Post is in collaboration with [@The Savant]
[hr]
Opening up the cell and undoing Kara’s cuffs, Pilka flashed a tired smile before stepping over the one guard that was slightly out of his cell, and going the other way — away from the courtroom. He was heading down the hall to go find his weapons. ‘[color=c8a2c8]I can’t leave until I find my weapons,[/color]’ Pilka didn’t hesitate to inform Kara of this. He knew she might not understand though his weapons were as important as his tattoos. He earned them. Those weapons belonged to a father of the cult of darkness that he took down and he has taken care of those blades ever since. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]I can make sure you get out of this place, safely,[/color]’ Pilka glanced over his shoulder before gesturing to Kara to move along with him down the hallway that led to a singular door. 

She stood still for a few, giving the unconscious bodies near her a quick glance. For a moment, the guards looked as peaceful as if they were sleeping, though they were going to be in for quite the rude awakening once they came to. [color=49FDFE]"Okay, but we have to hurry,"[/color] she warned, looking him in the eyes. Whatever his reasoning was for staying to look for his weapons must be important, otherwise he wouldn't put them both at risk like this given his condition. 

A sigh left his lips while he carefully opened the door that they got to go through by using one of the guards I.D. tags and listening — nothing — so he opened it more and stepped through. No one was around but he found himself looking down three hallways. ‘[color=c8a2c8]If you are worried, I can make sure you get out of here first, and then I’ll look for my weapons.[/color]’

[color=49FDFE]"Hey, you're still bleeding."[/color] Kara whispered, motioning towards his wound as she followed him. A very small amount had oozed out, and she grew a little more concerned.

Pilka glanced back at the young woman and shook his head, ‘[color=c8a2c8]When you get slashed by a sword, burned by a torch, and grapple-hooked into the same area. You’ll bleed a little bit,[/color]’ he casually spoke as if that was a regular day. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing that wasn’t new. 

His words stung, not that it was his intention, but it did cause the same guilt to resurface, the one that weighed down on her. Kara averted her eyes elsewhere as if she was supposed to be ashamed of something. She didn't care she'd have to convince him, or practically force him, but she was going to make sure that that wound of his would get taken care of.

He decided to take a left down the hall because there was no noise coming from that way and the sign read out – [i]Evidence lockers[/i] — which is where he assumed his weapons would be for the trial. ‘[color=c8a2c8]Once I am out of here. I’ll be able to patch myself up at home or I’ll go find a friend to do it for me,[/color]’ Pilka was trying to reassure Kara that he’d be fine even if he was bleeding a little bit. 

[color=49FDFE]"That's nonsense."[/color] Was all she said. Kara looked at him briefly then looked away, not giving him the chance to speak up. [color=49FDFE]"I have a surgical kit at home so I'll get the job done. And don't worry, my father personally taught me."[/color] The young woman walked past him and hurriedly made her way to the evidence locker, not wanting to hear a counter-argument. She tried the door and it was locked. Of course. Kara turned around, reaching a hand out. [color=49FDFE]"Key card, please."[/color]

Hearing her initial response caused his brows to furrow while he looked at her. ‘[color=c8a2c8]And you think your home will be safe when they notice you and I are gone?[/color]’ Pilka knew that the safety officers would be checking every obvious spot for them when they noticed they were gone — hopefully, no one notices they are not in their cells for a while. The commotion in the courtroom should give them enough time. 

Pilka gave her one of the key cards, ‘[color=c8a2c8]Someone is a little sassy,[/color]’ he huffed out because of how she hurried past him and requested a key card from him. ‘[color=c8a2c8]I don’t know if those cards will open the evidence lockers,[/color]’ he added but the guards seemed to be higher rank so they might. 

[i]He's right...[/i] An alternative plan came to mind, which was going to her mother's house, but that place would be visited by officers as well. Kara then took the key card, giving him a certain look in response to his comment. 

When she scanned the key card, the light turned green. 

[i]Beep.[/i]

[color=49FDFE]"It's our lucky day."[/color] She turned the handle and pushed the door in. The lights came on automatically, and before them was a room full of towering shelves with different boxes and containers. Hanging from the shelf closest to them was a binder. In it they would find a list of items, all taken as evidence, and where to find them. There were multiple copies, the other ones changing the order of the list to first show the location and the item, etc.

[color=49FDFE]"Let's start digging. And hey, once we're done here, I want to accompany you outside of the city again. They're gonna be looking for me either way, and I figured I could patch you up better than whomever you had in mind."[/color]

He sucked down the emotion that wanted to appear on his face, ‘[color=c8a2c8]Are you suggesting that the person I had in mind is incompetent? Because they aren’t educated by Dominions lovely educational system?[/color]’ Pilka asked with a neutral curiosity — he was trying to arouse a response from Kara — and he was trying his best not to smile or indicate that he was trying to pull her leg. 

Walking past her, not grabbing any of the papers, he began to search the shelves, because he knew how big those swords were. There were two. The sheath was in the shape of an X, so he doubted that it would take long to spot them in this room. ‘[color=c8a2c8]Also, you have nowhere to go outside of the city, Kara. You can’t just be running around out there. What happens if you run into a Vashdrekaz?[/color]’ he asked with curiosity and looked over his shoulder as he reached up to move some things on a higher shelf. 

‘[color=c8a2c8][i]Or…[/i] if you run into the Cult of Darkness members? Or anything else that can rip you to shreds. I barely can defend myself with a messed up shoulder, you saw me in that town square, and don’t say you can defend yourself from a father of darkness,[/color]’ he looked back at the shelves and continued to move boxes and items while quickly going up, down, and over. 

Kara raised an eyebrow with a smirk. [color=49FDFE]"Not incompetent, just not better than me."[/color]

Jokes aside, the more he went on about the dangers outside of the city, the less appealing the entire thing seemed. She listened as he went on, digging through all the evidence and miscellaneous property where he hadn't yet searched. Kara was aware Pilka wasn't necessarily trying to discourage her for no reason; after all, there was truth to his words, but now she was at the end of her rope. Just what exactly was she supposed to do, go home and sit around until they came knocking at her door? Maybe go into hiding somewhere?

[color=49FDFE]"I know, I get what you mean,"[/color] she sighed with some defeat behind her voice. [color=49FDFE]"I'm certainly not trying to get myself killed so maybe it's best if I stay here."[/color] Kara kept searching as she hadn’t found anything yet, though she wasn’t paying much attention.

The older man found her stubborn ambition admirable — it showed she had spirit — though he didn’t want her getting severely injured or dead. A sigh left his lips while he stopped searching for his swords, ‘[color=c8a2c8]Kara,[/color]’ his voice was mildly stern. ‘[color=c8a2c8]Plenty of people live outside of the walls of Dominion, people like you, dwellers, and burrowers. There are civilizations beyond the wall. You’d be fine if I took you to one of them,[/color]’ his voice almost sounded guilty since he was trying to scare her into staying in Dominion though he knew it was a stupid thing to do. Dominion wasn’t the only place thriving and he’d honestly argue that Sevet ul Krav was more sophisticated than Dominion. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]I just can’t get you there easily. It’s about a day or two to climb that steep wall and if you don’t climb, it’s about a weeks walk, and that’s more dangerous than the climb. You can run into anything in the tunnels,[/color]’ he waved off the thoughts which he’s gone both ways plenty of times. Both had their pros and cons. 

Then he moved over to the next shelf and started looking, ‘[color=c8a2c8]You…[/color]’ he didn’t know how to put it. He glanced at her before searching back into the shelves for his swords. ‘[color=c8a2c8]It’s dangerous and you have to understand it’s dangerous if you are going to go out there. There are beasts that won’t hesitate and there are people that won’t hesitate to hurt you either. You will see things that will haunt you for the rest of your life. You’ll hear things that stay in your unconsciousness. And most people in Dominion live… squishy comfy lives compared to people beyond the walls, but plenty of Dominions have left the city and joined the chuts and everything else, so you’d probably be fine.[/color]’ Pilka just worried. He didn’t want people getting hurt and being grossly unprepared for things. 

[color=49FDFE]"Pilka,"[/color] she shook her head, breaking eye contact. [color=49FDFE]"I can't move there. I have family to care for. My mother and my brother — they need me. Ever since my father passed away, I've played a crucial part in keeping the family from falling apart whenever times were tough. I can't abandon them now, you know?"[/color] She briefly imagined what life would be like living outside the walls of Dominion, and that only served to act as a deterrent.

That was when he stepped back and his fingers ran through his hair while he looked around. Then he noticed a few lockers at the back of the room that he went to. Opening one up to find it empty. Before opening another one up and finding his swords, grappling hook, his coat, and bag. He smiled before grabbing the items and putting them on without hesitation. ‘[color=c8a2c8]That’s better.[/color]’ he said to himself as he made sure his coat was adjusted. 

Kara smiled briefly. [color=49FDFE]"You found them."[/color] She was glad he had his swords back. Some time in the past, she read somewhere that a man's weapons were a part of him, and if you took them from him, you were taking part of him as well. [color=49FDFE]"Best we get to it then."[/color] she motioned towards the door, walking ahead of Pilka. Kara hadn't heard any more shots go off, so that probably meant they had gotten the situation under control. Once at the door, she peeked outside for a second. [color=49FDFE]"No one here..."[/color] And with that, she stepped aside to hold the door for Pilka.

’[color=c8a2c8]Then why would you even consider leaving Dominion?[/color]’ he asked while following her to the only exit and entrance into that room. The man knew way too well in those emotions — not wanting to abandon family. ‘[color=c8a2c8]However, how are you supposed to take care of them when you are running from the authorities?[/color]’ that question slipped out more roughly than he meant for it to. However, there was a bunch of truth in it. The older man doubted that they would let her keep her job, her citizenship, or anything else that mattered to most Dominion Citizens. Then again, miracles have happened in the past for plenty of other people. 

His words stung a little, but she couldn't deny they were honest. Kara walked on for a few moments, not sure how to answer him, though eventually she came up with the right words. [color=49FDFE]"I never planned on staying out there, Pilka. Like I said I can't abandon them. But now..."[/color] she shook her head, the uncertainty that was her future leaving her feeling hopeless. [color=49FDFE]"Now I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I have to make it work either way,"[/color] she shrugged, [color=49FDFE]"I don't have any other option."[/color]

He seemed to focus on the hallways before moving to the left, ‘[color=c8a2c8]Come on,[/color]’ he gestured for her to follow as he went down the hall. He wasn’t booking it but he wasn’t standing around either. ‘[color=c8a2c8]I’ll make sure you get back home and I’ll leave the city,[/color]’ Pilka was on a mission now. 

[color=49FDFE]"No, don't do that, that's an even worse idea than mine. Think about it, if you get caught, you'll get brought back here and goodness knows what'll happen then."[/color] Kara motioned to his wound. [color=49FDFE]"And that won't get patched up. In fact, they might not even notice the bleeding. Besides—and no offense—you're pretty useless right now,"[/color] she scoffed, though it was playful in nature.

The older man did feel terrible that he got Kara into such a mess. If he didn't decide to come check out the riots and everything else… she wouldn't be in anything like this. She could have continued living her comfortable life in Dominion. Glancing back at her when she called him useless, his expression was on the line of somewhat offended, and understanding as well. ‘[color=c8a2c8]My wounds will be patched up. They just wouldn't be patched up by [I]you[/I],[/color]’ he emphasized. Then he wondered if Kara didn't know what was truly beyond the walls. All the towns and the city of Sevet ul Krav. 

He sighed, ‘[color=c8a2c8]I suppose I'll let you patch me up, if it makes you feel better, but I have to leave afterwards,[/color]” he informed her while turning a corner when they got to the end of the hall. ‘[color=c8a2c8]And let me be clear about this, Kara. I am not useless. I just can't really fight with two weapons. I'm very capable of winning fights with one sword,[/color]’ he spat out this words in such a sassy manner while a faint smirk appeared on his face. Pilka knew what he was capable of and he knew not to be dumb about it either. 

Once he was patched up, he would go home, and he would rest. After that, he would figure it out. 

She forced her laugh a little, shaking her head and looking away. [color=49FDFE]"I'm not too sure about winning a fight now, sword or not. Maybe give it a week or two..."[/color] 

The two continued their banter for a few more minutes before they were outside, and Kara led him to her home through the more secluded path to avoid coming across the authorities.

Now standing at her front door, Kara could at last breathe a sigh of relief. She turned the key and walked in, turning on the light before letting Pilka in as well. [color=49FDFE]"Welcome to my humble abode."[/color] They were standing in the living room, a sectional in the middle of the room and an entertainment system beyond that against the far wall. To their left was a kitchen, remodeled recently, and in the opposite corner a dining table for four. If one walked through the hall between the kitchen and the dining table, it would lead to her bedroom and opposite of it, the bathroom. To their right was the balcony. 

The furniture and decor in her apartment was mostly neutral; soft grays, khakis, etc., making it aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

Following Kara into home felt weird since he hadn't been in a Dominion residency in years. However, he noticed how plain it was. No colors. Dull. [I]Depressing[/I]. [color=c8a2c8]Why would anyone want their home to look like the cave walls?[/color] he thought to himself as he stood by the door. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]This is a pleasant little place,[/color]’ Pilka broke his silence before letting his eyes fall onto Kara. Those moonlit eyes were sometimes ghostly against his grey skin and they were probably popping out against all the neutral colors at the moment. 

Looking around once more, he considered arguing again, ‘[color=c8a2c8]It might be better if you don't fix me up. I rather not stain your home with my blood,[/color]’ and that was a true feeling and concern from him. She didn't need his blood staining the couch or carpet or anything else. 

With a scoff, she kicked off her shoes to place them on the little platform by the door. [color=49FDFE]"You need to get your priorities in order, my friend. If you get blood on something, then I'll simply use a stain remover,"[/color] she added matter-of-factly. A moment later though she realized that those living outside the walls of Dominion didn't have any cleaning agents readily available. That is, unless they'd managed to get their hands on one in a not so quite legal manner. [color=49FDFE]"Feel free to sit on the dining table, and I'll go get my med kit. Do you want anything to drink? Maybe water? Are you hungry maybe?"[/color] she went on, walking towards the kitchen.

Kara’s scoff caused Pilka’s eyes to sharpen though they softened when he remembered how cushy of a life that she had — that the majority of Dominions had. There were no stain removers beyond the walls unless it was completely natural items and they never did as well as artificial stain removers. ‘[color=c8a2c8]No, no thank you,[/color]’ he responded evenly when she asked if he wanted anything. 

Pilka walked over to the kitchen table and didn’t sit on the table but sat on one of the chairs instead. ‘[color=c8a2c8]You know there are very skilled doctors beyond the wall? The man that did my first examination and stitches did them wonderfully, but I ripped them all out,[/color]’ he didn’t have to refer to the situation with Roach for that to be emphasized. ‘[color=c8a2c8]You might honestly learn a thing or two because they use more natural things versus processed medications,[/color]’ he added on. Trying to keep a conversation going. 

Kara walked to the bathroom for a minute to grab the needed items. She was hearing Pilka just fine as she went. 

[color=49FDFE]"You got me there... Practically everything here's synthetic which you're right, it's not as good as the real thing."[/color] Her voice was a little higher so he could hear her, and a few moments later she emerged from the bathroom, kit in hand, and joined him at the dining table. [color=49FDFE]"I'm no doctor but I've been trained to handle quite a few complex procedures. Either way, it sounds like you've got quite some stuff figured out over there."[/color] 

One by one, Kara began to pull out some items she was going to need to patch him up. It wasn't mentioned, but she was glad he had access to a medical professional on the outside. 

[color=49FDFE]"Can you go ahead and remove your shirt for me please. ."[/color]

Pilka began to remove his weapons and everything that was on his torso so Kara could work on him. Setting everything down on the kitchen table. There were a few painful whimpers and huffs of breathing while he moved since his left shoulder and upper arm were hurting. Upon taking off his long sleeved overly worn shirt, a plethora of color hand-done tattoos were all over his body. Sadly, the damage done to his left chest and shoulder area, the back of his left shoulder, and the slice on his upper left arm had ruined that tattoo as well. 

[url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/74/59/d8/7459d820b420d065727e51beb58673bf.jpg]His torso[/url] was intrinsically detailed and it had plenty of meanings and messages in each part of the tattoo. Burrowers earned tattoos for good, in between, and bad. ‘[color=c8a2c8]I’ve been fixed up by people with less experience so don’t worry about not being a doctor,[/color]’ he chuckled. And under his torso tattoos, if anyone looked close enough, ripples and grooves in his skin showed that he had plenty of scars. 

Getting comfortable in the chair, he looked at her, [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e6/6b/7f/e66b7fec25958afbb0ea9ab27b6ea8f2.jpg]his arms[/url] were covered in little symbols that had plenty of meanings to them. And the ones on his [url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/636133516155362050/]hands[/url]. And when she would go work on his back, she would notice a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5a/fd/e8/5afde8ec7304d1d1d15166158e4b7905.jpg]tattoo[/url] that wasn’t as friendly looking. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]Just don’t be surprised if I snarl at you when it hurts,[/color]’ he lightly joked but he was serious. He snarled at the doctor that he goes to outside of Dominion and he bared his teeth at him for it hurting. Pilka knew him and other Burrowers were more animalistic. 

Though the conflict of the tattoos and the wounds were sharp. The burn on his left pec ranged from the mid parts of his pectoral muscle, the whole front of his shoulder, the curve of his armpit, and the front part of his upper arm was scorched from the torch. There was a slash that went horizontally across his upper left arm that was about an inch deep into the muscle. Currently, the wound was flared open because of the stitches breaking and being ripped out. And the wound that Roach had given him on the back of his shoulder — that was a puncture about two inches in diameter that went into the muscle and because Pilka ripped out the grappling arrow head — there were odd tears in his flesh from the hooks coming out. It was all grizzly and bleeding but not gushing in any way. His body was trying to heal and he did receive unconventional medical attention from Roach and a guard. 

As the man undressed, she couldn't help but glance at him. Pilka was covered in tattoos, and that wasn't an exaggeration. They were intricate to the point where she didn't know what to focus on first. Remembering her lessons, Kara recalled being told that Burrowers earned their tattoos, so needless to say, Pilka had quite the history.

She simply smiled at him, putting on a set of rubber gloves while assessing the damage when she noticed part of the tattoo on his back. Kara attempted to catch some of the finer details, inconspicuously of course, but the blood stains on his skin made it difficult since one red blended in with the other so well. She walked directly behind him and saw the tattoo in all its glory. Kara stared a few seconds longer than she should have before eventually catching herself, focusing instead on his wounds and seeing how deep they went. 

[color=49FDFE]"As long as you're all bark and no bite, I guess I can live with that,"[/color] she joked, briefly leaving his side to get some clean rags from the kitchen. Even though she was being playful, his injuries unsettled her. It was seeing them up close without some fabric hindering her view that had left a lump in her throat. Kara then also grabbed a bowl and filled it with warm tap water before joining him at the table again. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]I promise, I will try my best not to bite,[/color]’ his tone was playful back with her. However, he had bitten people in the past but that was a whole other bag of stones to talk about. It wasn’t just because they were poking and prodding his body to make sure he was being fixed up. It was when they went too far or were not careful or so on and he warned them already about it. He wouldn’t do that with Kara. She didn’t deserve that kind of roughness and unhinged behavior. 

[color=49FDFE]"This will hurt a bit..."[/color] she warned as she soaked one of the rags in the warm water and began cleaning the edge of the wound on the back of his shoulder. She hadn't done this too many times before; in fact, this was one of the worst injuries she had ever treated. He was struggling to keep his composure and she couldn't blame him. Kara then decided to try to keep his mind off of the pain if only for a while. [color=49FDFE]"So... What's the story behind this back piece?"[/color]

At first his body tensed when she put pressure on his shoulder and he groaned with distaste. It was a mild way of showing discomfort. Hearing her question, he glanced over his right shoulder for a second and considered it, ‘[color=c8a2c8]Does it scare you?[/color]’ to the people beyond the wall, it was barely off putting, but he understood how it could cause discomfort to people that had more comfy lives. The people of Sevet Ul Krav were the same way — seeing those tattoos especially because they understood, caused them to get uncomfortable at times. ‘[color=c8a2c8]The tattoo that you are asking about means…[/color]’ he seemed to be looking down at his hands when he thought about this. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]...it means that I am a cult killer,[/color]’ he spoke evenly as if he was not there. He was thinking of something else. ‘[color=c8a2c8]It’s…[/color]’ he continued to think about it. ‘[color=c8a2c8]It means that I have killed more in the cult of darkness than what can be counted. That I’ve taken down their mothers and fathers. Their sisters and brothers.[/color]’ his moonlit eyes glanced towards Kara to gauge her reaction. 

And he knew he should explain more, ‘[color=c8a2c8]The cult of darkness is a problem beyond the wall. They take children and individuals that cannot fight them and they sacrifice them to their gods. The creatures of the deep. So they throw you into a ring where a nasty creature is and they watch it rip you limb from limb. That’s how I got the slash and burn. They wanted two children, Oce and Opa, and they successfully got those little ones' parents. And they weren’t able to get them because I took them to Sevet ul Krav but when I came back down, a group of cult members, and sister Tallullah were waiting for me,[/color]’ he sighed at those thoughts and closed his eyes for a handful of seconds. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]That’s why I have that tattoo on my back,[/color]’ Pilka didn’t enjoy the memories that he had of killing anyone but it was necessary to survive and others to be safe. 


She continued cleaning the blood off of him, and although his words weighed heavily on her, she offered her support in the form of silence, however brief. Kara could only imagine how hard it was admitting to something of this scale, to live with what you've done day after day.

[color=49FDFE]"You did all of that out of necessity, Pilka. You can't let it eat you from the inside."[/color] Once more, the young woman dipped the bloodied rag in the water to wash out most of the blood. By now, she had the majority of his skin cleaned up, and all it would take was one more pass. [color=49FDFE]"I'm not a therapist but maybe you should focus on the good you've done. Saving those children, plus all the others too... One innocent life is worth more than all of theirs combined, and that means something, whether you can see it right now or not.[/color]

Kara wasn't trying to make him feel better for the sake of it; she truly believed what she was saying. After hearing the stories of some of the things that cult members did, she'd gladly join him for a go at them if she ever felt reckless enough.

Pilka glanced at her, ‘[color=c8a2c8]It’s not so black-and-white, Kara,[/color]’ his tone was even while he spoke those words. It was complex and complicated. ‘[color=c8a2c8]The majority of cult members are born into the cult and do not know any better or they are indoctrinated as children,[/color]’ he knew that there were rumors and stories about the Cult of Darkness in Dominion especially in the education departments (specifically in scientific communities). However, he knew that the people of Dominion barely knew anything under the surface about the cult nor did they have to deal with them. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]It’s like how you don’t understand the outside like I do,[/color]’ he went on and his eyes roamed around her apartment. ‘[color=c8a2c8]How you live comfy here and you seem to not fully understand there are civilizations outside the wall that match or are better than Dominion,[/color]’ he went on casually with his thoughts. ‘[color=c8a2c8]Most people in Dominion don’t even realize the chuts exist and I know there are only a few people in Dominion that know about Sevet ul Krav, but I know that no Dominion has ever seen it,[/color]’ And he knew that for a fact because he [i]never[/i] allowed them to. 

It was about twenty years ago that he and Mrs.Kapin were in a screaming match out in the tunnels — she was more so screaming at him out of frustration. She is a scientist and curious, she wanted to see the rumored city of Gold, Sevet ul Krav, and not many from the chuts know how to get there. However, Pilka knew. Pilka had been going there since he was young because the first family that accepted him were nomadic. They traveled to chut to chut, city to city, and even dabbled in the Gray Market areas of Dominion. 

The people of Sevet ul Krav were one of the first people to give him tattoos because of his helpfulness. They were tattoos that meant he was allowed in the city and trusted by the elders. Mrs.Kapin wanted to know how to get there so her team and her could see it. Talk to the people. Pilka didn’t trust them especially after incidents happened with a few chuts. ‘[color=c8a2c8]The people of the cult do not understand that their ways are immoral and corrupt. That being guided by beasts because you fear them is not a way to go about living. That worship and sacrifice do not put them on your side because no matter what. At the end of the day, if you fell into that pit, they would eat you. They do not see the difference between cult member, burrower, or human,[/color]’ he explained. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]So you might see it as simply as an innocent life versus everything else. It is necessary. However, that does not mean it doesn’t weigh heavily on my shoulders. And once it stops weighing heavily, I know my mind has gone past a point of return,[/color]’ Pilka had seen others go past that point. Where they stopped caring. That they stopped considering others as people with thoughts, emotions, and feelings. He had to help put some of those people down over the years as well. 

Kara exhaled with a nod, breaking eye contact like a child who knew they were in trouble. [color=49FDFE]"I'm sorry, I really am."[/color] She was being sincere despite feeling ashamed of herself. He was right; she had no idea what the outside was like. And even there in Dominion, things weren't always so black and white. The young woman walked away to put the used rags and bowl in her sink, taking a moment to herself in the semi-private space that was her kitchen. The man was hurting, both physically and mentally, and she wasn't making it any better. In fact, she was making things worse for him by trying to give her two cents on topics she knew nothing of. 

Eventually, Kara walked back to him again. This time she remained silent, going into her kit to pull out a cleansing spray. The liquid in the small bottle was quite potent, and she felt the need to warn him once more, figuring she could maybe lighten the mood back to what it was a few moments before.

[color=49FDFE]"Might want to brace yourself, this will hurt a bit more..."[/color]

Nothing else was said as she sprayed the solution directly on his wound a few times to irrigate it thoroughly. 

The deep inhale that could be heard from him sounded painful and he stood up, almost instantly with a muffled growl behind clenching teeth, and he took a few steps forward to distance himself. His one hand reached around to the back of his shoulder, his longer fingers extending over and into the wound, and he was applying pressure. Causing it to bleed more — it was stinging and it felt like his flesh was on fire in a sense. The man was currently fighting between trying to rip whatever out she put on him, but he could feel that it was a liquid. 

Pilka was trying his best not to explode from whatever she sprayed on him. He wasn’t used to all the different things that Dominion had — the closest things to disinfectant sprays they had out beyond the wall were natural liquids or oozes from plants. Realizing that he was literally digging into the wound with his fingers, he took his hand away, and looked at it. Covered in blood. With a shaky swallow, he went for the apartment door, because he felt like he needed to create distance between him and Kara. 

[color=49FDFE]"Hey, wait!"[/color] she dropped bottle, a sense of urgency suddenly overcoming her. But Kara stopped as she witnessed Pilka dig around his wound, almost as if he was kneading dough with his fingertips. The thought was odd, but she was quick to dismiss it and instead grew a tad agitated. How was she supposed to help him if she hadn't even began to sew him up just yet? [color=49FDFE]"You're making it worse for yourself..."[/color] the lab assistant turned medic scolded, reaching to grab his forearm in order to prevent him from running out of her apartment right when her landline began to ring. Kara stopped, looking at the telephone propped up on the wall for a moment. But when she heard the door open, she lunged to shut it close with such a speed that it even impressed her.

[color=49FDFE]"...and I'm not done with you just yet."[/color]

His brows instantly furrowed when the woman slammed the door and he was honestly surprised that she was so quick about it. Without thinking, Pilka grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her against the door. The man was not looking at her. He was holding her there, his long, spider-like fingers wrapped around her shoulders somewhat tightly, and his forehead was against the door. ‘[color=c8a2c8]Kara,[/color]’ he spoke out with a shaky voice. ‘[color=c8a2c8]Do not spray me with whatever you sprayed me with again.[/color]’ His tone was threatening and his grip was shaky — whatever she used felt horrible to him. It might “help” but he didn’t care for the painful sensation that it overwhelmed his body with. 

Pilka’s grip stayed tight as if he was frustrated or debating on if he should let go or hold onto her more tightly. He could hear the phone continuing to ring in the background but he wasn’t going to let her go for a moment. The man knew he needed to calm down and allow his irritation to fade. His eyes were closed while he was trying to focus on something other than how much his shoulder was hurting. And he was so close to the woman, she might have been able to hear how fast and loudly his heart was beating. That spray stung and it caused his blood pressure to skyrocket. 

Whatever bravado she displayed a moment ago was gone now. Kara had no time to react and was in shock the moment her back hit the door. Despite his quick movements, she wasn't pushed in a violent manner, but standing there and witnessing what he was capable of caused her to be frightened by him for the first time since they met.

The young woman looked down at his hands, the grip a little tighter than what she would have expected from him. [color=49FDFE]"Okay,"[/color] she nodded softly, her words audible enough for him to hear. The phone behind him rang a few more times before it stopped, but Kara remained in place, giving him a moment. Pilka was in pain, and understandably so, but she was only trying to help him. The next few moments were tense as both of them stood in silence, her heart coming down from wanting to all but burst out of her chest. 

[color=49FDFE]"Would you like to go?"[/color] Kara wasn't kicking him out; it certainly didn't sound like she was, but she could only think she crossed some line she didn't know about when he had reacted like he did.

It wasn’t an answer she got right away, but he finally broke his silence, ‘[color=c8a2c8][i]No,[/i][/color]’ his voice lightly breathed out when his eyes opened and he looked down at the young woman. If she asked him that same question before she slammed the door shut, he would have said yes, and he would have at least stepped out for a handful of minutes to regain his posture — however, he didn’t get that luxury. 

His grip was beginning to loosen on her shoulders as he took a step back, ‘[color=c8a2c8]I just needed a moment,[/color]’ but he was debating if he should leave or not. The energy changed in the air. It wasn’t friendly or balanced like it once was and he wasn’t oblivious. Pilka knew his reaction caused tension and that… Kara probably was nervous. Why wouldn’t she be? When they first met, he lifted her up like she was absolutely nothing, and now he was holding her against the door. 

Her posture relaxed given that she didn't feel so tense. But now their interaction turned awkward, at least from her perspective. Pilka explaining the reason for his actions and her working up a response to that. [color=49FDFE]"I know, it's fine. The only thing that comes to mind is the solution affects your kind differently with more of an adverse reaction than the norm."[/color]


Pilka glanced at the door before looking back at Kara, letting his hands fall from her shoulders and come back to him, ‘[color=c8a2c8]You can let me out.[/color]’ Leaving was probably for the better. It’s not like he couldn’t get medical help outside of Dominion. There was no reason that he should be staying within the city's walls. He stepped away from her and went to grab his items.

[color=49FDFE]"You don't have to go now, you know. If you want to stay, I can finish the job using distilled water."[/color] Kara began walking to the table as well. [color=49FDFE]"I also have an antibacterial ointment; it'll help with infections as I'm sure you already know..."[/color] Kara stood to the side, waiting to see what Pilka would do. Despite her being worried about him going back into the streets as injured as he was, she would respect his decision, whatever that was.

The phone rang again, but only once. Kara didn't bother with it and made a mental note to call back later.

[i]You don’t have to go now…,[/i] those words didn’t sit right with him as he gathered up all his materials and belongings. It didn’t feel right to stay any longer and the little incident made him realize that there was a boundary which was crossed. ‘[color=c8a2c8]I think it will be better if I go, thank you,[/color]’ Pilka appreciated the help that she gave him. He understood that she wanted to continue to help in a way, but he most likely should have left the city when he escaped his cell. 

‘[color=c8a2c8]Plus, you need to answer your phone. Someone is trying to contact you,[/color]’ without slipping himself back into his shirt or jacket or making sure his swords were on his back — Pilka went for the door and opened it. His bloody hand left red marks on the knob and on the door near the knob. Finger prints, smears of blood, and opens the door. 

Before he closed the door behind him, ‘[color=c8a2c8]Stay safe, Kara,[/color]’ and with that the door closed and he began to move down the hallway. 

[color=49FDFE]"Thanks, you as well."[/color]

Kara stood there and watched him go, a little saddened by the outcome but realizing that maybe it was for the best. Once he closed the door behind him, she noticed the he'd smeared some blood. Hands still gloved, she made her way to the kitchen to grab a cleaner and a few paper towels. She would handle that before putting away her med kit. 

Not 10 minutes later, Kara walked over to the phone to see who had dialed her multiple times. The thought that maybe it was her mother calling her with not so good news about her brother scared her a little bit, but she pushed that thought aside. Sitting down, she went through the caller history and her heart sank. 

[i]Laboratory[/i]

Her supervisor was the one trying to get ahold of her, and it didn't take a genius to conjure he'd gotten word about the incident from earlier. She feared the worst case scenario if she were to return the call, and that was she wouldn't have a job anymore.