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Let her into the hallway with a graceful side step, staying a short distance away so as not to intimidate with his height or closeness, it was one thing to press up close in a crowd, in a public place designed for such things, but a private residence? Give the girl her space, she was beaten up, tired probably and not in the mood for a guy in her space. “Hm, a ride? I’m wondering what the others look like, Indigo.” Her words concerned him, there had been an incident at the club, hadn’t there? A crash further away later that night, mangled bodies and cars smashed beyond recognition. She couldn’t have walked away from that, it had to be something else.

He opened his mouth to ask but decided it wasn’t the time, he needed to let her adjust to his presence.

“Look, I feel bad barging in on your bath, you look like you could use it.” He played it off with a hand reaching back to drag against the nape of his neck, adjusting his hair against the collar of his jacket. “I mean, you’re still beautiful of course, but you should be taking it easy not entertaining. I’m glad to have seen you got your belongings back, if you want me to go…” His words trailed off, even as he followed her towards the kitchen of the house. “Marina can catch me later if she’s interested in doing so, and don’t take this the wrong way, but i’m guessing she’s not the type to pursue a person too many times in a row.” There was no judgement in his voice, and there was no point hedging around it. The pair of them were party girls, that was much was evident, beautiful young things burning so brightly they were going to burn up soon, and fast.

Perhaps Indigo already had.

“Please, you’d make me feel better if you sat down. If you’d like I can prepare you something to eat? Or drink?” Kaspar's hand reached towards her slowly, allowing her time to escape the touch, and pleased to find she didn’t flinch away. He pressed his palm to the small of her back, guiding her with the lightest touch towards a seat. “If you were involved in what I fear you were, then you are going to need a lot more than a strong drink and hot meal to get through your week.” He shrugged his shoulders, grabbing front of his leather jacket prepared to shed it if she asked him to stay. “Stay or go?” His expression was open, wondering as he looked down to meet her gaze. It was ladies choice.

His brows went up, he was surprised and frankly impressed. She didn’t even flinch, she’d let him guide her, made vague agreements over her friend’s behaviour and now giving simply no reaction to his implications. Fascinating. Something in him decided he wanted to stay, she’d gotten his attention now. The man shrugged out of his jacket, draping it over a bar chair as he entered the kitchen. “You don’t know what I refer to? Funny, Indigo, I thought you might know EXACTLY. Perhaps i’ll have to show you, might spark your memory. Did you hit your head? Would you like some ice for it?” His voice was edged with concern, turning from her only to rummage in the cupboards.

The place was well stocked, he was impressed even if some of it wasn’t overly fresh, they didn’t seem like the groceries type. Maybe someone else had done the dirty work of chores for the girls, though he shouldn’t make assumptions about them from such a brief time of knowing them. It was in his nature though, quickly figure someone out and decide whether or not they are worth the time, worth the effort. He was searching, searching for what he didn’t know and he had to give people a chance to show him they were it.

“Are you light or dark, Indi? Vodka? Rum? Gin? There’s scotch, too, nice scotch.” He opened cupboards until he found a glass, chucking in a few cubes of ice and pouring himself a few fingers of the scotch. He’d sip it carefully, nurse it really to help him fit the human rocker role. “And food, did you want food?” He found a loaf of bread, some peanut butter and jam. People liked that here too, right? Was it only an American thing? Come to think of it, he didn’t know if she was Canadian at all. “Peanut butter and jam? Sorry… Jelly…” His nose wrinkled, making air quotes around the word Jelly. He leaned over the kitchen counter to watch her, eyes travelling up those long legs of hers. Definitely a pretty young thing, a model. “Or do you live on kale?”

He studied her expression, something in her had shifted as she responded, pondering some long lost something or other no doubt. Interesting, the seemed to be working through thoughts she’d rather avoid and it only made him more intrigued, more drawn to this woman. “Right, ok, no hospitals Miss Mix. I meant the drink, do you want something clear or… Nevermind, i’ll surprise you.” He abandoned the bread and instead reached for the vodka, two shots, two ice cubes and some of the cranberry juice, recently opened, from the fridge. Lime was too much to ask for, her supposed, but it would do just fine.

He found a brand new packet of chocolate biscuits, laughing at the discovery. “Excuse you?” He used the edge of the packet to push up his shirt, revealing a toned stomach, muscles over his abdomen creating a V shape, the finest trail of blonde hair nestled between starting at his navel. “I eat, missy, I eat a lot I just burn it off quickly. Do you know how hard it is keeping this much man full?” He huffed playfully, pouting out his lower lip as if he were dejected, letting his shirt fall. He had that slender, rocker thing about him sure but up close he was broader than you’d suspect and though there wasn’t any real bulk to him he was defined.

“I do like fresh food though, but i’m happy to eat biscuits if you are.” He tucked them under his arm, grabbing the two drinks so he could join her on the couch. Placing his own down, and letting the biscuit packet drop to the table, he reached to press her glass into her hands, curling her fingers around it to ensure she had a good grip before letting go. “Sip it, and please, have a sugary biscuit. It helps keep the shakes at bay.” He’d dealt with enough injured friends, those recovering from drug incidents or rough nights, to know that she was still going to need watching.

No hospitals, he reminded himself, peering at her from the corner of his eye.

Hel opened up the biscuit packet, taking one out and pushing it between her fingers before finally letting himself sink into the couch. His hand reached out blindly for his drink, grasping the glass and bringing it to his lips, just a tiny sip, before his head rolled back to rest on the couch, facing her. “Hopefully Marina comes back soon. Have you at least let someone look at those cuts and grazes? Make sure you dress them with something? You have swelling, too.” He pointed out, not to be cruel, he was not interested in having her die on him. Somehow he was here, and he was responsible. “You know…” He hesitated, but why should he tip toe further? “I watch the news, Indigo, I stay up nights as it suits my lifestyle, it can get awful lonely on nights at home. The news is always on.”

He watched her sip at her drink, pleased to see that she not only drank it but seemed to enjoy it, he’d clearly done well. “Cool, yes? Liquid and a sweet bite, you said?” He gave her one of those playful winks, and followed it up with a heartbreaking smile which lit up his entire face. The man’s laugh wasn’t exactly hard on the ears either, ending it with a little sigh and sip of his drink. “Mm, good scotch, i’m guessing you didn’t decide on it sweet girl. News? Yes, oh I flick through, don’t care much about the weather though.” He gave her a moment to nibble at her biscuit, chocolate usually won people over, and decided he should acknowledge her comment about Marina.

“Did you want to call her? Perhaps she’s avoiding me.” He laughed again, now that would be something, a woman who actually wanted to avoid him after they’d spent the night with him. It would certainly be refreshing. “Much like you’re avoiding discussing what happened. The news, Indigo, you should watch it. The crash was all over it and the guns in the club. Either of those events may have gone unnoticed around here, this place is crazy sometimes, but one after the other… Anyway, we were all there that night sweet thing. All of us. Marina dragged me off early enough that I missed the drama, but when she bailed in a happy daze I had time to watch the news. Point is, it’s a weird coincidence.”

He reached to bring his fingertips gingerly over that bruise on her cheekbone, he let himself frown in concern for her. “Indigo…”

Kaspar drew away, taking in a sharp breath. She smelled amazing, this broken, bruised doll. There was fresh blood, close to the surface and part of him wanted to just take it. No, not this one, she had more use than a blood bag. He lifted that drink once more, taking a deeper sip. “You can talk to me, you know. I’ve seen a lot of ****, i’ve been caught up in a fair bit too. If you tell me it was a coincidence, i’ll let it go, but please make sure it’s the truth.” He was too damn curious for his own good, offering his assistance to her, sitting by her side and urging her to be honest with him. Why? What did it matter? He should wash his hands of it and get out before Marina gets back, not get involved in their mess.

Yet he couldn’t just walk away.

The hand that wasn’t cradling his drink curled towards her, resting palm up on the couch, close enough that one finger brushed her leg, barely a whisper of a touch, a hint of contact that could be considered an offer of more or perhaps an accident. Just a relaxed placement of limbs, nothing more to read into it, unless she was in the habit of reading more into it. One of his tests, he wanted to know more, had to know more. There was some thought he was building towards, something about her just out of reach, like if he pushed his tongue to the roof of his mouth he could taste it. He told himself to stand up now, to grab that jacket and leave. Instead his finger twitched again, nerves reacting to some thought or other, walking him further into dangerous territory. “I’m here to help, if you want me. Ok?”

Ah, she’d had Indigo’s phone, hers missing and that was why Marina had rushed out screaming about her friend being hurt. Surely she’d have called her if she could, right? The girl would’ve rushed off stupidly into the night and probably gotten herself her killed if Indigo had in fact called. Kaspar had decided Marina was exactly what he’d first thought, but Indigo, she was something else. Far more relaxed, not constantly preening or trying to fix her hair. She seemed to be more free because of it, he had to respect that. Unfortunately it would be tricky to spend time with her, and yet dismiss Marina into the crowd. Shame, really.

Kaspar could do without the headache, maybe it was for the best.

He had been trying to calm her, to soothe and bring her to a place where she might trust him enough to speak the truth but this? The woman had leaned up towards the sound of his voice, her eyes seemed hazy as she focused on him, that pink tongue darting out to lick at lips which felt too dry for the man sitting across from her. Damn, damn, damn. Once again he was forced to withdraw, breaking that light contact, curling his hand up into a fist and resting it atop his knee. It seemed to do the trick, she came back to herself, spoke up.

Time for the admission, the one he’d been after all along.

She had been in the club of course, and she had caught the worst of the action. A man had been shot, dead, falling against her back. He couldn’t imagine how horrifying it would have been for her, she was certainly shaken by it. Then taken by strangers, bundled into a car where the idiots proceeded to shoot at each other and cause a fatal wreck that ended the stupidity once and for all. His head was shaking before she’d finished, a snarl curling his lip. Fools, he had no patience for them and felt no sadness over their deaths. A sentiment she quickly echoed, one that had his expression lightening so he no longer looked quite like the avenging fallen angel, more like a brooding model.

“Adley?”

He was startled from his own thoughts, looking at her once more. “Who is this Adley? A friend of yours? Did they come looking for you?” Kaspar wasn’t sure he knew the name, it was a unique one and he’d thought he’d remember it. Then again he lived in a town where Indigo’s and Marina’s swanned about, Lyonel’s were handsome killers and people gave their kids names like Nixie, or River. Maybe it would just blend in with the rest, on second thought. “I’m sorry you went through all of that, I wish we’d stayed now, then again your Marina could have been hurt too. What can I do to help you, Indigo?” His hand grasped one of hers, drawing it up to meet his lips. "You know there are doctors who don't belong to hospitals? I could at least help you wrap a bandage if you won't even consider it."

Blood, damn, Kaspar knew he'd regret the offer if she agreed.