The big man sat on the sidewalk curb with his head hung between his knees. Otherworld didn't move at the speed of an Orange Cab, it seemed, especially one that was driven by an annoyed cabbie ferrying a motion sick linebacker. At least that settled who would be driving. It would be nice not to argue about car chauvinism with a guy for once.
"Come on," she said, holding out a hand. He glanced up at her, color to his cheeks at least. It was probably more embarrassment than anything else, but at least he wasn't green anymore.
"Apologies my-" he clamped his jaw shut and grimaced. "Apologies, Molly."
"Just saying 'sorry' works, so you know." She grinned. He smiled back and took her hand to stand. He didn't use her leverage though, thanfully. She doubted she could lift him if it ever came to that. Forget dragging his sorry ass anywhere.
"So, this is the University," he said, looking up at McMahon Hall. He had a half-baked smile going on, patently amazed at the sight. He'd been rather dumbstruck at the sight of the downtown core from across the water.
"Actually this is my dormitory. We've been in Dawg's territory for a bit. All of these buildings are the university." He followed her expansive gesture. In the early morning light the buildings weren't as distinctive, but there were plenty. "Over there is the stadium."
"Who is Dog?"
She fought to keep the snicker back. He really didn't know anything about where she lived after all. It would be like laughing at an exchange student for not knowing everything on the first day. Was she a jerk for laughing at his ineptitude earlier? "Um, it's slang for the team. We have a football team named the Huskies. After a dog. So we call ourselves Dawgs on occasion." She emphasized the sound difference.
"What manner of sport is football? Is that the one with the white and black ball?"
"To some people. Look, I can give you a full run down on sports later, maybe even take you to a game if we have time, but right now I need a shower or I'm going to murder someone."
He scratched at his neck and nodded. "Aye. There are public baths?"
"No, not for a long time out this way. We have a pool, but it's not the same. Come on."
They walked into the dorm and took the elevator up to her floor. They talked on the ride over, for the time that he wasn't actively considering puking, about sleeping arrangements. At first she was going to insist he get a hotel room. She had just enough cash she could afford a day or two before trying to con something out of her mom or Peter. Peter would pay, she was sure, he was eager to hand out money. He always seemed to be trying to buy her as a daughter and that just made it even worse. She suspected that the last time she'd borrowed money from her mom it'd actually been Peter's. God,. what an uncomfortable thought.
However, Rik wanted nothing of that arrangement. He'd rejected it vehemently. There was no way he was going to let her sleep in a totally separate building. Her first thought had been that he was letting his chauvinism get the better of him. But he'd launched into some sort of explanation of how a Warden had to remain within some distance of his charge to help protect their dream space. She didn't get it, but his earnestness was compelling.
So they were to this alternate arrangement. One of the students in her quad had left school this quarter, dropping out for the term. The administration hadn't filled the room yet. She knew this could go epically bad, but having him squat in the room might work for a few days.
This was so going to go bad...
They got out on her floor and walked down the hall to her quad. The problem here was getting her other quadmates to buy off on this. Anja wouldn't have a problem with it, but Samia might.
"Exactly how many levels have we arisen in that box?" Rik asked her in a low voice. He looked a little queasy again.
"Seven. And before you ask, it's all counterweights and cables."
"Intriguing."
Her quad was a suite of four bedrooms and a common room with a kitchenette. Each room had it's own toilet, but the unit as a whole shared the bathing facility. When she walked in with Rik, both Anja and Samia were in the common area. Both girls stopped what their morning activities and stared at her and Rik. Anja's spoon dropped out of her hand and splashed in her bowl of mini wheats.
Anja was an African-American girl with short hair and a wicked smile, and a sense of humor to match. She was the adventurous one of the trio. The lecherous edge of that grin showed through her smile as she appraised first Molly, then Rik. Anja did not care if you knew she was undressing you with her eyes. She wanted you to know.
Samia was Anja's opposite in a lot of ways. Ostensibly Muslim, she didn't wear a headscarf, but she blushed most and was most often embarrassed by Anja's sense of humor. Samia ogled them both, eyes huge.
"Um," Molly murmured and bit her lip. Wow. She should have looked first. Rik closed the door behind them and nodded a bow to both girls. His big superhero smile was on.
"Holy shit, Mol," Anja laughed. "You said your grandpa was in bad shape. Gonna excise the bad feelings with some grade A sex, or what?"
"Anja!" Samia protested. Anja grinned.
"No, Anja, that's not it at all." God, her Granda. Anja's reminder stabbed Molly in the gut. It was nearly a physical pain. Samia noticed and came over. She kept a wide berth of Rik, glancing at him nervously, and picked at Molly's free hand.
"You okay?" Samia asked. The concern in her voice and gaze ate away Molly's armored ground and she choked off a sob. Damn it! She needed to concentrate and get this crap sorted out, not bawl. Samia wrapped an arm around Molly and led her over toa seat. Molly broke down on her friend's shoulder. Anja moved over touched Molly. It took Molly several minutes to get the crying under control. Once it started, everything else that had gone on worked it's way through her too. The horrid events of the night raced back and forth, and the doubt they engendered didn't make anything better.
"Sorry, hon. I didn't mean to be a bitch about it," Anja said.
"It's okay," Molly sniffled. She knew Anja was sincere about it. She just liked a good joke.
Molly glanced over to the wall where Rik had been standing. He was sitting cross legged, almost in a lotus pose. He met her eyes and offered a sympathetic little smile.
"Okay," Anja said, "Who's the big guy, and why's he here?" She smiled over at Rik.
Molly went with the first lie that came to mind. "This is Rikkard. He's a cousin from out of town that came in early this morning. I met him at the airport. He doesn't have the cash to stay anywhere and he and Peter really don't get along. I mean at all. I was wondering if he might crash with us, use the empty room in the quad?"
Samia stared at Rik, then at Molly. She was nonplussed, even a little shy. She didn't say anything for the moment, but Molly thought she seemed anything but thrilled by the idea. Anja, conversely, leered at Molly with an all to knowing arch to her eyebrow. Molly was a decent liar, but Anja outclassed her, and frequently scented her bull shit.
"Cousin, huh? Where you from, Cousin Rik?" Anja's gaze bored into the big guy.
He smiled at her inquiry and nodded his head. "I am from Elo. It is a town far away, in Finnland."
"Right. Took the red eye to get here?"
"Yep, came in to Sea Tac early this morning," Molly interjected. Samia gazed sidelong at Molly. Molly wondered if she'd said that a little too fast.
"And what kind of plane did you fly, Cousin Rik?" Anja had her wicked smile on.
Rik cocked his head. "I believe it was an Air Bus. That is what they are called, yes? I'm sorry, I'm not really familiar with them."
Molly wanted to laugh. Either he knew something right to say or he'd just stumbled on roughly similar words.
Anja looked between the two of them with beetled brows. "You're both roughed up. Slip and fall somewhere? Get mugged?"
"No, friend. Molly is most courageous. We bat-"
Molly silenced him with a glare. His eyes widened, his mouth stayed open for a second, then snapped shut. She offered a wan smile to Anja. "I'd really rather not talk about that."
"Uh huh," her friend smirked.
"Look, either you guys buy off or you don't, but I need to know so I can decide what to do next."
Samia leaned toward Molly and picked up her hand. "Did he do that to you?"
Anja looked at it and gasped. Molly pulled her hand free. She shook her head. "No, he didn't. In fact it would have been a lot worse without him."
"Now that's the truth," Anja said. She was already heading for the mid-sized first aid kit hanging above the kitchen sink. She pulled out several supplies and came back over to the table. "Here, put that hand out."
Anja tended to the wound while Samia sat back, considering Rik with a level gaze. A little bit later Molly had a bandage wrapped around her hand, and the imp scratches were treated with antibacterial ointment. Molly hoped that there were no seriously nasty Otherworld germs she'd picked up in that encounter. The last thing she needed was to be the focal point of a disease migration. Elf cooties. She pressed her lips flat. She couldn't burst out laughing.
"If he agrees to behave as a gentleman," Samia said, "And makes no effort to spy upon any of us while bathing, then I have no issues. Our individual rooms are sacrosanct, of course."
Anja snorted. "Well, I may not mind so much about the latter of those conditions, but I agree with Samia. A few nights should be okay, but remember Mols, the Snitches are pretty nosy up here on Seventh Heaven."
"Seventh Heaven?" Asked Rik.
"Seventh floor," Molly replied. "Alright. Thanks Samia, thanks Anja."
Anja wrinkled her nose. "Well, I think one of you ought to bath right away. The shower's empty and Sam and I have classes coming up. I get my shower at 6, Sam's at 6:30. So that means pretty much no peeking between 6 o'clock and 7, big guy."
"Thanks," Molly said again.
In short order Samia and Anja cleared out for their classes. Rik took off his coat and laid it on the ground. He asked for a few basic cleaning agents, and it took Molly several moments to figure out if they had anything remotely close in their cleaning supplies. Soon he bent over the coat, giving it a thorough cleaning.
"I need to sleep," Molly said after a jaw splitting yawn.
"I suggest you bathe first. I shall stand guard here." He seemed so sincere. He probably was.
"You do that. Just keep cleaning that coat. We'll try and get you some regular clothes tonight so you don't look like a reject from a ren fair." He grinned at her. "What?" she demanded.
"I have never been a student at a University before. I always wanted to study the heavens. This shall be interesting."
Molly rolled her eyes and got her bath supplies organized.