The Hunter

Charity or Utility

Finn stood at the bus stop and watched the girl - Gloria, she reminded herself - tucked her few items into a ragged back pack and stood to sling it over a shoulder. When Gloria looked at her, eyes flicking to her eyes and then to a spot on her jaw, she tried to smile comfortingly but couldn't seem to muster more than teeth, so she gave that up.

"Thank you for not letting me hurt anyone." Gloria spoke quietly. Her shoulders were hunched and her arms were held in front of her as though for protection.

"That isn't how I remember it, but okay." Finn answered. When Gloria looked at her skeptically she raised an eyebrow at the younger girl. "As far as I'm concerned I didn't let Liz's stupidity hurt anyone. She knows better than to let any untrained magic user, no matter the type, work magic when she isn't paying full attention. She didn't even have all of her wards up. Learn from her mistake by all means, but don't take more credit for that fuck up than you're due."

Gloria winced at the swear but otherwise didn't react besides smiling and nodding. "If you say so." She took a few steps away from the bus stop and then seemed to realize where she was. 'Do you know where I can find the closest homeless shelter?"

Finn blinked. "You aren't going to one of those mundane things are you?"

"I don't really have any other options." Gloria demurred.

"You'll stay at my place tonight. I'll find you someplace that will be better suited to you tomorrow." Finn decided.

"I don't have any money. I can't pay you." Gloria protested weakly.

"Most of the mundane homeless shelters charge you money. That or you go to a church and hope you get a decent pastor."

"No churches." Gloria said with force and Finn tilted her head at her. The bus she needed pulled up and stopped the conversation before she could ask about the vehemence, but she filed it away to ask about later. If ever.

"Let's go." Finn stepped up and flashed her ID before digging the pocket of her denim jeans and pulling out enough coins for Gloria's Fare.

"No! I can't pay you back!" Gloria stepped onto the bus and tried to stop Finn from dropping the coins into the meter, but the bus driver took his foot off the brakes and Gloria pitched sideways into Finn. Finn raised an eyebrow and put the coins into the meter.

"I'm sure you can sweep or vacuum or something if it means that much to you." Finn said as she led the way to the back of the bus. She sat in her usual seat, and settled into herself for the ride. Gloria sat down beside her and pulled the ratty backpack to the front of herself. She hugged it as though it was the only thing protecting her.

A man switched seats to be closer to Gloria and smiled at her. Finn glanced at him and frowned when he pretended he didnt' notice her. She shooed Gloria to the opposite side of the back seat, right up to the window, so that Finn was now sitting directly behind the man. The rest of the ride was awkward, but uneventful. The man didn't turn his head or even get up at his usual spot when they got to it. The bus slowed, but when he didn't stand the driver shrugged and carried on.

At their stop Finn stood and ushered Gloria in front of her, shooting on last glance at the man as they disembarked. She watched him swallow whatever passed for spit in his mouth and then break out in a sweat as the doors began to close. She stared after the bus until it was out of sight and then, shaking her head in disbelief, she walked up the path to her front door. She pushed the door open and turned to allow Gloria to walk in. 

"You don't lock your door?" Gloria asked.

"My door is never locked to me." Finn answered as she closed the door firmly behind her. "Everyone else though, if they can find the door they can knock."

"What do you mean?" Gloria asked tentatively.

Finn waved her hand dismissively and stepped into the first room on the left from the entrance. "Are you hungry?" Her kitchen was sparse, but there was always enough if you didn't mind whatever appeared in the cupboards. Apparently she was making spaghetti tonight. She got out the pot for the pasta and started prepping while she listened to Gloria stand in the doorway. From where she was standing she would be able to see the stairs to the second floor and the basement, the living room - or what passed for it since she never entertained - and the kitchen. Finn's house was utilitarian if you wanted to be kind, but it was all she needed and that was fine with her.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

Finn barely heard the question, but she leaned her back against the counter to answer anyways. "I don't see this as being kind. Either you help people when you can, or you're part of the problems with the world. I try to be solution oriented. If you're concerned with paying me back you can help out around here until you feel you've paid off whatever debts you think I'm tallying up."

"Your house is immaculate." Gloria said, barely louder than before.

"When it wants to be. Why don't you sit down and make yourself comfortable." Finn said and she turned as her water started to boil. There was only one chair in the house at the moment, but as soon as Gloria walked into the kitchen - accepting the hospitality that Finn was offering - a second chair fell from the ceiling with a gentle thud. Gloria squeaked in surprise and then sat in the chair that had been there before, eyeing the opposite chair and hugging her backpack to her chest again.

Finn added the pasta to the pot and sat down in the chair opposite Gloria. "So tell me about yourself." Finn said to break the silence.

Gloria blinked at her. "What do you want to know?"

Finn shrugged. "Anything really."

Gloria gave Finn the same look she always got when she tried to talk to new people. Eventually they either stopped talking to her or they learned that she really was horrible at getting to know people. "Umm... I suppose by now you've figured out my name is Gloria. I like forests and campfires, but I don't like camping. My favourite colour is that heavy grey the sky gets right before a really good storm hits and my favourite thing to do is read."

Finn was smiling and nodding until the last bit Gloria said. At the mention of reading Finn's expression went from somewhat encouraging to extremely pointed. Gloria fidgeted in her seat. "Did I say something wrong?"

Finn blinked. "No, not at all. I just - " She interrupted herself to strain the pasta and grab plates and cutlery. Once she had the meal and eating implements on the table she started over. "you keep mentioning you can't pay me back. What if I told you there was something you could do for me that would pay me back seven fold even if you can't see how?"

Gloria watched Finn while she chewed thoughtfully. Swallowing she asked, "And that would be? I have to admit that sounds a little sketchy."

Finn nodded with a rueful smile. "Communication isn't my forte. I need you to read for me."

Gloria immediately appeared contrite. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. Of course I can read for you. Have you seen anyone about it?"

Finn stared blankly at her guest, a forkful of spaghetti halfway to her mouth. "What?"

"Whatever is stopping you from reading? Dyslexia, or illiteracy or -"

Finn's laughter cut Gloria off. Gloria kept eating cautiously as her hostess regained her composure. "Oh I can read, I just don't like to. It's a job my -" She cut herself off, covering it with a cough. "I can read, but I find it boring. I have enough to do on a daily basis I don't need to be spending all day with my nose in a book, and if these books aren't read regularly they have a habit of changing."

"I'm sorry what?" Gloria stopped twirling her fork and looked at Finn like she had grown another head.

"I can explain later, but if you can do it I can train you in your magic, or find someone better suited to that job. You can use my training room and not have to worry about getting kicked out if you blow a hole in my house."

Gloria chewed thoughtfully and swallowed. "Can we give it a trial run?"

"Sure, you can start tomorrow." Finn said and dug into her pasta, her mood much improved by this turn of luck.