[Ishu]

December 5th, Chicago. Base.

Amante waited until later that night before he changed clothes and. Dumping his old boxers into a waste bin, he walked out of the little room and headed up the hall. Before he went on to Elek's room, he stopped by the window to see Alice. She was asleep and he watched her sleeping. She looked... peaceful.

the hair on the back of his neck stood on end when he felt something. "How long has it been? Six months?" He turned around and looked at a shadow on the wall. Two little slits became apparent and opened into red eyes. Amante frowned at it and spoke in a hushed voice, "why now?" He watched the figure take shape but it kept to the shadows. "Is it because of Alice?"

It spoke to him with a cold, heartless voice that was recognizably female. "Perhaps, or I wanted to check on you." He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, never the straight answer with you." He huffed and looked at the girl through the glass. "Great, I haven't even had more than a few days with her and here you are, ready to sound the alarm and whisk her away." He features drooped as reality set in, again.

The figure made no notion to being affected by his spiteful sarcasm. "I never said that was my intention." "Oh, but it is, because that's what you do." He was frustrated, obviously, and was still finding a way to control himself. "You know as well as he that I cannot act purely on the will of others." He looked over at her, or it, "So... you're not taking her?"

The figure simply stared back at him as it answered, "No." He felt at ease, shoulders laying low, "How much time do I have left with her?" His tone lacked hope, feeling he knew the answer. "I can't determine the answer to your question. Not now."] Amante sighed, eyes shutting. He lifted a hand to rub at his face and asked, "Is there any way I can-" He looked over, seeing the figure was gone. Slowly, he frown and cursed quetly.

Grumpily, Amante hurried out to Elek's place to see what he wanted. He went in through the building and found his door, knocking on it a few times with his knuckles before poking his head in, "Elek?"

December 6th, Chicago. Base.

Alice woke up the next morning with Amante sitting in Ryan's normal spot. He had a few books in his hands and he was looking over them, grumbling and frustrated beyond reason as he read through the pages.

She was happy to see him up and about but felt concerned that Ryan was not here. Was it possible he had asked Amante to take his place for the day? Something told her that was a preposterous thought and she dismissed it, easing herself up against the pillows so she was not laying down.

This caught his attention and he looked at her, cracked a grin, and waved the book around in his hand. "I've been told you like to be read to," He cleared his throat and fidgeted with the book itself, "I, uh, picked a few out..." Alice smiled her thanks and made herself more comfortable as she waited for him to begin.

He caught the signal and cleared his throat before starting, ""M-Moggle." Eye-uh wisp-erd. "Ar yu awake?"" He swallowed, nervous, licked his lips and continued, "Sum-thing mov'd down.. in the darkness. A pile of dorm uniforms rust-led, rustled." His cheeks were starting to burn as he became more frustrated, running a hand through his hair.

The scent of Ryan riled him up a bit, purging the red tones from his face and he waited for Ryan to come closer. He reread the portion with Ryan at the door, " "Moggle." Aya whispered. "Are you awake?"" He was taking his time between sentences, glancing at her to make sure she was still aware. "Something moved down the darkness. A pile of..." Oh thank god; the bastard walked off. Amante inhaled a breath and rubbed a hand over his face.

Alice understood what was happening. He couldn't read. He was trying to hard to please her with something so simple and he couldn't do it properly- it tore at him. But he still tried. She lay a hand on his to ease him and nodded at him, urging him to continue. So, he did. "A pile of dorm uniforms rustled, as if a small animal was- were, stirring under... underneath."

This continued for a good fifteen minutes. He had gone through a few pages, looking exhausted, and she pat his hand to him know he should take a break. It was enough for now and Ryan had just walked by. She wanted to see him- she wanted to know how his therapy had gone. Amante nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed and even a little rejected, but he did as she pleased. As he stood up, she reached out and he blinked, following the line of her hand to the book. He handed it to her and she stored it into the dresser beside her bed. When he looked into her eyes something told him to come back that night.

He wasn't sure why but he nodded, as if telling her he would and headed out of her room and up the hall. He had glanced at Ryan with a small glare but said nothing and went up the opposite direction.