft sound that echoed down to them. His head hurt, quite a bit, and the water drops weren't helping very much.

Leila smirked faintly, seeing that he felt rather insulted at her simple comment. So, Amante was sober enough to actually catch what she was saying. Not bad. He recovered fast, it seems. It wouldn't be surprise if Amante got drunk on regular base - his were body most likely received no permanent harm. Too bad it didn't, maybe then he would avoid this pointless thing.

"Indeed not a fake, eh? Then it's even stranger that you follow such a noble cause, act so confident, yet when your friends worry for you, you pick a stranger over them, to get wasted for and curl in dirty corner, like a homeless dog. No purpose, no self-worth."

Shadows shivered around her, as if wanting to do or say something, but she did not react to it. Leila's attention was now onto the man, for a brief moment at least.

He grunted, "You don't know what you're talking about- so keep your clouded judgements to yourself." Amante looked over at her, features stern as he stood up, "You'll only make yourself look like an idiot." He wasn't angry, not like she usually made him when she made remarks about other people, but it was more like he was giving advice.

Dusting himself off, he motioned to the end of the tunnel away from the dripping sounds. "I'm heading back. Are you done with your recon?" He didn't exactly like her, for her personality anyway, but he wasn't going to leave her alone in the dark... unless, of course, she wanted that.

"It's you who assumes I am judging. I am just observing and trying to understand." Her voice was calm, for it was the truth. She was beyond judging him - Amante was already in the category of fools, for her. Only the reason and level of foolishness was depending. No, Amante was not stupid. Certainly not stupid. But the way he lived his life was stupid for her. Not that, when strictly looking at her self, Leila was living wisely either. Everyone had pointed it out at her, and trying to find the 'correct' path, she had lost it completely between piles of dead bodies, which everyone had said held the key to truth.

Even before Amante spoke again, the girl slid down from the pipe, stopping about a half meter above the ground, and keeping a certain distance from him, began to float towards the outpost. She had a patrol to finish, then she would be free... As much as someone like her could be.

Dumbfounded, he asked, "Then why don't you ask me questions like a normal person?" He followed after her but kept his distance. "I've never met anyone who used insults to ask me how I was feeling. Do you realize how ridiculous you can be?" He was frustrated, and rightly so. She seemed to cause most of the conflict between them by simply being herself, her strange, socially awkward self.

Her mouth twitched, as if she was about to laugh or smile. He seemed so shocked, as if her reply had brought a revelation of sorts upon him. Unfortunately, it seemed to be far from bull's eye. There was huge difference between wanting to understand Amante, as if he was a psychological test subject, and caring how he felt.

Leila shook her head lightly, stopped and looked over her shoulder. She chuckled quietly, but it had a mean undertone, and the small smile turned into smirk. Amante was being the ridiculous one, thinking that she would want him to feel better - as if there was anything to feel much compassion for, from what she knew. Even if his head was about to explode from pain, it was solely his own fault.

"Believe what you will," deciding against engaging into further discussion. It would be pointless and Leila did not really care how Amante perceived her, and it was also hard to deny that she was socially awkward. She had not been in normal society for most of her life and had lost all interest to become a member of it. In the end, it was just lies and games anyway.

The girl began moving forward again, faster now. After all, this had given no results, as expected.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he grumbled under his breath and sighed. Continuing on foot, he followed behind her until there was a fork in the tunnels. Opting to leave her, he took the other root and kept a thick, cement wall separating them until they made it to the outpost. Once there, he went over to the food tent and found some water, downing it to clear his system faster and to rehydrate.