“Do you know anything about Killrize?” Eleanor questioned, and confusion flickered through Ti’s eyes for a moment before he smirked.

    “Well… I can’t say I know much about it on a whole…” he began, and Eleanor raised an eyebrow, “but I do know someone who may be able to tell you a little something.”

    “Who?”

    “A humur,” he revealed, and surprise flickered through Eleanor’s eyes. “I’d be happy to introduce you if you can tell me what it is that you want with the labs.”

    “Why do you want to know?” suspicion echoed through her as she focused on him.

“I pray to the gods this girl is what she seems… I don’t want to risk Kasey.”

   
    “I… I am sick of the shit they’re doing,” Eleanor elaborated through clenched teeth, “It’s fucked up.”

    “Good,” he grinned, “Come on then. If we hurry we should catch her before she goes home.”

    “Alright,” Eleanor sighed in relief, and Ti took her hand.

    “This way,” he guided her while turning down a pass, away from the eyes of the street. “Thanks for watching my back there.”

    “Mmm…” she hummed, watching his unspoken language while listening to his private thoughts.

“Maybe I can salvage this after I help her out.”

    Eleanor chewed her lip in silent contemplation while he led her through the alleyways.

“Or… maybe not… nothing about those eyes of hers speak trust.”

    “So uh…” he spoke in nervous amusement, “Straight for the balls, huh?”

    “I… heh,” her eyes flickered away from him with embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “You know how self defence classes are for women.”

“She’s adorable.”

    “Something tells me you know more than that with the way you were scaling that building,” he teased with a laugh.

    “It’s a good way to stay in shape,” Eleanor gave a crooked smile, and his gaze slipped over her in a way that was less discreet than he had hoped as his eyes lingered within the pool of imagination left by her coat.

“Well… if her legs are any indicators… or ass. Man, I looked up at the right time.”

    Eleanor’s cheeks started to turn red, but she quickly cut off the emotions as she maintained the discretion of her abilities.

    “I’m sure it is,” Ti hummed, and he nodded towards the street. “Kasey should be just up ahead,” he revealed, and Eleanor took a deep breath, opening herself to his thoughts again.

    “Anything I should know?” Eleanor pressed.

    “Nah, she’s pretty chill,” Ti shook his head. “And she’s happy to screw over Killrize.”

    “Alright,” she nodded before Ti stopped her.

    “Wait right here a moment, and I’ll get her, okay?” he pressed, and Eleanor nodded again before she simply watched him walk away.

    After a moment she closed her eyes, letting the world grow louder as she reached for further thoughts to mind her own safety, but her exhaustion tampered with her accuracy.

“I hate- the best- again?”

    Thoughts melded together as Eleanor failed to separate them, and she rubbed her forehead, leaning against the wall while she limited her power’s range once again. She started to question her life decisions as the minutes slipped by, and she shifted her focus to simply controlling her abilities until footsteps sounded. 

    Their abrupt arrival shook some semblance of energy back into Eleanor, but she couldn’t deny her exhaustion’s irritation as she looked to the source. A woman in a low cut top and a skirt shorter than her’s walked towards her along with Ti. 

Her warm autumn locks fell to frame her face and bruised cheek while her fox-like ears fixated on Eleanor. She looked worn and abused from the night, but a semi-permanent smile resided on her split lip.

    “Hey gorgeous,” her soft voice greeted Eleanor. “Ti here says you want something from me?” she teased suggestively, and Eleanor couldn’t help the way her eyes flickered to the humur’s ample bust.

    “Wha-What?” Eleanor gulped with a faint blush.

    “You’re right Ti,” she huffed in amusement while her tail wagged slightly. “She is adorable,” she agreed, and Eleanor’s eyes quickly flickered between them for a moment before the humur offered her hand. “Name’s Kasey.”

    “I… Eleanor,” she quickly shook her hand. “I’m looking into Killrise,” Eleanor breathed in as she tried to focus her mind, and Kasey raised an eyebrow.

    “Why?”

    “I want to do something about them…” Eleanor mumbled with her emotions flickering a bit more rawly. “They can’t be left unchecked like this.”

    “Is that so?” Kasey questioned in distrust.

“Does that mean that she’d want to forgive them if they changed?”

    “They’ve done… unforgivable things,” Eleanor clenched her teeth, struggling not to dwell in the energy of her own emotions as well as not give away her insight.

    “Like what?”

“Why does she look so upset…?”

“I wonder if they’d ever consider a threeway.”

“Now she’s blushing?”

“Maybe I can test the waters… Nah.”

“And staring at-”

“Last time - Ti - I was with - can she hea- so hot- empathic?”

    Eleanor forced her powers into a disconnect as the thoughts merged beyond her understanding.

    “Eleanor,” Kasey’s voice cut through the air, and her two-toned gaze shifted to the humur to find a sympathetic smile. “Ask me what you want hun. I have a few lab tech regulars that like to vent.”

    “Oh thank fuck…” Eleanor grumbled while rubbing her forehead. “Can you… tell me everything about them then?”

    “You want their kinks too?” Kasey huffed in amusement.

    “No,” Eleanor breathed, “Just… jobs, hangouts, addresses, contacts… um…”

    “Hun, you need sleep,” Kasey placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Where you staying?”

    “I’m fine,” Eleanor shook her head while pulling out a notepad. “Just list what you know,” she instructed, and she retrieved a pen from her coat, clicking it several times.

    “Alright hun. Let’s start with… Shalris, but don’t get me started on the name…” Kasey huffed in amusement, but Eleanor was settled in her indifference to the world as she diligently took notes on all that Kasey had to share about her Killrise clients.

    Time ticked by with every bit of information Kasey provided recorded by Eleanor, and the morning was well settled by the time Eleanor finally resumed her way to the tavern. She yawned, ignoring the calls and whistles that reached her as she continued her way through the awakening day.

    “Hey baby! Why don’t you come hitch that skirt up for m- FUCK! MY PANTS!”

    They were now on fire.

    “Ellie!” a cheerful voice grinned as steps quickened towards her. “IT’S BEEN FUCKING HOURS!”

    “I… thought you were bar hopping?” her unbiased gaze met his of concern.

    “I… How am I supposed to get wasted when my little Ellie-wellie is out there in her little beanie-weanie with gods-know whosie-woozies?!”

    “HEY YOU CUNT!” the cat-caller snapped. “YOU SET ME ON FIRE!”

    “And you remembered to stop, drop, and roll! I’m impressed,” Avery grinned, but as Eleanor kept walking he quickly stopped antagonizing the man to trot after her. “El!” he huffed as he caught up. “What the fuck?”

    “I got good intel, but it’s time to sleep,” she sighed, “I have a map, and people to follow up on.”

    “Well… damn… but still,” Avery frowned at her. “You look like shit.”

    “I just need to sleep.”

    “And eat.”

    “After.”

    “No.”

    “I-... Fine…”