Back at the orphanage, Vesper was met with a barrage of worried faces, gasps, and questions. He remained silent and steadfast, and pushed his way through the crowd, still holding his precious cargo. They seemed to understand, and parted so he could reach the bathroom.

Once inside the bathroom, the mantis set the moth down on the toilet seat carefully, and kneeled down so he was at eye-level with him.

"I'm going to start the water," he informed him softly, holding up his chin, "I'll be right outside the door if-"

"Don't leave me," a quiet, pleading, broken voice murmured, and Imite opened his eyes slightly, looking at Vesper with begging eyes. Vesper blinked, tilting his head to make sure he'd heard right, "What?"

"Please... don't leave me..." Imite whimpered, shutting his eyes tightly, a few new tears rolling free.

Vesper frowned, looking a bit confused, "Imite, you need a bath-"

The moth cried and gripped Vesper's tanktop, burying his face in his chest. Vesper sagged, his expression softening, "Alright, mariposa."

His hands unbuttoned the fasteners on the back of Imite's sweater, that were located just above the opening for his wings. He did the same for the ones on the bottom, and gently eased Imite's thin arms out of the sleeves one after the other, putting the sweater in a hamper with care, knowing how important it was to the moth.

Bruises were visible beneath the soft lavender peach fuzz, along his arm and a few on his torso. Vesper stared at them, growling softly to himself, "I should've done what my instincts wanted to that..." He muttered and trailed off, silencing himself for Imite's sake.

Vesper started the water, and had soon stripped the moth completely. Under normal circumstances, Imite would've been extremely shy, but he actually clung to Vesper as the mantis set him down in the warm water.

He hadn't given anyone a bath since he had siblings that were too young to clean themselves. Unfortunately, he wasn't aware of the instinctual fear of water lepidians had, and for the first time that night, Imite had some life in him, and started kicking at the water half-heartedly.

"Shh, it's not going to harm you," Vesper glanced at Imite's colourless wings, "Not anymore." But Imite wasn't listening, and the mantis sighed softly, and trying to keep one hand on the moth to comfort him from panicking completely, he pulled off his tanktop and jeans.

Soon he slid into the water behind Imite, and Imite froze for a moment, before slowly relaxing back against the mantis's chest. Vesper felt slightly uncomfortable, since he'd never bathed with anyone his age before, much less a male friend. He shook his head, chiding himself for thinking of such stupid things at a time like this.

He started wetting a washcloth and running it over Imite's body, washing out the caked mud and other debris. His washing started to extend to areas unmarred by dirt, hoping the back of his mind that he could wash off the taint Slat had left.

Or maybe you just want an excuse to run your hands down him. Vesper jumped slightly at the sudden thought whispered across the back of his mind, cheeks tinting red. I'm straight, he reminded himself. We both are. Imite just needs me right now.

He couldn't help but notice the details of Imite's body, though. Usually, the moth was so shy he changed in and out of his clothes as fast as possible, giving no one an opprotunity to stare. Relaxed limply against Vesper's chest, though, he could now see how thin the moth was. It made Vesper feel rather bulky and huge in comparison, and he was afraid that if he handled Imite too roughly, he'd just break.

Imite was also constructed of smoother lines than any male Vesper had seen before. His legs and figure could make most girls jealous, Vesper mused to himself. And it was true, aside from the lack of breasts. Imite's hips were a bit flat as well, but Vesper scrutinized them. They were still wider than Imite's shoulders.

He grimaced, adjusting his weight. He didn't need to be eyeballing his friend, especially in this kind of situation. Even moreso considering he wasn't wearing anything but his boxers.

He started to massage Imite's scalp and scrub his hair clean, something he only knew how to do because he had longer hair himself. He focused his eyes on his friend's hair, taking long, mechanical breaths and looking guilty, feeling no better than Slat for having those kinds of thoughts.

A soft groan rose up from Imite, and he leaned back against the soothing massage. Vesper laid his antennae back. At least he isn't crying anymore, He leaned forward, looking at Imite's face. He was actually smiling a bit, and he looked like he was asleep. Vesper had to smile himself.

He realized they'd been in the tub for a while now, and the others might have to use it sometime. He winced. If anyone saw them like this... well, it'd raise a few eyebrows, that's for sure. Imite was more than clean now, though his wings were still damaged - there was nothing Vesper could do about that.

Vesper flushed red again when he realized all he'd been doing for the past five minutes or so wasn't even cleaning, just kind of holding Imite and smiling at him. Alright, time to get out of the tub, he thought to himself, slightly angrily.

He drained the water and stood up, never letting go of Imite, water dripping down from both of them profusely. Vesper leaned Imite down on the toilet again, drying the moth off the best he could without waking him. He spied Imite's PJs - neatly folded up, of course - on the towel shelf, since he always changed in the bathroom.

Vesper dressed Imite carefully, not an easy thing to do when your subject was asleep. He blinked, thinking for a moment there was something odd about his friend's more personal nether regions as he pulled Imite's pants on, but shook his head. He wasn't about to investigate.

Soon enough he'd scooped Imite up into his arms again, pushed the blankets back with his foot, and set him down. He sank into his own side of the bed, made weary as he finally exhausted his supply of adrenaline.

Imite made a soft whimpering sound, and Vesper stared over at him blearily, already half asleep.

"Here, mariposa.." He murmured, closing his eyes and flopping an arm over Imite lazily.

The moth relaxed, and soon they were both asleep.

***

Later in the night, Imite's eyes blinked open. He felt oddly warm, and it took a little while for him to start to comprehend his situation. He looked down at the strong arm around his back, which had pulled him closer during the night.

Imite took a deep breath. He was right up against Vesper's chest, which was purring softly. His antennae resting against the mantis's firm chest, he could actually feel the purr, instead of just hearing it. The moth closed his eyes and smiled. It was almost enough to let him forget the events of the day.

They came flooding back to him, though, and he flinched. Though... the later parts weren't so bad. He looked up at Vesper, knowing what would've happened would've been even worse somehow if the mantis hadn't intervened.

He saved me... Imite smiled again, then frowned, feeling a little bad for doubting him earlier. He reached up, touching one of the faintly curling black locks draped over Vesper's shoulders. Imite blinked, suddenly feeling even warmer, with an odd feeling in his chest. It wasn't a bad feeling, either.

Imite pinned his antennae back. He'd had enough strange, new sensations for the day, feeling confused. He reluctantly slid out of Vesper's grasp, walking towards the window. He folded his arms on the sill, tilting his head and staring up at the sky, which was starting to lighten on the horizon.

All he wanted was to remain innocent, but now he felt somehow corrupted. Imite's wings and antennae sagged, eyelids drooping as he stared up at the moon. He also felt weak, a failure. He needed someone else to protect him from the world he was still unwilling to see in full; a job his parents had been doing well before they disowned him.

He whimpered to himself. Part of him wanted to be protected. Imite hugged himself a bit tighter. He knew this desire was somehow wrong, somehow weird, or at least, he thought it was.

"Trouble sleeping?"

Imite jumped slightly, looking back over his shoulder. Vesper stood there, bathed in the faint light behind him.

More memories trickled back to Imite - being carried by Vesper, parts of the bath - and his face felt hot, looking away from Vesper. He realized he Vesper must've seen him naked, quite well. He shook his head faintly, his eyes glued on the yard outside the window.

Vesper tilted his head, stepping beside him at the window and looking down at him. Imite's eyes wandered over to him slowly, and the moth winced - Vesper might've almost as well been nude himself, wearing only a pair of boxers that were still somewhat wet. Imite quickly went back to looking out the window.

They were silent for a while, before Vesper finally spoke. "You're scared," he said softly.

"H-how do you know?" Imite tried to sound brave and defensive, but it was hard when he was muffled by his arms.

Vesper smiled gently. "You smell it, mariposa."

Imite sighed, sagging in defeat, "Why do you have to be able to smell emotions?" He whined, almost pouting.

"Perk of being a predator." Vesper grinned slightly, then leaned forward, folding his elbows on the sill as well, "But you're not scared of me, I hope."

"Can't... you detect that too?" Imite looked away from him, hunching his shoulders.

"No, Imite." Vesper gazed out the window, "I can only tell what emotion you are. Not what caused it." Vesper lowered his head, his gaze turning back towards the moth, speaking in an even quieter tone, "I wish I could, though."

Imite blinked, then closed his eyes. "Alright," he murmured, "Maybe I am scared."

"Of what?"

"Of..." Imite's eyes closed more tightly, "Everything."

Vesper frowned sympathetically. "Well, Imite," He started, "Everything isn't out to get you, so you don't have to be afraid. Most of it just takes understanding."

"But... If I understand..." Imite whined and buried his face deeper into his sleeves, "I'll change. I don't, I don't want to know some things..."

Vesper sighed. "The world is full of bad things, little one. Facing them is a part of growing up."

"I don't want to..." Imite whimpered, sounding rather childlike.

"We all have to someday. Or else, we'll never escape fear. We cannot keep innocence forever..." Vesper stared down at the sill, his bangs dangling. Imite just made a distressed sound in his throat, and it was clear to the mantis he wasn't helping things. He was quiet for a while, before he finally found the right words.

"If it's any consolation, my little mariposa," Vesper turned, facing Imite, "There's one thing in this world that will never try to hurt you."

Imite blinked, looking over at him slowly. "W-what?"

Vesper reached out, brushing the black locks out of the lavender face. "Me."

Imite blinked, his breath catching in his throat, the warm, odd feeling in his chest returning. He tried to think of something to say, but suddenly found himself wordless. Vesper just smiled.

"And I will be more than happy to protect you from the things that would, as much as I could." The mantis kept his gaze, eyes locked steadily with Imite's, and his hand still slowly drawing the bangs away. A bit of playfulness tinted his warm smile, "There's just one catch."

"T-there is?" Imite stuttered, and Vesper grinned, his arms sliding around Imite and pulling him into a tight bear hug.

"I get to do this whenever I want."

Imite blinked a few times, before a smile crept onto his face, and he relaxed, "I can live with that..."

"Good." Vesper purred, and Imite closed his eyes again, actually leaning into the hug, "Thanks, Vesper..."

"What are friends for, huh?" The mantis squeezed the moth, forgetting himself for a moment and leaning down, tussling the hair with his cheek in a nuzzle. Imite eeped, but laughed softly, wrapping his arms around Vesper's waist.

Imite's smile grew. He finally had a friend. As long as he had that, things didn't seem so intimidating anymore. He opened one eye, the light coming in from the window slowly brightening.

He and Vesper stood like that, watching the sun rise.