a quiet departure

Demon was woken up by Alex moving around the room. A little over a month ago this was fairly normal, but normal recently was Alex staying peacefully in his bed until there was no sleeping woman in his arms. Demon looked towards the bed and saw that the young woman was still soundly sleeping, then looked back at Alex and processed that the disturbance was him donning his armor already.

It took demon some time to fully process what he doing.

(We're not staying for breakfast?) She thought in his direction.

(No, we should meet with our caravan outside the south gate. They camped outside the city and they're just waiting on our arrival to begin. We can help them break camp if needed.)

There was an unusual level of determination in Alex's thoughts this morning, and it took the edge off Demon's annoyance that she'd be missing breakfast.

(Not going to wake the lady?)

(Nope.) Alex didn't even slow down as he geared up. He was moving smoothly, not making any noise, but he wasn't moving slowly as he hurried to get out the door.

Demon felt a new sort of conflicted annoyance, (You'll be lucky if the girl doesn't hate you for running out without saying goodbye first.)

(Too risky.) Alex thought back with solid conviction, (And if I'm lucky enough she'll never want to think about me again.)

(Hey asshole!) Demon bristled a little, (Exactly how little heart do you have in you?)

Alex only paused in his action long enough to cock an eyebrow in Demon's direction, (Getting lectured about my apparent emotional apathy by you is precious.)

(You expect me to believe that you're being this calloused to the girl after your sickeningly sweet last night together? I've been inside your head for the last ten years idiot, what's your game?)

Alex took a long slow and deep breath, letting it out equally slowly before answering, (This trip might go sideways very quickly. I don't want her praying for me, but I know better than trying to talk her out of it. The best chance I have to keep her from getting involved is to take the chance that she hates me before she goes to sleep again.)

(Hate you? In this house?)

Alex shrugged, (It's a long shot, but it's the only one I could think of.)

(Maybe you should have thought about that before you put your dick in her.)

(You told me too.)

(I told you to bang her like a strumpet. You had to go off and be all romantic, now she has feeling for you and you for her. My way would have left no attachment.)

(Vickary would have killed me for that.)

(And you'd revive.)

(And she'd keep killing me until she felt better, that would have been a long and very painful visit.)

(Vic wouldn't kill you. Too much guilt in her already.)

Alex sighed, (It's complicated.)

Demon leapt into her basket atop his pack, (Leaving without a proper goodbye won't make it less complicated.)

Alex finished buckling his weapons on, and lifted his helmet gazing at it almost as it was a religious artifact. (I can't do anything as I am now. I can not uncomplicate my relationships until after I fix my destiny.)

Demon yawned and curled up in her basket, (Where ever you go we're in this together. Maybe think about that a little more often Master.)

Alex placed his helmet on and did the chinstrap. (I do think about you, even when you think I don't.) He reached over and slid the orc warding bracelet around her neck, she stiffened but did not fight him.

(Collared like a pet.) There was no hiding the resentment from her thoughts, but she'd basically spent the last month without it, once they were out of the guildhall she needed to be shielded from prying eyes again.

(If we find something better then we'll switch to using that. This is what we have.)

(Can I take it off once we get to the desert?)

Alex shrugged, (If you want to risk the sight of Pyrotheo then be my guest.)

(I'm not scared of him,) she stretched her claws, (and I don't care if we kill a few hundred of that pompous bastard's followers either.)

Alex sighed again and shook his head, (I'd rather I didn't have too.)

(Whatever you think best, I'm just the mascot.)

Alex shouldered his pack, (In which form of yours?)

(Which one do you prefer the most?)

Alex thought a moment as he slipped out of the room and headed towards the front doors of the guild hall, (Not the first one I met you in. That form was too hideous to show children.)

(I was a demon, so DUH.)

(And the one you like to use in the bedroom needs clothes, so maybe that one will depend on the outfit we put you in. Don't want to set a bad example for the children either.)

(Goody-goody-two-shoes.)

(I suppose this form is our only safe form to use as a mascot.)

(I will bite your neck mister!)

(And I will share the pain with you.)

(Oh, my hero! Won't share your internal power with me, but you'll share your suffering.)

(I thought you'd be used to it by now.) Alex was feeling much more amused with their power dynamic than demon was at the moment. He didn't remember being sadistic in he past, but it was a little fun at times now.

So maybe his mind wasn't as untouched by the corruption as everyone thought.