The wind up here is so... biting, so why am I drawn to it...? Lynx sighed, sitting on the edge of the hospital roof and looking down at the city before her. Doesn't it all just kind of feel pointless? Nobody is looking for me, if I fell, right now, nobody would ever care... but, what if that's not true, what if my family is in another country...? I still just feel, like I'm missing somebody... Flashes of dark hair and fox ears came to mind, but left as fast as they'd come, slipping away into the brutal wind. She felt nauseous, the cold wind made her feel almost hateful, and yet, there was a sick and twisted comfort in it, at the same time. The cold, it wrenched her stomach, but there was an odd warmth, in the feeling of disgust... What is wrong with me... but, I suppose falling off the roof would be pretty lame if I wanted to live so badly I became a demon without even entering hell, huh...? Ugh...
Sighing quietly, Lynx slowly rose to her feet and wavered on the edge of the rooftop for just a moment, then spun on a heel and half stepped, half toppled down onto the roof proper, beginning to walk toward the door inside. When she entered, there was a nurse awkwardly fidgeting on the landing who looked up and then away- scowling, lynx pushed her hospital gown more tightly against her body, eyes narrowing.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to look you're kind of just above me-!!" The nurse seemed to almost plead, and Lynx rolled her eyes, walking down and nodding. "D-Downstairs, downstairs all the way, he's waiting for you-"
"Alright," she huffed, tail flicking softly, walking down. Three days in this place with the nurses looking at her like some sort of monster, with food being dropped off just inside the door- if this was such an uppity government hospital, she'd have expected they'd seen a demon or two before, but no, it seemed as though the entire staff was afraid she could tear the building from its very foundation. Certainly, she didn't feel capable of that, at the least- though, she did have to wonder if it was easy for a demon to use magic, granted their souls were so much more active than those of a human, from her understanding. I'm still missing my memories, but that can be addressed later... it's getting easier...
Down down down... thankfully, no more nurses waiting at landings below her, and when she opened the doors at the very bottom of the staircase, Aerendyl stood there, smiling comfortably with crossed arms.
"Lynx, it's good to hear you've decided to take my offer. You uh... they not let you take a shower?" He asked, wrinkling his nose. "You smell like my ex girlfriend's attempts at cooking."
"That's not nice," Lynx snorted, shaking her head. "I'm sure she tried her best, okay? Anyway, I kept asking for shampoo, and soak, like the little bottles- and a nurse said she'd bring it by next time, but nobody ever did, okay? I could only shower with water, I'm sorry."
"Hmf..." Aerendyl nodded, glancing away. "Well, I don't know that you'd trust me, but if you want, before we go to the school, we can stop by my home. Get you a shower, and grab you some real clothes on the way there. Hey, though- a strange man invites you to his house, I understand if you'd rather arrive at the school hungry and half naked, don't worry." As he spoke, Lynx felt her tail flicking languidly, curling, ears swiveling forward.
"Mmm... I think that if you wanted to hurt me, or worse... well, the nurses wouldn't have helped me or reported anything, they'd probably have thanked you. So, if you're sure, I'll gratefully accept, but why would you go so far out of your way for me?"
"Because I can?" Aerendyl asked as they turned, beginning to walk toward the doors. "I mean, I an angel, isn't that enough reason?" He added with a wink, and Lynx, looking around, almost didn't even register what he said. It seemed so normal, but the lobby was empty- outside, however, looked like it might kill her in this flimsy gown with the chill air of the lobby reaching places that maybe it shouldn't. Even so, it was beautiful- a veritable winter wonderland with crystalline snow sparkling like diamonds, thinly layering the parking lot but mounded around it, high into the air.
"I... really hate the cold," Lynx whispered, running up to the windows with wide eyes and looking out, kneeling on a chair in front of her to get a better look, bending forward. Truly, it was a sight to behold- in the bright afternoon sky, waves of pink and blue light shivered like an aurora, and while no snow was falling, it may well have been a scene from a postcard; uniform buildings all hanging thick with icicles and snow. In the distance, a hill sat in sight with what seemed to be a residential neighborhood- even from here she could see the deep brown indentations of logged walls and the like. "What the... this is like a children's book??" Laughing, Lynx yelped, ears twitching rapidly, tail thrashing as a small flower pot clattered onto the floor at her feet, looking back. Aerendyl, however, had begun to laugh from deep in his chest, covering his mouth.
"Kitty got a bit too excited," He spoke, laughing. "Your tail almost became a helicopter rotor, I'm pretty sure. Don't worry, it's pretty normal to feel disconnected from new body parts for a while, but... you really looked like you love the snow for somebody who claims to hate the cold. Are you ready to go? Don't worry, my car is warmed and blasting heat."
"N-Ng, yeah, sorry," Lynx huffed, picking up the flower pot, kneeling so as not to expose herself even to cameras, putting it back on the table. Luckily, the flower and dirt seemed to be plastic and textured, leaving no mess on the floor. "Coming," she added, hurrying to the door and pushing through. Thankfully, they'd at least given her cheap slippers to protect her bare feet from the snow, but even so, Aerendyl ushered her out quickly and toward a plain black car near the front door. The wind was biting, and Lynx groaned, stomach turning over and tying itself into knots as she was bundled into the passenger seat- the leather seats were warm, and indeed a warm breeze came through the vents, washing over her. Regardless, she wrapped her arms around herself, grimacing as Aerendyl sat down in the driver seat. When he looked to her pointedly, after a moment of mental blankness, Lynx grabbed her seat belt and put it on.
"By the way, angel boy, you didn't answer me- why are you going so far out of your way for me?" He laughed, in response, beginning to back out and pull away, turning onto a busy, slushy street when an opening appeared and starting downhill, into what seemed to be a deeper downtown area.
"I did answer you, Lynx, you were just too busy admiring the snow. I said it's because I'm an angel, and helping others is my job." Aerendyl smiled her way for a moment, and the blonde young woman narrowed her eyes.
"Right, mister director man... after the speech you gave me about how your angelic or demonic self is formed of your deepest beliefs about yourself? You want me to believe that your deepest and most sincere belief was that you were a charity worker?"
"I've only been an angel for four years, actually," Aerendyl spoke quietly, his eyes darkening, fast, the blue color even seeming to dim, to something more like seawater than sky. "I've got my reasons for wanting to help, okay? I promise. The only selfishness here is proving- is, proving to myself that I'm not a- I don't want to finish this conversation. Do you know your clothing sizes? When we arrive at the mall, you could come in and try some things on, but maybe it would be better to let me eyeball it for you? I assume you don't want to come into the store, or go through the snow like that," He added, eyeing her pointedly. Lynx, self conscious, pushed her gown down more firmly between her thighs, but in the same breath she slowly, very gently touched his shoulder, frowning.
"Aerendyl, I'm sorry I struck a nerve, but... if you did wanna talk-"
"I don't. Thanks." He spoke coldly, jaw set, eyes emotionless, like the face of a mannequin, only there to look pretty. "Still happy to help you, that remains unchanged. So, am I going to eyeball some things for you, or do you want to come in?"
"I'll u-um, trust you to eyeball it," Lynx mumbled, shrinking down into her seat, just a bit. "I'm sorry, for whatever I did..." He seemed so tense, so angry, and Lynx couldn't shake a faint sense of guilt, considering what he was doing for her... but I don't get it, what did I do I'm sorry, I was just trying to show my appreciation and listen if needed...
"Got it. You... didn't do anything wrong, I just don't want to talk about myself," Aerendyl nodded, and for a while, they drove in silence. Letting her head fall to the side, Lynx looked out the window- she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't... right, that she wasn't from around here. The buildings were square and uniform, and based on shape alone these buildings would have been terribly boring, but... decorum was the name of the game, with wrought-iron window frames, colorful bricks used everywhere to form patterns- there, a building like a candy cane ! A sweets shop? There, a library where the side of the building was painted like the spine of a book, and the door painted, shaped, as an upside down coffee mug. It really did feel like she'd wandered into a children's fairytale...
"Here we are. Wait here and don't drive off with my car, okay? I'll leave the heat on for you," Aerendyl added softly, parking and cracking his door, leaving Lynx to shudder as the cold wind blasted her for a moment. Just like that, he was gone, and she was left alone, wondering what she'd done to make him flip and become such a cold, professional man. He wasn't being cruel, but... so closed off, all of a sudden. Only been an angel for four years... what's that about, I wonder... is it bad if I wanna find out...? Probably, based on that reaction...
Her head felt heavy, again, and Lynx sighed, leaning back against the headrest, breathing slowly. "I'm not gonna sleep anymore... I did enough sleeping in that damn hospital bed..." I wonder what the school is gonna look like, Is it gonna be like some cringy animation, where we all have pink and purple hair and spend an hour screaming before blowing stuff up? Or are we talking rigid classrooms...? Really, it's probably something between the two... wonder.. what a police academy is like..."
Suddenly, Lynx found herself standing in a supermarket- or rather, powering through and tearing a coat on around herself, determined. Her heart pounded, and she couldn't remember why she was here, only that she must keep moving- out, into the cold night air. A few men stood around laughing and smoking, their teeth yellowed and their facial hair unkempt.
"Hey- it's not safe, could one of you please give me a ride?" Lynx asked quietly, raising an eyebrow, and one of the men smirked wickedly, stepping toward her, hooking a thumb into his belt.
"Well love, I got a ride for you, alright... then we can see about getting you home, maybe, heh." Swallowing her revulsion, Lynx smiled.
"Thanks, but on second thought, I'm sure a walk would do just fine. I've been needing the exercise!" She added, brushing past them, walking as briskly as she could, watching her step, careful.
"Hey, Lynx-"
"I said no, I can walk!!"
"Lynx!!"
"I SAID I'M OKAY, I'M OKAY, I'M ALWAYS OKAY!!" She screamed, eyes widening- the world was swimming around her- she was still in the car, though it was now stopped in front of a house, and aerendyl was very gently holding her hand. She jerked it away, and he let her, her chest rising and falling rapidly, eyes wide.
"Lynx, you're okay," Aerendyl whispered, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm not sure what kind of nightmares you were having, but you're okay. I just want to help, I promise."
"I-I fell asleep," Lynx whispered, looking down at her lap, then out the window, and finally up at the house in front of her, which was dark and wooden, with walls themed like logs but not seeming to be made of them. The roof was formed of shingles the green of a winter tree, deep and dark, and not much was visible through the windows from here- the house seemed large, but entirely normal. "I fell asleep, is that it...? I fell asleep..."
"Mhm, you were mumbling, but I didn't realize it was a nightmare or I'd have tried to wake you earlier," Aerendyl nodded. "Do you need me to leave you in the car alone, for a few, or can we make our way inside now? I got some clothes that should fit you, or at least come close. I also have a hot shower- and boy, I've been told I make a MEAN omelet."
"Are you expecting me to sleep with you?" Lynx blurted out. The contents of her nightmare were already fading, but that thought came out before she could even process that it was in her head.
"God, no. I'd turn you down," Aerendyl smiled. "I'm not looking for any such things right now, though you are attractive- that is not something I, as a person, want."
"Okay, mister perfect angel..." Lynx rolled her eyes, glaring at him, not really intentionally. "Sorry for freaking out, I guess I was just having a nightmare, it's already slipping away from me. I'm okay, I'm... fine. I'll... get out, now...?"
"Yes yes, but watch your step, I forgot to salt so the driveway is icy. Actually, hold on," He added, walking around the car. Lynx waited, patiently, as he stopped in front of her door... there was a bright flash of light, and then he gave her the thumbs up, backing off toward the front door. Hesitating, a bit, Lynx looked down at the door lock and pulled it up. Once it clicked, the young lady nudged the door open, peeking downward- the asphalt was soaked, but not cold OR frozen, and as she slowly stepped out, she found Aerendyl smiling, waiting at the door.
"The uh... what was it, the back over the border foul demon ray? That's what I did to the driveway," He spoke, laughing lightly- it seemed he was back to his playful self, now.
"I see, I see... magic is that simple for you? I meant to ask about that, actually. Can I use magic then? I don't feel very magical."
"Well, your reflexes, strength, speed- those should all be enhanced. Finding out whether you can master magic though, that's another animal altogether- you'll learn about it and be tested during classes, I don't want to make your head spin right now, especially after the bad dreams. Come on in!! Care for a tour?" Aerendyl grinned, holding open the door, and Lynx hesitated, shifting, even as the biting wind plastered her gown to her body, turning her stomach in knots once again and likely showing him too much.
"You're really not... trying to get in my pants, right?" She asked quietly, glancing him over. He seemed normal as ever, though there was a large paper bag on his right wrist.
"Lynx, you don't have any to get into. Even if you did, though, no." He shook his head, sighing. "Look, I get it, I really do, but you're not wrong. The nurses fear demons so much around here- most healthcare workers do. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't have fought to have you saved, would I? And if I wanted something else from you, I'd have had it by now. Just because you don't know my motivations doesn't mean they're bad- and I swear to you, I'm not looking for that." A pause, and then, "I'm offering a tour because... outside of students and class, I haven't really talked to anybody lately. I'm not looking for romance, or sex- maybe I'm looking, for a friend, is that so hard to believe?"
"Coming from the leader of a prestigious school-"
"A prestigious and government controlled school," Aerendyl spoke over her but gently. "One where I am watched during all working hours, as well as listened to, and my workload is enough to break the back of a young horse. That is not a place to make friends... so would you indulge me, please, and come inside, before you freeze to death? Plus, I think your uh," He snickered.
"My what?" Lynx asked, angling her head, oblivious, only for Aerendyl to gesture down and help her realize- the wind was blowing the gown toward her.
"O-Okay, let's go inside, I'm sorry for being so nervous," She whispered, hurrying forward.
"I get it," Aerendyl replied as gently as ever. "Still a stranger inviting you into their home and you don't even have underwear on, I get it. I don't wanna hurt you though, and using you or anybody else isn't even in my cards." Stepping into the foyer with her, he shut the dark wooden door, which sported a window in the shape of a crescent moon, frosted glass, and locked it behind them, at which Lynx gulped softly, trying to relax the knot in her stomach, looking around.
"Thanks... sorry, can't stop worrying, for some reason," Lynx shuddered, swallowing. The entryway here was nice, with a wooden floor that might have been miserable if she wasn't in these greasy hospital slippers. "I uh, tour? You wanted to show me around?"
"Yeah, it's been a long time since somebody came here for reasons other than work, so thank you for indulging me," Aerendyl laughed, stretching, and walked forward, leading Lynx into a spacious living room. Something about it felt... more like a magazine than an actual home. At the least, he didn't use this room often, with its fancy corner couch made from leather, glass coffee table, and wall mounted TV. The view was nice, though- Lynx found herself wandering forward to the window, looking out- they were huge, three bay windows, almost floor to ceiling. The view... breathtaking.
"Yeah. I live at the edge of the city- it's pretty quiet out here," The angel behind her spoke softly. "Plenty of other towns out there, but they're a ways away," Outside, there was a brief stretch of land and then a dropoff. In the distance, Lynx could see a lake frozen over, and far beyond that massive, sparkling mirror in the land, snow capped trees as far as she could see. Now, the town was one postcard but this...
"Wow, it's, so pretty," Lynx whispered, raising a hand and slowly flattening her palm against the glass- then recoiling back, grimacing. "U-Um, what, did you wanna show me next?"
"This way," Aerendyl hummed, and gestured toward what seemed to be a doorway into the kitchen- it was surprisingly large and sterile-looking with stainless steel, industrial sorts of appliances. "I actually love to cook, would you believe that? School food gets kind of repetitive and boring, after a while, and well, once I learned to cook eggs, I decided to get more adventurous. Haven't cooked for anybody in a while, but I'll have a hot meal waiting after your shower!"
"It's pretty, in a weird way- not very cozy, but private moments in a fancy restaurant come to mind," Lynx hummed softly. Images danced behind her eyes- slow kisses in a kitchen, freckles, firelight- and then she snapped out of it as Aerendyl walked off, back through the living room. She followed into a hallway, past a door, and to another- inside was a small...
"Movie theater?" Lynx blinked, walking forward more quickly, listening as Aerendyl chuckled behind her. Two leather couches and two recliners to match- dark red carpeting- black walls and ceiling- and a projector in the back of the room, facing the far wall, which was blank.
"Mhm, mhm. This wasn't really for me, but somebody else who used to live me- please, don't ask," Aerendyl added firmly. "Still, it's nice to get to show it to somebody again. Ah, won't show you my bedroom, or bore you with my office, but-"
"I'd like to see the office," Lynx spoke quickly, without thinking, turning to face him, and Aerendyl shrugged, pausing, and walked away, slowly opening another door in the hallway, letting Lynx in. She wandered in immediately, looking around, tail flicking about behind her seemingly entirely out of her control. Once more, spacious bay windows overlooking the lake, with a glass L-shaped desk in the corner. Behind that, and the dual monitored PC, sat a fancy, comfortable-looking leather chair that Lynx beelined toward and sat down in, wiggling her butt deeper back into the chair, a slow purr coming from deep in her throat.
"Wait what the- did I just- EW-" Lynx recoiled, looking up over the monitors at the door, where Aerendyl, raising an eyebrow, was clearly holding in laughter. "Don't laugh at me! I'm not a real cat, okay??"
"Sure, sure, but we both know what your soul found when forming the truest version of itself~ shall we get you to the bathroom now, for a nice shower? It locks from the inside, so don't worry about anything.
"Sounds good to me," Lynx huffed and glared at him as she walked to the door. Across the hall, Aerendyl opened another door, and once again, Lynx wandered inside, swallowing and looking around. Spacious, the floor was tiled in alternating red and black, while the walls were a pale gray flecked with white, and the ceiling simply that gray-white. Such an oddly colored bathroom, she wandered past the pretty black counter with its double sink, the perfectly clean mirror over it, and poked her head into the open glass shower door, eyes wide- the shower was walk in, with a small bench against the back wall. Black and red checker tiles, on the walls, with a red heart on the black bench and a pale blue mat on the black floor.
"This one, I will explain-" Aerendyl hummed, stretching. "Just don't ask for more information, okay? I dated a demon for a while who felt like a childish embarrassment because she came back as the incarnation of what she called a children's story, about a girl who fell into a playing cards-themed hellscape. I themed the bathroom after her story when I had it renovated."
"Oh that's actually so cute what the hell," Lynx laughed, looking around. "This'd be one ugly bathroom if I found it randomly- too much on the eyes. But that's really cute. I won't ask more, I promise- I hope the two of you ended on good terms."
"Thanks," Aerendyl smiled and set the paper bag down, on the counter. "Here's this, by the way- I got you a few packs of underwear- no bras, sorry, you'll need to get those on your own, I dunno the first thing about sizing them out. Uh, and some outfit choices- don't worry, I found good deals and didn't spend a fortune. I'll poke my head in to toss you a towel after you've had the water running for a bit- you need anything else?"
"No, I don't understand why you're being so kind, but, aside from that, nothing left for me to wonder. Thank you so much," Lynx added, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot.
"I already told you, I'm an angel, I help people," Aerendyl winked, then stepped back, closing the door but shouting through it. "I forgot, hot water is on the left!!!"
"Thanks!!" Lynx swallowed, looking down- there was a small, fuzzy rug- no three, one in front of each sink and one in front of the shower door. Stepping to the closer sink, she slowly stepped out of her slippers, letting her feet rest in the soft fur, and hesitated, then gripped her gown and tugged it up, off, looking over her body. Hadn't had a mirror, in the hospital...
Somehow, it felt wrong, again. Looking over her soft, smooth, pale skin... the smoothness of it somehow felt wrong. Was I like, really scarred up or something...? Being this smooth, feels, uncanny...
Deciding to shrug it off, for now, lest the anxiety around her amnesia return, Lynx slowly stepped back to the shower, and started getting the water to warm, sighing as steam gradually began to fill the air. It felt, so nice, to let that warmth hit her, cloud her- it felt like her body was an icicle itself finally beginning to thaw. How long had it been since she felt real warmth... had she, even, since she woke up in the hospital...? Need more warmth...
Given a moment, Lynx stepped in, relaxing heavily, groaning as the water finally washed over her. Her hair was only about as far down her back as her shoulder blades, but even so, it was knotted and gross. Oh well, fingers will have to do, at least now I can get these knots out and feel actually clean...where the hell are the soaps- oh there- so many for a man- but I guess his hair is longer than mine, to be fair...
She didn't know how much later, but Aerendyl eventually poked his head in for a second time- the door clicked open, and her ears picked it up, twitching rapidly. "Lynx? Are you okay, did you fall asleep?"
For a moment, she simply lay there, idly playing with her tail, holding it halfway down and swishing it around with her hand, bored. If I don't answer, he'll come make sure I'm okay... but the water feels so good, even if my tail feels weird and heavy now...
"No, I'm okay, sorry, am I taking too long...? I'm really clean, it's just soooo warm in here..."
"Yeah well, about that. I was digging around in my attic and I found a box of old winter coats- if you'd like to take them, or one of them, I don't mind. It's damn cold in Ravenwood, you chose a bad place to hate the cold, but I'm doing all I can."
"Thank you, that sounds nice..." Lynx sighed, sleepy, and slowly forced herself to rise to her feet. "I dunno why, but my legs hurt so badly... feet too..."
"Likely you haven't had any real sleep. I tell you what- why don't I let you take a fat nap on the couch after you eat, and we can head to the school this evening? We can just hammer out the paperwork side of things tomorrow, and get your dorm room situated tonight."
"That sounds, so nice..." Lynx yawned softly, opening the shower door and stepping out, turning the water off behind her- yelping as the door slammed, jumping into the air, the sound seeming to crack her head in half for a moment, ears pasting down. "Hey what the hell-?!"
"Sorry!" Aerendyl shouted, beginning to laugh from the other side of the door. "How sleepy are you, Lynx? You just stepped out naked."
"What- oh-" Lynx shuddered, grabbing a towel and hurriedly starting to pad her hair. "Sorry, yeah, I guess I almost fell asleep- props to you for looking away but my bad about that."
"We do dumb things when we're half asleep, far be it from me to judge," He snorted softly in kind. "Go ahead and get dressed, I'll warm up your food." With that, footsteps could be heard retreating and, wide awake now, Lynx hurriedly opened the paper bag, curious- wow. There were a few warm, long sleeved sweaters, as modest as could be with a pretty braided pattern spiraling down the sleeves, all of them gray but relatively thin- they didn't look constricting. Dark jeans, some socks, and...
"Aerendyllll, I'm not a cattttt!!" Lynx yelled, blushing darkly. A three pack of underwear, not really childish but with a silly little cat face at the hem. Raucous laughter came from the other side, and Lynx spent the entire time she got dressed grumbling. "I'm gonna kill you, they'll call me the angel murderer, grrrrr..." At least, the panties fit well enough, as did the jeans. The sweaters were a size too large, but even so, she was able to keep her hands through the sleeves easily, and, flexing her fingers, she wandered out of the bathroom, leaving the paper bag behind for now and looking around. "How dare... Aerendyl, you got me medium sweaters, are you calling me fat???"
"Man, you really just wanna fight, huh?" He grinned, sitting on the living room couch, waving to the plates of food laid out- omelets from the look of it. "No, I thought girls liked oversized sweaters? Because they hide the shape of your body a little better, and people won't stare as much? Sorry, I didn't mean it as an insult." Honestly, his answer left Lynx floored, and she came up without an answer, faltering.
"O-Oh. Thanks. But. Cat panties?"
"Come on, all this kindness I'm giving you for free, allow me a little self indulgent joke," He chuckled, winking up at her. "Come on, let's get some food in you Lynx, you look like you've half starved already."
"Mn... thanks, Aerendyl," Lynx sighed and slowly sat down, curling her toes in her socks. Because of the L shaped couch, he was on her left, and seemed to entirely fixate on his food for a moment before coming to.
"By the way, do you want the TV on? I enjoy the quiet more, myself."
"Me too... thanks..." Lynx hesitated, cutting the food slowly; steak and cheese, and something green. Part of her wanted to ask if this was drugged, but after everything he'd done so far... Lynx took a bite and moaned, the flavor exploding across her tongue. It was... perfect.