Let's be *Naughty*

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

"Would that medic be someone who would try to help you escape?" Koda asked, eyeing him suspiciously. "Maybe we should go to someone I know."

[echolight4eva]

Noah looked at her, blinking with his eyes half-lidded. "No. Ava Ashwood wouldn't do something like that. She is a respectable woman, and a talented herbalist."

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Nikoda narrowed her eyes. "Where does this 'Ava' live?" she asked. If it was close, she might agree to it. She didn't want to have to half-carry him too far.

[echolight4eva]

"Just around the block. Convenient, yes?" he said, understanding her hesitance.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Nikoda didn't answer for a second, but then she nodded. Without asking, she pulled his arm up and around her shoulders so she could support him as they walked. "Very well. Which way?"

[echolight4eva]

"Just this way," he replied, pointing down a side road. He would have cracked a joke about his arm around her shoulder, but he wasn't feeling very clever at the moment.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Koda helped him down the street, doing her best to part the crowd so they didn't have too much trouble moving. "So who is this healer?" she asked. "Is she good?"

[echolight4eva]

"One of the very best," he replied. "She learned from a nobleman's medic, when she worked there as a younger girl. Her name is Ava Ashwood."

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

"Ava," Nikoda murmured. The name tickled the back of her mind, but she couldn't say for certain she knew it.

[echolight4eva]

Soon enough thy made it to the apothecary and were ushered in. Ava sat Noah down on a bed and set to work on binding his ankle.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Koda leaned against the wall by the door and crossed her arms, watching the healer through narrowed eyes. At first, she just studied the woman herself, making a quick assessment of whether she was a threat or not. She didn't look it. After a bit, though, her eyes shifted to what Ava was doing, the way her hands moved quick as she treated Noah's ankle.

[echolight4eva]

Soon enough, Ava straightened, stretched, and sighed quietly. "You'll be okay. Just try not to put much weight on it. I'll go grab you a crutch." She walked off and Noah glanced down at his bound ankle. "Not bad."

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

"You're lucky," Koda told him. "I've seen lesser falls that result in worse injuries. And many of them don't have to privilege of being tended to by an actual healer."

[echolight4eva]

"I am pretty lucky," he agreed with a smile. "And that's true. Ava is one of the best." Ava returned a moment later carrying a makeshift crutch. "I don't require payment. Don't worry."

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Koda gave her a confused look. "None?" she asked. She must know Noah, though she couldn't see why anyone would treat a criminal like him free of charge. He seemed like he'd be quite a nuisance to her.