Desperation's Summit

3: Unending Conversation

It took some time, but - despite valiant attempts to keep their eyes open - soon the triplets were all asleep in their stone cribs once more. Rakash's gaze swept over his children. Kazri had been the last one to give in to sleep and they still gripped one of Rakash's wrist bracers in their little hands, sucking on the leather.

Rakash could feel the human's eyes on his back, from where they still sat on his cot. It made him bristle.

"You certainly don't have any manners, do you?" The human sighed, her haughty tone raking across Rakash's spine. He turned slowly, training his face into a careful neutrality. The human didn't look up at him, too busy examining their blunt fingernails. "I suppose I can't expect much of a kidnapper."

"Excuse me?" This human had to have a death wish, Rakash decided. What other reason would such a small and frail creature have to be so insulting?

The human shoved off the cot, standing in front of Rakash with a confidence that spoke of little to no survival instinct. Especially as they dared to smile up at him. "Cordelia. She/her."

Rakash's thoughts tripped, unable to keep up with this human's thought process. "What?"

"Those are my name and pronouns. You might not have manners, but I do." Cordelia motioned toward him with a flick of her wrist, before pressing her hand to her chest. If possible, her tone took on an even more cavalier air. "Polite company always introduces with name and pronouns."

"Oh," scoffed Rakash, with a roll of his eyes. If it wasn't for the quasi-teasing tone in the human - Cordelia's - voice, he'd have felt more irritable. Then again, perhaps it was exhaustion blunting his awareness. But, she wasn't wrong. It was friendly and proper to introduce oneself. Even though their interactions so far hadn't been either of those things, he grudgingly muttered, "Rakash, he/him."

He thought Cordelia's smile ticked a little brighter, but his own eyes burned too much to really be certain. Gods, he just wanted to lay down already.

"So, where should I sleep? I'm assuming this sad little bed is yours." Cordelia looked at the cot

Rakash bit back a sigh. What was with this human? An uncomfortable sensation throbbed through his head, like a burr lodged into his temple that shifted with his every move. With an annoyed growl, he grumbled, "You're leaving."

"But it's dark outside!" Her reaction was almost instantaneous. Faintly, Rakash wondered if she was still running on adrenaline or if this was her usual level of energy. As she stared up at him, her lower lip jutted out in a pout and her eyebrows dipping into a 'v'. "You'll be sending me off to my death. After kidnapping me."

Another rumble vibrated through Rakash's chest at the reminder of his misstep. She didn't even flinch. Instead, her hands went to her hips and she held his glare. Then his attention dropped a little lower than her face, to the clothes he allowed her to borrow. They fit her as well as he expected, though he wished they hadn't. For a long moment, Rakash stared down at the woman.

The neck of the yellow tunic hung low enough for Cordelia's cleavage to peep out. The fabric draped over her breasts, cinched at her waist with the length of fabric he'd given her for a belt. Even the trousers - which he had been a little worried about since Karina's legs had been more toned - seemed to fit snug around her hips and legs.

A confounding, frustrating mix of thoughts wobbled through his tired synapses. How the new clothes gave him a better view of her form. How his fingers twitched, curious to see if the softness her form suggested was the reality. How he was a terrible man for noting such a thing. How his late wife would have been angry with him for shoving Cordelia out into the deathly cold. Everything else rattling about his head aside, Karina would have been incensed at his potential cruelty to the woman.