Damsel in Distress. Julian.

[Caedynna Night]

Zero kept pulling her, his nails clicking on the concrete. Cae had her walking stick as well and with each step, tapped it on the ground as she was taught. She wasn't even using her power. She was sick and tired of learning how to use. How to expand out her energy to feel other peoples energies and energies of in animate objects so she could move almost freely. She was concentrating on more than where she was headed that she ran straight into a tree.

She fell backwards, her weight taking her dog with her. Cae rubbed her forehead and tried to stand, her hand holding the bark as support. But her ankle gave out from underneath her. "Oh ouch," she said, her hands gingerly prodding at the ankle. "Zero," she said softly, putting her head into his fur.

Maybe if she sat there just for a minute, she would be able stand. The pain numbed, but it never went completely away. She still couldn't stand and her cane had fallen somewhere far off. She laid in the grass, passing time by counting in her head. She felt a presence before her, but she didn't pay them any heed.

[Julian Wes]

Julian had been walking campus after having just gotten off the phone with his mom. His dad was going to coming home a weekend soon. And she wanted Julian to come home. But he wasn’t thrilled about the idea. Being away from his family had been hard at first and he’d really missed them all. Now the idea of going back, well it was weird. Nothing had really changed at all. It was weird, the thought of being around them.

Most of his life had been linked to his family. Helping them, taking care of his little brother and sister, being with them. But he had this whole different life and world here at Hammel. A life and world he doubted they’d ever understand, because they were Metas and he doubted it was something they could wrap their heads around. Which resulted in him pushing them away.

Just as his self pity and wallowing was about to set in, he heard a thump from behind him. Curious, he turned and saw a girl in the grass in front of a tree as she rubbed her forehead. He watched a moment, to see if she was ok. But when she tried to stand up, but instead fell back down, he rushed over her.

Once he was beside, he kneeled down. “Are you ok?” He looked down at her legs and ankles. Obviously she wasn’t ok, otherwise she wouldn’t have fell. “I could take you to the infirmary if you’d like.” Of course... That might mean carrying the girl. Not the Julian minded. He just wanted to help. Like always.

[Caedynna Night]

Cae’s damned useless eyes turned towards the sound of a very soft voice. She couldn’t see him, but her hands went up to his face uninvited and she felt his nose and his mouth as he spoke. It wasn’t abnormal for her to automatically reach up and touch someone. She hoped this guy would realize that she’s blind and not some kind of creep that had fallen down. “I don’t think I broke anything, I might have lost a few brian cells. But my ankle mostly hurts. From the feel of it, I think it’s a sprain or maybe a twist. I definitely can’t walk on it right now,” she said petting Zero on the head and then turning back to the boy.

“How are you supposed to get me there? I don’t know where it is and I can’t walk.” Cae gave a small smile and sighed. She used the trunk as support and managed to stand on her good ankle, the other one tilted towards the ground. It was getting swollen and it looked a little purple.

[Julian Wes]

That… Had never happened to him before. A random person touching and feeling his face. It was slightly embarrassing and caused his cheeks to grow a bit hot. “Um…” Was all he managed to say. But the dog, the stick, the not making direct eye contact, the touching his face. And before he could say something stupid, he bit the inside of his cheek. She was blind. He’d heard of people who were blind touching other people’s face. It gave them a sense of what the other person looked like. So Julian stayed still as she felt his face.

“Oh here, please… Let me help you.” He said as she managed to right herself. She seemed perfectly capable, but he still held her elbow and kept his other had ready to catch her incase she fell. “Hold on. Don’t move.” The stick… he’d spotted it only a second ago. Where was it? After looking around, he spotted it again. Snatching it off the ground, he trotted back to her. “Well I know where it is. I could carry you there. You should really have it looked at.”

He took her hand, “And here. I found your walking stick.” Chuckling softly he added, “I’m not really sure how it ended so far from you.” And it suddenly occurred to him that he was being kind of rude. “Oh, I’m Julian by the way.” He was wondering how exactly he’d carry her and keep the dog in tow. “Will your dog just follow us?"

[Caedynna Night]

"Thank you. I'm Cae," Cae said as she was handed her walking stick.
"It's like it has a mind of it's own I think." The idea of him carrying her, well it sent her blushing away. Zero stepped in between them, his lips coming up for a snarl. He didn't like this guy, he was too close to his Mistress for comfort. Cae put her hand on his head and he sat down in front of her, the snarl gone, but the look in his eyes was pure death.

"I suppose that will be okay and he will. I'm sorry for his rudeness, it's just, it's usually me and him when I get injured. He's been trained on how to help me up in case I break something but it's always useful to have someone else around." She folded the stick in half and stuck it in her back pocket. She was in a position that he would be able to carry her easily. "Just tell me when. Zero won't leave our side."

[Julian Wes]

“Cae. That’s a pretty name.” He said, smiling. And then the dog was obviously angry, so Julian made quick to move back a little bit. It was surprising to him. He liked dogs and dogs liked him… At least they used to? But he tried not to let his fear get the better of him. So he kneeled down onto the ground and held out his hand for the dog to sniff. “No I get it. He’s watching out for you. That’s what he’s trained to do anyway, right?”

With her having actually given the ok, Julian stood by up. “Ok, I’m gonna pick you up now.” He took a step closer to her. “I’m gonna need you to have your arm around my shoulders though.” So, again, he took her hand and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. Bending down slightly, with one arm bracing her back, his other arm swept her legs up from under her at the knees. He wasn’t gonna lie, carrying her fireman style made him feel a little hero like. And he was ok with that.

He began walking across the courtyard, glancing back to make sure the dog was following them. “So what’s his name? Your dog’s I mean.”

[Caedynna Night]

Zero followed behind, quietly watching the two humans interact. He still did not trust the male human, but it looked like Cae was going to get to safety. His nails clicked on the concrete once again and he whined a little. His leash was dragging behind him. Zero put his head towards it and put his leash in his mouth, satisfied with the result.

Cae held onto him with a near death grip. "I wouldn't say that's what he's trained for, he's not normally aggressive, he loves seeing new people, but I guess this is different." She was quiet for a minute, chewing on the inside of her mouth. This guy felt tall but the impression she got off of him was that he was younger.

"His name is Zero. I had to go through a huge class just to get him and it was hard to even get to him. I guess he was the biggest dog in the room and from what I hear, the prettiest. Or handsome. And he looks like a wolf, there were parents explaining how the dogs look to their kids, like they actually cared. He was the only Native American dog in there. The rest of them were black labs and golden retrievers. But since my school demanded I had a non-allergenic dog, I got him." Cae was rambling, but anything to fill the silence.

[Julian Wes]

Had Julian thought to take a hold of the dog’s leash, he would’ve. But he’d just been more concerned about getting the girl the attention her ankle needed. Though, he did keep glancing down at the dog walking beside him. He’d never forgive himself if he lost the girl’s seeing eye dog. That’d make him the biggest douche ever.

The girl’s fingers being dug into him… wasn’t exactly pleasant, but he wouldn’t complain. Most likely he’d do the same thing if somebody were carrying him this way. But then he thought that’d be weird. To be carried fireman style that is. Though, he figured there were plenty of guys who thought it’d be awkward to be carried. “Oh. Sorry. I’m not familiar with what training a seeing eye dog goes through.” He chuckled quietly when she said her dog really liked people. “Huh… Perhaps it’s the fact that I’m carrying you then.” Glancing towards the dog he asked, “Are you jealous boy?”

He listened to the girl as she prattled on, smiling. “Well he is a beautiful dog. So they weren’t exaggerating or anything. Much prettier than a golden retriever or black lab.” Zero… That was a different name. And the boy couldn’t help but ask. “Zero huh? That wouldn’t happen to be after the dog character in The Nightmare Before Christmas would it?” If it was, Julian would be incredibly in awe of this girl.

[Caedynna Night]

When she had gotten Zero, he had no name. Well no permenant name that is. They called him something, but it evaded her mind right then. Why had she named him Zero? Two of her favorite characters had the same name. Vampire night, the white haired vampire and like he said, Nightmare before Christmas. It was the last movie she remembered seeing before the accident. She chewed some more on the inside of her cheek, wincing when she had broken the skin and tasted blood.

Part of the reason she had named him that was because she, herself, had felt like such a zero. Nobody to care for her except her parents. Then she had named him from the movie, Nightmare Before Christmas. It was such a cute movie and she couldn't call him Jack Skellington, that was just a mouthful.

"Yes actually, well that's part of it. It was the last movie I remember seeing. I love that movie, I absolutely love it. It was so cute and it reminded me that I had lost who I was when I lost my sight. I'm still searching actually. It just feels like so long before I have like myself." She stopped herself from putting her head on his shoulder, facing away from his eyes. She could feel them looking at her. She searched the open way, determined not to show any type of emotion.

[Julian Wes]

Ok, Julian had liked this girl just fine before. But she was a Nightmare Before Christmas fan. That was, hands down, without a doubt, his favorite movie of all time. The singing, the darkness, the love… Growing up, Julian had had an imaginary friend that he named Jack Skellington. There was just something special about that movie that made him love it. Of course, all of Tim Burton’s other works were great too. But Nightmare Before Christmas was just genius.

Listening as she spoke, Julian realized he’d been assuming that Cae had been born blind. Which made his question about the dog’s name seem a tad silly now thinking about it. His heart ached when she said she was still searching for who she was and he held her a little a tighter to comfort her. “You’ll find yourself. I mean we’re all trying to find out who were are. So you aren’t alone in that. That’s all anybody really wants. You know who you are, you’re happy.”

And he didn’t mean it to sound as if he undermining the fact that she was blind. Of course that was a huge obstacle to overcome. But he didn’t want her to feel like she was alone in not knowing. “Unless you don’t like who you are of course, but then you change what you don’t like.” Aaand he was rambling. Feeling uncomfortable, he cleared his throat. “Anyway…”

As the reached the building, the younger boy stopped. “Uh, hold on tight for one second.” He would be mortified if he accidentally dropped her as he kicked his leg up to hit the automatic door opener button. Plus Zero would probably attack him if he dropped Cae.

Once they were safely in the building, Julian continued his trek. “I’m sorry, but I love that movie. My favorite is Jack. But… Favorite song is Oogie Boogie.” Of course, he wasn’t ashamed to show off his musical abilities. Which is exactly what he did, singing in perfect key and pitch.

“When Mr. Oogie Boogie says
There’s trouble close at hand
You’d better pay attention now
‘Cause I’m the Boogie Man!
And if you aren’t shaking,
Then there’s something very wrong
‘Cause this may be the last time
You hear the boogie song.”

Imitating the woo’s and oh’s as best he could, he swayed left and right slightly. It was the best he could do for dancing right then. But when he started to laugh, he knew he wouldn’t be able manage singing the rest of the song. When it came to Nightmare Before Christmas, he became as giddy as a child on Christmas morning.

[Caedynna Night]

Cae silently wondered what she was going to do when he had gotten her to the infirmary. It was a wonder they had met at all. Would he just leave when he got her there? He was a very comforting person to be around and he didn’t have a bad singing voice either. She felt him swaying side to side and warmth that could only explain that they were inside the building and also, him shifting so he could bring his leg up was a dead giveaway as well. She tried to remember what she could from singing with her mother, and sang the only song she could remember from that movie.

But who here would ever understand
That the Pumpkin King with his skeleton grin
Would tire of his crown, if they only understood
He'd give it all up if he only could

Oh, there's an empty place in my bones
That calls out for something unknown
The fame and praise come year after year
Does nothing for these empty tears...

Her voice ending quietly and she could hear Zero whining softly. He was probably getting tired and she hoped they would get closer to where they were going. “You have a really great singing voice and that has always been one of favorites. Now, can you tell me if we’re getting close or not? I think Zero might be getting tired.”

[Julian Wes]

He smiled wide as she sang one of the other songs. Completely and utterly enamored with this girl, he sang along with her, saying the words just as she did. And of course he continued swaying. His father always said it was wrong to not dance with a woman when music was playing and Julian was in complete agreement.

Blushing, very slightly, he smiled. “Thanks. My-” he began, but quickly stopped. Nobody knew yet that his dad was an up and coming singer/musician. But something about Cae told him she wouldn’t be one to tell the entire school. So he made he took a leap of faith. “Uh, my dad’s a musician and singer. So I got it from him.”

“Yeah. Sorry. It’s actually just right around the corner.” Julian sped up his walking a little bit. He realized he’d been walking uncommonly slow for him, extending spending their time together.

After turning the corner, he added, “If you want, I have the soundtrack to the movie. I could burn you a copy of it.” When he approached the swinging door, he again used his foot to swing it open. After easing Cae and himself through the door, he used to foot to stop the door in place, allowing Zero to follow them in.

“Hey! No dogs!” A woman called. But Julian ignored that completely. “This Cae. She fell and hurt her ankle. Where would you like me to lay her?” Forgetting about the dog, the woman lead him into the back and pointed to one of the cots they had. “Right here. Be careful setting her down though.”

Bending down and very carefully laying her onto the cot, Julian took her arms from around him. But he kept her hand in his. A way of letting her know he was right there with him. Then pulled a nearby chair close and sat down. “She’s hurrying around the room. Getting things to prop your ankle up I suspect.” He whispered quietly to Cae.

[Caedynna Night]

Cae had felt him slow down, but she hadn’t said anything. He was adorable and she wanted to spend more time with him. She felt another whoosh of air and realized it was the door being opened to the infirmary. A woman yelled at them about having no dogs, but was this woman truly an idiot? But the woman didn’t press the issue, she was probably too busy working on getting stuff for her ankle like Julian said.

Her mind wandered as the woman poked and prodded at her ankle. She declared it sprained. She knew Zero would keep out of the way. Cae just hoped there would be some water for him soon. Julian had said that his father was a musician, it surprised her, but with his voice, she didn’t want to make it public.

Soundtrack of the movie? She was so glad she had her hearing, which would be amazing. It would be like watching it over again. She could picture the movie in her mind. She gave a small smile and tightened her grip on his hand hoping he wouldn’t leave.

”I said no dogs!” So she had finally taken notice of Zero, probably laying down in a corner.

“Ma’am, I’m blind,” Cae said bluntly, rising her head up and looking at the general direction of her. She heard the nurse splutter out an apology and she prepared her to leave. Cae had to stay off that ankle for two or more weeks. Even if the swelling went down and she was to rub ointment on it every night.