Gǎnhuà

Tseng let Rufus get a bit more distance between them before following, taking in the habits of the younger boy. The air outside hadn't been much better then that inside but at least the reek of the food was gone. He waited a minute or two before following Rufus into one of the back alleys that ran along the side of the school. The scraggly bushes were the first sight of greenery Tseng had seen since they got to the school and they looked sickly at that. The comparison between them and the boy was uncanny.



Tseng looked to Rufus, the last of the cigarette in his hand, the boy smoking it down to the stub. There was still time before lunch ended. He looked at the bushes and then walked towards them and crouched next to one of them. Pruning small plants was a common past time for Wutaians and a quick look at the plant told Tseng all he needed to know. He looked at Rufus directly for the first time that day and offered him a small smile.



"This whole place is like death for everything it touches." One of his hands gently stroked the straggly branches of the plant and he stood. "But, perhaps if someone extends a hand to help, a few might survive." He shrugged and returned his face to a neutral expression and leaned against the wall opposite of Rufus. Let the boy interpret it for himself. Let him make the connection, he was certainly smart enough to, but then again it was probably more a matter of willingness rather than wanting.



Rufus stared at the plants, brow furrowed. He'd heard the man approach, and wasn't surprised. He was surprised he wasn't giving him shit about this habit. “They want to live, but not a single one of us can do something as fruity as prune them, we'd get the shit kicked out of us.” Rufus said lowly.



“Might be why all of us are the way we are,” he said, making sure to stub the cigarette out well and field strip the filter. No one needed to know what he did out here.



At least no one had approached him yet to pick a fight. He kicked a foot absently.



“Did you eat? Food here's shit, but if you ask up to the kitchen they have some plain stuff. Sometimes I eat some of that.”



He didn't know what he was extending a kindness towards his new leash and collar, but he did look hungry, and a little sad staring at the shrubs like that.



Tseng nodded in silent agreement. Things he might not have thought even a half second about doing in his home country were liable to be stigmatized or worse here. He was at least glad that Rufus was addressing him civilly, he had almost expected to be ignored or have profanity thrown at him like a large rock. The Turk pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes for a moment as Rufus sat silently. But he looked up again when Rufus brought up the matter of lunch.



"I'll eat later, the food that you natively eat..." He looked for the appropriate way to say 'makes me violently sick' so it wouldn't be offending and at last settled for,
"-it does not sit well with my stomach." His village had experienced famines before, the matter of a few hours would not bother him, he would get one of those sodas or something later.
"But thank you for letting me know, I will keep it in mind," he smiled faintly at Rufus, nodding his head in a gesture of gratefulness.



It was quiet again, but not uncomfortable. Tseng hadn't known what else to say, it wasn't like they were "friends" by any stretch of the term, but it did seem as though a small truce was forming.



There was the sound of roughly three pairs of feet approaching and three boys about Rufus's age came into the back alley, one of them sporting a broken nose and Tseng realized that this young man had been the start of the whole matter. He raised an eyebrow at Rufus questioningly, waiting like a coiled snake. They were only kids after all, even with three of them taking them out would not be a problem. The space was small and confined there would be no room to gang up, not with five people in the alley.



“Hello Richard,” Rufus purred, eyes narrowing. “Can you talk yet, or did they have to wire your jaw too, after I broke your nose?” he asked lowly.



“Shut the fuck up retard. Did your daddy start touching you again? Or did he just kick you around. Every time he fucks up you show up with another bruise, pussy,” one of Richards toadies got in on the conversation.



“Fuck off, all three of you are just weak,” Rufus spit. “Don't you have someone else to bother?”



Tseng watched the exchange, his eyes only moving between Rufus and the other three, trying to estimate if he needed to interfere or if it would remain at words. His eyes widened slightly at some of the insults and he stored the information away for later.



"We're not the weak ones, we don't need a fucking Whing to protect us," Richard snarled. "Or is he your mail order bride so your dad can have a three way?" Oh the logic must have seemed flawless.



Tseng's eyebrows raised, and had it been anywhere else it might have been somehow funny. But it was rapidly getting old and had a recycled feel to it, as though this was a common occurrence.



Tseng watched them throw back and forth a few more insults and as he saw Richards hand curling into a fist the Turk stepped forward and pointedly between the two opposing parties, snatched Richards wrist and then with a quick twist broke it.



Rufus watched with some satisfaction as the other hit the dirt with a howl. Yes, it hurt to have your wrist broken, especially like that.



He didn't expect one of the toadies to launch themselves over the table at him. He drew his fist back, and with a kick that was as violent as it was pointy nailed him in the balls at the same moment his fist hit his face.



Richard-toadie number one went down with a whimper, and the third just fled.



Rufus stood casually, staring down at the other two. He then spit right on Richards forehead and headed back towards school. The bell was going to ring soon. He glanced back over his shoulder towards Tseng, making sure he was following.



~*~



Tseng followed Rufus, not saying anything, his heart not even speeding up from the brief skirmish. Off all the possible outcomes this had been the best one. The boy had shown that he was fast and effective, even if untrained. He had not shrunk away from the violence, had not spooked and didn't appear to have taken it as an insult to his pride and instead had hold his own. Well so long as things were somewhat balanced. But it would do for now.



There should be some peace as well, even if just for a short time, once the administrators found Richard and his friend the message should be quite clear. He kept just slightly closer to Rufus, in the event of retaliation, but doubted there would be any. These were still just kids after all, still liable to spooking.



~*~



Rufus sighed as he gathered up his books. Two tests had been scheduled for Monday instead....and that meant an entire weekend at home and worrying about tests. His stomach knotted, and he managed to make it to the restroom to throw up. Those pills did work for pain but he never could find his appetite with them, let alone keep anything down.



He knew there would be a limo waiting outside by the curb, along with the buses and cars. He knew he should go to it...but he didn't want to. Worse than anything else he could think of. It was the weekend and his mother wasn't home... that meant the touching and trying to avoid his father.



He knew Tseng couldn't be far away...so he did the best he could and after tossing his bag out the bathroom window, crawled out right after it. He started to run.



~*~



Tseng had suspected something the moment Rufus had stepped into the boy's bathroom. Although there was the sound of honest-to-goodness retching, Tseng knew better then to just assume Rufus would rejoin him like an obedient lemming.



3, 2...1 the Turk mentally counted down as he exited the building and walked to approximately where the bathroom's widows out be. He caught sight of Rufus's white uniform as the boy exited his field of vision in a flat out run as if the dogs of the underworld were at his heels.



Tseng shook his head, almost bemused, but slightly concerned. A quick wall vault took him to the top of the brick wall that surrounded the school like a prison. He began to run along the top of it after Rufus and it was only a few minutes later that thanks to his training and his longer legs that he caught up to the boy.



He was sorely tempted to ask why exactly Rufus was running like a hunted buck but decided against it. The boy's face was pale and had an expression on it that suggested that he was not mentally in a happy place. The school wall came to a rather abrupt end and Tseng jumped down from it, landing in a crouch and then following after Rufus keeping pace.



Rufus turned to glance at him when he heard the footsteps following. Outrunning would be useless at this point.



“I'm not going back there. I'm going to a friends,” he said sternly to Tseng. Of course, he had no real friends to spend the night with, no reason to escape. He turned then again, running becoming a walk. He just wanted to sleep somewhere safe...and he headed for the slums.



There was a drop through that led him straight down and to the highest pressure check station before it cascaded into the slums and beneath the plate. That was where he was going. There were some other boys there who sometimes let him sleep against the pressure station near them. It was warm there, and quiet. He didn't want Tseng to know where this place was, but hell if he would go back home right now.



Tseng still kept pace with him until he reached the edge, where Rufus tossed his bag down, and then taking his jacket off to wrap around his fists he slid down the nearest pipe without burning his hands. This of course, made his ribs hurt even worse, but he tried to not to show it as he caught his breath at the bottom.



Tseng didn't argue the matter, didn't question it, and didn't try to detour Rufus from his intended escape, in fact he didn't say anything. The Wutaian just committed the area to memory and the words. Granted he could see the logic to it, after all the average person is seventy percent more likely to die in their own home then anywhere else. All of the motions Rufus went through seemed routine, as if he'd done this before.



The Turk followed Rufus down the pipe, ignoring the hot metal and once at the bottom, took in the area. He'd been in similar areas as part of his training but not this specific place, but the differences were few and far between. He looked at Rufus, his expression neutral still, if only a little curious as to the grand scheme of things logic behind the blonde boy's actions, but said nothing. He suspected Rufus had a "safe house" of sorts here, mostly because you would never think of a Shin-Ra down in the slums.



And Tseng had no intent of "snitching" on his charge. In fact if coming here would get Rufus to just stop for a short bit, Tseng fully intend to find something to eat. He had caught the scent of rice cooking somewhere and figured a bowl wouldn't hurt Rufus either, it would be easy on his stomach after the vomiting the boy had just done. If only the boy would stop moving for a moment and settle. Although Tseng doubted that Rufus would be so considerate.



~*~



Rufus glanced to Tseng again, and then headed further down into the drop-off. After climbing down more, he found one of the boys he had been hoping to find, wandering and hunting for rats. “Darren?” He asked softly. The dark haired boy glanced to him once, and then nodded, rough made spear tight in his hands. The orphan's eyes drifted to Tseng, then to Rufus again.



“He… should not be here,” The boy said, just before leading them both towards one of the tents. “If he doesn't tell on us, he can eat with us...you should eat too...taking those things doesn't make you get better any faster you know?” The boy said, as if he knew, and Rufus tilted his head.



Rice...did sound good. He didn't even really mind the rat when it was cooked right. He'd tried a long time ago because he'd wanted to know. “Do you have enough? I brought a bag from home.” Rufus said, offering it out to the boy, who took it with a sound of thanks. “You won't get hit this time?”



“I didn't tell him, he won't hit me for something he doesn't even know is gone,” Rufus said lowly. “Did you get any big ones?” he asked. Darren laughed, then nodded to the nearby tallest bent pipe, where several rats hung, freshly dressed.



~*~



Tseng followed the two saying nothing and just taking in the environment, the conversation and the scent of rodent blood. Not all together unappealing and it sorely reminded him of his home for a moment, especially when they came upon the small clusters of tents. He fell further back, from the two boys but remained with in listening distance to seem like less of a threat to Darren. He wasn't sure what to expect down here and didn't want to impose on the already struggling youths. Patience, he reminded himself and he rubbed his temple for a moment.



They were both invited into the tent by Darren after a moment. “God, we're all unwanted here, you look hungry. Here,” he offered a small bowl of rice to Tseng. “We're brothers anyway....my parents died here though....do you still have yours?” Darren asked curiously, bright eyes meeting Tseng's.



Rufus just smiled a little to himself, and took a bowl of rice and some rat. It was way better than anything the school offered. He hurt and he was tired, but food, especially soft rice like this with a little broth and meat, sounded better than any other kind of feast. He settled to a tattered rug beside a small blond girl who looked just as tired. He nodded once to her. She played cards with him sometimes...to keep his mind off of bad things...



Tseng blinked, surprised by the offered kindness but accepted the bowl and inclined his head in a gesture of thankfulness. He knelt, across from Rufus and Darren, listening to the boy talk, again surprised at his interest. He thought for a moment before answering.



"My mother is resting with my ancestors in the Celestial Plains," Tseng answered softly. "My father still lives last I heard of him. But that was nearly three years ago." He paused again closing his eyes to offer silent thanks for the food and company.



When he opened his eyes he saw Rufus sitting next to a blonde girl who looked like she was too small for her age, he didn't seem to have an adverse dislike for her and Tseng smiled faintly as he ate.



"You and Rufus go back a while?" he asked Darren, feeling that he should repay the curiosity in kind but without impeding too much into what be dangerous territory.



Darren thought about it for a while, and then nodded slightly. “He ran down here one night, some guy chasing him. We hid him and he's been nice to us ever since. His daddy's a big deal but he's just like us. Already an orphan...we give him a safe place to sleep...we all need that. He's pretty good at killing rats too...and the girl over there, Jenna. She likes playing cards with him.”



Tseng nodded, taking in the information, considering it carefully if he should ask another question.
"Thank you," he said. "It is good to know he has allies," Tseng didn't use the word friends because he doubted either boy considered the other a friend, but at least they were on the same side.
"How long will he stay here?" Tseng asked, trying to anticipate how they would avoid Rufus's father should this after school trip go later into the evening.



“Days, a lot on weekends...” eyes that were far too old for their age surveyed his face. “It's not right, my parents are dead and they love me more than his dad ever has,” the boy's shoulders slumped. He knew he'd said too much. “Sorry, I gotta go get more rats...don't start trouble or they'll kick me out too, okay?” He said, before standing and jogging out of the tent.



When Rufus had finished his food he lay down beside Jenna slowly, a tiny grimace passing his features. He would just rest for a second. He laid his head down onto his book-bag with a wince. She gave him a sad look, and covered him with her dusty school jacket.



Tseng had no intent of starting trouble or sharing this information with anyone, but Darren had moved as if spooked before the Turk could have responded. Every part of him screamed for action to do something, anything. But those weren't his orders. His orders were to react to active threats, not to comfort or care about his charge. But even using that mentality, how could he protect from the threat within? The thing that everyone suspected but no one would raise a hand to stop, that was torn at even by his peers.



But as right now that was all it was rumors, no concrete proof, just a rich kid with a dad who had ridiculous standards and got rowdy when he had a few drinks and the kid, as all children do at some point ran away from home to avoid it. Tseng realized then that he was frowning in concentration, because it was just too convenient.



He looked at Rufus, who was lying down now, looking exhausted on more levels then one. He was next to the girl, who had covered him with her jacket. These orphans where truly the only allies that Rufus had. Tseng stood and moved from the tent, not saying a word and flipped open his cell phone. He'd not expected to actually get a signal down here but found that he still had two bars.



He pressed a button on speed dial and waited for about half a second before Verdot picked up on the other line.



"Report," the lead Turk's voice was low.
"Sir I do not like this," Tseng spoke, his voice equally low. It was quiet for a moment on the other end of the line.
"It is not your assignment to like the situation Tseng," Verdot said his voice flat and dangerous.
"But sir-"
"Are you a Turk or not?" Verdot cut in. "If you are then you will circumvent this situation and find a solution. If these is none to be found then you will carry out your orders with as minimal collateral damage as possibl-"
"He's only a child!" Tseng's voice raised slightly and more of his Wutain accent became highly apparent as it always did when his emotions got the better of him. He was breathing heavily and his grip on the phone was shaking. It was quiet again.
"Tseng," Verdot spoke as if speaking to a small child. "You will complete this mission. I don't care how nor what methods you use to do so. Otherwise you will be terminated. This is only your first mission after all and I would hate to waste such promising talent. Are we clear?"
"Yes sir," Tseng said tightly and then the line went dead. He swore softly in Wutain and almost threw his phone but managed to regain control of himself and pinched the bridge of his nose, taking several deep breaths before returning to the tent and kneeling again, this time closer to Tseng and the blonde girl, who looked at him mistrustfully.



Rufus whimpered softly in his sleep, and the girl stroked his hair once until the terrified expression left his face and he slumbered again. His hand moved to his mouth like he might at one time have sucked his thumb, and the urge to self comfort was still there even if it had left in his waking hours.
“Are you his bodyguard?” The girl asked, expression as worried as it was distrustful. “I think he's sick,” she touched his forehead once gently.



Tseng frowned, watching Rufus closely as the girl spoke.
"In essence yes," Tseng answered and carefully he moved closer to them. "Has his condition worsened since he started coming here?" He gently touched the back of his hand to Rufus's forehead, it was warm but not unusually so. Delicately Tseng rested his fingers along the underside of Rufus's jaw, pressing slightly, looking for inflammation of the lymph nodes. He found none. But he did find several faded bruises along the boy's neck and some that were hidden mostly by the high collar of his uniform.



"I think he's more exhausted than anything, sometimes illness can result from too much stress," Tseng said to the girl softly, stroking Rufus's bangs back slightly. He reached into his jacket and took out the small vial that held the comfrey oil. "This all I can do for now, to help his bruises heal," Tseng said to the girl as he put two drops his fingers and rubbed them lightly over the boy's bruised neck and eye as if he was stroking a new born kitten.



"Do you know of an apothecary anywhere here?" Even if it was an unsavory one, they were better then the synthetic materia and drugs that most people in Midgar used.



“There is one down in the slums by where the flower-girl lives. One of us can show you, if you promise to help him feel better,” she said shyly. Tseng was exotic and foreign looking, and she was just old enough to notice such things.



Rufus snuffled in his sleep, leaning into the soft touch at his eye and neck that soothed the pain. His breathing slowed a little more and he seemed even more deeply asleep....



Tseng nodded, watching as the oil worked its way beneath the skin, this was highly concentrated and would work longer and faster allowing for Rufus to rest. When in pain the human body naturally released adrenaline. When one was in a constant state of pain the sleep was disturbed and stage IV REM was never achieved, it interfered thus with alertness, reaction time, cognitive thinking and memory as well as damaging the immune system.



"I am his Turk after all," he said, almost fondly. "It is my duty to ensure that he remains alive and well. He's just a child..." Tseng shook his head, sighing. "I think he will sleep for a while, if one of you can show me, I will do what I can." 'Assuming he doesn't try to slip out on me again.' "Its difficult to know exactly what he needs, I'm sure you know that he doesn't easily divulge information."



“He's quiet a lot...it must be difficult...being him,” she glanced up to Tseng. “I'll take you down to see her, he'll be okay, the others will watch over him,” she whispered softly. She smiled to him again then, and stood. “You can meet the flower girl...she's really nice too!”



Rufus stirred again, but then settled, as if noticing Tseng's absence. “I think he likes you. He let you stay with him, not like the last couple,” She said. “Come on, let's go.”



She hurried out the door, waving to her fellow rat catcher as she led Tseng into the city.



Tseng nodded, glancing back once more at Rufus before stepping out of the tent.
"I'm not sure about liking, I think he tolerates me because he doesn't have the energy to shake me," Tseng mused as he followed the girl.



~*~



The girl ignored his statement, and then led the way to the city and Tseng followed. They came upon a small girl in a pink dress who looked younger then Rufus, stationed at a cart of flowers that stood out brilliantly against the grim and dankness of the slums. The girl herself seemed to be radiating slightly, which the Turk wanted to write off as an effect of her bubbly personality, but he knew better. A word of in Wutain, for he didn't know how it would translate into Midgarian, slipped from his lips in a slightly awed whisper. But then he shook himself and looked at the young woman again. Gu-kami, and he knew it. And ancient goddess, here in the form of a mortal child.



He glanced from one girl to the other, looking for introduction. Also trying to find his tongue to see if she might possess the herbs he required.



“Do you want to buy a flower mister?” She asked Tseng sweetly. “You look sad...you're not from here, are you?” She offered one over to him then. “Here just, take one...you look worried too, maybe it will make you feel better?” She asked. She turned to look behind herself, then blinked, and then nodded to a place in thin air as if she could see something they could not. “Oh, someone's sick! We grow the herbs for the nice lady who makes potions. Do you want to see her?” She whirled back to face Tseng, eyes wide with her honest desire to help.



Tseng blinked, opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again as he took the flower. He felt as the girl could see right through him and fought down, with some difficulty, the tradition of his people to hold such demigods in reverence and drop down on one knee. A few soft words of awed prayer left his mouth in Wutaian and then he found his tongue again.



"Yes. Please, I'm just looking for herb oils or packets of them dried," he managed, finding himself unable to pull his eyes from the girl's. She was pure as stark a contrast to the slums and society as the flowers that she grew.



She giggled at him. “I promise, I'm just a person...” She said as she seemed to read his mind yet again. “Follow me, I'll show you her shop.”



~*~



The old woman smiled at him as he entered her shop. “Ah...a child of Wutai...those are rare here,” she said in Wutaian after her normal shop greeting. “What do you look for today, my son?”



The flower girl followed behind shyly. This old woman seemed to like her so she wasn't too worried.



Tseng did not believe the girl for a moment on the state of her normality, yet he followed her without hesitation.



Upon entering the shop Tseng was greeted by the scent of flowers and herbs and the air was heavy with steam from brewing potions. He blinked several times at the musing of the old woman who ran the shop and bit back the stupid question of 'You speak Wutaian?'. She herself did not appear to be from any of the regions of his homeland and she spoke without the accent that came from some of the dialects, her words crisp and sharp.



He bowed to her, his upper body bending slightly in acknowledgment of her seniority. And then quickly ran down a small laundry list of herbs both dry and extracted into oil and produced good coin for it.



She quickly and efficiently produced the herbs, potions and tinctures that he ordered, and threw in a bonus bit of free rooibos for his troubles. He was paying well, She appreciated that.



“Here you are sir, I hope wellness follows you all of your days,” she said politely.



“Will whoever is sick feel better now?” The blond girl asked sweetly, even though she already knew the answer and then some...



Tseng gave a grateful bow to the woman and returned the blessing, adding good business to the saying as well. He discreetly tipped her, it would pay to have a connection who could get the traditional medicines and it never hurt to start making connections early. Especially if she could manage to get comfrey or other traditional Wutaian plants.



He turned his attention to her as they left the shop and they went back to her flower cart where the rat catcher girl was waiting still.



"Hopefully. Although I think what is truly ailing him won't be remedied so easy. All I can do for now is try to ease his pain," Tseng said, smiling faintly at the girl's good-natured optimism. He didn't consider that the girl might have a hint of omnipotence as a gift and was just grateful to have such willing help.
"My name is Tseng," he said to the little girl as they neared her cart. "I didn't catch yours, what is it?" He asked as he placed a few coins in the little metal jar attached to one end of the girl's cart, it was the least he could do for her help. Even if it wiped out his per-diem for the week.



“It's Aerith, Mr. Tseng.” She said calmly. “Don't worry. Someday...you'll have everything you've ever wanted and needed...so don't give up,” she murmured softly. She nodded to him gently then.



Jenna was nodding to him too, smiling just a little. “You can make him feel better now, right?” She whispered. “We should head home soon too...he might wake up. He doesn't sleep very long, even when he's tired,” she tilted her head to glance at Tseng, hinting he should follow.



He stared at her curiously for a long moment before Jenna spoke to him and suggested they get back. At the mention of Rufus's lack of any real length of sleep Tseng was immediately glad that he'd been able to get a good amount of Skullcap and Valerian, they were good for nerves and sleep inducing. The Valerian also helped to ease internal pain that the comfrey oil couldn't reach.



Tseng gave a polite bow to Aerith and followed Jenna back to the cluster of tents.



"I can do what I can. Although from the sounds of things he would do better if he was put in foster care instead of that of his father's," Tseng said to her mildly. At the moment all he would try to do would be to relief the pain and the fever. He wasn't sure how much movement Rufus intended on doing and wasn't going to try to force more sleep on the boy if they still had to make it back to the Shin-Ra house.
"Thank you for your help," Tseng said to Jenna as they approached the tents.



~*~



Rufus opened his eyes and sighed, sitting up painfully he folded up Jenna's coat. He couldn't go home...but he knew he couldn't stay here or risk the others security. He glanced up to see Tseng, only a little surprised that he was still here. He was carrying a bag of something.



“You went shopping?” He asked hoarsely, rubbing his eyes and tugging his fingers through his hair in a gesture of ragged exhaustion.



Tseng frowned slightly in concern, the boy looked half passed death even with the little bit of sleep he'd gotten. The Turk set the bag down and knelt in front of Rufus, tracing his long fingers lightly over the boy's neck, able to get a more accurate check of his lymph nodes now. Nothing remarkable, although Rufus's pulse was racing, it probably was constantly from stress, and his skin had a dry sickly feel to it. The kid was headed for a break down and at this point there was no detouring it, all Tseng could do was ease it a bit.



The Turk made no reply about the shopping, and began to go through the bag, pulling out various containers of herbs. Speaking to Jenna in a low voice he set her to get some hot water. He mixed several pinches of each one into what might have been a coffee filter, Jenna returned with the water and a cup and Tseng poured the water over the herbs, effectively flash scalding them. The resultant tea was a strange red and purple mix which smelled strongly of various types of mints and other spring herbs.



"You have a fever, your nerves are shot to hell and your heart is racing," Tseng set the cup in front of Rufus. "You also have internal bruising. This will help with the pain and assist in healing also will sooth your nerves without causing drowsiness." He sat back on his heels waiting. He made no demand that Rufus drink the strange tea, only waited. Patience.

Rufus stared at the tea, a mixture of curiosity and exhaustion lifting his eyebrows. Hesitantly, he took it. If it were poison, he really didn't care. If it helped, he really hoped it did. Everything hurt and he wasn't really sure if he could walk back home right now.



He sniffed it once thoughtfully, and it really just smelled like grass and dirt and mint....which really wasn't that bad of a smell when one ate rats from time to time.



He took a slow sip, and it actually did not taste all that disgraceful. Actually it felt nice on his throat and the steam felt like it was clearing his head. Just holding the stuff made his racing pulse slow and the safety of the tent allowed him to forget about home just for a second, if only to get a grip on himself.



The Turk nodded to himself, glad that Rufus was drinking it. He knew just as Rufus did that they couldn't take much more time in this place. He didn't remind Rufus that they would need to leave soon, he allowed the boy these few moments of peace. This was all the defense he could offer the boy now, eventually he hoped Rufus would trust him more especially since it seemed as though they were going to be stuck together for some time.



Tseng almost moved to comfort the boy but decided against it, not wanting to spook him. Instead he just settled closer to Rufus, silent as he usually was but not oppressing, not crushing.



Rufus wished, just for a moment, in a way he shouldn't have to just lean into the others arms. No one had ever really tried to help him like this before when he ran away... He finished the tea and looked around, eyes longing. Someday...he would have a safe place of his own. Someday he would have everything he had ever wanted, and no one would hurt him again. He bit his lip and let out a long slow sigh.



“We should head back,” he said, leaving the 'Before my father gets angry and comes looking for us both,' unsaid.



The longing in the boy's expression did not go unnoticed. To go home was hell, but they couldn't stay here. Tseng gathered the herbs and stood thanking Jenna for her help again. Then he put a hand on Rufus's shoulder before they stepped out of the tent, the boy's body felt cold even through the school uniform, but at least the worst of the nerve tremors had subsided. Tseng just rested his hand there, warm and then saying nothing he stepped out of the tent and held the flap open for Rufus to follow.