Yeah, home. Ira shoves his hands into his pockets, and kicks at the pavement as he walks.

"Mmh?"

"I- appreciate your ability," he says carefully, not sure how much she'll understand. "But I can look after myself."

Not much, apparently. She shrugs, and keeps walking.

-Yeah, he can deal with that when Deskyl actually knows the language.

He's silent for the rest of the walk home.

Shin's waiting outside again. "Good hunt?" he asks, looking between the two.

She shrugs, and looks to Ira.

"Fine," Ira says shortly. "Your night?"

"Quiet."

Shin pushes the door open and leads them inside.

Ant looks up from the book ey's reading and waves.

Deskyl waves back.

DZ is at the computer, but looks up, from Ira to Deskyl, and then signs.

Is everything all right?

    Not really. Stable. He doesn't protect himself much and was annoyed when I protected him.

That might be a gender issue. Women are protected and men do the protecting, here.

    That's dumb. But it explains it.

Yes. Should I say anything to him?

    Explain how Sith do it, maybe.

All right. "Ira?"

"Yeah?" he says, looking over.

"Deskyl asked me to explain: Sith pay much less attention to gender than your culture does; there's no difference in magical strength between men and women, and that's what matters to them."

"Oooh. I like it!"

"-I'm- confused as to why you're telling me this?"

"...she said you were annoyed, earlier, and that was our best guess as to why."

"-What did the idiot do this time?"

"I was fine," Ira complains - but he doesn't seem particularly inclined to actually hide what was going on. "Deskyl just...over-reacted."

    "She says you were taking unnecessary tactical risks."

Deskyl taps the side of her neck, where Ira was nearly bitten.

Shin abruptly turns to Ira, forcing his head to the side, inspecting his neck.

Ira tilts his head obediently. "I'm fine, I dusted it before it got a bite."

Ant's twisting eir fingers together. "I- thank you, Deskyl," ey says. "Ira-" Ey doesn't seem to know what to say.

   "She's not going to let him get hurt."

"Good," Ant states emphatically. "Let her help," ey says to Ira, standing up and moving over to him.