“As I think about it, it’s not that different than what the others that you work with do, judging you for your abilities.”
This made him smile.
Slightly.
“Merely caring if you offended me, having just learned of my abilities, is not improper. Your people, you said, do not have telepaths among you. It is a logical thought process, to wonder how strong the ability is.”
He’s being so nice, she thought.I probably sound like an idiot.
She needed to stop this. Whether he can hear her internal thoughts or not, she wasn’t an idiot. It was just a new sensation.
“I’m sorry, regardless, if I did offend.”
“You seem very concerned about offending others.”
“Habit,” she said.
The way he looked at her, she thought he may have wanted to say more, but the elevator glided to a stop, and the doors opened.
The décor, slightly different but still obviously the apartment-dorms that she and the others were in, resembled what she remembered. "I feel like this is looking familiar," she said as they stepped out.
"This is your level. Do you no longer need my assistance?" Karuk asked as they took a few steps from the lift.
"You can continue to walk me to my door, if you want."
"I can do that." He held out his elbow again, and she accepted the gesture.
She took it as a sign that he truly wasn’t upset with her, which made her feel better.
“Is that an Earth custom?”
“Is it not on your world? To escort someone to their door?”
“It depends on your status. I escorted many people to their residence.”
“Why is that?”
“I was a guard. I was tasked with getting them safely to their places.”
“And what brought you here?”
“Bad choices.”
“By you or for you?”
“Both.”
She nodded, and they followed the curve of the walkway a bit. She remained quiet because she didn’t want to press. If he wanted to share, he would.
"I think my room is down there," she said, gesturing to a hallway she remembered. Though it saddened her to know they were almost to her door, after all, she was enjoying talking to Karuk.
“Mister Fluffikins is likely irritated that I haven’t been back to check on him.”
“Mister Fluffikins? Your creature?”
"Yes. He's called a cat. He's a predator wrapped in a little fuzzy sweet body."
"Sounds intriguing," he said. They walked to her door, and she pulled out her little key chime, and put it on the door to let her in.
