We are so fragile...

[darkgathersin]

He doesn't know what time it is, can't remember how long he's been here or how long he's been awake. The sun rose, he knows that and it's still early in the morning. The birds are singing and there's lot of traffic. It's not been very long since they found him though, since they started teasing and taunting him. He knows that much

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[isaywe_party]

"Hey! Hey!"

Buffy doesn't like bullies. She doesn't like the way they operate and she doesn't like what they do. And she certainly doesn't like it when they gang up on a poor defenseless guy. There are four kids against one person who seems too beaten down to be fighting back, and this? This is where Buffy usually steps in.

One of them turns and fixes her with a glare. "Leave it alone, bitch, or you're next."

"You really don't want to do that."

The biggest one steps up to try and get her out of the way, and it's over before it even starts. He lands on the ground hard, and the rest of them are staring at her, as though they're trying to decide what to do. She smirks, before holding her hands out.

"Who wants to come at me now?"

Smart boys -- they decide they have better things to do. Buffy lets them disappear, before moving closer, crouching down and placing a gentle hand against the man's back.

"Hey, it's okay," she says softly. "They're gone."

[isaywe_party]

"Here," she says, reaching for his arm and bringing it around her shoulders. "Lean on me. I can take it." The Slayer has superstrength for a reason, after all.

"And there are lots of pillows. All the pillows you can use. And blankets too! Are blankets good, or are they in the bed category?"

[darkgathersin]

he happily leans on her, as much for the contact as the help in moving. It feels good to have something to lean on, something to h9old h8im up. Someone else used to do tht, to help him. There are too many stars to see who though. "Thank you," he says, almost distractedly as he tries to remember. "thankyouthankyouthankyou."

Grinning a little, he suddenly seems to look quite pleased. "Blankets are good. Blankets and pillows and cushions and soft things. Anything soft is good. But not a bed. Beds aren't good. They aren't for good times, not for us, for me."

[isaywe_party]

She nods as they walk, letting him lean on her, and supporting more of his weight than she feasibly should, but she's been known for her ability to defy expectations.

"Then there you go. All the pillows and blankets you could want."

[darkgathersin]

It could be worse. He's thin, probably too thin, really and sickly. Even when he doesn't live on the streets, he looks this way but considering he's been doing so for the past few weeks, he's not looking the greatest.

"All right. That's good. I like pillows. Pillows are good." A pause." You're good. A good thing. You're a goodgoodgood thing. Thank you."

[isaywe_party]

She smiles a bit at that. She knows she is, but sometimes she doesn't feel like it. It's nice to hear it from other people.

"Thanks," she says softly. "Just doing my job."

[darkgathersin]

"Your job?" He blinks, studying her. "You help people?" That makes him smile. "That is a good job. You are good."

He moves, wrapping her up in a quick hug. "Thank you, for me, for everyone. For helping everyone."

[isaywe_party]

Oh! There's a hug! There's also a thank you, but there's so much warmth in that thank you that Buffy can't help but melt into it.

"You're very welcome." And that one isn't just a throwaway.

[darkgathersin]

he lets her go and smiles, quite cheerful now. He's with someone who helps epople, who actually goes out there and helps people. That? Is a good thing.

"What's it like," he questions. "Where we're going? WHat's it like?"

[isaywe_party]

"It's a little creepy," she says with a shrug. "It creaks a little, and is kinda haunted, but it's a nice place. The people there are really friendly."

[darkgathersin]

"Friendly is good," he informs with a nod. "Haunted can be good, depends on the ghost. If it's a nice ghost, it's okay. But if the people are good, that's all right." He smiles almost assuringly at her. "Besides, there are always other places. You can always find a place to stay if you look hard enough, you can always find a new home if you need it."

[isaywe_party]

"That is very true. But the Kashtta is the safest place for us in Chicago. It's protected, for Wanderers. That's why we live there."

Among other reasons, but that one's the easiest.

[darkgathersin]

he nods, listening. "Wanderwanderwander away. Wander tyhrough the world, through the universe, Wanderwanderwander."

He smiles. "I like that, Wanderer. That's what I am. WHat I'm good at. I'm good at wandering."

[isaywe_party]

"I haven't really done much of it. But I'm glad I wandered here. I like it here a lot."

She takes a few more steps before continuing. "What kind of places did you wander to?"

[darkgathersin]

"Everywhere," he says. "Wandered everywhere. Everywhen. Travelled the universe. Saw planets and stars and galaxies. Saw everything."

He smiles wide. "It was amazing."

[isaywe_party]

"It sounds like it. I would have loved to have seen stuff like that."

And it's true. She would have loved to have the chance to travel, see the world not through the scope of the Slayer, but that's not in the cards for her. Not anymore.