"Are you sure we're allowed up here?"

Orion had never seen what was above the Infirmary, and the dorms built into the side wings for the healers, everyone knew that the Virtues resided above, it was common knowledge, but she had never seen it with her own eyes. Gzel very obviously had, she knew her way around, munching on an apple as she led her down the hall passed the Virtues bedrooms.

The one they entered had two beds, one made up and the other messy, it had two wardrobes, a desk covered in an assortment of books, a glowering pile of embers in the fireplace along the far wall. A meek room full of memories.

"Where are we?"

She stood in the doorway as Gzel stepped into the room, collapsing backwards on the end of the made up bed, her arms spread wide. "Akriel's room."

Orion looked around nervously, curling her fingers together as she looked around for any possibility that they would be spotted in the Virtues private quarters, and looked back to her companion quietly. "We should go."

"Why?" Gzel's eyes turned down to her. "I like being in Akriel's room."

"We don't belong here."

Hands curled over her shoulders. "You're always welcome here." She turned, startled at being caught, and he smiled in greeting. "Akriel!" He squeezed her shoulders. "Gzel stays with me. You're just as welcome as she is." He moved her slightly, so he could step around her, going for the pile of books on his desk. Undoubtedly for one of his students below them, she watched him timidly as he sifted through the volumes, searching out the one he had come for. He hummed when he found it, lifting it up to examine for a moment, and curled it against his side as he turned around again. "Gzel, why do you insist on laying a top my blankets."

"Because mine are all wrinkly and bunched up."

"Maybe," he leaned over to poke her nose. "If you made your bed, it wouldn't be all 'wrinkly and bunched up'." Her face scrunched up lightly. "Your bed is comfier then mine is."

Akriel smiled in amusement. "They're made of the same material."

"Still better."

He shakes his head fondly. "Whatever you say." He smiles at her once he turns away from Gzel. "Make yourself at home." The specialist points at a basket hidden behind the pile of books. "There's a bowl of fruits on the desk if you're looking for a snack." She nods silently, watching him smile and step forward, rubbing her arm as he passes by her again, and seems to have another thought strike him as he makes his exit.

Akriel turns, leaning against the doorframe of his room, looking between the both of them. "I have a few more hours with my class left, but after that, why don't we go down to the Market and find a few things?"

Orion looks to Gzel silently, waiting for her response, and confusion comes over her when she doesn't say anything. There's a feeling that comes over her as she turns to look back at the Virtue, he's looking at her intently, and Gzel heaves a sigh. "I already got my stuff." She looks up at her. "He's talking to you, Orion."

She turns quickly, her eyes wide in surprise, looking to the older one behind her when realization overcomes her. He smiles in amusement to her confusion, nodding in affirmation, when she presses a hand to her chest as if to say 'Who? Me?'.

"Yes, you, I've only ever seen you wear two dresses. Gzel didn't come with much either. We can go look for some things."

"I—I—Why?"

He nodded to the second wardrobe. "Because we need to have things to fill up your side, of course."

"My…My side?"

"We'll have to get more pillows too." He rubs at his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe another blanket. Do you get cold at night?"

"Y—Yes?"

"Okay, no worries, we'll get another blanket as well."

Orion looks between them both, caught so far out of her element, she's on the verge of unraveling. "B—But….Why?"

"Ak, you really aren't good at these things."

He glares playfully at the other from over her shoulder. "I thought I was doing fine."

Gzel finally sits up, running her fingers through her thick wavy locks, and she shakes her head. "You're not. She's so confused." Orion nods between them, wanting somebody to explain to her, tell her what was going on. She was going to lose her mind. And she's already lost it once. It's not pleasant. Gzel comes to her aid, though. "He's saying that because you're going to stay with us now."

"S—Stay?"

"Yea, like, live with us. We're going to share the second wardrobe and the other bed."

She whips around, the Virtue is smiling at her, and nods in confirmation. "It's true. I mean, obviously, so long as you want to." He nods slightly. "I'd still get you new things even if you said 'no'. You deserve to have things you like."

"You—You want me to stay with you?"

Akriel nods softly. "I would love you to stay with us, but, I don't want to force you if you don't want to."

No ones ever offered for her to stay before, not even the ones in her dorm, they acted like she didn't exist. Now, there was something who wanted her, wanted her to be with them, wanted to know her. And it was a Virtue none the less. She was a nobody, the Mindbreakers Apprentice, is what they whispered behind her back.

"You…You want me to stay?"

He tilts his head slightly. "Of course, I care about you, why wouldn't I?" She nods, seemingly a bit overwhelmed, and he straightens out and opens his arms. "Do you need a hug?" Orion nods again, stepping forward a step, and then another, slowly closing the gap between them. Until she is pressed against his chest and his arms are closing around her, the book rubbing against his back, as he swallows her in his embrace. "I want to…I want to stay with you..but….you don't mind…"

"That you were taught something that be used for such good by someone so bad?" He kisses the top of her head lightly. "Not in the slightest. She was my sister. If just knowing her makes you guilty, then I'm just as wrong as you are."

Orion shakes her head against his chest. "You're not wrong. You're good. You're so nice."

"I try to be."

She licks her lips, listening to his heart beat, knowing that he wouldn't let her go until she wanted him to. Even if it meant keeping his class waiting down in the Infirmary.

"I—I'd like to go to the Market with you."

"Alright, great." He kisses her head again. "I'll come get you when I'm done and we'll go." He looks over at Gzel and winks. "You guys can hang out up here until then, if you'd like."

Orion pulls back slightly, looking up at him nervously. "The others….They won't mind?"

"They don't mind at all, our home is your home, when Raphael placed you under my charge, he made me your guardian. My room is just as much your room too. My home is your home."

"Thank you." She gives him a small true smile. They're working on it. He'd managed a small giggle the other day. Little triumphs at a time.

"Always."