Survival Instinct

After SInbad had left him, Proteus had stayed another while on his own, still praying but feeling better. His thoughts, though, were still all for Cinderella. He left the sitting room and stepped in the hallway, looking around, looking at the traps and wondering how the demon had managed to overcome them... then his glance was captured by a known girl: Miriam, this time luckily all dressed. "Hey Miriam." he called her approaching her.

Just a second before she had entered the hall, wondering who she would ask to be her ally, and as a sign from God now Proteus was standing before her. She might have been rude to him, and she might still feel like he was a little too slow and kind-hearted to survive in a place like this, but she did not underestimate him. She knew of his fighting skills.
"Hello," she said smiling at the man kindly. If she wanted him to join her, she would need to be nice to him, she knew that. Even if she didn't like this fake kindness she knew Proteus would appreciate it. Most humans did.

He felt a bit surprised by her kind smile, she didn't really seem the kind of person that liked those fuss, but he didn't mind it. "How are you today?" he asked gently, as usual for him: he didn't mentioned the last time that he saw her, even if he was actually curious to know what had happened, but he was more interested in knowing if everything was ok with her. Also, beside having a chat with her, he could even ask her if she could have newses about Cindy, since he couldn't actually go to ask himself...

"Good," she said simply despite her several wounds. Her whole body was aching by being thrown around for days. It was starting to take a tremendous toll on not only her body, but her mind. She was just tired, so tired.
She must have looked bruised with wounds and cuts all over testefying her role in the war. Proteus however looked.. spotless. He didn't have a single noticeable wound on his body. Not even a bruise. Inside she snorted and frowned annoyed at how the man was the best soldier they had, but he still refused to fight.
Coward, she thought, but on the outside she only kept smiling.
"Look.. Proteus.. I was wondering something.." she said, acting hesitant. She knew most preffered this as opposed to asking straight out, and it would increase her chances of getting a yes. Either way, this pointless kindness was annoying her. What was the point in it?

The 'good' didn't convince him at all: she was anything but good, she had bruises all over her body, but he didn't say anything, if she didn't want to talk he would have respected it. He just nodded at her and then listened her second hesitant phrase: she really didn't seem the usual Miriam... for a moment he even thought to threw on her some holy water to be sure he was actually talking to her, but the idea seemed so ridiculous that he refused to do it. Instead he replied smiling "Miriam, you can ask me whateve you want, but... you don't need to act... that way" he didn't know how to describe it: polite? Gentle? It wuld have implied that she usually was just rude and he didn't want to say something similar.

She sighed relieved, glad he was at least a bit better than Thomas. At least Proteus might be able to handle the reality they found themselves in, instead of obsessing over polite, useless phrases and actions that would only get them all killed. Miriam had a heart of course, but she knew how to shut it out when it was needed. She knew her head would save her where her heart could get her killed.
"I need an ally," she said blunt, hoping it was obvious enough that she was talking about him.
"We can't take them on our own, the only reason they are stronger than us is because they stick together."

He was surprised by her words: she needed an ally and... she had thought to him? A part of him felt flattered: it meant that she had to have at least some good thoughts about him, but on the other side he wondered what it would have meant... But if it was to defeat the demons, or at least to protect the humans, then he didn't need a choise. Though, he thought it woula have been correct to him being honest "You know that i have never fighted for real, do you?" he asked, wanting simply to be sure that she knew who she had chosen as an alliance

She had been afraid of this much, but he was still the best choice as far as she knew.
"And you think anyone else has? You think I had?" she said, laughing softly. No, until a couple of days ago she had not even touched a weapon.
"Better you than some kid. Besides," she said, sending him a sly, but honest smile. "It's not as hard as you think."
She spoke from experience. Even if she had never swung a blade, it was hard to miss when you were that close to someone.
If a demon was so close it was necessary to use the blade, it was impossible to miss. And since you could not kill a demon anyway, where he hit was not really important. It would hurt them equally anywhere.

He shook his head with a little laugh, actually laughing only for a reflect while his mind was busy thinking. After a few seconds he replied "If you can bear me, and as long as we don't go against God's will, then you have find your ally."
It was the better thing to do for a lot of reasons: first, if the girl needed him he was honored to can help her, second, he needed to start to do something, something useful possibly, and fight the demons seemed the most useful things in that contest, third, maybe in that way he would have recaptured the priest's respect.

She laughed, honestly, her worst fear was him not being able to stand her, not the other way around.
"You'll be fine," she laughed, not being sure if that was all true. No matter how this ended she knew this much for sure, none of them would walk out of the cathedral fine. They would all be damaged, both physically and mentally and with blood on their hands. There was no escaping.

He smiled to her: weirdly this conversation had made him feel better. He was feeling useful, at least. Then, with a new smile, he asked uncertain "So... since now we are ally, can i ask you a little favour?"

She didn't like to do favors, she had always been the person to stick to what was important and not bother with details like that. However, before he had even spoken, she could not know the importance of what he was about to ask, so she simply nodded, waiting for him to speak.
Besides, if they were to be allies they would have to be able to count on each other, and she wanted to prove she could be trusted.
If she did this for him, she might be able to use him for her own goals later on as well.

When she nodded his smile grew "Would you mind ask to father Frollo how's Cinderella? I would do it but... i guess is better if i don't meet him for now" he replied, hoping she wouldn't have asked the reason: he wouldn't have hidden it, but he still felt a stupid for what had happened, and he still felt the guiltiness

She frowned, but quickly sighed and shook it off of her.
"Sure," she said, however reluctant. But there was one thing she had to do first.
"I just need to collect some stuff first," she muttered and started walking towards the stairs to the spire. Rin had told her about a sign.. something he had left her up there... she was afraid to see what it was, but she still felt she needed to know.
Climbing the first couple of steps to the spire she turned around and looked at Proteus.
"I'll be right back," she said honest, in a voice that suggested for him to wait for her there. Then she turned around and ran up the stairs.

"Thanks" He replied thankful, nodding at her words, then, when she told him to wait her there, he nodded again. He was starting to follow her, but he stopped before the first step: no, she wasn't the kind of girl that wanted or needed that kind of attentions, and if she wanted him, he would have gone to her. So, instead of following her, he just remained where he was, waiting for her.