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The jingle of the door closing softly sounded as the patter of the rain hitting the awing accompanied it. Hazel eyes stared up at the gloomy skies. Even under the cover of the night, he knew the swirl of overcast clouds was not going to let up anytime soon. He removes the umbrella from his shoulder bag, vibrant flowers decorating against the clear material. He ventures out onto the city streets. The weather did little to deter the hustle of the night. A small sigh left him, a part of him wishing that he could be that carefree.
But the thought of those assignments to grade once he got home was reason enough.
A rustle of boxes breaks his thought.
His gaze focused on the alley to his right. His eyes caught a figure hunched over towards a wall. They were still for the most part. Their arms shuffled as if holding something.
“Are you alright,” he called.
A small yelp and the person turned around. Light blue eyes stared at him, widening in shock. By the woman’s frame, she seemed tense. Though hidden by the hood of her rain poncho, wisps of inky blue hair framed a pale face. He put his free hand up in surrender.
“Sorry if I startled you,” he quickly said, “I was walking and heard noises and-“
“Professor Waters?”
She stood up, revealing just to be a head shorter than him. He fell silent, watching her. There was this vague sense of familiarity coming from her. Certainly not one of his students, he would remember such a face.
‘Oh…’
He recalled a conversation with Ryne about the gardening club she joined. How some of the students from the university were assisting along the shared campus grounds. Instead of a hooded poncho, he remembers overalls sprinkled with soil and a sun hat covering a ponytail.
“Miss Satomora?”
“Ami,” she quickly spoke, “if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. It’s only fair you don’t call me Professor off campus. ‘Thancred’ is just fine.”
She paused for a moment, mulling it over. Slowly she nodded.
“Alright then, Thancred.”
He lightly chuckled at her response. One she replied in turn. Her body seemed to relax from the earlier tense posture. His stare went to a Chocobo-decorated bag, a blue chick adorning the handle. He could make out the contents of a sealed back within it.
“If I’m not being too intrusive, what are you doing out here? It is quite dangerous to be in an alley all by yourself.”
Ami’s hands grasped the bag handle. It crinkled under her grip. A faint blush dusted her cheeks as her eyes stared at her pastel blue rain boots. Then she looked back at him.
Well as much as she did without making direct eye contact.
“The cats,” she mumbled.
“Come again?”
She opened up the sealed bag. Like an alarm, a chorus of meows filled the silence. She went over to a small shelter. For the cats he realized. She takes a scoop filled with food and puts it into the large dish. Her expression softens as the little furry creatures start making their way to the dish.
“I come here to feed the strays,” she explained, “Usually I’m not by myself. But my partner’s shift ran a bit late so I’m solo tonight.”
Ami softly chuckles at the little crunches of the cats eating. Her free hand rubs across the heads of the cats while they eat. The meows and purrs rose at the amount of attention.
There was something simple in witnessing this scene in front of him.
Ryne would enjoy doing something like this, he thinks.
A small hiss gains his attention.
Looking straight at him was one of those said cats. Slim with light sand-colored fur, one could say it was blond. Wide blue eyes stared at him. Ears erected upwards, a tip missing at the end of one. The cat moved forward before Ami placed a hand on their head.
“Stop being so difficult Zenos.”
Thancred’s eyes rose at the name. Now looking at it, the cat does look a bit like that student. He snorts at the similarities. He gives Thancred a weary glance before butting against Ami’s hand. If he knew any better, ‘Zenos’ was making a statement about being close to her.
“He’s very temperamental to people. Seems to warm up to me though. He probably knows my partner just as long but still hisses at him.”
“Right…”
He remained silent as he watched Ami set about her task. The cat never left her side. Seemingly undeterred by the raindrops. She walked deeper into the alley.
“Be careful,” he warned.
“Always am,” she replied, amused.
He noticed how she moved with practiced ease. The bag of food couldn’t have been especially light. He heard more cats meowing for their meal. She reached the end of the alley, looking up towards the sky.
She was still. Her focus is more on the clouds above.
“Ami?”
She shivered at the name. Her gaze focused on him. There was something in her expression, one he couldn’t readily identify. Just in a moment, it shifts back to more easygoing. She knelt to the cat to pet its head once more.
“Go on, I’ll see you next time.”
In a flash, the cat scurries off, Thancred chuckling as it darts back into the rain shelters. She turned back around to him taking strides to meet him. Even with the overcast night, the sky-blue hue of her eyes was clear. Alight with amusement and gratitude.
“Thank you for keeping me company. I’m sure you’ve better places to be.”
“No in fact. Even if I had, I couldn’t very well leave you by your lonesome out here.”
She looked down at her rain boots, seemingly shy at the attention.
“Now it would be rude of me to not at least offer a ride home.”
Her head snaps up at the suggestion. A blush was pronounced on her face. She shook her head.
“There’s no need,” she stammered, “I couldn’t…I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you. I can just take the bus-“
“I insist, the weather is going to get worse.”
The blush only intensifies at his reasoning. Ami’s eyes dart around before settling back on Thancred’s. She shyly nodded.
“Excellent, I’m not parked that far.”
The walk between them was quiet. He opened the passenger side to let her in first. She gives a small smile in thanks before stepping in. He holds a hand open to take the bag of food from her. A blue brow rose, but relented in giving it to him. The slight dip gave no surprise that the bag was still heavy, despite how many cats she fed tonight. He put the bag in the back seat before he went to the driver’s side. Soon enough the car started and they pulled onto the road. The ride was silent, besides the patter of the rain hitting the windshield. Thancred would glance at his passenger, noticing Ami staring out the window. Expression obscured by the haze of her reflection in the glass.
“How has the semester been treating you,” he asked, “I remember seeing you in the ceremony for the first years.”
“Well enough. You can take a right at the upcoming light. But yeah, the semester itself is alright…just a lot going on beyond my control.”
He nodded, not surprised. The semester was in full swing now. His mind couldn’t help but wander towards those essays he needed to grade.
“You’re also a part of the gardening club. It’s good that you’re figuring yourself out within these settings. But do take care of yourself. You are just one woman.”
Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened to speak but quickly closed. Ami looked back down at her hands, and a soft chuckle left her.
“My apologies,” he quickly said, “It wasn’t my intention to lecture. Ryne tells me that it’s a habit of mine. Could be why students come to me for advice now that I think about it…”
“I didn’t know you were acquainted with Ryne.”
“Of course I would, she’s my daughter after all.”
Ami paused. She looked at Thancred up and down. Then gently smiled. Now she knew where Ryne got it from. The direct concern over her acquaintances, no one was immune to Ryne’s nature. Knowing that some showed such feelings, even in these short moments, filled Ami with a warmth in her chest.
“Thank you Thancred,” she finally said, “I can’t guarantee it but I’ll try. Ah! We should be nearing my place.”
His eyes glance around the neighborhood they drove into. Rows of townhouses lined each side of the quaint street. A small part of him did wonder why she chose to not live on campus. But that was too intrusive, even for his paternal nature. At a glance, he noticed that Ami was on her phone, the clicks of her typing on the screen the only noise. She smiled again at the message before pointing at the house within sight. He pulled into the driveway of said home. The covered windows bathed in a warm glow, giving an inviting atmosphere.
“Thank you for the ride.”
“It was the least I can do,” he reminded her, “You’re a friend of Ryne’s. That makes you alright in my eyes.”
“T-thanks…” she mumbled.
He let out a small chuckle before Ami got out of the car. At that moment the front door to her home opened. Standing in a jacket and sweats was an Elezen man. It didn’t miss his notice the love in her eyes at watching the man. Her focus soon went back to getting the bag of cat food out of the back seat. She held the bag tight in her hands. She wanted to say something. But because of this newfound shyness or some other feeling, could not speak it.
“Don’t be a stranger now,” he said, “If you need anything, you know where my office is.”
She gave another nod, the warmth back in her smile. Ami waved before making her way towards the male. He could see the mutual love in this man’s eyes as well. His gaze went to him at Ami’s gesturing to the car. He gave Thancred a slight nod in appreciation. One he returned. He kept his eyes on the couple as they walked hand in hand into the home.
Once the door closed he let out a small breath. It was good to see the students thriving and happy. His phone buzzed at the message coming in. He chuckled after a glance, seeing Ryne’s message. He drove off, his own family awaiting him.