A Dangerous Den

Ildefons' shoulders visibly relaxed when she'd assured him she was okay. That was one thing he didn't need to worry about for now. He walked behind her, watching closely in case of any more trouble. He had to wish harder that he didn't need to while she was still around, at least. He kept some distance, as he still felt the lingering rush from earlier.

Her voice had pulled him out of his reverie, and like a reflex, he'd tried to comb back his hair, running his hands through it only to remember he didn't need to smooth it down. "N-no-- I mean, yeah. I'm alright. This is really just nothing," he told her, trying to wipe off the trickle of blood from his lip with the back of his hand, but only managing to smudge it on his pale skin.

Ildefons was nearly startled from her sudden closeness when he'd look up to her again, ready to protest to her help, but he managed to catch himself. "You need to worry about yourself more. These are just scratches; they'll heal." Quick enough so his siblings wouldn't see it later, he hoped.

"It was just as my fault than it was yours; I was the one who put up a fight anyway," Ildefons argued, a smirk tugging at his lips for a moment before it fell away. He had already cast his gaze aside that he was barely able to notice her still for a moment before stepping away.

Emily's eyes was turned away from him when he looked back up to answer her. Ildefons opened his mouth and closed it a couple of times, debating something in his thoughts before he finally spoke. "Elric is fine," he said, tugging his jacket collar up as if to shield the lie before turning back to her with a smile. "I don't think we could have done introductions with all that running, frankly. But you know after all that; just knowing you're out of there is thanks enough."

He of course didn't want to worry about his cuts anymore but reminding him about traces of it getting on his hair got him slightly conscious, enough to raise a had to touch the tips. "I can take care of it, okay? I could just wash it off later if it does," was all he could say before walking forward to match her pace.

There was maybe a few seconds of silence until Emily spoke again, and Ildefons looked at her with surprise. He was hesitant to reply. Did he really think that was fun? Ildefons wanted to roll his eyes. He'd gone over this for a long time now: of course he did; but why was it so unpleasant for him to admit? His smile seemed to turn wry when he replied, "I-it's nothing. I just get carried away when I get into fights is all." A beat passed, considering for a moment if he wanted to pry. "You're saying you can actually taste emotions?"

Ildefons said nothing from her comment. If anything it made him a little weirded out. But then again, he did get Elric from his own name — there wasn't any surprise that it still would have sounded fitting for him, as she suggested. He only turned his attention back to mentioning about the blood on his hair. "Trust me, there's a few people I know who might not be very ecstatic about blood getting in my hair," he said wryly. He wasn't sure though but he couldn't really bet on them being happy about it either.

"Saving people isn't exactly a hobby of mine though. I still get into fights more than you probably think. I wouldn't say that's decent as you're letting yourself imagine," he corrected. He turned to face her with a finger at his lip in a shushing gesture, his eyes squinting playfully. "Just keep this a secret between us, alright?" He didn't want to risk anything if he runs into her when he's trying to keep his image.

As she spoke of her abilities, Ildefons tried so hard not to flinch visibly at the mention of mind reading, worried just a little that she could have easily figured him out right then and there. But he had relaxed when she explained she had to be allowed to do so. He had to supress his sigh. He didn't speak, maybe a little wary even after she fell silent. He only observed her, curious when she threw several glances at his direction. He had half the mind to look around them in case they had been followed, but chose to only do that subtly. Ildefons only spoke when she did so again, chuckling just a little from her comment.

"I wouldn't quite know the answer to that, but you have impressive abilities. There's no shame in being proud of them," he told her."It might be uncommon, but not all too strange. I might have to ask, how are you able to interpret the emotions that way?"

It seemed as though Ildefons mirrored her sad smile when she spoke. It was difficult for him to tell anyone how he really felt about it. Fighting in wars was one thing, but getting involved in messy brawls, even he didn't actually like everything about it. For him, it wasn't a matter of liking it or not. He needed it. It was one of his very few outlets when he felt like losing control."I suppose 'addicting' is away to put it. Though I'd say for me... 'therapeutic' feels more accurate."

A wry smile seemed to make its way through his features, clearly reflecting his thoughts on the matter, "Some people like keeping secrets. Mine just happen to be a little too complicated to talk about openly," he explained with an all too casual shrug. If he had to be honest, he could probably tell anyone but he didn't want any 'rumors' reaching his family.

He kept quiet, only listening as Emily explained her piece; though it was little hard to imagine for himself, he wouldn't say he felt the need to question more. It was her ability to know, after all. He was mulling it over when she turned to him with a curious smile and when she spoke, surprise was his first reaction, followed by a carefree laugh to join hers. It was lighthearted, but to anyone familiar with his laughter, it sounded almost self-depreciating.

His smile faded leaving a grin playing on his face, "Be careful princess, you shouldn't fall for guys like me. Better hope that really is just adrenaline."

"I can, but I've chosen not to," came Ildefons' reply. His voice seemed to come off more hollow, clearly meaning that was far from the truth. It wasn't a choice he had completely considered. He jumped in that ring telling himself it would keep him out of trouble in the eyes of his family and he hasn't stopped since.

Ildefons only gave her a small smile in response, rather insincere and more of a sign of how he wouldn't delve into detail anymore in the topic. Instead he only waited for her to speak again, watching her flushed face as she struggled to talk. "Curiosity killed the cat you know," he chuckled.

He stopped walking, a few steps just ahead of Emily enough to stop her in her tracks too. "My advice, is not to get too close. Maybe try not to run into me again," he said, lightly tapping her nose. "But that's up to chance. The island isn't that large a place, and so is the school. We'll probably see each other even if we don't mean to," He smiled at her, head tilted to the side just a little, "If that happens, then we'll just see where things go, hm?"