It was cold that night...very cold, in fact. Then again, that was to be expected in Manchester, especially when it was nearing winter. A man had just descended the ancient, iron-cast spiral staircase that connected his apartment to the practically vacant streets. It wasn't very late at night, but not many people would be caught outside in the miserable cold. With a shudder the man crossed his arms, tucking them close to his body, his torn gloves doing nothing to preserve any warmth in his fingertips. Thus he was reduced to clenching his fists tightly 'til his nails imprinted small half-moon dents in his palms. His breath came out in heavy, visible puffs, his sharp nose already frozen. His long, shaggy hair protected his ears from the weather for the most part, and the thick scarf about his neck shielded the sensitive column of flesh from the occasional bitter gust of wind.

The man was somewhat of an oddity to behold. Well, perhaps not entirely an oddity, but he certainly stood out. He was rather tall, a couple of inches over six feet, his legs longer than his torso. His build was lean, but not exactly skinny, although his high cheekbones would suggest otherwise. His complexion was pale, almost unnaturally so, his dark eyes bearing a stark contrast. His lips were thin, his chin slightly pointed to complement his nose. Shaggy bangs hovered over the right side of his face, covering one of his eyes almost entirely. His hair itself was more of a mane than anything, slightly unruly but also giving a soft appearance. Its color was its most unusual feature, however, as his hair bore a natural hue of dark silver.

His true name was Kagekaze, though in the human world he would simply go by Kage. He did not stop to wonder if anyone would think his name would be unusual, but he did not feel comfortable choosing another name for himself. Something that didn't belong to him. It wouldn't feel right. It did not matter, however, as he kept to himself. Kage was a daemon, one born and made of shadow. He would frequently visit other dimensions and worlds aside from his own, his birthplace, a homestead that he had begun to disassociate himself from. Although he remained largely in seclusion in the human world, barely getting by writing novels under pen names and selling paintings as local galleries, he remained fascinated by it. Comforted, even. He was content to remain in quiet seclusion, but at the same time loneliness weighed on his soul. He was a conflicted creature, always had been. Tonight, something tugged at his subconscious, telling him to step outside and breathe some fresh air. Why, he did not know, but a walk in the park did sound lovely.

Another small shudder coursed through his long body as he blew into his hands, rubbing them together roughly as he began to traverse down the deserted street. He kicked gingerly at the snow upon the sidewalk, shoving his hands as best as he could into the small pockets of his jacket. Lifting his head, he breathed in deeply, letting the crisp air fill his lungs and inducing another pleasant shiver. He did not really mind the cold; there was something familiar about it, comforting. The park was just around the corner from his apartment, and as he rounded it he took in the sight of the many trees, gnarled and black against the night sky. Occasionally a car would drive by, a dog would bark, a faint bass line echoing through the streets. As Kage entered the park, he cursed himself internally for kicking at the snow earlier, for his socks were now soaked. His shoes were old and very worn; they were tailor-made for him half a century ago, yet they have only lasted so long because he did not get out very much. Regardless, he held his head high and focused on enjoying the night, ignoring the sting in his nose. His dark eyes scanned the park slowly, searching for any soul that may be lurking. None so far, but that was alright. He was used to the isolation, the deathly stillness. The seeming absence of life.

The exterior of the building was incredibly deceiving to an untrained eye. The cement that made it up had turned a grungy off-white color from years of abuse from the sun and rain. Stone corners of the building jagged and rough from being neglected. Tainted windows coated with a fine lay of thick dirt and dust; blacking out the view from the outside. The interior, however, was luxurious and elegant. Decorated with a modern design with rich wood paneled walls and lit with warm, soft lamps. Lush potted plants were bunched in the corner. Aligned with the cream-colored couch and matching chairs that circled around a low coffee table in a waiting area, not far from the front desk. Just beside the gold-plated elevator door; the only entrance to the upper floors of the building. The beige-white marble floor glistened in the faint light with its fresh polish; the blood red AoM logo had been painted in the center of the floor.

The automated glass doors slid open as Cypher wandered in. His chapped hands dug deeply into his pockets, clenched into fists. Arms pulled close to his body - hugging his sides - as his shoulders gathered up around his neck. Teeth chattering; lips trembling. It had been a bitter cold night, but alas, he had left his coat in the trunk of the car. For a brief moment, he had debated on getting it - mindlessly pacing by the driver's door as he turned towards the trunk to retrieve it and then turning away; the front door was only a brisk walk away. There had been no reason for him to wear the heavy coat and it would only give him something bulky to carry. Warm air surrounded his shivering frame as he entered. Stomping his feet to shake the snow that had gathered around the brim of his slacks. The black leather of his loafers dark and damp, leaving behind wet footprints as he made his way across the room. Pulling out the red arm band from his pocket and adjusting it up over the sleeve of his left arm.

Behind the desk, a brunette woman swiveled in an office chair. The tip of her toe gently turning her side to side out of boredom as she held the magazine up towards her face, barely visible behind the paper. Pulling the corner down out of curiosity as he neared the desk and peering out and gazing up at him. "Go to the auditorium," she mumbled while flipping the corner back up before her.

"Pardon me, my dear?" a thin brow rose over his eye while he dug his identification card out from his wallet. Flipping the card in with his fingers, he ran it down the reader. Bleeeep... The reader whined, allowing him access to the elevator.

"I said: Go to the auditorium. Mr. Walters' orders."

Cypher nodded, "Yes, of course." The golden doors opened before him. Stepping inside to turn just as they closed. While still holding his wallet in his right hand and balancing his card with his left, he pushed the 4th floor button. Ding! The elevator came to life around him, pulling him upward. He gazed down to slipping the ID card into its place in a fold. Eyes instantly darting to a picture snuggled safely into a plastic at the center. Softening as his the right corner of his twitched, lifting slightly into a small smile. Running his finger down the image, tracing the outline of her cheek.

Her ebony feather curls naturally flowed and twirled around her heart-shaped face. Skin smooth and pale beneath her bangs, illuminating her blue-gray eyes that seemed to sparkle with delight as she gazed with astonishment towards the camera. Mesmerized by the contraption as he held it, calling out her name. She wore no make-up, but then again, there was no need for her to at least not to him. Her natural looks were fair, elegant, and alluring. Soft lips twisted in a half-smile the woman was still learning the way her facial muscles moved. The lips that called to him; that whispered his name, luring him closer...So warm against his own...Always tempting him...Causing him to nip at his own lower lip fighting back the longing desire before frowning at the image seemed to morph in hand. Her smile fading into a frown while her eyes saddened. Lovely features tainted by sorrow; the same heart-wrenching gaze that she gave him the second his cell phone rang in the kitchen. The same look that lingered on her face as he turned out to step out the door. He winced as the stare tore a heart-string.

The doors open starling Cypher out of his trance. Slipping the wallet back into his back pocket, he stepped out into the quiet hallway. A few other AoM agents had gathered in the corridor, talking amongst themselves while waiting to be filed into the conference room. All had tired, exhausted looks upon their faces with dark circles gathering beneath their eyes as they chattered mindlessly. Talking about random topics to pass time until all the operatives had arrived. A few glanced up at Cypher as awkwardly strolled to the back of the group. Typically, most operatives kept to themselves. Generally all being bitter and spiteful, it was difficult to find anyone who was worth tolerating, but it also made it easier in the field to not be attached. Without emotional ties, there was nothing to cloud judgement in action and it made coping with death so easy. For most agents, their deaths went unnoticed until their desk was cleaned out and a new face sat at it.

A few sharp gazes flashed in his direction; two women whispered to each other as their eyes looked him over. One of them - a blonde - tried to hide pointing at him. Straining to listen on their conversation, he over heard a few words exchanged -asylum, insane, unstable mess... He sighed as Jacob began to herd everyone inside just waiting for the night to be over.

She had thrown her hands out to catch herself, but too late. Hand-eye coordination still wasn't her best skill – but then, she hadn't been expecting the ground to slide out from under her, either. Still, an extended palm hit the rough concrete first before her arm buckled and she toppled over with an ungraceful 'splat'.

In that moment she forgot her fear. Forgot how to breathe. Stunned, Migisi lay still on the sidewalk, staring blankly into the lamp-lit night. It was only when the first of the wet, frigid slush began to soak through her sweater to sting at the sensitive flesh of her belly that her lungs gasped for air again. A shudder raced down her spine, coaxing her into action. With a small noise of effort the woman shifted uneasily, getting her elbows beneath her, then her bruised, soaked knees. Pressing her hands down against the burning cold sidewalk, she winced as she tried to push herself upright. Ouch!

Then, footsteps.

“Miss?”
Migisi's head jerked up. There hadn't been anyone there a second ago, yet a stranger suddenly materialized in the night, sliding to a stop and then her and kneeling at her side before she could react. Her eyes were wide and bewildered as she craned her head up at him; large round eyes, a striking pale blue. “Are you alright?” Her gaze focused on his lips, watching them form the familiar phrase. Quickly, her stunned brain raced to decode the language that was still unfamiliar to her. 'Are' and 'you' together was a 'question'. He wanted a response. 'All' and 'right were two different words, but when used together... A flash of Cypher's face. A frown on his lips, brows knit above his worried eyes. In her mind she saw his lips move, too; heard his voice: 'Are you alright, my dear?' An expression of concern.
Ah!
Her victory didn't last. The stranger was speaking again, and her progress was halted. Unfamiliar strings of words assaulted her...or at least it felt like an assault. Her mind was still reeling, trying to catch up with what was happening. She had to get up...had to protect herself. Get out of the cold. She let her instincts take over, tearing her eyes from the man as she once again pressed against the concrete. A breath was sucked in through her teeth as her weight fell on the palm that pushed her up into a sitting position again. Snapping her hand back quickly, she held it up before her face. Blood. The skin just below her thumb had been rubbed away on the rough, artificial stone. Pale, raw flesh glistened in the overhead light, tiny red droplets lingering at the surface. It was a rather superficial wound, yet to the bird-turned-human it looked...downright gruesome. Her heart sped, beating heavily in her chest. Another shiver rolled up her spine...and then a shadow loomed over her and a weight settled upon her back. The woman flinched away, releasing a tiny gasp as she fell back on her rear, losing balance. Fearful eyes gazed up at the man now leaning over her, his hands busy situating his coat around her shoulders. Warm. His voice was soft and kind. Finally, she peered into his eyes. Dark and stormy, almost her opposite. She found nothing to fear in them.

After an awkward, silent moment of staring up at him, the woman finally tore her eyes away. Shifting her legs around beneath her and finding her balance again, she rose warily to her feet. Her sweat pants were blotched with dark, wet areas, and the right side of her blue sweater now looked black and soaked. As the coat threatened to slip from her poorly-dressed form she reached up and grabbed for it desperately, hunching her shoulders and shivering. She was an average sized woman, though leaning somewhat towards the shorter spectrum. Her exact build was hard to judge beneath her padded clothes, but her face and hands were well filled out and she did not have a scrawny look about her. Her flush cheeks were framed in black, feathered hair, cropped short just above her shoulders.
Her hand was stinging. Migisi flexed her fingers as she peered down at the scrape, then, lifting her eyes to his pale face once again, she thrust her hand out to the man, lips pressed into a thin line of worry, her eyes expectant.

Surely the man would know how to fix it. He seemed to want to help, after all. Humans always knew what to do, right? Yet his eyes only rested briefly on her injury before moving on. He didn't seem phased by it at all. Migisi blinked at the reaction, waiting a bit longer for him to start fretting and fussing over her...but he didn't. His expression remained calm and he spoke in a soft voice, and then the smallest smile graced his lips.

A...smile?

Her own expression went blank in response to it. The tightness in her mouth relaxed, the corners dipping in a small frown as she tried to grasp why on earth he was smiling. There was surely nothing about this situation that called for that! Dark brows began to knit as her eyes narrowed, but before any more of her displeasure could show, the stranger began talking again.
A lot.
The woman slowly lowered her arm as it grew tired hovering there, drawing her elbow into her body again for warmth. Once again she gazed down at the damage, sighing a little. Perhaps it was nothing... The tips of her fingers were growing numb, but she wasn't entirely sure what to do with them. She never had this problem at a bird. Even kept mostly indoors, her feathers always grew out enough to protect her from the cold. And she certainly never got wet! With a foggy exhale of breathe she gingerly closed her hands into fists, tucking her fingers into her wet palms. Rolling her shoulders beneath the coat, she realized he was still talking. Of course she didn't understand most of it. Even the few key words she did pick up meant little out of context. She'd grown used to tuning people out...though it was in her best interest now to pay attention. Still, one word towards the end of his speech did manage to catch her attention.

'Home'

Yes...she knew home. That warm place she'd left behind...why had she done that again? Oh, right. Cypher. He had left her alone... But she wasn't alone now. The thought almost startled her. The young woman had been so focused on her own misery that she hardly recognized this other human being as a person, much less 'company'. Blinking in surprise, her blue-gray eyes lifted again. He was tall...very tall. Taller than Cypher even, but she wasn't intimidated. Looking 'up' was certainly not new territory, and really...there was nothing remotely intimidating about him. His soft look, his dingy clothes, his thick, messy hair. Hair... Her eyes locked on it suddenly, lips parting in silent awe. It was silver. Well, 'gray' really, though the lamplight hit it and made it shine in such a way that drew Migisi's instant appreciation. She had never seen such a color. There was something...off about him, though. Something that nagged at her subconscious. Then, a wary passing thought. 'Cypher wouldn't like this.' Something about this stranger...she knew it was inviting trouble being with him. Normally a thought like this would make someone uneasy, but Migisi's eyes widened and sparkled with a new idea. No, Cypher wouldn't like him...and that's exactly why she was taking him home with her.

A smile suddenly tugged at her pale, trembling lips. Turning a little, the woman glanced down the sidewalk in both directions before she reached out and grabbed hold of his arm, softly tugged. She gazed into his eyes, attempting to convey her desires as she stepped away from him, nodding her head insistently. Whoa! Her feet slipped again in the ice, but her grip on the man offered stability. She tried again, more carefully this time, navigating around the slick areas, all the while pulling at him, urging him to follow her.

"Alright, everyone. Let's make this quick," Jacob's rough Boston accent had softened over the years of living in England, but still thick and full American. He trotted down the center aisle of the small auditorium room - resembling a fine, college class room. Hands in the air, waving the horde of operatives inside; filing to their seats as they willing followed. Muscles flexing with his motions beneath his skin-tight olive green shirt. He approached the stage before hoisting himself up onto the platform, completely ignoring the three-step staircase to the left. The room was quiet while he wandered over to the podium in the center. Leaning against it with his arms dangling over the front side with a bag of potato chips in his hand; chewing mindlessly on a handful before licking the sour onion powder from his lips and reaching for the chilled beer he had setting beside him.

"Professional as always, Jay!" A disembodied voice cried out over the crowd while the group of 40-something operatives settled.

The commanded nodded in agreement towards his staff, "You fucking know it." A burp rumbled up his throat from a gargling bubble in his stomach. Face cringing at the displeasing taste coating over his mouth before washing it down with another swig of beer. "Alright here's the deal. Earlier this evening I received a message from Madam LeCoure informing that that price cuts are going to be going through the Agency...Branches are closing."

Voices began to rise in an up-roared in panic. Around him, his co-workers began to grow uneasy. He could overhear the faint cursing of the man sitting beside him; the woman behind him began stress over the welfare of her children. Cypher leaned forward; resting his elbows on his knees - right leg shaking - while anxiously rubbing his hands together. His mind instantly jumping over his fears of being on the streets and within Dr. Hayes' grasp to a thought that terrified him far much more... Migisi's care. If he lost his job...If he found himself returning to the asylum...What would happen to her? She would be alone with no home and no one to look after her; no one to ensure she was warm, safe, and fed. Or worse...Maybe Dr. Hayes would take her. Performing tests on her; torturing her... A nervous sweat developed on his forehead beneath his fedora. Wild eyes looking upward towards his superior; silently pleading.

"Will you all shut the hell up!?" Jacob now stood in the middle of the platform with his arms crossed. "We're not one of them. Goddamn people..."

A deep sigh of relief escaped from his clenched jaw as Cypher felt his tense body relax. Gulping down the nervous lump in his throat. However, a few of the operatives still chattered amongst each other. Full of doubt and concern. Ignoring the fact that the Manchester Branch was one of the most profitable branches in Eastern England - with the most loyal of staff.

"Shit's tough," their leader continued to shout to them while pacing. "The whole world is falling into an economic depression; governments aren't callin' for our services like they use to. People are too distracted with their money problems to notice ghosts or demons and shit. According to the e-mail, nearly twenty branches are gonna be closing world wide, and surprise surprise...We're going a few stragglers."

Low whispers circled around Cypher. Causing him to shift uneasily in his chair. He hated being in a crowd; hated hearing hushed voices gossip. His finger tips brushed away his dark bangs from his eyes while wiping away the dripping sweat before resting his chin in his open palm. An antsy index finger tapping madly against his jawbone.

"I need a few volunteers to help clean out a few buildings in France. Just gotta pack up stuff and relocate some information. I need ten of you oh and is Cypher here...?" His greenish eyes scanned the crowd before settling on the familiar face. His tall, scrawny frame standing and fedora standing out in the group. The following gaze of the rest of the operatives caused the Englishman to sink in his seat. "Ah there you are. We gotta talk so hang back; the rest of you can go. If you're interested in the job, hang around by my office and we'll work things out."

Cypher groaned, dreading the 'talk' he and his supervisor were about to engage in. Typically, it was a scolding followed by a punishment, but he had not done anything outside of policy in awhile, had he? Bewildered, he rose from his seat as the rest of the field operatives filtered out of the conference room. Some gazing up at him while he wandered the opposite direction of everyone else in the aisle, like a salmon swimming against its school. Stopping as he reached the stage, staring upward at Jacob who now towered above him, "You wanted to see me, Mr. Walters?"

The scruffy red-head nodded, "Yep. I've got a special mission for you." Carelessly, he lowered his body and sat at the edge of the stage. Facing Cypher eye-to-eye. "You ever heard of Poveglia Island?"

The Englishman shook his head, "No, sir."

"Well, it's this island not far from Venice. A dreadful place of death and crawling with paranormal activity; use to be home to plague victims or so legend says. Sometimes it gets to be too much for the bay. The amount of energy that seeps from it messes with boats' equipment. So once a year, Venice and Lido both ask AoM to go 'clean up' a bit."

"And you want me to go...?"

He scratched his beard, "Yes."

Cypher smirked with a faint chuckle while glancing down at the ground, "Mr. Walters, with all do respect I do not handle water well. I believe you know that."

"Yeah I do, but ya see, normally I go but with the budget cuts and new agents being sent here, I gotta stay here to make sure shit goes smoothly. So, I need to send someone else to go do it. Someone with some familiarity with exorcisms which...Ya know...I believe you got caught doing."

His lips pulled in with his deep inhale. Holding his breath for a few seconds before his heated breath exhaled from his nostrils, reluctantly accepting defeat, "I see..."

"Don't gotta go now," Jacob added while sliding off the stage. Standing beside Cypher and reaching up to place a firm hand on his shoulder. "Normally wait till the New Year's to go so I don't forget to do it, but as much as I hate to admit it, you're the only one I can trust to this."

"I find that hard to believe, sir."

The American shrugged while letting go, and turning to head towards the door, "Well, it's true. No one else has the knowledge you do; and you taught yourself. So in a way, Cyphie-boy, you volunteered yourself for this."

Narrow eyes watched as the scruffy man exited through the door. Clenching his hands into fists at his side as the familiar tune of his ringtone filled the air. Sighing, he pulled the phone from his pocket, "Yes? Oh, Mrs. Anderson, yes this John. Is everything okay? Wait...What do you mean no one is in the house...?! Okay okay, thank you. I am on my way; I will be there as soon as I can, ma'am." Quickly, he hung up. His heart racing in growing panic as he began to sprint towards the door.

Bloody hell! Cursing under his breath, he paced furiously in the elevator. His fedora in his shaky left hand; right hand digging into his scalp. Thin fingers tangled in strains of dark mahogany hair as he stared down at the floor. Circling the center thinking - unsure of why the woman would have burst out of the house. Eyes closed with a painful wince as he snapped his head to the side sharply with realization; biting down into his lip as he cursed again. He knew why she left. She was mad at him; it had become a bit of a hobby of her's since she learned to turn doorknobs on her own. Bolting out into the world and running from him had become her way of 'punishing' him when he did wrong to her. At least, that is how he saw it although he was not certain if she did it intentionally or if it was just a confused reaction from not understanding why he needed to leave as frequently as he did.

Placing the hat back on his head, Cypher shoved his hands into his pockets. Patpatpatpatpat... his index finger tapped the metal covering of the pocket watch, shaking his head back and forth while his stomach cherned. Heart racing in his chest as he began to shiver, fighting the desire to scream and punch the wall of the tiny elevator from panicking frustration in attempts to speed it up.

It had taken Mrs. Anderson quite sometime to phone him to inform him that the girl was gone. The elderly woman must not have gone to their home right away. Possibly forgetting that he asked her to check in on the girl or distracted by her own personal life - meaning that there was no way for him to truly tell how long Migisi had been gone. Nor did he have any clue as to where she would run to. Normally, he found her relatively quickly or she staggered home on her own terms, but that was during the summer when the weather was warm. It was approaching winter now with a fresh layer of snow covering the frozen ground; and the jackdaw-turned-human still had much to learn about the world, including the need of a coat during the winter.

Cypher frowned as his throat tightened. The urge to vomit crawling up his throat as he leaned heavily against the wall, trying to not think of the possibility of her wandering the dark streets alone. Dressed in nothing but her clothe and freezing... Thump! His heart skipped while he quickly looked upward towards the unnatural sound that snapped away his terrifying though. He was not moving...

He wasn't moving!

"No...No...No!" Pushing himself off the wall, Cypher stood in the middle of the elevator. His blue irises trembled in his wide eyes; looking madly all over at the ceiling of the machine. It no longer hummed and it was stuck in place. The interior lights dimming as the emergency lights flashed on. Squinting, he rose his arm to shield his exhausted eyes from the bright lights of the emergency system. His cell phone jingled again; this time it was a short melody indicating a text message: Ice took out a breaker. Power's out. Keep cool; should be on soon. - Jacob "No no no no no..."

Every inch of his body quivered as he nearly dropped the cell phone in sweaty hands. Head spinning as he grew dazed from anxiety, stumbling back against the wall. "God-bloody-damnit!" He screamed to the metal roof while his body slid down the smooth wall to the floor. Collapsing on the floor as his arms dangled to his side. Eyes searching through the darkness. There had to be away out. There always was; in movies and television shows, people trapped in elevators always managed to find an escape door in the ceiling to crawl out of. Surely, there had to be one in this elevator, too...but where...There it was!

Jumping to his feet, Cypher dashed to the opposite side of the elevator and reached up. His finger tips barely brushing the low ceiling as he stood on his tiptoes. He frowned; he was tall, but not tall enough to reach the latch without more effort. He took a step back, bracing himself as he 'ran' and leaped into the air. Clenched fist hitting the door but not moving it. Fuck!" He spread arms before his chest to protect himself as he fell into the wall. Turning, he did it again. And again. And again. Each pound of his fist against the door weakened it before it finally popped from its hinges. The square door fell with a loud clang to the floor. Cold air rushing in from the elevator shaft as the whirling wind howled through the vents. Cypher gulped as he gazed up into the darkness. Hesitating as he stood below it.

Bitter chills rolled across his shaved skin of his cheeks, and nipped his nose and ears. Numbing them before he pulled his shoulders close together in attempts to bring warmth to himself. Instantly, a vision flashed before his eyes: Migisi curled into a ball, sitting on the snowy ground of an alleyway somewhere in the city. Lost, alone, and scarred - tired and hungry as she grew sick from the winter air. His brows curled about his determined eyes as all his doubts and fears disappeared. Lips pulling inward as he bent his knees, jumping straight up with chapped hands fumbling in the air. Grasping at the ledge of the hole in the ceiling. The first attempt failed. His fingers slipped, causing him to fall to the ground on his back. Wincing, he laid motionless for a moment as pain shot up his spine. He could not lay around though. No, he had to get to Migisi; he had to find her.

Staggering to his feet, Cypher went to the opening again. Coping his previous movement again but the time, adding more of a spring to his leap. The second time, his hands landed on the outer roof of the elevator. He now dangled from the ceiling with his feet off the ground. Puffs of breath gathering by his chatting lips while he huffed, gasping for air as he pulled his thin body through. Kneeling on the roof, the wind whipped around him. His tie pulling out from under his vest and fedora brim rising, causing him to place a hand to it to keep it in place. Eyes looking in the darkness for where to go now. Adjusting themselves to the dimness, revealing a ladder attached to the wall and leading up to the next floor. Walking over to it, he placed his hands on it and began to climb. Hoping he could find a way into the building if he followed it.

Like a puppy on a leash the man was tugged along, concentrating on equaling the length of his strides to that of the young woman's. Because of this he would jog along awkwardly and at times begin to stumble, though he would quickly catch himself before he sent them both into a tumbling heap. Out of mild paranoia his eyes mostly remained fixated downward, as if staring at his feet would help him move better. He did not wish to let go of her hand for he believed that it would be rude, and she was already so focused on her task of propelling them along. Still, he was charmed by the gesture.

Bewildered...yes, he certainly was. That was the word for it. The random headlights swinging into view hurt his eyes and made him flinch, and he suddenly began to fear that they would slip and fall into the road. Cars were horrifying, evil things, and the daemon cursed the twisted man who invented them. "Miss, perhaps we should slow down a little?" he called out to her over the rush of the wind, his nose and cheeks stinging from its bitter nips. Odds are she didn't hear him, and if she did she wouldn't have understood him. But of course, he wasn't aware of the latter quite yet.

When they finally halted at the crosswalk Kage was able to gather his wits and catch his breath. He was a little out of shape, as he did not get out much. Even if he did he would only walk around for a short amount of time. It was embarrassing how easily winded he would become in this human body. Gingerly his eyes followed the cars that would pass by, feeling oddly exposed as they stood there in plain view. His body became a little tense, as if he expected one of the contraptions to come barreling at them any second. Before he had a chance to react, Migisi was running through the crosswalk, her grip on his much bigger hand tight and insistent. Kage's heart would not stop palpitating until they reached the other sidewalk and continued on their way, though he quickly regained his composure. He would not show weakness in this young lady's presence, no sir!

It seemed that they were nearing their destination when they began to enter a rather quaint and quiet neighborhood. Well, quiet save for the sudden and annoying barking of a furred creature that humans apparently refer to as a "dog". The tightened grip on his arm alerted Kage, and he looked down at the woman with concern. Was she afraid of this beast? Turning his head as they passed, the man curled his lip and growled lowly in the dog's direction, to which it whimpered and retreated back to its kennel. Satisfied, Kage returned his focus to Migisi, though he frowned when he felt her shiver. With his free hand he adjusted the jacket, blinking when she drew his arm closer to her body.

He hesitated for a moment, wondering if it would be appropriate, but quickly gave in and rested his free hand over her other arm, making small rubbing motions there. She did not seem to mind keeping him close, much to his amazement, and so he would continue to do his best to keep her warm. Hopefully they would be reaching shelter soon; he wasn't very familiar with this particular area. "Do you live close by, miss? I do hope you didn't have far to travel to get to the park, especially with what you're wearing," he would say softly, if only for the sake of distracting her from feeling cold.

She was forcing him into an awkward position, but Migisi continued to be oblivious of her own inappropriateness. As a bird, getting into everyone's space was a requirement. How else was she going to get noticed? What was worse, humans more often than not found such qualities endearing and friendly. Old habits died hard, especially when you were unaware that the rules had changed. So she didn't mind the strange body she tugged near to her, its warmth pressing against her back. Didn't mind the occasional slip of the stranger's foot into her own walking stride, causing their feet to bump and stumble. No, she didn't mind...and did not care if he did, either, frankly. The fact that he wasn't putting up even the littlest fight in the matter – and in fact drew closer on his own - only spurred her indifference on. He was keeping her warm, that's all. Nothing else to it. Aside from her persistent grip, the only attention he got was the occasional backwards glance when he spoke. He certainly was strange for a human...so soft spoken and calm. She merely offered him a small, oblivious smile before focusing her pale eyes forward again, scanning the houses for that one familiar one.

Ah. There it was.

The lights were still on. A lamp near the front window and the distant bright glow from the kitchen dimmed by the curtains, yet still inviting. The woman came to a stop when she saw it, giving it a quick, closer examination before her face lit with a smile and she turned to the man again, reaching out and pointing to the house. Ouch! She drew back her hand as the gesture sent another stinging pain through her wound. Migisi glared down at the red, swollen flesh, hot and burning compared to the rest of her. It was at this time that the extra arm wrapped around her began to be seen as an added annoyance. Glancing over, she shifted away from him a little, shrugging him off of her. Her back instantly grew colder, but she didn't mind so much now that home was in sight. Her other hand still gripped his sleeve, and once again she pulled him along, jogging out in front Two houses later and she veered off the path down the walkway of the residence.

It was a small place. One floor and rather average looking on the outside, gray siding atop a worn brick foundation. Old looking in fact, but several of them in the area were. No noticeable decor or flower beds peaking through the drifts of melting snow. As the woman quickly approached the house, a large security light flashed on above the porch. She squinted her eyes against it and ducked beneath the shadow of the roof, finally releasing the man's arm to stumble up the stairs. Flinging the door open, warm, stagnant air greeted her from inside. She never thought it would smell and feel so good! No wonder why humans preferred the indoors so much! Temporarily forgetting her company, she hopped through the doorway, shivering from the immediate contrast and relief it brought as she stood just inside the entrance room. Her eyes swept the small room. Everything how it was left, of course. Same potted plant in the corner in need of watering. Same chair against the wall. Same coat rack – her own forgotten jacket hung next to one of his own. Same old table near the door with the same glass bowl...empty. No keys. Cypher was still gone. Hmph...Well. She didn't need him!

Finally remembering again, the woman turned and popped her head out of the door, flashing the man outside a smile and beckoning him in with an enthusiastic wave of her uninjured hand. Turning back again, she wandered to the chair without wiping her feet on the rug inside the door, leaving chunks of ice in her wake. The woman wasted no time falling into the old, rickety chair and leaning over, yanking the wet shoes from her feet. The socks beneath them were equally soaked and discolored. Her nose wrinkled at the sight and the feel of them on her feet as she wiggled her toes. Ugh! Springing up again, she left the stranger's coat bunched up in the chair as she wandered through the small room into the next – the kitchen – leaving little wet footprints on the old hardwood floor in her wake.

Thump, scraaaaaap....Thump, scraaaaaaap.... His uneven footsteps echoed through the snow covered parking lot. Right foot dragging behind the left as his ankle began to swell. Unsure of when he twisted it but knowing it had to be at some point during the night's events; probably after collapsing through the air vent. His skin tingled with discomforting pain as the icy air coiled around him. Burning from being scourged from the heated metal that he had enclosed himself in; pierced by the sharp gusts of wind. His eyes were dull and dazed, losing their vibrant color while his eyelids drooped before them. Twitching as he winced with each limp he took while staggering towards the parked car. Ignoring the growing pain that trickled up his numb fingers and legs, tightening his joints and making it even more difficult to walk.

He did not care.

As the winter wind bit at him, Cypher's mind remained focused on one thing: Migisi. His thoughts wandering anxiously with panic through his mind of her out in the oncoming snow storm. Shivering as she sat curled in an alley way...Or maybe terrified in a jail cell after being picked up as a 'stray' by the police. No, Migisi would not be the type of woman to cower, even in the face of danger. She would not hesitate to slap one of the brawny men in the cell if they laid a hand on her. The image of her scolding face and wide, short hands swiftly slapping across a biker's face made him chuckle. Giving him a menacing look as he staggered through the dim parking lot smirking. However, his lips quickly thinned to a frown as he stepped up to the car, praying that the would not be the case.

Opening the door, he collapsed behind the wheel. Weakened body hunched over as a raspy cough crawled up his throat from his sore chest. His lanky arms wrapped around his thin abdomen, trying to bring warmth to his body as he dug in his pocket for his keys. Body stiffening with fear as his frozen fingers felt through the material; terrified that they had fallen from his pocket and would leave him stranded there. With his breath held behind a clenched jaw, he continued his search. Patting himself down before sighing in great relief as he found the keyring tucked in the opposite pocket.

The metal keys clanked softly against each other as he placed them in the ignition. Pulling the seat belt down over his lap before stepping on the gas. Palms sweating and heart racing with fear as his wild eyes searched the street sides on the drive home. Pleading silently to an unnamed entity for the girl's safe return.

Kage was not unfamiliar with untidiness, though he would do his best to keep his residence presentable despite the fact that he never had visitors. Gazing upon the kitchen, he was not disgusted by the random objects scattered about. Rather, he was charmed by the sight. They were toys, this much he knew. He recognized some of them, as they had been around for ages. The slinky looked especially familiar; he had seen a similar decades ago. It was then that he began to wonder if the young woman had any children, but surely she would have tended to them by now, or he would have seen them wandering around the house. Unless...the toys were for her? That would make sense, he supposed. After all, she was rather childlike in her own way.

Her enthusiastic nod made him chuckle, and he found himself finally stopping to think as to why she hadn't spoken a word since they crossed paths. He wondered if he should mention it, but then quickly decided against it. What if she was indeed mute, or she did not understand English? He didn't wish to put her in an awkward position for either scenario, and so he kept his thoughts to himself. As per usual the man allowed himself to be dragged along as she guided him back to the living room, once again charmed by her need to lead him around. She was very much into contact, and he found himself once again becoming bewildered of the fact that she trusted him despite him being a complete stranger.

The familiar creaking returned as they stepped upon the old floorboards, his eyes once more scanning the room when she flipped on the dim light. Kage found that he quite liked the look of the room; it was very cozy and familiar to him despite the lack of decor. He was never one for too much detail; rather, he sought comfort in simplicity. With a tilt of his head he noticed the plasma television. He was familiar with such devices, yes, but they puzzled him. The daemon did not understand why anyone would need a sleek, noisy, bright box to hang on their wall, but he supposed that it was a matter of preference.

When Migisi smiled up at him the man returned it, and after bowing his head gratefully he crouched down and began to get to work. The woman began to walk away, no doubt to change into dry clothes. His own undercoat was slightly damp from catching small flakes of snow, but it did not give him a great chill. He was not soaked to the bone like she was. A small frown formed on his lips at this thought as he adjusted the charred logs, scraping away some of the ashes that had collected at the bottom.

For whatever reason he decided to look over his shoulder, perhaps to confirm that Migisi was finally putting on dry clothes in her own room, but what he saw instead almost floored him. There she was, standing there and smiling at him while only wearing a bra on her upper body. He stared up at her for a moment, simply stunned, an odd stinging forming in his cheeks. Was he...blushing? Forcing a polite yet nervous smile, the man coughed lightly into his fist and quickly turned back to his handiwork. He stared blankly at the fireplace before him for a moment as he tried to process what had just happened. What a strange night this was turning out to be.

His sharp hearing picked up on the sound of Migisi's footsteps disappearing down the hall, and he let out his breath. The last time he had seen a woman like that...gods, it was forever ago. He didn't attempt to consider the reasons behind Migisi appearing like that before him. She was simply trusting, that was it. Yes...that was all. With a heavy sigh the man returned to his task, rolling up a decent amount of newspapers and arranged them accordingly, and then lit the pile in one of the corners with a seemingly worn match. Sitting back, he watched the flame carefully as it slowly spread and grew, and soon the hearth was alight with crackling heat.

The man's smile brightened at his accomplishment, and rubbed his hands and held them before the fire for a moment, sighing contently. Oh, that felt wonderful. His gloves had done nothing to protect his hands, and now it felt as if ice was melting off of them. Scooting back a couple of steps, he then sat cross-legged before the fire, continuing to hold his hands out. His eyelids fell shut for a moment as he began to grow ever more comfortable, feeling the heat caress his face, a content smile subconsciously forming on his lips. Ahh...

So relaxed was he, his eyes remaining closed and his mind growing quiet for once as the warmth blanketed him, that he did not hear or sense the young woman approach from behind. In fact, he felt as if he were about to drift off. Yes, he could easily fall asleep right now...warm, comfortable, cozy...

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

The man sat up with a start, looking around wildly as his heart hammered in his chest. The clanging noise was so harsh and horrible in the quiet atmosphere of the quaint house. The next thing he heard was another woman's muffled voice calling out from outside the kitchen door, and his host's hurried footsteps thundering towards the source. He sat there stunned for a moment, his eyes fixated in the direction of the kitchen, his mind racing all over again. Wait...was her name Migisi? That is who the other person was calling out to. Yes, that must be her name. "Migisi..." The man repeated the name softly, curious as to the way it rolled off his tongue. It didn't seem like a very typical name, but then again neither was his.

A sudden thud sounded from the kitchen, and Kage flinched and started to get up. "Are...are you alright?" he called out, and then froze at the sound of the door being jerked open. Listening intently, he could hear that mysterious voice again, but he relaxed when its owner seemed amiable and friendly. Certainly it was someone that Migisi was familiar with.

SLAM!

Kage flinched again, bewildered more than ever now. When the young woman emerged back into the living room, the man settled back down and chuckled quietly. Migisi was certainly quite a character; she clearly had no tolerance for pesky neighbors! Surprise overcame him when she sat down beside him, and he turned to face her with another small, nervous smile. He then swallowed hard, and for a second he could not stop his eyes from roaming before he quickly looked away. The clothing wasn't exactly revealing, but it didn't, er...contain much in the, ah...chest area.

Sucking in a breath, his hands now wringing in his lap, he decided to make some small talk. He now knew her name, but she still did not know his. "Your name is Migisi," he began softly, his eyes fixated on the hearth as he struggled to will his heart to cease racing. "I believe that it is only proper that I tell you my name as well." The man paused for a moment, taking in another breath, and then dared to face her again. "I am Kage," he continued, his smile seeming a little more relaxed, everything considered.

Wait...she was leaning in. Kage froze, his hands clenching together as she drew closer to him. He couldn't seem to tear his eyes from her, although she was not focused on his own. Instead, she was gazing in awe at his...hair? The next thing he knew, her fingertips were gliding through the soft, shaggy strands that partially covered a slightly pointed ear. A shiver coursed through his body, one that was certainly not from being cold, and his eyelids fluttered shut. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears, and his lips parted slightly. That felt so lovely... He simply did not know what to do or say. He could not think, could not move, and so there he remained, helpless to her curiosity.

This type of contact, though simply innocent and curious on Migisi's part, was something that Kage had not experienced for longer than he could remember. As she pushed her fingers through his hair, grazing his scalp, a deep and calming noise that resembled something of a purr rumbled in his chest. Indeed, he was beginning to lean slightly into her hand, much like a cat or dog would while being stroked. At the sound of her gentle laugh his eyes blinked open almost sleepily, and he looked up at her with a hazy expression. One could easily think that he was stoned out of his mind.

A content sigh fell from his lips as she brushed his hair behind his ear, remaining perfectly still and silent otherwise. His eyes closed automatically when his bangs were brushed back over them...and then, the contact stopped. Kage regarded the young woman, that hazy look still ever present, but it was also one of sheer contentment. He was simply at a loss to say anything, the breath caught in his windpipe.

She was smiling now...no, it was more than a smile. It seemed to be more of a triumphant grin, but it didn't entirely register in his foggy mind. As quickly as it appeared however, the grin had vanished, and the next thing he knew was that her shoulder was pressed against his as she huddled into herself. Blinking out of his haze a little, Kage began to grow more aware of the present happenings, and without thinking he automatically wrapped an arm around her, drawing her against him gently. She seemed...upset? He couldn't really tell.

The sound of her stomach growling brought a soft frown to his lips, and he sighed gently. "You poor thing...you've been through so much tonight," Kage observed quietly, absently rubbing one large hand over the bare skin on her arm. It was more of a comforting gesture than anything else. Kage was certainly not the seductive type, especially when the being in question was troubled. "If you would like, I could make you something to eat while you keep warm by the fire. If you don't mind me walking around your kitchen that is," he continued with a small smile. He wasn't the best cook, but all he wanted to do at that moment was to keep Migisi warm and her stomach full.

She lifted her hand away from her leg; gazed down at it. The scrape wasn't so alarming anymore. It had stopped bleeding long ago and was already scabbing over. The untouched flesh around it was redder and puffier than the actual tears themselves now, aggravated and sore. She tenderly let the thumb of her other hand glide over the wound, a little intrigued by it now. Migisi never got injuries like this as a bird. She'd lost some feathers, got a few cuts and bites and sprained her wing once or twice... In fact it was a bit miraculous she hadn't been more hurt going on hunts with-...

Hmph.

The woman let her fingers drop, her eyes shifting now to the gentle pressure on her arm. A large hand had wrapped around her arm, gently stroking. It felt nice...and yet her smile was hesitant to surface again. He was still a stranger. A kind, gentle man. Her odd companion. Yet...he did not fill the emptiness; merely satisfied a temporary grudge. Pale blue eyes lifted to his face as he spoke, brows arching as she picked out a few familiar words as he spoke. 'Something to eat'. 'Warm'. 'Fire'. 'Kitchen'. All of these were very appealing words at the moment...especially the eating bit. Another gurgle moaned from her gut and the corner of her mouth lifted in a small, awkward smile. She nodded, uncertain if he'd even asked a question, but hoping there was food involved nonetheless.

[In case you see this before Colbs does Steph, decided to let Kage go ahead and reply before they notice Cypher pull in :3]

Lanky arms wrapped around his slender frame. Hands resting on pointy, opposite hip bones. Skin tingling as it grew numb in the wind. Tired eyes glanced down at the scolding woman as she continued yelling at him from her lawn. The conversation jumping from her displeased views on Migisi to the rudeness of the bag boy at the grocery store to the poor taste of the pasta she had for dinner. Raspy voice losing the battle against the bitter gusts, "And it was just so dreadfully rough....I can't eat those...Those mushrooms and vegetables without my dentures, and..."

"Mrs. Anderson!" Cypher's aggravated shout startled the woman. He rolled his eyes as he shook his head; truly not in the mood to listen to the woman's meaningless rambles. "Isn't that show you like coming on the telly?"

Mrs. Anderson pulled the quilt tighter around her as her face lit up, "Oh why yes! Yes it is. Thank you, Jimmy!"

"My name is not Jimmy, ma'am..." his hand was clenched around the door knob. Tightening with anger as she spoke; fumbling with his keys...The door was unlocked. His eyes narrowed while staring down at the knob. Brows tangled above his bewildered blue eyes. Did he lock the door when he left? Did Migisi unlock it to get out? Did someone break in...?

"Oh I gotta feed Mittens! The elderly woman began to shuffle through the snow back to her house, tucked away next to his. "Good night, Jimmy dear!"

"Yes yes yes...Good night, Mrs. Anderson..." deep voice lowing to a whisper as he cautiously opened the door. The unoiled hinges whined as the wooden door slowly opened with the push of his hand. Warm air smacked him in the face; scented lightly with a smokey oak aroma mixed with fresh seasonings. His confusion only thickened as he peered inside. Tossing the keys into the glass bowl beside him. Cling! The metal rattled against the smooth glass sides.

He stood silently in the doorway. Eyes scanning; ears straining for sounds as he studied the house. The fire crackled in the living room and a soft, faint siiiizzle came from the kitchen. Other than that, the house was silent. He saw no movement from the corner her stood in, but the unusual condition made him feel foreign within his own home. Migisi had studied him intently as he lit the fireplace in the past; taking great interest in the strokes of his hands as the he 'created' fire, but she never learned how to lit the fireplace. And she often sat at the kitchen table as he prepared meals for them. At times hovering at his side, curiously watching him and other times occupying herself at the kitchen table, but she did not know how to cook.

Someone was here...And it was not the elderly woman he had asked to check in on the girl...

He gulped as took a single step forward. Left hand pulling back at his side. Hovering above the revolver slumbering in its holster. Twitching finger tips caressing the pearl butt as he swiftly, and silently, placed his back to the wall and gazed around the corner, "Migs? Migs, my dear, are you home?"

Kage stared after Migisi in disbelief when she bolted down the hall and into the bathroom, jolting at the loud slam of the door. The sound of approaching footsteps turned his attention back to the front door, and with a rushing intake of breath he quickly turned back into the kitchen, his body pressed up against the wall that bordered the entryway.

Creeeaaaak...

The sound of the front door being pushed open made the man seize up all over again, his eyes wide with growing panic and his breath caught in his windpipe. Cling! Kage clenched his jaw, his nails digging into the plaster. She left him...she left him! How could she do that? Clearly this mystery person lived here; how could he possibly explain himself?

Dead silence. An eternity seemed to pass as the man waited for something, anything to happen. To his horror he realized that the skillet was now hissing, the oil bubbling on its cast-iron surface. What was he thinking, hiding in the kitchen? He would surely be caught, and killed! He began to feel a very obvious tension in the air, and no doubt the newcomer was surveying the living room for anything suspicious. Oh...his coat!

Kage's eyes snapped forward, noticing the door on the other side of the room the led to the outside. His mind raced, but it could not decide if he should run or stay. His body was staying put in any case; he simply could not move even if he tried. But, no...he wouldn't abandon Migisi, no matter what was about to happen. He would not be a coward!

"Migs, my dear...are you home?"

Migs...my dear...oh, gods! The voice was male...could this be Migisi's lover? Her boyfriend? Husband? All three of those possibilities filled him with the same amount of dread, all three of which would very much like to attack him for being in this mystery man's house, alone with his woman. No...he needed to show himself. Things would only go worse if this man was to discover him hiding there as if he were guilty of something horrible.

Kage let out his breath slowly, and then breathed in deeply again in an attempt to ease his nerves. It helped, but only a little. Very little. He had nothing to lose now, and if he were to gain anything it would hopefully just be a couple of bruises. And so, disregarding second thoughts and fear, Kage slowly stepped out from behind the entryway, his arms raised at the elbows. No turning back now.

Kage should have anticipated that the man would be bearing a weapon. Perhaps not a gun, but anything that could deliver a blunt, deadly blow. The sight of the gun made Kage's stomach twist into knots. Had he been in his daemon body, it would not worry him so much, as his flesh would be tougher and like rubber, preventing the bullet from penetrating deep enough to pierce vital organs. As a human, however, he was soft and vulnerable, susceptible to any gunshot wound or piercing from a stabbing object.

When the man whipped around to face him, the gun cocked in his grasp, Kage froze once again. His expression must have been that of terror, perhaps pleading. Just as Cypher was, he would remain perfectly still, not daring to breath or even shift his eyes away from the blue ones before him for even a split second. The man's clothing was tattered and bloody, but the daemon had no time to think as to why. No, he was much more concerned about how he would convince the stranger that he meant no harm. Cypher's eyes were just as wide and frightened as Kage's own, it seemed. He looked as if he would open fire at any second with no afterthought.

Cypher's voice broke the silence, growling out at the daemon. Even as Cypher shifted and tightened his grip on the gun, Kage remained standing still, thought he did bow his head forward ever so slightly. However, his eyes never left the stranger's own. "Please...please, be calm. I assure you I mean no harm. Migisi, she...she ran into the bathroom as you were pulling in," Kage replied in a wavering, uneasy tone, doing his best to not stumble on his words. "I...I assure you she is alright. I can explain everything. Please...lower your weapon..."

True, the weapon was already clearly lowered, but Kage would feel much more comfortable if the gun were to be put away completely. And now, it seemed as if his silent, panicked thoughts were recognized. With wide eyes he watched as Cypher removed one hand from the firearm and deliberately placed it back in its holster. As he did this, Kage lowered his arms and let out his breath, though they remained hanging at his sides. Unsure of what to do now, he just stood there motionless and stared back at the tattered man. Should he say something? Where could he possibly begin...

"Oh, bloody hell!"

The exclamation and the feeling of the man shoving past him startled Kage out of his thoughts, and he whipped around, his mouth falling open. The skillet! He should have turned off the stove...but then again, who thinks of those things when they believe that they're about to be killed? The harsh smell of smoke finally registered in his senses, and his nose wrinkled in disgust. Coughing, he raised a gloved fist to his nostrils, blinking against the thick cloud that billowed in the kitchen.

Retreating back into the living room, Kage opened the windows there and turned on the ceiling fan to high-speed. The fire in the hearth flickered harshly in protest, but it did not extinguish. He shuddered to the feeling of the bitter cold of the outside world assaulting his warmed body, but already the smoke was beginning to thin out.

Upon returning to the kitchen he found Cypher hunched over the counter, and just as he was about to ask if he was alright the man looked up and glared at him pointedly. As Cypher moved towards him Kage remained still, not wanting to put an obstacle like a wall between himself and this very agitated man. From where he was standing, he could run back into the living room and jump through the window if things were to take a turn for the worst...things that involved gunshots.

Although listening intently, Kage could not help but curl his lip slightly when Cypher asked him the same question that the daemon had answered not a couple of minutes ago. Was this man daft, deaf or both? "The girl, as you so put it, is in the bathroom down the hall. She ran in there just as you were pulling in," the daemon replied slowly, his eyes narrowed in growing annoyance. He was no longer afraid, just a little agitated.

"As for why I am here, I happened upon Migisi while I was strolling through the park. She had fallen and was wearing clothes that could not properly protect her from the weather. I offered to bring her back to my home for a while so that she may get warmed up and have something to eat, but she insisted on leading me back here instead." He paused, sighing. "To her, it seems that I am a guest. Unfortunately, I had no idea of knowing that someone else would come home who would only see me as a threat. But I assure you, I am not. I only wished to see her safe and comfortable after the ordeal she went through tonight."

Adrenaline causing him to shiver as he glared at the stranger. Intently listening. ...Strolling through the park... As the words trickled into his straining ears, he smirked. An amused, yet frustrated, chuckle exploded for him as he paced in place, shaking his head.

The park! Of course she would go there... He thought to himself as he rose his left hand to the bridge of his nose. Massaging his sore, dry eyes. The park at the end of the neighborhood had become "their spot". During the warmer months, Cypher would take her there to get a taste of the wildlife. Watching from a safe distance as the jackdaw would hobble around the open fields, socializing with the other jackdaws and birds that scattered across the tall grasses. Slightly hoping for her sake that she would find a flock to claim as her own, in order to live the life she needed, yet dreading the day that she would take to the sky with them. Never to return to...

However, even as a young bird, she was far too domestic to fully understand their language. He would watch - from the oak tree on the top of the hill - as Migisi would glide to the flocks and attempt to play with them. Hissing noises would escape from their beaks as his little jackdaw would overly demand their attention. Bickering with them over pieces of tin foil from hotdog wraps that laid buried in the blades of grass or a wandering insect. The wild birds would peak at her or smack her away with their wings before she would give in and retreat. Returning to 'her' human's shoulder and cuddle beside his neck, sulking and gladly accepting the comforting way the man's finger nail would caress the skin beneath her feathers. Purring as she rubbed her sleek head against him as if to say 'good boy'.

As a human, the park was still luring to her. The pair would wander down the winding pathways as the woman trotted at his side. Full of excitement as she experienced the world through new eyes. Feeling the sun and breeze on new skin. Hearing the sound of the birds, voices, and livelihood of the city through new ears... She was always so happy to be there; often would pull at him at home to take her there when lounging around the house. It should not have surprised him in the the slightest that of all the places to run, there is where she would go.

His head snapped back towards Kage after his hysterical fit. "A threat, sirt?" He barked, "You wander into another man's house, and -" Sentence ended abruptly as movement in the doorway caught his attention. Eyes leaped from Kage's to the figure peering from behind the man. As his dazed gaze adjusted to the movement, his eyes widened. Heart skipped a beat before it started to race. Not of fear but of something else; something he did not fully understand year himself, "Migs!?"

Within a blink of an eye, the woman darted from behind Kage and to his side. Her hands were wrapped around his lean arm and pulling him downward. Knees unbuckled as he dipped to her level while she pulled. His glassy eyes fixing with her blue-gray ones. Filled with fear while her fingers gingerly traced the wound. Gulping, he felt his heart sank slightly at the sight. He lifted his hand to the side of her face; fingers caressing her soft cheek before brushing away her bangs that hovered over her forehead. "Do not concern yourself over this, my sweet," all signs of aggravation disappeared while he tenderly gazed down at her. Pulling his arm away from her's, he bent down to lock their eyes. Both his hands rested carefully on either cheek, holding her head in place as he leaned his on her's. Their foreheads touching while he let out a deep, relieving sigh. She was safe...He blinked, eyes looking over her. "Are you hurt, my dear? Are you warm?" Catching sight of her injured hand, he reached for it. Carefully placing his fingers on the side of her hand's and turning it to examine the palm before glancing back at her, "It looks like you have something to tell me as well, eh, my dear?"

His gaze then flashed back to Kage; having completely ignoring the man who watched the reunion. Cypher rose to his full height again; a hand still placed on Migisi's shoulder as he took a deep breath of wrongful defeat, "I apologize, sir. I was not in the right state of mind...Frantic and panicking wandering where she may have gone...And while it still is not right to just barge into another man's house...At least...At least, you kept her out of the cold." His grip on Migisi tightened slightly as though to check that she was still real and not a figment of his imagination. "For that, I thank you."

Cypher's hand on her cheek made her breath catch. Her eyes shifted briefly to follow the touch before returning to his face to watch his lips as they moved. His anger had faded... and he had that look in his eyes again. The one she adored. The one where she felt as though nothing else in the world existed but the two of them. Her own expression was frozen in a mask of concern and wonder and she dared not break their stare as he leaned in closer, pressing his forehead to hers and sighing upon her nose and lips. Reddened hands were both cold and hot upon her skin – an unusual and yet strangely chilling sensation. In that moment she was taken over, completely overcome by feeling. Slowly she lifted a hand to placed it on top of his, pressing it closer to her, if that was at all possible. The roughness of the scabs that had formed over her wound scratched against his skin and sent a dull throb through her palm, but she didn't care. There was no telling how long she could have stood there with him like that.

Of course, as fate would have it, it was not to be very long.

The brunette drew away from her and lifted her hand away, turning it over in his. Reluctantly her eyes shifted to the scrape on her palm as his did and a small frown formed upon her lips. Yes, Cypher would know what to do about the dreadful thing. He always got silly injuries like this. Like...like now. The woman swallowed as she looked him over again. The red marks on his hands and face, the blood beneath his sleeve...What had he done to himself, she wondered again. Where had he gone that night? That's when it hit her again. He had gone. Gone and left her there. Left her when she could have been there to look after and protect him, like she always used to... Like he'd always let her.

She didn't even bother concentrating on what the two men were saying now. Her muscles tensed beneath Cypher's grip on her shoulder. She no longer saw the touch as tender. He was holding her there now. Looming over her, imposing himself on her. Migisi's stomach turned. The muscles in her face slowly tightened as her expression shifted; something confused and dark. Suddenly, movement made her eyes shift back into focus. Kage. He was...wait, where was he going? The young woman's face fell flat again and her round eyes grew rounder as she watched him turn and head for the door. She broke from Cypher's grasp and padded after him, turning down the small hallway in time to see him slip his coat on. He was...l-leaving? But she didn't say he could go yet! Migisi's eyes narrowed, her anger finally finding its stride again. The whole purpose behind that night suddenly flooded back to her as she stomped down the hallway after him. No way was Cypher getting off that easy! That...and she was growing rather attached to her sweet, new-found companion. Still, he was being very rude just walking away like that. Grabbing hold of his arm, she glared up at him, lip arching as a low hiss seeped from between clenched teeth. She gave her head a dramatic back and forth shake, her furrowed brows scolding him. Then, looping her arm around his, she marched back into the kitchen once more dragging him along. Stopping in front of the brunette, she tugged Kage closer to her and pressed her lips together firmly.

(For clarification, this post is going to explain what Cypher has been thinking and doing from the moment Kage said he was leaving until Migisi drags him back into the kitchen.)

A small sense of victory lingered within Cypher's mind as he watched Kage withdraw his arms around his body in defeat. But what battle had he won...? While unsure of the source of his own emotions, he allowed them to flow through. The corner of his lip rising into a satisfied smirk as Migisi stood beside him. Feeling her warmth upon his chilled-burnt skin while her hands wrapped around his arm. The man had explained that the woman led him to 'her' home but it was, in fact, their home. And while she might have antagonized Kage to stay and enjoyed his company, she still ran to Cypher. Surely, that was something to be joyous of.

Basking in his own personal glory, he slide his hands into his pockets and stood straight, Migisi wrapped around his arm. His head held high while he gazed up at Kage with a pleased glimmer in his glassy blue eyes. Cheeks flushing faintly beneath his toasted flesh as Kage spoke... suspect that her lover... Mouth dropping with trembling lips, debating on speaking before tightening his lips together. Holding back any comments he might have said. No, he was not her lover though the thought set his heart a flutter within his thin chest. The concept was foreign and conflicting...She had been a bird in the past. One that did show him affection and one he cared for, but nothing behind the normal ties of an owner and their pet. However, since her transformation occurred he began to feel 'weird' around her. He had never once suspected a former jackdaw to become such a lovely woman... And her innocent explorations of her tender touches upon him deepened a longing sense of desire locked away within him. She still seemed to have a sense of affection for him - which he had begun to secretly hope was evolving into something more now with her being a human. Hoping that the girl was willing accepting the complexity that came with humanity.

Thoughts abruptly interrupted by the stare Kage shot at him. So cold and defensive over nothing. The twisted smirk upon his lips twitched as he watched the opposing male's eyes narrow. Gazing at him intently through thin slits between his eyelids. Cypher gulped, feeling uneasy by the man's silent 'threat'. While his eyes remained open, they did turn colder. Returning the icy stare back to Kage glancing at him from the corner of his eye before his irises returned to Migisi and then back to Kage. Taunting him faintly and brightening as he watched Kage begin to back out of the kitchen.

He was victorious yet again!

Though his victory with his 'queen' was short lived. Without warning, Migisi dashed away from his grip. His lips parted faintly as a gasp of air escaped from his chest. Gah! Startled slightly, he took a step back with his hand hovering. Matching the height of Migisi's shoulder. Fingers warming and twitching in the air while they grasped onto nothing. Still dazed, he blinked and watched as she disappeared around the corner. Shifting his weight restlessly, he took a step forward to go after her but stopped not far from the door as the pair returned.

The pair...An unsettling feeling rose in Cypher's stomach as his gaze jumped from her to Kage. Going back and forth for a few seconds before catching sight of her arms around the strangers. Eyes grew cold again as they snapped back to Kage. Piercing the man as he took another step towards him. While he was certain - or at least, wanted to believe - that Migisi felt no true attachment to the stranger, he could not help but feel enraged by the sight. Who the bloody hell is this guy!? Despite the fact that Kage towered over him, Cypher showed no fear. His narrow eyes staring straight up into Kage's.

"What is this then!?" his British accent softening his hostile scoff. His arms pressed tightly to his sides with his hands clenched in fists within his pockets. Fire burning his eyes while his lips curled. Voice rising and falling with frustrated growls behind grinding teeth, "Care to explain to me, mister...Mister...? Mister. Whatever-the-bloody-hell-your-name-is! What exactly happened here?"

Sharp looks were thrown like daggers. Of course, the only look Migisi cared about in that moment was Cypher's. Kage's own easy compliance was making her blind to the man - well, at least to how he felt about the little game she was playing. She was definitely aware of him in every other sense. Watching the brunette's eyes darken, her grip on the silver-haired stranger grew tighter, drawing her unintentionally closer to him. A game... Though the woman wasn't completely aware of it herself, that's exactly what she was playing. Kage had become her weapon. A symbol of defiance. A message to Cypher she lacked the vocabulary to pass on in any other way:
'If you can leave, I can leave too.'
'Leave me alone, and I'll find somebody else.'
'Hurt me...and I can make you regret it.'

That wasn't to say she didn't feel real affection for her new companion, however shallow at first. She couldn't help being shallow, after all. Getting to know people on a deeper, more personal level was not an emotional conquest the bird-turned-human was used to engaging in. 'Hurting someone's feelings' and having to deal with the psychological consequences of that was also not something Migisi was used to facing yet. After all, as a bird she generally just...reacted to her feelings. As a bird, that was okay – she was just an animal after all.

But she was human now. She could...think. Plan. Emotions were becoming clearer. Too clear, at times. The black and white of her old world were running together, and there was too much gray area to navigate now. Not alone...but what choice did she have? What choice was he leaving her?!

Cypher spoke again, his words now as sharp as his eyes. It was almost thrilling, seeing him so worked up. That she could provoke such a strong reaction from him! Migisi's own pale gaze narrowed back in defiance. Her mouth widened and the corners upturned ever so slightly in a sign of her satisfaction...but in another heartbeat she frowned again. Cypher wasn't looking at her. Turbulent ocean waves clashed against a stormy sky as the two men stared eachother down. The girl had been forgotten...or at least, this was how she perceived it. Well, she hadn't anticipated that part of the game. Her grip on Kage's arm loosened a bit when she felt his rigid body shift beside her. Hesitantly she lifted her eyes in an attempt to glimpse his own. He made it easy for her, looking down as he nodded in her direction. Finally, some recognition! The woman stared up at him, and she began to grow anxious as she wondered what they were saying to eachother. Were things going her way?

Then suddenly, a low noise drew her attention. The gurgling of an empty belly...but this time, it wasn't her own. Blinking back her confusion she lowered her eyes and let them roam over Kage in question before she let go of his arm entirely and bent down to place her ear near his stomach. After a moment's pause, she smiled a little. So it was him. The idea amused her, if not just because it gave them something in common in the moment. She was still starving herself...what happened to the food she'd smelled, anyway? Brows furrowing, she turned from him – both of them - and wandered away into the kitchen, following her nose to the stove and stepping up to the sink to gaze down at the discolored, discarded food contents. Timidly reaching in, she pinched one of the charred vegetables between her fingers and lifted it in inspection, wrinkling her nose a little. Eh...

"In case you are oblivious to the obvious, sir...She happens to be mute," He spat. Wincing slightly at his own sharp remark. It was so unlike him; so bitter and aggressive but for what reason? The man himself posed no threat. Only rose his hands in defense and rarely rose his voice. He backed away, only to be led back by force by Migisi.

Migisi... As the tense silence hung heavily in the air, Cypher's cold blue eyes snapped to her. Watching as the woman curiously looked the man over. Hovering above him and touching him. While he was sure her intentions were purely innocent, it still bothered him. An annoyance nagging feeling beat down on him as he studied them. Studying the way her grip around the stranger's arm tightened as Cypher's gaze came in her direction...A brow rose as his head tilted slightly with his eyes fixed on her. No...She couldn't be getting back at him, could she? Surely did not know how emotions like this worked, right? She didn't know how to toy with him...How to tease him, right...? Oh you little minx, He thought to himself as he smirked. Finding amusement in the thought.

Then the opposing man blushed. Cheeks growing a lighter red hue beneath his flesh as Migisi pressed her ear to him, smiling. Cypher's piercing gaze returned to the man's. No, this man was not a physical threat but he was a threat on a different level; a threat to something else. Watching as the man's expression softened, saddening as she wandered away from him...And his eyes following her movements... The way fond way the stranger looked at her ignited a fuse within him. Irises glowing intently with jealous rage.

Kage turned again in Cypher's direction. Hunched over looking down at the floor. Mumbling while hanging his head in defeat. His hands twiddling in his pockets. Cypher stood straight and tall, despite being shorter. His head held high while he stepped around Kage; circling him once before placing himself in the doorway leading to the kitchen as if to block the entrance - putting himself beween Kage and Migisi. "Of course she is hungry, scoffing as if he knew that. (He didn't). Speech sprinkled with sarcasm, "It is late and the elderly woman who was suppose to care for her did not get a chance to cook for her like I asked." Swaying slightly on his heels, Cypher flung his head back behind him, pointing towards the black haired woman as she scoured the remains in the sink. "You know, being her lover and all."

Swiveling, he lifted his hands from his pockets and strutted over towards Migisi. Straight posture as he walked."Oh and keep your bloody vegetables!" Shouting over his shoulder; cursing under his breath... He came up behind her and gently places his hand on her back as he leaned in closer to her. Placing his head next to her's as she peered into the sink frowning, "Tis alright, my dear." He gently stroked her cheek with his index finger. Partly stroking her out of his own admiration and the other part to help set his territorial boundaries. Glancing back towards Kage and nodding as if to say, "Bring it on!".

Pushing himself away from the counter, Cypher motioned for Migisi to follow him. "Come let's get you some food before your stomach caves in." Looking down towards the floor as he noticed the childish mess on the floor for the first time. He rounded the table, stepping carefully over the colorful blocks that littered the tiles while shaking his head. Laughing slightly to himself. She had thrown a tantrum after he left; not surprised after discovering that she had ran way. Throwing fits and taking off into the yard had become habits of her's. Traits carrying over from her ignorant days as a jackdaw. In public, it could be embrassing; many thought wrongly of her... Their gossiping whispers always made him uneasy as he tried to calm her when they were out, but at home, it was never an issue. He took her abuse like a man knowing that it was her outlet; pitying the girl as she bravely faced new, frightening challenges as a human. Small, daily things that were no hassle to him were a mountain for her to climb, yet every day, she conquered it. In a way, he admired that aspect of her. Perhaps that was one of the things that seemed to draw him to her. One of the many things...

Smiling to himself, he stepped up towards the refrigerator with his mind racing. What was something he could prepare quickly and easily for her? Not wanting to make her wait too much longer for a meal, 'sandwiches' clicked in his mind. They were fairly filling when sided with potato chips and maybe a slice of cake for dessert, buttering her up with forbidden sweets to ease her grudge towards him for leaving her. On top of that, he could make them quickly. It was only a matter of throwing some lunch meat onto bread and adding some condiments for flavor. Shouldn't take more than few minutes. Though as he reached out to open the refrigerator's door, his injuries began to catch up to him. Muscles aching as a sharp string shot up his right arm from the gash. Wincing, he snapped his arm back to him. Cradling the cut arm in his left hand as he examined the wound. It was not too deep. Just slicing into the skin but greatly aggravated from the burn skin and dirt that collected around its rough edges. He took a deep breath, sucking up the pain as he ignored it. Continuing to shift through the packages and bottles of food on the chilled racks in the fridge. Focusing on Migisi's hunger over his injury.

('Tis more than enough, Shi! :3 Yay for taking initiative!)

It was incredibly disconcerting that Cypher's previously more forgiving if not apologetic tone had regained its venom. The daemon had remained where he stood, eventually turning his head to face the agitated man again, though his eyes were fixated on the opposite wall. That feeling of comfort was instantly gone as Cypher's words grew more hateful and bitter, his body tightening as if preparing to take flight. Yet stubbornly, he would refuse to move until Cypher made his desire known for him to leave. Kage could care less for the man at this point due to his attitude, but Migisi...he couldn't abandon her, not when she made it clear that she wished for him to stay.

The word 'lover' was practically spat, and Kage flinched inwardly. If his ears were able to flatten, they would have, and his eyes hardened. What was this man going on about? Surely he didn't think that Kage thought of Migisi like that. Yes, she was lovely in more ways than one, in humor, spirit and body. But he would respect that there was someone in her life; Cypher had no reason to see him as a threat. And yet, Kage was not foreign to the feeling of jealousy; he could understand the man's point of view. He wished to speak all of this out loud, but his tongue forbade it. And so his mouth remained shut, his thin lips pulled into a taut line.

"...and keep your bloody vegetables!"

Kage's head snapped up in shock at the rude exclamation, heat beginning to flare in his cheeks with growing anger. How dare he! Eyes still narrowed into near slits, he watched Cypher pointedly as he moved through the kitchen, biting the inside of his lip when he stroked Migisi's cheek. He quickly looked away when Cypher glanced back at him, drawing his arms tightly across his body and pressing his back against the wall. He could see the challenging nod made in his direction out of the corner of his eye, and this did nothing for his irritability.

The daemon's posture was unremarkable, hunched over slightly at the waist as if he had suffered a punch to the gut. That feeling of unease was growing ever stronger, and he wondered if Migisi cared at all that he was being treated so aggressively. Unless...she truly did not understand? That would be just his luck. There was movement now, prompting Kage to gingerly lift his gaze. Migisi was dragging Cypher towards the dining table, indicating for him to sit and leaving the unfinished sandwiches in their wake. Blinking slowly, Kage finally noticed the state of injury to the man's arm. It didn't appear to be severe, but nevertheless it did not look pleasant.

For a moment the daemon stood there against the wall, awkwardly and in silence, but then decided that he should at least try to win Cypher back over. That, and he genuinely wished to help. Without much more thought behind it, he stepped forward from his position and bent down a little, looking over the injury with sharp eyes. Absently, he traced a single, long finger along the outside of the cut, away from the marred flesh, his brow knit in concentration. "This is a minor wound, but it could become infected if it is not cleaned immediately," the daemon concluded, his tone characteristically soft despite the circumstance.

His eyes rose to meet Cypher's own, inquisitively. "Do you happen to have some rubbing alcohol that I could use, or even peroxide?" he continued, his eyes returning to the cut. His lips drew back in a frown at the sight of the burn, but what concerned him the most was the dirt that was accumulating around the cut. Yes, all of that muck needed to go.

At first her look was merely earnest; the lines around her eyes creased in worry as her gaze shifted insistently between him and the chair. She couldn't have made her message any clearer. She wanted him to sit. She wanted him to take care of himself. Maybe...maybe she could take care of him. Looking over his arm again, she wondered if she could. Migisi had seen him care for his own wounds countless times... Her nose wrinkled a little at the thought. It wasn't exactly glamorous work. Yet all these thoughts were quickly unsettled by the fact that Cypher remained standing before her.

Glancing up, she spied the smirk spread across his face and stiffened. What was he smiling about? Not just a smile though...that knowing, sarcastic grin of his that let her know she wasn't being taken seriously. The woman's eyes narrowed. Her lips parted as though she might speak; demand for him to wipe that look off his face and sit! Of course, she said nothing, her mouth frozen in a soundless 'o' beneath her prominent nose. Her expression said enough...or at least it did until the man's grin swiftly faded again as his eyes began to roam over her. To most women – especially an angry one – such a piggish action would have been seen as offensive. Migisi however just stared at him, annoyed that his attention was straying but also somewhat fascinated that he was looking her over like that. The anger in her expression faltered as she cautiously glanced down at herself, her weight shifting between her feet as she wondered what he was looking at. Then before she knew what was happening he had unbuttoned his vest and leaned it close to swing it around her. The woman was too taken by surprise to protest as he slipped her arms through and began to close the front. What...was he doing? Frowning a little, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd done something wrong again. Humans, always fussing over their appearance...

She had to admit though, it was...interesting to be wearing his clothes. Glancing down at herself once he was finished and feeling the thicker, heavier fabric of the vest across her chest she almost let herself smile. Maybe she looked better now. She certainly felt better.

Kage's voice brought her back to attention. It was suddenly closer, and her eyes widened to find him standing beside her, his focus on... Cypher? The woman stepped back, giving the two men their space as the taller reached out to examine the injury. Yes! Finally someone understood! Maybe Kage would know what to do? Yet as Migisi leaned in to get a look at what he was doing, the brunette tugged his arm from sight and shrugged them both off with sharp words. Another venomous glance sent Kage's way made the woman bristle. Okay, maybe she could understand Cypher's aggression upon finding a strange man in his home, but now he was only trying to help! They both were. Full lips were pressed together in growing agitation as another sweet smile was flashed in her direction. A peck on the cheek...meant to disarm her? Clever, but no. Feeling his tie bump against her as he made to pull back again, she reached out and grabbed it, yanking him to a stop as he tried to move away again. A short 'huff' of air was forced through her nostrils as she glowered up at him, her free hand lifting to point once again at the chair. She had forgotten her hunger now. Almost forgot how concerned she'd been for him in the first place. For Migisi, in that moment, it was all about the battle – or, more importantly, winning it. Stepping back she attempted to 'lead' him closer to the table before she slipped around behind him and began pushing him into the chair.

So...rude! Here Kage was, offering to help not only to replace the destroyed vegetables but to treat the cut as well, but Cypher continued to deny him in the most snide ways possible. The daemon was no longer even a threat to the man, as Migisi had displayed her affection and trust for him. Even so, when Cypher snarled back at him after his offer to help, the silver-haired man merely bit at the inside of his lip, his eyes narrowing and shifting aside. It was rather crushing, really, wishing to help only to be shot down. But perhaps he was being a little invasive, a little too eager to be forgiven. Maybe he should just keep his mouth shut for now.

A brow cocked when Migisi suddenly pulled Cypher back by his tie, and a faint smirk formed on his lips at the gagging noises the other man uttered. It was awful of him to think so, but at this point those noises were rather satisfying. With some amusement he watched the woman shove Cypher back towards the table, forcing him to sit. He was beginning to understand that Migisi held a lot of control over the man, something that was both charming and intriguing. In fact, the daemon was beginning to wonder if she was even human at all...

Kage had moved back to his position against the wall, though his back was straight this time rather than slouched, unlike Cypher's. When the other man reached over to retrieve a stuffed bear, Kage looked up, observing curiously. He noticed the sadness on Cypher's face as he turned the bear over in his hands, saw the rip and wondered as to what had caused it. Clearly, this bear meant something to the man, judging by his pained expression. So it had a name...Milo. Was Migisi the one who damaged the bear? Why on earth would she do that?

The daemon was a little unprepared for when Cypher glanced back at him, only this time without malice or spite. Cautiously, Kage met his gaze, blinking at the unexpected question. "I...suppose so," he replied in a slightly embarrassed tone, his hands making their way back into his pockets. Women... How long had it been? ...no, he wouldn't think about that. His eyes drifted to the bear, his expression now blank though not without sympathy or understanding. "That bear means a lot to you, doesn't it," he stated simply. It wasn't a question, as he already knew the answer. But he supposed that now was a good time as any to start some small talk with the man.