![[Image: 500_by_memuii-dbfxt60.png]](http://orig02.deviantart.net/75f6/f/2017/192/d/5/500_by_memuii-dbfxt60.png)
" BEXLEY BRIAR "
Bexley watches the poor boy take her at face value and wants to laugh at the way his expression drops, but doesn’t, biting her tongue instead to see how he’ll continue to react. It’s amusing, to watch the way he’s already wriggling in her grasp - she glances at him with an even humor, with the glint of mischief cold and metal in her eyes. It’s been a hot minute since she’s met someone so naive. The seriousness in his gaze, the way he looks her up and down for clues. Bex tilts her head at him and stares back.
He’s small, smaller than she is, but besides that they’re built almost the same, with slim lines and curves that are flashing under the white glare of the sun. She catches the cuff on his leg, the green in his eyes, the metallic glinting of his horn, and decides the kid can’t be any more dangerous than a kicked puppy, granted his extra appendage doesn’t have any special powers. Bex huffs out an exhale as she listens to his answer, then coos, derisive: No, it’s not, babe.
It’s not her job to take care of him, which is why she answers with honesty instead of support: the desert goes on for miles and miles without respite, and even those of the Day Court have gotten lost in its vast dunes, which means, without Bexley’s help, this kid’s chances of leaving unharmed are slim. Her homeland crawls with terrible beasts and the stinging promise of heatstroke, and it has mercy for no one. She teeters close to sympathizing but doesn’t - he’s gotten himself into this mess, he should get himself out of it.
And yet Bexley does not turn away, does not leave him on his own, but watches with an uncertain warmth, something deep in her maternal brain begging her not to be so callous. She hates it. Hates the warring of weaknesses inside her chest. When he speaks again, she grits her teeth before answering in a debate of whether to tell the truth or not.
I was heading home, she says finally. From meeting a friend. It’s uncomfortable to be telling the truth, but at least she’s calculated that sentence so it can’t be used against her.
@charlemagne <3
