Broken

.11.

I wandered around with Nadila as we looked for Rhex. The stares I was receiving were starting to make my skin crawl. I kept my head down to avoid looking at them, to avoid seeing their disgust. Each gaze was like a weight pressing down on me. Nadila was talking but I found I couldn't focus as the stares increased.

"There he is. Stupid boy." At her words I looked and felt a relieved smile cross my face at Rhex's familiar form. He seemed relaxed as he leaned against a wall next to a door but his gaze scanned the crowd in a way that made it perfectly clear he was far from relaxed. "Rhex! Get over here." Nadila's voice was sharp and I felt amusement rise up at it. She was definitely demanding.

Rhex's gaze zeroed in on us and he said nothing as he pushed off of the wall and moved through the crowd to reach us. He was silent as he gave Nadila a short nod and pressed a hand to the small of my back, leading me away.

I looked over my shoulder and waved at the blond haired councilwoman. "Thank you, Nadila." She gave me an amused smirk, saying nothing before she turned and walked away herself.

I let Rhex lead me away from the crowds, happy to be away from their probing gazes. We walked up the service stairs and back towards the apartment. The silence was almost stifling but I didn't want to speak unless he spoke first. The silence dragged on as we walked up the stairs and out the service door.

"Did you enjoy your time with Councilwoman Nadila?" His tone seemed actually curious, as if he actually wanted to know the answer.

I smiled, relieved that the almost tense silence had been broken, as well as feeling a bit smug that he had been the one to break it. "I did. She's an interesting woman." We made it to the apartment level and I looked at the doors, looking for the one that signalled Rhex's apartment. It was hard to point out because the light brown doors looked same and I couldn't understand the symbols on them.

"It is good you make some friends with those on the Council. It will make your stay here more pleasant." He stopped in front of a door and opened it. Nadila had told me the doors worked on DNA. Your DNA was inputted into a scanner in the door and when you touched the door handle it automatically unlocked at the presence of the DNA coded into them.

"She said we could go see my parents tomorrow." I felt excited and he didn't appear to have any reaction to the news. I paused, frowning at him as we moved into the apartment. "Is that alright?" He was always so reserved that I couldn't tell what he liked or not.

He dropped his hand from my back leaving me feeling bereft from the loss of contact before moving to sit on the sofa. "I am fine with such a meeting. Councilwoman Nadila was very kind in providing you with such an opportunity." His gaze was lazy and I slowly closed the door before stepping further into the small apartment. His behaviour was strange and it made me uneasy. I watched him intently as he leaned his head on the back of the couch with a sigh. It made him look vulnerable.

I faintly trembled from the urge to go over and curl up next to him, tucking myself against his side. "She was very kind. She bought me some clothes and some toiletries so I don't have to use the cleaner intheshower." I clasped my hands together and looked at him carefully.

His shirt stretched and bunched across his bulky chest as he reached up to run his hands over his face. "I'm going to have a nap. Stay out of trouble." His words were soft and I could hear the clear warning in them. I felt a little more at ease, that was the Rhex I was used to.

I noticed several packages by hallway and Rhex gave a slow gesture to them. "They must have arrived while you were with the Councilwoman." His voice sounded slightly rough and I said nothing as I kicked off my shoes and moved through the sitting room to pick them up.

I carried them into the bedroom and set them on the bed before opening some of the drawers. I started opening the boxes, I was impressed by the selection Nadila had picked for me. It was mainly pants and a large variety of shirts which was the style I had preferred. I wasn't a skirt or dresses type of girl. There was a dress in one of the boxes and I folded it and placed it in the bottom of one of the drawers before covering it with the other clothes. I wouldn't be wearing it any time soon.

There were also several shoes that I placed inside the closet before grabbing the last box and taking it to the bathroom. I opened the shower door and placed the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash inside. I grabbed the box and moved back to the bedroom to collect the others. I stacked them up and placed them by the kitchen before looking into the sitting room. Rhex hadn't moved, his eyes were closed and he looked peaceful.

I slowly gazed around the apartment before letting out a small sigh. There was nothing for me to do. I couldn't read because all of the books were in Orrian. He didn't seem to have his rifle so I couldn't practice taking it apart and putting it together.

I moved closer to Rhex, unsure of how to broach the subject. I sat down on the couch beside him. "Rhex?" I looked at his face and he gave no indication that he had heard me. "Rhex?" I leaned closer but he didn't move. His expression didn't even twitch and I reached out and gently touched his arm.

"Mmm?" The rumble startled me slightly and I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry.

"Can I sit with you?" I watched as his mouth twitched upwards. His arm lifted before it wrapped around me, pulling me close to his chest.

"Mmhmm." The noise rumbled through me and I smiled, curling up to his side. I didn't want him to wake up fully and push me away again so I held still before letting myself sink into his side. It was closeness and even if I wasn't tired, it was good enough for me.