Taris nodded from the floor, “Thank you, Envy. I appreciate it…” He stood shakily, “But, if she never wants to see me again, I understand. Perhaps it’s best, in fact, the last woman that I let love me died.” He reached into a pocket and placed a pendant on a nearby table. “Use this to call me if you have need of me, Envy, for anything. I owe you at least that much.” Darkness began to swirl around him and he looked Envy in the eye. “If she doesn’t want me…” his voice hitched, “If she wants me gone, take care of her for me, Envy.”

Envy watched the shadows begin to cover his whole body, until a flash of movement caught his eye. Arauka dashed toward the assassin and grabbed a hold of his pants, and the shadow enveloped her too. “Arauka, no!” he yelled, but the shadows fell and they were gone. “Dammit dove.” He waited a moment, keeping his eye on the shadows, before turning and following after Aera, "You'd better take care of her, Taris."

Taris and the girl emerged in his flat, the assassin gasping heavily. Pulling someone else through the shadows twice in a short time was tiring, especially with the barriers throughout the city. He looked at the girl at his side, “What do you think you were doing? You could have killed us both.”
She backed away, not meeting his gaze, and he realized he had growled at her. Taris sighed and sat in a chair. He switched to elvish, “[b]I’m sorry, Arauka was it?[/b]” She nodded, but still wouldn’t meet his eyes. “[b]Why did you follow me here?[/b]” At that she did look up, opening her mouth and closing it, before taking a breath. “[b]You were sad,[/b]” she said finally, “[b]I… I didn’t want you to be alone.[/b]”

Taris smiled at her and gestured her over. She looked curiously at his scars, and at the shimmer of his new burns and arrow wound healing. He ran a hand through her hair, messing it up, “[b]Thank you, but you know I’m assassin don’t you? It’s dangerous to be around me, and I’m sure Envy is worried about you.[/b]”
“[b]I know, but so what? You’re so COOL. The way you stayed out in the sun so you could beat those humans in archery. I want to be like you.[/b]”
Taris frowned, “[b]No you don’t, you don’t know what it’s like being an assassin. Being me. There isn’t much room for true happiness in my world.[/b]”
Arauka sat on the arm of the chair, “[b]But, you and Aera…[/b]”
“[b]Will probably never work. I love her, it’s true, but there are people who would use that against me. It’s why if I were smarter, I’d push her away.[/b]”
Her eyes gazed at him, and she surprised him with her next words, “[b]But you can’t.[/b]”

He nodded, “[b]You are right, I can’t. But back to you, I don’t think you want to be like me. I think you just don’t want to be scared anymore. Am I right?[/b]” Taris watched her look away and nod. “[b]I thought so.[/b]” He was silent a moment before he snapped his fingers. “[b]I have an idea, how would you like to be my helper? In exchange I’ll teach you a few things to help you, make you stronger and faster. Envy trained you to be quick, to fend someone off enough to escape if you need to right?[/b]”
Another nod. “[b]I will teach you how to make your pursuer unable to chase you. It will not be easy, but if you are willing, I will take over your training until my job is completed.[/b]”
She looked at him, “[b]And after? Will you take me with you?[/b]”

Now Taris had to pause, “[b]If you still want to leave, then we shall see. But what about the other orphans? What about your friends in the tunnels, and Envy?[/b]” He watched her face fall while she considered his words, and approved, she wouldn’t just abandon her friends on a whim. “[b]There is plenty of time to make your decision, Arauka, no need to choose now,[/b]” he paused and looked around. Between his own anger and Aera’s attack this morning, the flat was a mess. “[b]First things first, my new apprentice, help me clean up.[/b]”

She hopped off the chair with a smile, “[b]Yes, Master Taris![/b]”