Visits from Friends (Private, Ace and Oblivion Mature)

Sarah leaned into his arm, balling up a bit tighter, looking smaller and more fragile looking as she slept than her attitude while she was awake ever appeared.

"Figured... not as okay as you act. You shouldn't hide your sorrow. You have to let it go somehow." He gave her a firm squeeze before retiring his thoughts for the night. In the morning, he'd be free of his damned table shaped prison.

Sarah woke early in the morning, giving a soft yawn and stretching in his grip.

Ace's amber eyes darted open, searching the room violently as if they were under attack. Soon he calmed down a bit and brought his gaze to meet Sarah's. He considered saying good morning, but seeing as he had spent the night handcuffed, he figured it was a lie.

Sarah smiled and nodded towards him, saying nothing but instantly dropping to her hands and knees in the ground, searching around for the key. It didn't take long until she found it partially hidden under the couch they'd been sleeping on, sitting up with a groan and moving to unlock his handcuffs.

Finally free from his bonds, Ace stood and stretched extensively. Several of his bones made rather frightening noises. When he was finished, he nodded his thanks to Sarah.

Sarah looked around the building, then back to her partner. She pulled out her phone and checked the time. Still a while before school were to start. "Wanna come over to my apartment? I can make us some breakfast, you can shower and get ready for school. Stuff like that?"

"Well, alright." He considered disagreeing, wondering what was wrong with his house, but he would quickly realize that his house was no better than a vacant storage unit. "Maybe I should fix this place up sometime..."

Sarah giggled softly, offering him her hand. "Yeah, maybe... C'mon, let's get going."

With a loud groan, Ace took the assistance offered to him and rose from his seat, bursting from his seemingly eternal prison. He slouched to reach Sarah's level, and escorted her out of the building, forgetting to release his grip until he had to shut the door.

Sarah shielded her eyes from the early morning sun, leading him through the streets on the short walk until they reached her apartment building. She unlocked the door, stepping to the elevator and calling it down. She looked over to him, pursing her lips. "I'm guessing you don't have a change of clothes."

"I don't even own a spare change of clothes." Ace explained as he stepped in to the elevator. He was very cautious about entering small places, and looked rather nervous about being in it. "If these were to rip, I'd have to steal another pair."

Sarah smiled a bit, though it seemed more sad than happy. "I've... I've got some clothes that should fit you. C'mon." She pressed the button for her floor, 8, and the elevator slowly rose, making it's way to her floor.

"I value my dignity far too much to wear woman's clothing." He would stand by that opinion firmly, regardless of whatever arguments she made.

Sarah laughed a bit, covering her mouth with her hand. "Don't worry. It's men's clothing. I'd never degrade you like that..."

"You have men's clothing in your house?" Ace cocked his head, unsure of how to take that.

Sarah pursed her lips, only giving a quick shake of her head and saying nothing more. The elevator doors opened with a ding, and she took him by the hand, leading him to the first door down the hall. She pulled her key out of her pocket, unlocking the door and holding it open for him. "After you. My home is your home, as they say..."

Ace allowed Sarah to lead him about the build, then stepped in after she told him to. Her apartment was nothing to be impressed by, but it was nice. Better than the empty, Gothic monstrosity he lived in.

Sarah slipped quietly through the halls of her own apartment, passing by a small staircase that appeared out of place, only going up. It wasn't long before she returned with a set of men's clothes, offering them to him. "Here... They should fit. Bathroom's down the hall, to the right. Be quiet. I think Claire's still sleeping."

"Claire's here?" He questioned, taking the clothes. Immediately he felt dumb for asking. This was her home too, after all. Dammit, what is she gonna say about us just showing up like this?

Sarah shook her head, pointing to the staircase. "Technically, Claire's the apartment above this one. Because of her... condition, I weaseled the building super into letting us get that staircase for when she has attacks..."

"That's... convenient." He mumbled as he entered the bathroom. Ace spent a few minutes examining the shower before attempting to use it. "Is she alright!" He had to shout to overcome the roar of the water. "Claire, I mean!"

Sarah waited beside the door to the bathroom. "Do you mean right now, or in general?"

"In general, I guess! It must be hard for her, especially considering the kinds of things the academy asks of us!" After a few minutes, the water turned off and Ace stepped out of the bathroom in the clothes that Sarah had provided. His hair was combed back neatly, though he knew it would just fall over his eye again, and he had fresh, clean look about him, as opposed to his usual, rugged, unkempt self. "Is she in EAT?"

Sarah leaned against the wall, watching him. "Yeah, she's an EAT weapon... But she also has agoraphobia. She's not good in social situations. She doesn't trust new people right away... It's hard."