Naz holds back for now.

Naz looked behind her with amusement. As much as she would enjoy teasing the poor elf by making him wash from top to toe, she resisted the temptation of his touch, knowing the timid thing would spend far too much effort and take far too much time being thorough. "Just the back Little Mouse, though I like how eager you are, it's adorable, but we have things to do."

Soren turned his back to her, hiding his embarrassment. "Yes, of course, I am sorry, it's my fault." He muttered out a string of hurried apologies, feeling shame at his actions. Naz leaned down, pressing her breasts into his back, he felt her nipples, still erect from the cold on his skin, she wrapped her strong arms around the small elf, who was taken by a slight shiver due to the cold, giving him a comforting squeeze.

"You worry so easy little one, you have done nothing wrong, we just have an appointment to make, and I refuse to do so on an empty stomach". The two changed into their armor. Naz gave Soren a curious look. "I did not notice last night, but where are your things? Did you leave them downstairs with the innkeeper?"

Soren rubbed his arm, sorrow in his eyes as he remembered the looks of disdain and disgust from his old traveling companions. "When…" he started, quickly wiping a tear forming, failing to hide his emotions from Naz, "when I was asked to leave my last group, they said my equipment had been earned by the group, and so it belonged to them. Thankfully they let me buy some clothes from them with the coin I had left… but not much else…" he trailed off. A frown formed on Naz's brow. Anger rose inside of her. How could anyone take such advantage of this sweet soul? An awkward silence hung in the hall, which was thankfully broken by the sound of Soren's rumbling stomach. Naz's eyes softened, as she realized this poor boy probably hadn't eaten in a few days.

"Come, let me treat us to breakfast, you are a member of my team now, I'll pay from Yue's share," she said with a wink. They made their way to the inn's main hall. Various adventurers were shaking off the previous night's drink with greasy meats and stale eggs. "Go get us a booth. I'll place an order for us." Naz directed Soren towards an empty booth along the wall.

Soren made his way towards the booth when suddenly a hard shoulder knocked him to the ground. He landed hard, the soft sound of clashing and clinking metal slamming against the musty floorboard. He cringed at the feeling of old ale making him slightly stick to the wood as he tried to lift himself up. "Well, well well, what do we have here? Looks like this little knife eared prick ran into me, scuffed me shoes." A rough-looking man proclaimed to his friends

"Oh no!" One of the stooges explained in false sincerity, "those shoes are new! And expensive, right boss? Say, how much were they?"

"Bout 10 gold if I recall," the leader says, an obvious lie, as the rags on his feet barely could be defined as shoes to begin with. "Well elf, care to make this right"

"I'm sorry for bumping into you sir." Soren apologized desperately, "but I have no coin to offer." Soren looked around frantically for Naz, but he could not see her past the crowd of people. His eyes began to water.

"Well, if you can't pay, then you are gonna have to clean them. Lick." The man shoved his disgusting foot toward Soren's face. Tears were welling up faster than he could blink them back. Why is this happening to me? Why did I have to be so clumsy, where is Naz? Did she leave me? I don't blame her. Harmful thoughts flooded his mind. He sniffled, desperately to keep the tears from flowing down his cheeks. "What's the hold-up bitch, I said lick!" The man shouted. Soren closed his eyes. What was one more humiliation, if he behaved maybe they wouldn't hurt him, at least not physically.

He was startled by the sudden sound of a skull slamming against wood. Soren looked up to see Naz, seething with rage at the events unfolding before her. Her eyes saw red, her skin was illuminated by tattoos of glowing silver chains which appeared magically along her body. Soren's would-be tormentor lay slumped on the table. His head resting in a newly made indent, coincidently of the same size and shape. The chatter of the inn had ceased, all eyes were on the female half-orc, and even her breathing sounded full of hatred. She turned her rage towards the **** man's companions.

"Would someone care to explain what's going on?" Her words were coated in venom. She loomed menacingly over the two remaining goons.

Soren scrambled to his feet. "I'm sorry. It was my fault. I tripped and fell, I ruined his shoes. I just… let's eat, please Naz, I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me." He looked up at her with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry for the shoes" Soren said, bowing to the duo and their **** friend. "Let's have breakfast, alright Naz?" He put a hand on her arm, trying to calm her down.

The glowing chains faded slowly, as her tattoos melded into her skin, slowly vanishing from sight. She spit once on the **** man. "Ok Soren, alright, let's have breakfast" she says, letting out a deep breath through pursed lips. Naz rubs the elf's head, tussling his hair. "As long as you are good Mouse"

"Yes, I am, thank you." He says, clutching her arm. They walk away to their table. The smell of cooking bacon, fresh eggs, and last night's ale filled the tavern's aroma. He clung tightly to her, afraid that in letting go he would find himself alone again. Naz felt him trembling. Poor thing is terrified, sadness filled her heart at how cruelly Soren had been treated. The poor boy was so easy to walk over he was practically throwing himself at people's feet.

"Hey, Soren, could you do me a favor?" Naz asked as she scratched the back of her neck sheepishly. The elf could only nod his head while wiping a tear from his eyes. "I am a bit cold still this morning, sit on my side of the booth to keep me warm would ya?"

Soren managed finally to stiffen his upper lip. "Yes, um, yes anything you want Naz, I already owe you so much." First she offers a nobody like him a space in her party. And now she also had just rescued him. My debt to her just keeps piling up. He thought to himself as he scootched into the booth's bench beside Naz. She wraps an arm around his shoulders, and pulls him in tightly.

They sit in each other's embrace for some time, till their moment is broken by the waitress bringing over their food. Soren hungrily devoured it, he had not eaten in the past two days, filling his plate with a mixture of eggs, bacon and other breakfast meats that had been slapped together by a cook who long ago decided that grease would be his main form of flavoring. Naz lets her anger subside for Soren’s sake, his distress was easy to read.

“So… what is Yue like?” Soren asked through a mouthful of eggs. He was curious what kind of company a woman like Naz would keep.

“Well, she is alright I guess, judgemental, self-righteous, overly energetic, massive tits,” Naz mused, “Just have to convince her to let me keep ya is all.” Soren looked up at her with concern. For the first time since they sat down he stopped shoveling food into his face.

“You…you mean…I.. I…thought you said” Soren’s fears began to well up.

“Hey, hey, no no no no, I was joking,” Naz said, wiping a tear from his eye, “You’re part of my team now ok, you’re not going anywhere” She squeezed him gently, cursing herself for her cruelty. His last group abandoned him, how could I be so stupid. “Now, let's finish up, Yue should be here soon enough, let's get some fresh air outside while we wait.”

Soren looked over to the waitress as they left, slipping a few gold coins on the table “For damages' ' he says apologetically.

“I thought you didn’t have any coin?” Naz asked, tilting her head.

“Recently acquired” he said with a shrug, wiggling his finger. “I’m a Thief, right? Or did you think all my tricks had only one application?” Naz rolled her eyes and shook her head gently as they made their way outside.

“Who did you take it from?” Naz exaggerated checking her pockets.

“The guy you punched into a table”

“Alright, fair enough, now, be on the lookout for a redhead, one who would be dressed modestly if her clothes didn’t hug her so tightly. Taller than you, shorter than me.” Naz leaned against the tavern wall, idly scratching her face. They waited for around half an hour. Naz glanced down, amused by the sight of Soren, standing alert, straining on his toes to spot Yue.

Naz patted Soren on the head, giving it a slight rub. "What was that for?" He asked, a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Nothing" she replied, I just find you adorable. The moment of impromptu affection was broken by a voice calling from the crowded streets.