Ryuu Kaw's Story

Ryuu walked over to her, kissed her hand, looked deep into her eyes and left. Shui was left speechless. She was amazed at how she could feel this was about someone she had just met. She watched him leave and then looked at the hand he had kissed and smiled as a blush crept across her cheeks once again. She hadn't blushed this much in one day for years. She liked it though, it was a nice and warm feeling. Narook's Seaweed Noodlery. Yes she knew that place. It was a nice restaurant. She got up from her seat, placed tips on the table before walking out. As she entered the streets she noticed Bai still playing with the children. She whistled for him and said good bye to the children. I should go home and change...
On her way home she thought of what to wear. It had to be something comfortable to work in...but she still wanted to look nice for her meeting with Ryuu.
She ened up changing into a black skirt and a white blouse. She had nothing to do for a while so she decided to head over to the arena and make sure everything she might need tonight were in order. She was about to leave the house and call for Bai but she noticed her was exhausted and so she let him stay at home and rest before heading out towards the arena.

Ryuu approached the bald man sitting in the bench. Ryuu’s smile and happiness wore away as he drew closer to him. Yemon Won was his name. He was big, bald, and scary. Everybody on the streets avoided walking near him. He sat there, emotionless. Yemon was the only fellow Equalist that Ryuu actually worked with on a weekly basis.

“Hey! Yemon!” Ryuu gestured to his attire and smiled. “I like the suit! Are you taking after me? I know, I know. I am a role model.” The joking from Ryuu caused no muscle in Yemon’s face to move. He stood and towered over Ryuu, being that he was 6’7” tall. The extra beefy muscles added to the intimidation factor. Neither of them said a word now, but Yemon started walking off and Ryuu followed.

They walked away from the café. For a big lug, Yemon walked fast and Ryuu had a hard time keeping up with his fast walking. Has something happened? Or maybe we have a new job? Either way, three hours from now I have to be there. Their long silent walked lead into an alleyway. Nobody else was around, and he was going into an empty alley with a monstrous man. Of course he hesitated before following any further, but he thought better of it to go with him. He could drag me along easily anyways.

The alley was clear and clean except for a few boxes near the end wall up ahead of them. They reached another turn which lead to a dead end filled with boxes of all sizes. Yemon stopped, so Ryuu copied. The burly arms of the bald man ripped open a box’s top. He handed Ryuu a flier. It read: “The Revelation 9:00 PM”. Inside were posters and fliers galore that all said the same thing.

“Spread the word.” Yemon told him in his deep and grisly voice. “Hand people fliers, post up the posters, tell people about it. That is your job.”

Ryuu scowled at the flier in hand. “I‘m a flier-boy?” from this point on his voice just rose and he became angry. “The others go out to catch benders, get to be in Amon‘s meeting, be a doorman, and what do I get stuck doing?” He waved the flier in his face. “Handing out fliers? I‘ve been doing this for how long, chasing off fire benders for you guys, and this is what I get now? Aside from this, where the hell is my pay from last month?”

Yemon quickly slapped the flier out of Ryuu’s hand and a large muscular hand encircled his neck. Ryuu felt his feet leave the ground. Oh, shit. They were now the same eye-level. “Listen here you sorry ass punk. First of all, I could crush your scrawny neck right now. But I‘m not gonna. Secondly, we raised you up. Or more of I did. I remember that little homeless, parentless boy. I got that boy a place to live. Remember that. Third,” he glanced at the fliers. Yemon sighed and put Ryuu down gently and released his grip. Ryuu coughed and rubbed his neck. “We need somebody to do this. We need people to hear and see what will happen tonight.” Yemon placed an arm on Ryuu’s shoulder. “We depend on people like you to get them there by doing small stuff like this.”

Ryuu nodded, accepting the job. Yemon is scary, but he cared for Ryuu. He was like a brother to him. A scary big brother. Yemon spoke again, a bit of a smile on his face. “So, what‘s your plans with that girl from earlier?”

Ryuu looked up at him quickly. “W-Were you watching me?” Yemon shrugged and waited for an answer. “…I‘m meeting her in three hours.”

“Ah, I see. Well then, take my motorbike to do your job.” Ryuu grew a wide smile. “and go get changed you bum.” he added, looking at his grass stained shirt.

“Yemon, I would hug you right now if I didn‘t think you would rip my head off afterwards.”

“That’s great." and the sarcasm was laid on thick. "But I need it back before you go on your 'date'. I‘m due to be the doorman for tonight.” he gestured to a flier.

“Sure thing.” Ryuu ran off down the alley and yelled out a thank you. Hidden in a huge box nearby was the motorbike. Two and a half hours passed, the flier were strewn about the streets and the posters hung in easily visible places. Ryuu had on a long sleeved button-up black shirt and black dress pants. He was now walking to the Noodlery with the motorbike returned and a rose in hand. When arrived he was early, so he waited out front and kept an eye out for Shui holding the rose behind his back. He’d been anticipating seeing her again for the past three hours. He much looked forward to spending the day with her.

Shui walked the streets with a silly smile and she as she reached the arena alot of people were already streaming inside. She hurried inside herself passing many people even some she recognized as benders at the arena. As she entered her working room she heard someone enter just efter her. She turned around and saw a man in a white roba, similar to her own. He was quite old and he had gray long hair and a long beard. Shui smiled and bowed. "Mr. Okaida, what brings you here?" She asked sweetly.

The elder man smiled and walked towards her. "I would like to ask you the same thing. Your shift doesn't start until a few hours." Shui chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck. "I know I know, I just came here to make sure I had everything I needed. I always do this." The man nodded. "Well, why not saty a while and help me during my shift then? I might need the assistance."
"Oh I'd love to, but I can't stay for too long. I'm meeting someone later." Shui walked around as she spoke, making sure she had lots of water and ice packs. Mr. Okaida nodded with a smile. "Is it a boy you're seeing?" His voice had a tone of teasing in it, making Shui blush slightly but holding her posture as she turned towards him. "As a matter of fact it is." He nodded in understanding before sitting down, waiting for the first injured to arrive.

After about two and a half hours of talking and helping Mr. Okaida it was time for Shui to leave. She excused herself and walked out on the streets and as she walked towards her destination she noticed alot of fliers and posters with a masked man on them. She recognized the man...she took one of the fliers off the wall. She looked at it as she kept walking, she did not like the look of this man it made her feel very uncomfortable. But she pushed the thoughts away and looked back forward, seeing she was almost there, she realized she was ten minutes early, but she still saw Ryuu infront of the restaurant. He had changed suit, looking very handsome. She approached him, completely forgetting the flier in her hand and smiled. "My, don't you look handsome?" She looked him in the eyes and once again felt all warm inside.

Ryuu saw Shui approaching, with a flier in hand. Ryuu did well in hiding his worries about that, he kept a good smile while looking towards her. When he looked into her eyes as she got closer he was again mesmerized by those beautiful blue eyes. "My, don't you look handsome?" she said with a smile.

"You look lovely yourself." he said, answering with a warm smile as well. Instead of twirling the rose behind his back - which he had been doing being nervous that she might not show - he now brought it to his front and tilted it toward her. "Hope you like a romantic." he smiled sweetly and kept his eyes on Shui's.

"You look lovely yourself." Shui smiled as Ryuu complimented her and then he handed her a rose from behind his back. [b] "Hope you like a romantic."[/b. She accepted the rose with her free hand and smelled it gently. She looked into Ryuu's eyes. "Thank you, it's beautiful. And I do like a romantic once in a while." Then she remembered the flier she hels in her hand. She looked at it one more time before throwing it in a nearby trashcan. She man in the mask still sent chills down her spine so she threw it away and decided not to think more about it. Right now she wanted to enjoy a nice meal with this nice man. She looked back at Ryuu before motioning towards the entrance. "Shall we?" Shui entered the restaurant and was et with a very pleasant atmosphere. She decided to sit down by a two person table pretty close to the window, but not too close. She widdend her smile towards Ryuu, inviting him to sit down.

Shui threw the flier away but the worry remained. Inside the restaurant was nice. Ryuu took a seat of her preferred location, near the windows. The flier would be bugging him through the night. How much did she know? How does she feel about all of this with benders and Equalists? He brushed his thoughts aside. He wanted this night to be a pleasant one. He just decided not to bring any of that up unless she did. The waitress came and he ordered some juiceand noodles. After she put in her order Ryuu asked "So! What's your job down in the arena? What will I get to see you doing?" He grinned.

Shui ordered a cup of tea and bowl of noodles. "So! What's your job down in the arena? What will I get to see you doing?" Ryuu grinned at her and she smiled back. "I am a healer. I use the healing power of water to treat the wounded at the matches. That's what you'll get to see me doing." She looked Ryuu in the eyes. She thought he seemed like someone she could trust. She hoped he wouldn't mind her being a bender, she remembered the fight from the café this morning and she didn't want something like that occuring again.

For some reason, Ryuu seemed troubled by the fact that she was a bender but said nothing of it, hiding it very well. He smiled at her and she smiled back and figured that if he was an equalist, he probably would have gotten up and left. But since he didn't, she figured he didn't mind.
"Yes, I am a waterbender but I do not use it in any other way than healing. I personally try to stay out of conflict that would resort to using it in any other way. But that does not mean I'm not able to defend myself, I just don't feel like using it in a violent matter."

Her order arrived at their table and she sipped her tea. "So, what do you do?" She looked at him before eating some of her noodles.

Ryuu sipped on his glass of juice and let the noodles cool of momentarily. "So, what do you do?"

"Oh, I do this and that. Just little jobs. A good friend of mine gives me things to do and calls it 'work' for me. He takes care of the costs for me as long as I do what's asked of me. He's a more wealthy man, he doesn't mind taking care of me... as far as I can tell." Ryuu shrugged. "I get a very open schedule. Have plenty of time to do whatever." he looked at her once more before getting a bite of noodles and going on. "And I'm glad to hear that you use your bending for healing, not hurting." he pointed his fork at her. "This city needs more people like you." he smiled at her again. Ryuu got together another fork-full of noodles, "By the way, how long have you lived here? Have any family in the big city?" he then took another sip of his drink and bite out of his food as he listened.

Shui smiled as she happily kept eating her meal as she listened to what Ryuu had to say about work. She smiled back at him. "This city needs more people like you." Shui smiled wider and giggled slightly. "Yes, that might be true."
Taking yet another bite of her food, enjoying every bit.
"By the way, how long have you lived here? Have any family in the big city?" Since Shui had food in her mouth all she could do was nod until she had swallowed. "Yes, my family lives on the other side of town though. And I've leved here for as long as I can remember. My parents moved here when me and my brother were very young so we can't really remember where we used to live and for some reason out parents didn't say." She shrugged and looked back at Ryuu. "So, do you have family in town?"

Ryuu kept eating as Shui told him of her family in the city. He liked hearing of other people's family and things about them, for that was one thing Ryuu didn't have himself. How he longed for a family again, even if not blood related. Yemon was like an older brother, but most of the time more of his boss, than a friendship. Being an Equalist now, finding a family just seemed out of the question. Who could love someone, not related, who drives out benders. With benders being looked so highly upon these days. Ryuu must seem a monster. Driving out these beloved benders, when the ones he despised and dealt with were those whom many despised in Avatar Aang's days. Shui looked at Ryuu, "So, do you have family in town?"

Ryuu looked up at her with no emotion on his face and shook his head slowly. "No." He found it hard to talk about it, but he wasn't planning on sharing the whole story right now anyways. "No, I was an only child. My family isn't around anymore." Ryuu lowered his head to his food again. "But that's a story for another time..."

Somehow Shui regretted asking about Ryuu's family for all of a sudden he seemed so sad. She looked down aswell, loosing her appetite... "I'm sorry to hear that." She remembered the times she played iwth her brother as a child, those were happy times. And she felt sorry for Ryuu and that he never got to experience those feelings. "Maybe I shouldn't have asked...I'd be devastated if I lost my family aswell. I'm so sorry." She looked into his eyes, the warmth that existed before had cooled...and it made her sad. She finished her tea in silence.

"Maybe I shouldn't have asked...I'd be devastated if I lost my family aswell. I'm so sorry."

Ryuu looked up at her and gave her a small smile. "It's alright. I asked you about your family, only ordinary that you'd ask me about mine. I like to hear about other people's family being that I don't exactly have one. I've been asked plenty of questions about them before, I've gotten used to it." Though he really hasn't. All that comes up with his family is sadness and hatred for firebenders. "Though it may sound sad, I've gotten use to being alone." He widened his smile a bit to help, "Nothing is your fault Shui. You've been making my day a good one! Let's just stray from conversations involving family, and have a pleasant time tonight, hm?" He looked into her eyes and smiled a real, happy smile to lift her spirits up. Ah, those chilling blue eyes. There's something that can cheer me up today. Ryuu noticed they were both just about finished with everything, and figured that they'd just leave when they felt like it or when Shui needed to be there for her shift.

Shui nodded at Ryuu's answer, and then he smiled at her, the warmth returning to his eyes. She smiled back, she couldn't help it. She had finished her meal and she looked at the time.Hmm...the first match begins in about an hour. She looked back at Ryuu. "The first match begins in about an hour so we should get going, I might have do make some more preparations when I get there." She asked for the check and placed payment on the table before standing up, correcting shirt, blouse and glasses. She walked over to Ryuu, holding out her hand. "Shall we?"

Ryuu placed his payment for the food and drink on the table after Shui did. She walked over to Ryuu, holding out her hand. "Shall we?"

He smiled at her and put his hand in hers. "Lead the way, beautiful." He got out of his chair and pushed it in. They proceeded to walk to the exit of the restaurant, he made sure to walk by her side. "I've never been over there before so... you can just tell me where to go and all that. I can help with any preparations if you'll let me." He looked to her and smiled a warm smile like he does.

Ryuu wasn't sure at all how this night will go, being that he knew plenty of firebenders will be there. He hoped to keep a hold of himself, and hoped that no other Equalists he was acquainted with would be there and notice him with a waterbender. Ryuu thought of the short time with Shui and wondered why people would hate benders of water. They heal, and they fight when necessarily. Though some, like other bender types, do fight just to fight. With firebenders, Ryuu gave himself plenty of reasons. Though the horrible war with the fire nation was long over, they were still the same type of people today. That is how Ryuu sees it.

"Lead the way, beautiful." Shui smiled at the compliment but she did as she was told and lead the way to the arena. Ryuu told her he had never been there before and she smiled encouraging. "Don't you worry about that. I'll make sure you'll behave." She giggled and winked. "And I'll gladly accept your help if neccessary. Which it probably will. Some of the nights can be brutal I've heard with lots of injuries from both figters and staff because of fights outside the battles and what not." She sighed slightly but then smiled again. "But I'm there to help so it's good that I actually get to that, don't you think?"

"And I'll gladly accept your help if neccessary. Which it probably will. Some of the nights can be brutal I've heard with lots of injuries from both figters and staff because of fights outside the battles and what not." She sighed slightly but then smiled again. "But I'm there to help so it's good that I actually get to that, don't you think?"

"Yeah, I think it's great that you're a healer." He really did. Firebenders are on the hate end for him, and waterbenders are the ones Ryuu admires. The other two he could care less about because he has had no connection in his past with them. "It's a great gift, and a great way to use it." Ryuu thought of the fights outside the matches. I'd hate for Shui to get hurt in any way. He glanced to her and found himself smiling as he did so. "Well Shui, if any fights break out around us tonight I'll make sure to keep you safe." His mind briefly went to his weapon, a shock glove, in his pants pocket. He smiled to her, "Wouldn't want you to get hurt, and I've had some combat training myself. So with the two of us together, we should be fine!"

She laughed lightly at Ryuu's comment about being able to manage just fine if anything would happen. "Yes, you're probably right." She finished her sentence with a grin. As she looked forwards she noticed they were almost there. "We're almost there." They kept walking for another five minutes before reaching the arena and it was full with people. People were pouring in from every entrance and they were happily chattering about winners and losers, betting gainst one another. "Let's take the employees entrance. I don't really feel like pushing my way through all those people." She led them to a door on the side of the building and then led towards her working room. Mr. Okaida was still there so she told him he was dismissed. He nodded and left the room. She turned to Ryuu. "Welcome to my little healing room."

"Well Sumi, I have to go now the match is about to begin. Don't get into to much trouble while i'm gone." Masami then stood up and left the room waving at Sumi. He walked down the hall next to the nurses station hearing someone say something in the nurses office. He poked his head in to see what was up and if anyone was hurt. Instead he saw the nurse who he thought tended his wounds a few time and some guy. "Oh my bad." he said as he leaned back and continued down the hall and into what he called the "pit" where he found his team. "Hey guys. So, we ready then?"

She turned to Ryuu. "Welcome to my little healing room."
Ryuu smiled at her, "seems like a nice enough room to work in. Anything you may need me to do? For any preparations or anything before the match?"

Shui placed her finger on her chin while walking over to her cabinets. "Hmm...no..seems like I have enough of everything..."

"Hmm, well when do the matches start? We could watch them untill you have to go to work."

She glanced at the watch. "The match should start in about...half an hour. I always find the time before the matches the slowest..."

"Well, let us find somethiing to pass the time then. What do you usually do?" Ryuu began walking around the room, getting bored of just standing in one spot.

Shui sat down in one of the chairs by the far end of the room. "Well, I usually play a bit with Bai, my polar dog. But he's not here right now, as you can see."

Ryuu made a face, "You have a dog? Very nice... I personally don't like very many animals."

She nodded, with a slight smile. "Yes, Bai is my best friend. How come you don't like animals?"

"Well, people do say dogs are man's best friend... and I don't really have a good uh... history with them. Dogs at least. I like birds though! Birds are cool..." Ryuu
laughed at himself. "I know, a bit odd again."

Shui giggled along with Ryuu. "Well, I don't mind you being a bit odd. I find it charming." She smiled.

Ryuu had a faint smile, "That's nice. More people do mind it. Glad you don't, we can be quick friends then." his smile grew when he looked back at her, sitting in the chair.

"Yes, we'll be great friends, I can sense it." She giggled again before standing up, walking over to a coathanger by the door. "Almost forgot this..." She put on a white coat hanging on the coathanger.

"Will it be cold in here or out there?" he questioned as Ryuu watched Shui slip on a white coat by the door. He didn't really prepare himself for anything cold for the night. How should he know? He's never been here before.

She chuckled. "Nono, it's nothing like that. All the medical personel are supposed to wear these. So people know what we do. Making us look more professional."

"Oh." he grinned. "Okay, that's good." He paced the room again. "Well, it looks good on you. Very professional."

"Thank you, that's very sweet."

"Do I get to wear anything special?" Ryuu joked.

"Well, maybe. If you ask nicely." She grinned childishly.

Ryuu walked over to her and looked into her eyes again. "May I please have a coat, Shui? Pretty please?" He smiled.

"Aaaw, how could I say no to that face?" She giggled and walked over to the cabinet, squatting so she could reach the lower part. "Hmm, I know there is one in here somewhere....aha!" She stood up and pulled out a man sized white coat.

Ryuu walked over when she found one that (hopefully) fitted him. "Alright! Now, let's see if this will fit..."

Shui helped putting it on Ryuu. She walked around, facing him straightening out the arms. "Seems to fit you nicely."

"Sweet." Ryuu smiled while looking at the coat and Shui. "Now I'm a professional!"

"Yes, it's the coat that does it!" She laughed. "It looks great on you."

He laughed with her, "why thank you. Though it does feel a bit weird with a suit underneath..." he looked around a bit more, "So how exactly does this job of yours work?"

"Well, the fighers fight. I watch the fight. Injured comes up here. I heal. Simple."

"A job with benifits. Free tickets!"

"Exactly! But if it's very urgent I have to run down to their dressing rooms."

"Well that is great and all, but what will I be doing?" he put his hand on his chin. "I'm no healer."

"Well, you could hand me the things I might need. Like icepacks etc."

"Oh, ok. I just imagined you using a whole lot of water..."

"Well yeah, but if it's just a bruise or something an icepack is enough. And sometimes after healing it gets swollen. Like if a shoulder was dislocated."

"Ah, right. Makes sense." He walked around a bit more, then came back to Shui's side. "Okay, well the job description is down, seems like we're all set. What would you like to do now?"

"Hmm, that's a good question. There aren't really many things in here meant for entertainment...got any ideas?"

"Well, we can always get to know each other a bit more. Tell me a about yourself, Shui. What do you like to do?" Ryuu walked over to her side.

"Well," Shui smiled as he walked over. "I like reading. I like taking walks, especially with Bai. I like my job, or helping people in general...."

"Good things to do, I like talking walks myself. But those walks are more around the whole city than say, down the block or something. And not with dogs."

She smiled. "I usually take Bai to the park. He loves the park. There he can do what he loves. Chasing smaller animals...never catching them though."

Ryuu smiled at that, "I love the park too. Don't really do anything I 'love', but it's nice to be there." he paused for a moment. "And there's birds there too."

"Like, taking a nap perhaps? I remember you mentioning sleeping in the park."

Ryuu gave a small laugh. "Yes, yes. Like sleeping." he shook his head. "I don't know. It just seems like a good idea sometimes. My house is way too far of a walk, and I'm sure not gonna pay for a hotel around here." Ryuu looked at his reasoning for sleeping there. "Makes sense to me I guess."

"Well, sure...though you just said you like taking walks throughout the city..."

"Eh, not to those parts of the down..." He thought of all the people who lived around him.. or even remotely around him. "I'll just say it's not a good neighborhood."

"Makes more sense then I guess."

"What about you? Live uptown?"

"Well, not really uptown, somewhere in the middle I guess. Not too fancy, and not too poor. Just right for me. And the neighbors are great. Mostly elder people and kids."

"Well, sounds like a good spot to be. I'll stick with the parks."

"Well, if you ever get tired of the parks, I have a guest bed." She smiled.

Ryuu smiled as well. "How much?"

"Hmm, breakfast in the morning. Sounds like a good deal?"

Ryuu laughed, "Deal!" he stuck his hand out to shake on it.

She laughed along with him and firmly shook his hand. "Deal! It better taste good or you will have to make lunch aswell."

"And if anything I can just take you out to lunch." he smirked. "But no worries, I can cook."

She giggled. "I guess I could go with that."

"Nice doing business with you, Miss Shui." he smiled at her.

"My pleasure." She smiled wider.

"So kind to a stranger you just met today." he thought about that for a moment. "I like that. Openly kind to strangers. And a healer as well. Just a good person overall, hm?"

She blushed slightly. "I just can't help it...I'm usually not this kind to strangers, but you...you're different...I don't know why."

"Really?" he looked into her cold eyes again and smiled warmly. "Then it shouldn't be too odd to say I feel the same? I usually don't talk to people much. But you stood out to me, and..." He just took another moment to stare deeply into her eyes. "I don't know what it is about you. But when I look into your eyes, things seem ok to me."

She blushed brighter. "Well, there's something about your eyes aswell...I feel so warm when I look into them. They're so rare and the clolors amaze me everytime."

"Well, the warm and cold go together nicely then." referring to their eyes.

"Yeah...they do." She trailed off. She almost forgot where she was, looking into his eyes.

All that Ryuu was, an Equalist at that, was in the back of his mind now. The moment of having someone feel this like felt so different. Long has there been anyone in his life, but he knew what he really was might hurt her. But he lost himself in the blue of her eyes and leaned in closer to her. "Shui, I don't know what it is ... but I feel that if I stay with you, I can always feel like this."

As Ryuu leaned closer, instinctively she did aswell. "Shui, I don't know what it is ... but I feel that if I stay with you, I can always feel like this."
She looked deeper into his eyes. "Then stay..."

Ryuu grinned. He brushed her cheek and got just a bit closer, still staring deeply into her eyes. He glanced to her lips, and her eyes. He slowly leaned in, closed his eyes, and puckered his own lips. His thoughts just on the moment. On her.

Shui's cheeks were now bright red, but she didn't look away from Ryuu. As he leaned in she did the same, closing her eyes, gently placing her lips on his.

The sensation of the kiss, he could feel the warmth in his heart light up again. He put his hand on her arm and neck.

Just like looking into his eyes, the kiss made her feel all warm inside. His lips were so soft and tender. She felt him place his hands on her cheek and neck, so she gently placed her hands on his.

As they kissed, he gently whispered, "hope the match doesn't start soon." he kissed her cheek, and then made his way back to her lips.

As he kissed her cheek, she whispered "yeah.." as he returned to her lips she wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

Ryuu wrapped his arms around her waist as she did on his neck. He pushed her body to his.

As he closed the space between them, her body felt even warmed. She slowly oulled away, looking into his eyes, catching her breath.

They both looked deeply into each other's eyes again. He felt so warm, so comfortable, and loved. He never wanted this feeling to go.

She gently placed her left hand on his cheek, feeling his warmth. She brought his face down, placing another kiss on his lips.

Ryuu rubbed his hand on her back and just let himself be in the moment with her. He put his hand on her cheek and stroked it back over her ear and to her neck.