They dropped down into the gloomy cave. Kay was ready to burst. What had even happened?! How?! Had they just escaped kidnapping, or, what? She couldn't help it, but as out of breath as she was, the reality of the situation was catching up on her, she lost control of her breath, and her eyes welled. She covered her face with her hands as her knees started to feel weak.
"Hey, hey," Ethan's soft tones coaxed her out of her panic, or was it the warmth of his hands over her shoulders, the gentle pressure he applied while squeezing them. "It's ok, you're ok, and you're safe."
Kay sniffed dumbly looking up at his face. He did his classic half smile and looked into Kay's eyes. She did feel safe. His hands left her shoulders brushing her arms as they did.
"What did they, what did they want?" Kay asked in a dry voice.
"Us." Kay's eyes widened to extremes, and Ethan struggled to find the words. "Look it's nothing to worry about," Ethan laughed slightly, "I handled it, it's fine," Kay looked at him incredulously.
"No," She said bluntly, "No it's not fine, it's so totally not fine in anyway anyone could ever define the word fine!" Kay started pacing, "We were almost kidnapped, kidnapped! That might be an every day occurrence for you, normal even, but it is not for the rest of the world, and it certainly isn't for me!" She turned and pointed at his chest "You "Handled it"" She made mock quotes in the air, "But you can't always handle it, and I definitely cannot. Safe? SAFE?! I'm not safe, not now I've been affiliated with you and this... stuff! I was a no one! Barely anyone knew my name, let alone, thugs like that, and that was the definition of safe!"
Ethan had folded his arms and puffed his chest out. He was clearly annoyed, but Kay didn't care, she was annoyed, she tried to stare him down. He never warned her that this could happen. Her resolve broke the teeniest bit when she remembered she'd basically let him kidnap her in the first place, or at least given him every opportunity.
"Finished?" Ethan said, his face looked different, unsettling. She didn't like it. She made no reply. Ethan took a slow breath. "Alright so you were safe when you were a no one, but were you fine?"
"Yes."
"Really?" Ethan raised an eyebrow and laughed. Again it was unsettling; it was like he was laughing at her... well he was, "You were happy? Content?" She didn't budge.
"I thought so. So," He raised his hand and ticked off a finger to show he was counting, "You weren't fine before, and you're not fine now, nothing's changed. Secondly, you weren't safe when you were a "nobody". Those guys may seem like a random bunch of guys, but they're organised. They know as much about the scroll down at the far end of that library as we do. It was a race between them and Master Bei Fong, it always has been."
"A race to... find me?"
"Yup, and everyone else training down here. Including yours truly." He sighed, "And when they moved onto hunting you, we had to find you, to make you safe. So," They had both visible calmed down and Ethan had his usual grin that screamed big ego, he raised his hand and ticked of the second finger, "without our intervention, you're unsafe, but with me, need I remind you, it was me that took on two fully grown men, who was prepared to take on a third, with nothing but my bare hands and a leaky drain pipe, to save you, you are safer." Kay said nothing. She felt like maybe she should apologise for ranting, but she felt so guilty, and suddenly shy. He had helped her, and in return she shouted at him. No matter how big his ego was, he kind of earned it. Kay remained silent.
"Yes, yes it was, rather a spectacular show. I heard." Master Bei Fong was shuffling down the corridor towards them.
"Thank you," she said quietly to her feet. Ethan's eyebrows knitted as if he didn't understand.
Master Bei Fong reached them, "Well, well," He looked at Ethan, smiling. "Two grown men, little water, very resourceful, no permanent damage to the men in question," Ethan looked proud, then Master Bei Fong, rapped him on the side of his head. Ethan rubbed his ear looking put out, "Are you crazy?" It sounded like Bei Fong was asking Ethan an actual question like, 'What's 12 multiplied by 8?'
"No, I'm not crazy,"
"Well, why don't you stop acting like you are," His eyes grew large, as he leaned toward Ethan, who in turn leaned back. Bei Fong straightened up, "Come, on." He started moving back down towards the circular room, muttering to himself.
They found themselves in Bei Fong's office. It was a crowded space, with books and hangings. Closets and boxes. It was warm and had an orangey glow from the oil lamps. Bei Fong sat in an ornate wooden chair, padded out with red velvet. Ethan started lounging in a threadbare arm chair directly opposite until Bei Fong ordered him to stand with a sharp gesture, and gestured, more softly, for Kay to sit down in the chair. He turned a stern eye on Ethan.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
"Well, yes, I was the-" Bei Fong raised a hand to silence him.
"Why didn't you stay next to a strong source of water? Why did you wander aimlessly in the dark, when you know that there people looking for you?!" Kay watched as Bei Fong scalded Ethan. "You should have come home earlier, when it was light! You should have told me where you were!" It was strange. To Kay at least, that Bei Fong was shouting, but there was love behind it. "Now because of your recklessness, you nearly got yourself kidnapped or killed, and what's worse is you dragged Kayleigh into the whole thing, making them aware of her presence, of her general whereabouts, and of course you revealed the general location of our hide-out."
"Well what could I do?" Bei Fong stood up.
"You have to take precautions to avoid these situations!" He hit his hand and dragged out the syllables in situations to emphasize his point. "You're dismissed." Bei Fong sat down looking angry, but mostly disappointed. Ethan looked ashamed. "Take Kayleigh and show her, her dorm." Kay looked surprised, "You can't go back tonight. It's too dangerous at night." He muttered to himself but Kay caught a snatch of it "Wouldn't be surprised if they had a shirshu after her." Ethan solemnly left the office and Kay quickly followed. They turned down the dorm corridor, it was the same yellow stone interspaced with plain doors, and all were closed, except one. A boy with dark skin was sitting inside doing bicep curls. He looked up as they walked past.
Ethan held the last door open for her.
"This is yours," Ethan said downcast. It was a small simple room, somehow warm. Ethan turned a dial and the room's light burned. "'Night,"
"Wait, where's your room?" Ethan half smiled and pointed to the door diagonally opposite to hers. "Ok," then partly because he looked like it might cheer him up, and partly because she desperately wanted to, she squeezed his hand quickly, "'Night," then made to close the door. He smiled at her and moved towards his own room. She closed the door and collapsed on the bed.