The two had stopped to rest at a small nest of trees on the outskirts of the city by a fountain, and Naji attempted to wipe some of the sweat and grime from his face. The water felt refreshing after the long chase he'd endured for the last hour.
"Yes," the man said, "It was not what I imagined to be the first thing I encountered upon my arrival."
He fidgeted. "Ah...sorry."
He glanced curiously at his savior as the man lowered his hood in order to see him better. He had a stern, yet handsome face, with dark charcoal eyes and short black hair. His jaw was peppered with stubble, aside from a tuff of a beard on his chin. He appeared to be assessing him as well.
And indeed he was. Malik ran his eyes up and down the other's form. Not overly tall, with shaggy black hair that had obviously seen the bad side of a barber's blade. He was a little on the scrawny side, as most who lived on the streets tended to be, but he seemed to be in good shape nonetheless, carrying the usual scars that spoke of scuffles with guards. He looked to be 18 to 20 years by Malik's estimate, but his most curious feature were his eyes, a startling shade of clear blue that spoke of some foreign blood in him. He gave a faint nod.
"Why don't you tell me your name, little crow?"
The boy glared, his eyes gleaming for a moment that twisted something in Malik's heart, it reminded him of...
"Naji," he said at last, "It's Naji. Of course, anyone who calls me anything calls me scavenger, thief, vagabond, gutter trash, etc."
"Naji...a good name." Malik's face was thoughtful.
He frowned, guarded. "My mother gave it to me."
Malik gave a faint nod. "I see. I am called Malik A’Sayf. You may call me Malik."
Fill: A Long Time in Coming- Favorable Chance Encounters 5/?
"Well...that was, um...engaging."
The two had stopped to rest at a small nest of trees on the outskirts of the city by a fountain, and Naji attempted to wipe some of the sweat and grime from his face. The water felt refreshing after the long chase he'd endured for the last hour.
"Yes," the man said, "It was not what I imagined to be the first thing I encountered upon my arrival."
He fidgeted. "Ah...sorry."
He glanced curiously at his savior as the man lowered his hood in order to see him better. He had a stern, yet handsome face, with dark charcoal eyes and short black hair. His jaw was peppered with stubble, aside from a tuff of a beard on his chin. He appeared to be assessing him as well.
And indeed he was. Malik ran his eyes up and down the other's form. Not overly tall, with shaggy black hair that had obviously seen the bad side of a barber's blade. He was a little on the scrawny side, as most who lived on the streets tended to be, but he seemed to be in good shape nonetheless, carrying the usual scars that spoke of scuffles with guards. He looked to be 18 to 20 years by Malik's estimate, but his most curious feature were his eyes, a startling shade of clear blue that spoke of some foreign blood in him. He gave a faint nod.
"Why don't you tell me your name, little crow?"
The boy glared, his eyes gleaming for a moment that twisted something in Malik's heart, it reminded him of...
"Naji," he said at last, "It's Naji. Of course, anyone who calls me anything calls me scavenger, thief, vagabond, gutter trash, etc."
"Naji...a good name." Malik's face was thoughtful.
He frowned, guarded. "My mother gave it to me."
Malik gave a faint nod. "I see. I am called Malik A’Sayf. You may call me Malik."