"You heard of that one person you can trust to stand by your side, no matter what?" I asked Zelgadis after a few quiet minutes. Okay, a few quiet minutes for him, but hella long time for yours insanely.
"Mhmm," Zelgadis simply answered. He was obviously still in thought.
"Have you found yours?" I asked, looking at him. "I mean, they exist right?"
"Yeah, they exist. I know a pair of those," he answered. His blue eyes met with my yellow-hazels and continued, "As for if I found my partner in that sense. No, I don't believe so."
"Damn," I whispered and shook my head. "I was hoping that at least you had. I need hope in something… hale, anything really. Kinda hard to keep faith within me, nowadays"
"Humanity isn't good enough for you," he said more than asked.
"That's such a strange concept to me anymore," I admitted, one hand wraps around the opposite arm as the walk. I walked slower in tempo with the sorrow I was feeling, eyes averted to the ground as I spoke dryly. "What is humanity, anyways? I mean, in its truest form… You see, of my group, I'm the purest of humans, but I'm not THAT human. You, Mr. Greywords, a forced chimera (Yes, I know you were forced.) Seem more human at times than what humans I'm around back home are. And, you of all people…" She pauses to laugh and explains, "My apologies, but all are equal until proven otherwise in my eyes. So, I choose to use the term 'people'. And, you of all people should know how the power of humanity can betray us. Humanity, ha! Give me a break. Humility, self reliance, and humane treatment to all whom show they deserve it… now those are traits I can stand by. If being human, the essence of being part of humanity, is to do the horrid and putrid things that we have seen, I rather be a lower soul. This is because even then I'd be a creature of more self control and respect to other life."
"From what I've seen… and heard, you've done an excellent job raising yourself for a good portion of your life, Miss Burton," Zelgadis informed me and pulled me closer as a group of thugs slinked by. He hooked arms with me and rested his chin on my head. He spoke loud enough so the ruffians would hear, "Come on, darling. Let's get you something to eat."
We posed as what would seem as lovers on a sunny stroll; just in case they wanted to mess with the freak. In this case, I would probably be the odd one out.
Don't be so sure, Benny. Zelgadis corrected in thought.
Once they passed I warned him, "Don't call me Miss Burton again… I needn't the respect. Benny will suffice. You've proven yourself to be more than just an equal, Mr. Zelgadis."
"Oh, how is that?" he asked. His voice and eyes both hued with humor and humility.
"You didn't kill me with all of those times you could have," I began. "You didn't rape when you had the chance. So, unless you checked my pockets for some of your money and were brilliantly disappointed before I woke up, you haven't had the fancy to pick my pockets… So, again I thank you. It's not that often that a good looking guy who insists on helping me is actually someone I can trust anymore…."