Why hasn't she been home in so long?

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking... why haven't you been home in a while?"

Nightwing surprises you with a long, drawn-out sigh. She seems to be deep in thought for a moment.

"When I decided to assimilate into human society for my survival, I was hoping that home would be something that would remain far, far from my mind. However, I simply cannot afford not to think of it."

For a moment, you want to tell her that she doesn't have to go home if it makes her uncomfortable - however, your eagerness to please others takes the backburner as you remember what's at stake{if askedMindControl==true} - and what you may learn about yourself by going there{endif}.

"I have not returned home because..." She takes a moment. "I was exiled."

How will we ask your brother for help if we can't even get in? Is the first question that comes to mind. But you bite your tongue - this is clearly a difficult issue for her, and the fact that she's offered to return to her home to help you is even more humbling.

"I'm sorry," is all you say, placing a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to be reassuring. You feel a burning curiosity - why was she exiled? For a moment, you consider not asking her at all - but you need to know. If you're going to be her...****, or companion, or whatever, you think you have a right to know.

You're still going to be as gentle as you possibly can with the question, of course.

"Would you mind telling me... why you were exiled?"

Nightwing remains silent for a moment. You wait for her to reply, and when she doesn’t, you wordlessly return to brushing her hair, trying your hardest not to hurt her as you sort out knots.

"...because I'm cursed."

You stop brushing her hair, taken by surprise - and somewhat concerned. "What?"

"I... I'm cursed." She takes a deep breath. "I'm cursed with...with empathy."

The fuck does that mean?

"I...I don't understand," you word your query more carefully. "How can you be cursed with...empathy?"

"Dragons do not feel the same range of emotions as humans or elves," Nightwing explains. "And dragons typically do not experience empathy. You're aware of this, correct?"

"I knew that dragons generally experienced fewer emotions than humans, but I didn't realize that they lacked empathy," you respond.

"Well, per my curse, I am burdened with both. I feel many more emotions than the average dragon, and I am capable of experiencing empathy." She sounds almost clinical as she explains the details of her "curse".

"I'm not sure I understand," you admit. "If anything, I'd say not feeling empathy is a curse."

"Exactly," Nightwing replies. "To humans, empathy is a given. The lack of it is seen as negative. To dragons, however, empathy, and emotions in general, are a liability. It leaves us open to manipulation. So, all dragons that are cursed with empathy are exiled." Her clinical tone remains - you have a feeling that she's reciting something she was taught, and not something she actually believes.

You have a million and one questions, but... you don't think now is the appropriate time to ask them. So, you wordlessly return your hand to her shoulder, your mind spinning with assumptions and questions.

Has she been...lonely? Alone in that cave, and maybe others, for however many years... with human-like emotions, she must have felt at least something in regards to being alone.

Is she helping you because she feels bad for you? If so, why did she make you her **** - why not just make some kind of agreement?

And finally... how are you going to convince her that her emotions aren't a curse, but a gift? The thought of her being so upset because of her capacity for emotions...it really sucks. And the fact that she was exiled for it, and that other dragons have been exiled for the same... it makes your blood boil.

As you remove your hand from her shoulder and continue brushing her hair, you can't help but feel a certain amount of responsibility.

She's likely never had a friend in her entire life - it's entirely possible that she's never even been truly happy. Now, you're in a position to give her a littany of firsts - her first smile, her first inside joke...

You decide, right then and there, that you're going to stand by her, and make damn sure that nobody hurts her.

Plus, the little knowledge you have of psychology is causing tons of red flags to be raised. You don't know enough to say what disorders she may exhibit - but you definitely know that her mental health has suffered.

"I'm sorry you've had to go through that," you finally vocalize your musings, choosing your words carefully. "I'll stand by you, Nightwing. I promise."

"That isn't necessary. I've become able to suppress a majority of my emotions. My exile was necessary, and I've been slowly overcoming my weakness."

You want to go into a rant about how unhealthy that is, but if you want to help her, it will have to be gradual. You won't get anywhere by shouting at her.

Instead, you finally ask the one question that you've been holding back.

"Why did you offer to ask your brother for help if you're exiled?"

"Because I am bound by our contract to try to save your mother - my brother represents an option, and I must try to take that option. I may have been exiled, but I still have my honor."

You nod, but you can't help but wonder if that's the only reason. The sadness you saw in her eyes... maybe she's partly offering to help you because of her emotions? You doubt she would admit to it, however.

You decide not to press any further, and let the conversation lull.