Oliver Burton

That playfulness that so dawned on him was nothing but fleeting, perhaps more like a glimpse of the man he could be when he wasn't always so controlling and plagued by horrors brought onto his family. He savors that gaping look on her face as he calls her out for her little slip-up, his inquiry seemed to make her uneasy as he had expected it would. He knew people better than he knew how to deal with his own short temper. It was all too easy to coax that embarrassment, which was perhaps was far too cruel at this moment, even for him. The brave little human even punched him square in the chest, he hardly felt it, but it certainly made a noise. He could hardly stop that deep chuckle that she drew from his lips. He surely wouldn't hold her accountable for anything she said in those moments, even if it amused him how infinitely uncomfortable, she seemed by it. He shook his head softly, that smile lingering a moment longer and said nothing more of it. Content to leave her embarrassment alone for the time being.

It doesn't take long for her to return to her senses, and he has fallen back into the familiar form of his usual bad-tempered self, which prompts her snapping at him. He really didn't feel like fighting with her, he didn't want to argue, he just wanted to get her out of this damn headache he created. He ultimately just wants to see her safe and sound in her own home and maybe this will keep his tattered conscience clear. He had deemed her under his protection. It was not something he took lightly or on a whim either, it was something his inner bear decided and when it did it was so often etched in stone and held in the highest regard. Whether the petite woman knew it or not, he would not simply abandon her after this night. But if she continued to insist, he simply leave her, he was not sure what else to do to ensure she was alright. He may have been an animal, but he didn't always act like one. He had too many things imposed upon himself when he was younger, and he hardly wished to insist his own upon her. He apologizes, drawing in a deep breath, trying his best to reign in the very beast that was him.

Oliver was hardly prepared for the shift of her emotions as she began giggling profusely, vibrating within his arms while surprise arose upon his dark features. How curious, he had never seen a human act in such a way. Had the blood loss made her go mad?? Words seem to fail him as she spoke of vampires that seem to be drawn to her like a strange breed of vampire magnet. She clearly needed to limit her time outside at night or learn how to avoid the sometimes ruthless beasts. "Oh Miya.." He shook his head in an almost grave fashion, closing his eyes for the briefest of moments. How she survived this long, he hardly knew. "I truly hope your luck continues. I fear for you with this prolonged bad luck." Those accented words left him thoughtfully then, a gentle sigh slipping from his parted lips. He hardly liked the idea of some vampire scooping her up and that was the end of it for her, the end of this accident-prone woman who fought him at every chance she got. She possessed so much spirit it would be such a pity to have it all squandered.

It was Edgar's voice that reached out next, who bless him, only tried to be helpful and nothing short of genuinely concerned for the woman. Edgar had always appeared so stoic, but the distinct worry in his eyes only served to convey the worry over the girl. At the very least Miya didn't snap at him, that sort of snapping seemed only reserved for the Englishman cradling her in his very arms. He couldn't help but wonder if she was always like this, or if it was only under extreme duress. She buried her head into his chest, the very action made him tighten his grip on her as if trying to protect her from the unseen threat in the stirrings of night. How vital he felt to her survival tonight. She inquired about the misses Edgar had spoken about. "Edgar has a wife who I also employ, she used to be a nurse but she had bad knees and came to work for me." In truth, he rarely saw the elder woman who made sure there was always a fresh meal waiting for him in his fridge. She did all his food preparation and made sure his city apartment was always in order. He would have been lost without her, he knew it. He knew he would be lost without both of them, he had grown so fond of the couple, perhaps for some subconscious reasoning that they had characteristics of his own parents. He would never dare say it. Although, Miya didn't seem to register what he was saying. "I don't have a wife, the misses he speaks about is his own mate." He reminded gently, forgetting himself for a second using the term mate instead of wife.

He slid her into the vehicle, making sure she was secure as a floppy wet noodle could be. It would have to do, it wasn't like he could hold onto her the whole car ride. He was sure she would not tolerate such a thing. She begins to fight him on even doing up her seatbelt and he told her to save that strength for the following day. The last thing she needed was to use all that energy fighting him instead of her recovery.


During that ride to Miya's apartment, the curious questions began flowing, along with a few of his own. She was a peculiar woman and part of him was curious about this very anomaly that was Miya. What was she like? She seemed eager to find out what he did and just as open to explain what she did in turn. "There will unfortunately always be cancer, and accident-prone humans.." He paused for the briefest of moments, considering. "Just as there will always be a need for doctors. I am shocked they keep you from doing what you were meant to do. They are holding you back and that hardly seems right. No one should treat doctors in this way." He frowned deeply, irked for her that irritation woven firmly within his accented words. She deserved the respect of a doctor because she was one, not a nurse, not a janitor. He clenched his jaw, it bothered him to no avail when someone wasn't offered what they were worth. "What hospital?" He inquired, knowing he would place a call the very next day. Of course, she would need to prove herself, but he was all too aware of his connections. Miya was not a woman who deserved to be overlooked. Not ever.

When they finally pulled up to her apartment, the man was all but steadfast in his decision to help the ailing woman beyond just dropping her off where any number of things could have happened to her. He was around to her side of the vehicle in no time at all when he is met with her voice. He refuses to listen to her, she could hate him all she wanted, but in this, he wouldn't budge. Not on this. He had already had her scooped up in his arms before looking down upon her with those concerned nutmeg eyes, finally speaking. "I am not just dropping you off where any number of things can happen to you." He replied pointedly, trying to keep his voice from becoming too surly. He was hardly used to being... gentle. This woman apparently tested every last ounce of patience of the polar bear and he was quickly losing what little he could scrape up from the bottom of that barrel. For her own sake, this was nothing short of a blessing.

"Will you stop fighting me for 5 minutes?" He could hardly help that irritation flood his voice then. But she eventually complies, fortunately. He turns to Edgar, curtly saying his parting words. "We will be in touch." He nodded, his face as businesslike as those very words were. He bumped the door closed with a firm knock of his hip, setting off toward the woman's apartment building she directed him toward, Miya in tow. He listened, nodding in response to her directions. The staircase had looked like a deathtrap, that was entirely an understatement. Why this place was not condemned, he hardly knew. It was almost rusted all the way through and creaked in ways that were hardly considered safe. He was almost positive if the vampires in this city didn't get her first then this staircase certainly would. He was careful to avoid the weak points, gliding up those steps with minimal effort, refusing to allow his grip of her waver. It was the whisper that made him pause for a moment, mid footfall, peering down at her weak form and blushing cheeks with a swell of what felt like overwhelming sympathy. He still felt at fault to her state now and he wanted to make sure she was taken care of before simply leaving. "No need to thank me, I have you." He promised, perhaps only slightly louder than her own whisper, that softness lingering for a moment longer.

He waited patiently while she fished out her keys from her purse, unlocking the door but he could tell she struggled with that very action. He almost offered to help her with it, but she seemed to get it on the second try. Knowing what he knew now, she would have refused him. With a final click, the locks submit to the key and the door was opened, it creaked as it swung ajar.

I am not leaving you anywhere, he nearly declared with a certain forcefulness. "Let me help you and if you really want me to go after, I will.." He stated sternly perhaps even more stubborn than a damn mule, his eyes mirroring those words, unwilling to buckle beneath even her glare. He hardly appeared happy with how she seemed content to refuse his help, time and time again.

Really there was more important things than the state of the woman's apartment and the lack of warmth that came from it. His eyes briefly scan the minimalistic room, taking in its worn appearance and scuffed floors. It was certainly dated, but he was in no place to judge where she chose to lay her head. Oliver had lived in much worse over the years, in fact, there were points in his life where he had no home to call his own. This was hers, along with all the impressions that made her, her. He could feel her presence here and that truly made the place feel homier. He still had her nestled in his arms when she reminded him she had legs that she could indeed use to stand. He didn't say a word, save for a quick bob of his head, before lowering her with certain care, allowing it so that her feet could touch the floor. He took a step away but was ever watchful in case she lost her balance.

She reminded him that he could go and a frown etched within the businessman's face. "You can barely stand, besides two hands are better than one. I can help patch you up and I will be out of your hair in no time." Her grumbled at her. Plus, she really needed someone to keep an eye out on her, she was not nearly close to being out of the woods yet. He still was positive they had made a foolish decisions in bypassing the hospital altogether. "Where is the thermostat?" he questioned, ready to busy himself in helping her. She was in shock and clearly needed warmth. She didn't need to say anything, he already saw the way she craved his heat and if she wanted nothing to do with him, they needed to at least heat up the all but frozen apartment. It was almost winter outside for crying out loud!

"Sit. On the couch." He tried to keep that growl from his demanding voice, trying to keep his patience when all it wanted to do was fade away. Oliver was really no good at caring for others, even his sister thought him too controlling and far too grumpy. How she could remain so carefree and full of life, he hardly knew. But he vowed to make sure it stayed that way. Just like he vowed to make sure Miya was in a condition to survive the next night, even if he had to play nurse to do so. All he needed was for her to just let her help him and if he had to fumble his way through it, he would do so. "The less you fight me on helping you, the faster you can rest and focus on healing yourself. You've been through enough tonight. Please, I ask you this one last time. Will you just let me help you?" Oliver was nothing short of exasperated, running a hand through his hair, settling for trying to reason with her. God only knows how long that would last.