Angel With Broken Wings

71 - Kat Ride and Orter Madl (1)

[ORTER POV]

The rest of the time at the cafe went by quickly and smoothly, the conversation having naturally drifted to something more enjoyable as we sat at our table. Margarette became very enthused in talking to the girl, the pair somehow managing to get along and looking past their first, moreso one-sided, encounter.

We left the cafe smoothly, the four of us walking in a closer circle then before as we manage to look past our obvious differences. I watch as Kat walks next to Carpaccio and Margarette, a part of me feeling uncomfortable as we move in an oddly positioned line, and it wasn't long before we stopped before a large crowd of people moving in opposite directions.

Our positions begin to shift with the oncoming hoard of people, and I feel myself stiffen upon a hand clutching onto my arm and arms slowly encircling the limb with a tremble. My eyes automatically shoot downward, my gaze landing on a terrified Kat, her eyes darting back and forth as she shuffles closer to me.

Within a moments hesitation, I wrap around her carefully, positioning myself to stand in front as I wrap the coat around my shoulders over her smaller frame. My heart seems to stutter as I attempt to move us both to the edge of the street, my body soon towering over her like a cage as I move her to against a wall.

My mind spins as I slowly let the coat drop from over her head to around her shoulders, her eyes wide as our gazes connect from the awkward dance we just performed. Her hands had long departed from my arm, the girl watching me cautiously as I felt my cheeks warm at her curious and yet careful gaze.

"Um..." The sound came out from her nervously, and I step to stand beside her rather than over her as I move to glance across the street. The silence was tense, a hint of embarrassment between us as my gaze lands on Carpaccio and Margarette, the pair on the other side with the first-year holding a sharp gaze in our direction while Margarette holds an amused grin, something sparking in their eyes as they gazed towards us.

"Thanks." Her voice came out once more, a cough following it as I glance down at her briefly, her cheeks a pink colour to show her apparent embarrassment. My chest tightens at the word and her expression, my head bending down to be close to hers as I offer a quick question, "Are you...scared of crowds?" Her head automatically shoots towards me, the girl shuffling backwards slightly from our close proximity as she then gives me a hesitant nod.

"Y-Yeah, so?" Her lips formed into a pout with her response, the embarrassment becoming more evident as she shifts uncomfortably, her hands wrapping my coat around herself tightly. "Nothing, just...stick close to me so you don't get lost." My chest felt tight as the words slipped out, the girl looking away before giving me a small once over, my gaze remaining captured by her before she nods.

I nearly take a step forward until two voices reach my ears, the sounds making me straighten and turn my hand to land my gaze on Carpaccio and Margarette. "What are you doing? | It seems we got separated." I hold back the frustrated glare I felt forming as Kat looks towards them quickly, her cheeks still flushed as she speaks up quickly, "We weren't doing anything, he just helped me get away from the crowd."

I bring myself to nod in confirmation to her words, Carpaccio giving us both an unsure look before reaching forward and holding a hand out to the strawberry blonde girl beside me. "You can hold my hand while we get through this crowd." His offer brings forth a small laugh from Margarette, their eyes filled with amusement as they watch the interaction curiously, the girl beside my glancing between the three of us before hesitantly accepting the outstretched hand.