"I have two things on my mind: running and my imminent death." Xendri looked around the sparse room, not deliberately avoiding eye contact with xeir companions, but doing so nonetheless. It was not much of a shelter to rest up in. The walls were a dark, dull wood that looked fragile and like it could crumble at the slightest touch. One small window framed by damp, torn remains of curtains, allowed the glimpse of moonlight to shine through, and cracks in the glass allowed a whistle of wind to constantly flow through. The once tiled floor seemed to crumble beneath each step, and any furnishings that may off once occupied the area had long since fallen into disrepair.

But, it was enough.

They needed nothing extravagant for now - just simply somewhere to rest.

Xeir eyes settled, vacantly gazing out of the window from where xey stood, leaning carefully against a wall.

"It feels like that is all I have been thinking about for a long time now." The gentle, metallic tone in Xendri's voice seemed to clash with xeir surroundings, especially to those not quite accustomed to talking to xem. Xey cast xeir gaze back inwards, turning each to Michi and Touch in turn, straightening xeir pose, and taking a few steps towards them as xey spoke.

"I do not know why you would want to continue travelling with me. Most find me unsettling, or view me as something abhorrent and unnatural. I do not mind this so much. It is what I have come to expect at this point, and so I do not take it personally. If you two wish to leave my company in the morning, I would not hold that against you."

Unceremoniously, Michi slumped to the floor, a little away from the middle of the room, vigorously rubbing at their face - both in exhaustion and as an attempt to remove at least some of the grime that had accumulated. They looked up, meeting Xendri's gaze. A soft, white glow radiated from Xendri's eyes, just enough to illuminate xeir face, and from where they were sitting, the light through the window framed Xendri's whole form in a similar manner. It made them feel as though they were looking at some sort of messenger from the gods, though they knew that that was something that was clearly not the case.

They broke the gaze, and hugged their knees to themself, a slight frown crossing their features.

"It seems a little unfair that you get treated so, just for being different," they eventually respond with an exasperated sigh, "but then, I suppose I kind of understand how you feel. Maybe not in the same way, but ever since I first arrived here I've felt out of place. Not many people seem to quite understand my views or the way I deal with different things. Though no one has ever quite chased me away for being a little odd, I've never really felt wanted by anyone." Their tail flicked around slightly behind them, and they felt Touch’s hand rest upon one of their shoulders. They smiled up to him, and tugged gently at one of his trouser legs to get him to sit beside them, snuggling up and resting against his shoulder as he did so, carefully not to knock the food he had been preparing out of his hands.

There was nothing extravagant - mostly rations, with a few berries he had managed to forage from just outside, but to Michi this was one of the most wonderful meals. It had been a little while since they had really had time to sit with Touch and just share a meal, and it felt wonderful to have this chance to just relax with him once more. Even if there was little comfort to be gained from the physical food or their surroundings, the company was more than enough to make up for that.

"Other than Touch," Michi added, taking a few berries and some dried food, and nibbling on them slowly, "He's the first person in a long while that's made me feel I can just be me..." They trail off, more focused on eating than talking in the moment, and forgetting the original point of discussion.

A slight smile crept onto Touch's lips, and he gestured, first to Xendri, and then to the food, "This is just as much for you to share as us, you know?"

For a moment, Xendri paused, almost frozen in thought at this. Xey blinked once, slowly, looking down at the simple spread of food that Michi was still readily tucking into, and tilted xeir head curiously. And, after a brief moment of silence, xey cautiously came closer, and crouched down across from the two, carefully picking up a berry and placing it in xeir mouth. With a warm smile, Touch began to partake of the food himself, while Xendri continued to chew xeir berry thoughtfully.

"How long has it been," Touch broke the silence that had settled over the group once more, "since you really had a friend, Xendri?" He did not make eye contact as he asked, but instead was focused on brushing some scraps off of Michi's face that had become caught in their fur. Still, the question shook Xendri out of whatever xey were thinking, and xey glanced away, almost flinching at the question.

"I... I am not so sure I understand the question," xey stammered out, shuffling back slightly, and wrapping one arm around xemself tightly, "I have had colleagues in the past. Employers or sometimes fellow workers. But it has been a very long time since there was anyone who fit those descriptions."

"That's not exactly what I meant," Touch responded gently, "Co-workers are all well and good, but they aren't necessarily going to be your friends. Have you never had anyone who just enjoyed your company? Spent time with you just for the sake of being with you?"

With a small frown, Xendri shook xeir head slightly from side to side - the smallest movement possible, almost as if xey didnt quite want to admit so.

"Most find me unsettling, or view me as something abhorrent and unnatural." Xey repeated xeir earlier statement, refusing to make eye contact, staring at a point on the floor, both arms wrapped around xemself now, "I do not know why you would want to continue travelling with me."

A grim expression fell onto Michi's face at that, and they looked over to xem with concern, as Xendri seemed almost frozen to the spot. Putting aside their thoughts of food for a moment, they crawled their way over, ignoring any scuffing of their hands and knees from the stoney ground, to sit by xeir side. Before Xendri could react, Michi had thrown their arms around xem, encapsulating xem in a hug, and was saying, "Well, I know we’ve only known you for a very short while, but I think that you're very cool, and that everyone else is very wrong to think otherwise."

Xendri seemed even more frozen - if that was even at all possible - at the sudden touch, and xey did nothing more than simply quietly move xeir head very slightly from side to side.

"Michi that's enough," Touch called softly, noticing Xendri's discomfort, and, with a slight pout, Michi relented on the hug, and sat back onto their knees. They sighed softly, and tilted their head, looking to Xendri.

"We don't have to stay with you if that's what you'd prefer. I understand if you feel that you'd rather be alone. But..." Michi trailed off slightly, and began to crawl their way back across to sit besides Touch once more. They picked at the food a little in thought before they finally continued, "But I would like to be your friend if you'll let me. Being alone can have benefits, but so can being with others. Having friends to rely on and help you through problems can make those problems so much easier." They picked up a piece of dried meat, and softly offered it in Xendri's direction, "We don't know what problems you deal with, but maybe there's a way we can help. Maybe... maybe you wouldn't have to fear your death so much if you had others on your side to defend you."

Another beat of silence spread through the group, as, for a little while, Xendri slowly began to come back to reality slightly. It was unclear just how much of Michi's words xey had even heard, but for sure xey heard the last sentence, and xey stared at the offering in Michi's hand as xey processed xeir thoughts. And slowly, carefully, they reached out a cautious hand, took the dried meat, and toyed with it lightly in xeir hand.

"Defend me..." xey barely audibly mumbled to xemself, closing xeir eyes, with a slight frown on xeir lips once more. Michi returned to picking at various pieces of food as xey did so, but they continued to watch Xendri with mild concern, as xey continued to mutter to xemself. After what felt like a lifetime to Michi, but was probably not even a full minute, Xendri took a hearty bite out of the meat, screwing up xeir face before swallowing, and snapping xeir eyes wide open.

"Ok."

Michi tilted their head quizzically, "O-Ok?"

Xendri's eyes snapped towards them, the unsettling glow seeming to pierce through them.

"Ok. If you wish to stay with me, or for me to stay with you, then I shall not object." Xey adjusted xeir position, shuffling from being crouched and huddled over, to being cross legged a little bit closer to the two, and began to take a few peices of the food from the main arrangement. The warm smile spread slightly further across Touch's lips, and he offered a nod in welcome to Xendri, while Michi began to bounce and clap beside him excitedly.

"Oh, yay!" they exclaimed giddly, trying desperately hard not to be too loud and draw unnecessary attention to the group, "I really hope we can be good friends, and that you will feel safe with us! Maybe things can be better for all of us together!" They managed to restrain themself, this time, from immediately jumping across and hugging Xendri, and instead redirected that energy into hugging Touch tightly, who simply patted them on the back, with a small smile and roll of his eyes.

"They're not always this over excited, don't worry," Touch said with a slight chuckle, and glancing in Xendri's direction, "You'll get used to the outbursts soon enough though. Just don't be afraid to say if they cross any boundaries you're not comfortable with. Michi's good natured, they'll do their best to respect you, and they don't bite."

"Well... not often anyways," Michi grinned, swivelling around and readjusting their position so that they were now sitting in Touch's lap, with their tail wrapped around their waist. The height difference was enough that it was no inconvenience to him, and the two could happily sit and eat still.

A slight smile, and a small nod to Touch, Xendri quietly began to eat more of the food, watching the two curiously. Xey were honestly not at all sure what to make of the situation that xey found xemself in, but the two seemed to be posing no threat to xem at the moment, and in fact, had been quite helpful up till this point. Xey may as well take advantage of their good opinions while they lasted if nothing else.

"So... How long have the two of you been... friends?"

Tilting their head up to look at Touch's face in thought, Michi pondered for a moment, "I'm... not entirely sure... A few months maybe?"

"Michi, it's been nearly a year now," Touch responded with a soft laugh, ruffling the top of their head as he did so, and Michi blinked in shock.

"Wait, what?!" they exclaimed sharply, and Touch held a finger to their mouth to remind them to not be quite so loud, "How has it been so long already? I feel like I've barely spent any time with you at all..."

He looked down at them, a gently sad look in their eyes, soft smile still on their lips, "I as well. I appreciate the time we have spent together regardless, but it is most definitely more than it feels."

Michi slowly began to slump, and sink further back into Touch, "That means it's been that long since I was last home... I... I don't like that thought..." They took their final handful of food, and unceremoniously shoved it into their mouth in one go, and sat there, quietly and sulkily chewing.

"I'm know Mich," Touch continued to pet their head with one hand, while he ate with the other, and continued to speak, "We'll figure that out, though. Even if it takes a while, I won't give up on helping you with that. You don't have to worry about losing me."

Still in his lap, Michi turned to one side, pulled up their legs, and curled up into a ball, nuzzling softly into Touch's body.

"Thank you..." they mumbled, genuinely grateful for his words, but suddenly feeling as though the weight of the world was upon them, "I... I'm very tired..."

"It's been a long day, you should get some rest," Touch said gently, before looking over to Xendri, "We all probably should soon."

Xendri did not respond right away, instead continuing to eat xeir fill of the food, which was not too much to be fair. In fact, it was considerably less than the average person's portion, but xey refused to partake of much more despite that. Xey looked to Touch and nodded once.

"Yes. This is probably an opportune moment for that. We should establish who will take watch."

"I call last watch," Michi grumbled sleepily from Touch's chest, raising an arm half-heartedly as if to punctuate their statement.

"Then you should probably take first," Xendri nodded to Touch, "I assume it is much more beneficial to the both of you to get a solid block of sleep. I do not sleep so much as power down, and so it does not matter exactly how broken my rest is, as long as I gain a sufficient amount."

Touch nodded in return, "If that's what you'd prefer, then that is more than fine with me. I can wake you in a few hours. Assuming, of course, that "wake" would be the correct terminology for that?"

Xendri offered a small grin, "It is a close enough approximation, yes." Xey stood up, and dusted xemself down briefly, before glancing around the room, and then returning xeir gaze to Touch, "Good night. I wish you a peaceful watch." And, with that, xey turned, tattered cloak fluttering with the movement, and stepped over to one of the cleaner looking corners of the room. Xey sat down, legs stretched out before xem, back resting against both walls, and, in the brief moment before xeir eyes closed, the light in xeir eyes dimmed as xey fell into unconsciousness.

Touch, still stroking their head, looked down to Michi with a small smirk, "You staying there, or do you wish to set up a space elsewhere?" They offered a half head shake, half nuzzle in response.

"No, is cozy here. Safe," they mumbled, already drifting into a sleep. Touch chuckled lightly, having expected the response, and adjusted his position as carefully as possible.

"Alright. I'll see you in the morning," he said softly to them, placing a gentle kiss on the top of their head, before lapsing into a calm quiet, watching the moon through the clouds, as they all awaited the morn.