Chi could only shrug, fading into a sense of helplessness. But he couldn't say anything before the girl spoke up for him, and he gives her a smile a bit more on the softer side. Gratitude, probably.

"Oh, then that makes us a source of valuable information. Nice and lucky~" He nearly purrs again, but this time, he is a bit more on the edge of his seat, about ready for the man to get tired of his antics and kick him out of the car.

Bane growled and seemed to be getting ready to do just that when Ash said “Bane? Who else was attacked?”

Bane sighed and sat back, rubbing his face. “A retired chemist and a welding instructor. Not sure why…both didn’t make it. Both were from the Academy though…around the same time your father was. That’s all we have found so far. It’s why I was looking for you when I went by the shop and saw Trigger repairing the back wall and the other bots working. I feared the worst for you…”

The car pulled up and the doors opened, Bane getting out and helping Ash out. They were in front of an old school looking building, the pub sign swinging in the soft breeze. Bane said softly “we can talk more once I get you both some food…I need to cook something”

Chi is nice and quiet while he is saved by the girl again, only speaking towards the end, "Oh, well isn't it nice to have someone who worries for you?" he chuckles and almost skips ahead, "yaaay food!"

Ash smiled as Bane went ahead to open the doors and she said “his been my friend since we were kids. He was a lone pup during the wars…my dad was a captain then. He found Bane and took him in. The local pack took Bane as one of their own and Bane claimed my father as his guardian. His been a good friend to me all these years…”

Bane led them into the pub which was empty apart from the staff getting ready for the day. Bane said “I’m making food for my friends. Don’t mind them” the wolf slipped into the back and Ash led Chi to a table out of the way. “So…why don’t you tell me about yourself? And how you ended up in my shop”

Chi smiled and noded along as stories were shared, taking a seat with a fluid stretch. very cat-like.

"Oh you know, im just your friendly neighborhood street cat. I come and go everywhere . Was just drinking with some folk last night. then when it came time to go home, I must have gotten the contract wrong. I was supposed to go to the scrap yard. Not far off,or...at least I dont think so"

Ash frowned and said “that’s nowhere near the shop…that’s odd for a contract to get that far off unless something got in the way of it…” she leaned back, her mind thinking over the spell workings. “What do you use for contracts?”

"oh it isnt...? huh. oh, I just use my magic to entice the spirits. It takes some will but...I have a lot of both" he grins cheekily

Ash smirked softly at his words and said “you are a cheeky cat…but you risked your neck for me so I am grateful. Breakfast is the least I can do”

Bane came back with a tray of every breakfast food you could think of and laid it on the table. “I need to help in the kitchen for a few minutes but you guys start eating. Then we are going to talk…” he gave Ash a look then vanished back into the back filled with steam and yummy scents.

Ash sighed and lowered her head. “His going to get after me again…it’s not my fault the shop keeps getting targeted…it’s not a big deal…”

"Meow~" is his only responce to her comment, making bigger cat ears and whiskers sprout from his cheeks with that same smile.

ANd of course, when he food arrives, he immadiately digs in, though he did not miss the small exchange between bane and the girl. Nor, of course, her mutterings that were directed at him. After which, he hums and finishes his overly large mouthful with a lick of his lips, " I think youre mistaken. If people want things from you so badly that they send hitmen, that means youre part of a bigger plan. Big plans mean big changes, and its always important to keep your ear out for that stuff. Even for one such as your lowly neighborhood alleycat." he wiggles his ears.

"Besides, if you keep trying to lie to yourself about how important you are, its going to annoy the people around you who care about you." he sticks the fork in a large pile of waffles and frowns, "Imagine caring about someone, but they keep almost dying. and they dont even care if it happens. Imagine how your friend would feel if I told him you were actively dying in my arms, and all you cared about was the blood on your floor."

Ash paused then looked down at her plate and said “I don’t like worrying others…last night I was caught off guard. But I was ready until they targeted you. Going after someone not involved…” she tightened her grip on her fork and muttered “it triggered something in me…I don’t know what…” she sighed and put her fork down.

“I don’t have the data to know the big plan…or even what they want…”

The catman shaped shifter cuts another big chunk of waffle and shoves it into his moves as she begins talking, it's delicious, and a good excuse to let her talk and observe without much expected input.

"Thats funny...you say you dont know what they're after, but you assume I'm not involved. That kind of naivite is going to get you killed, if the robots dont~" he waves around another bite of waffle, before sticking in in his mouth and talking around it. "Im pwe'y sure someone said theyre affer yer cores doe, so is no' like ye dont reawwy know"

Ash looked up at him, her eyes changing. The sweet girl was gone and now the brilliant mind was at work. “Funny…I didn’t think you were listening during the fight…I was hoping you were still too drunk to remember it” she leaned back and sighed closing her eyes.

“I know what they want. But I’m going to talk about it to a neko I just met…I’m not that naive…”

"Hawing a gun poin'ed a' you has a funny way o' sobrin you u' " he answers, gulping his food down with a smirk. "And the nap helped too."

"And well, its good that youre not that naive. but to be honest, youre just barely not. Not to paint myself in the wrong color, but who offers their home to someone when they know they're being hunted?"

Ash leaned back and said “I offered a couch to a cat who wandered in. It’s not like I was giving you keys to the shop. If I wanted you gone it would happen. But you made me smile so…” they heard steps and Bane stood there.

“Ah. Your dropping the mask?”

"Apparently, I proved a bit too observant for her to keep it up." he waves a forkful of food in a swirly pattern and smiles slightly, "Excellant food...I shouldve visited sooner. Ah, and if you need another mana transfusion, lemme know" he winks to Ash, "I should have some in the tank by now...and sure you didnt hand me the keys... or did you?"

Bane frowned and looked at Ash. “Mana transfer?” Ash cursed and said “I needed blood but I don’t have mana stored…” Bane growled and sat down “why the heck not? You know what never mind. I know why. Thanks, I made the menu myself. Recipes and all. It’s my outlet.”

Ash looked at him and said “what do you mean by that? You don’t have the keys”

"Suuure I do~ You let a drunk with portal magic rest and sober up in your shop...and now that we've left, I know where it is." He takes another bite of food, giving his words some thought and then nodding in confirmation to himself, "-again, not to paint myself the wrong colors. You seem nice, despite the character flip. So you and I aren't enemies."

Bane growled and said “you think your going back with bad intentions little fur ball” but Ash raised a hand. “Easy Bane…his testing us. But I do have seals at the shop…you just happened to meet the rules of entering safely…”

She moved and took a bite of food. “But now I’m wondering…why are you interested?”

His lips curl in a wider smile, "Oh she is very smart...but also why I have been very careful about what words I say. To be fair, I have been feeling tested myself."

a couple more bites and he rests his fork down, his tail swaying behind him, "....why am I interested in what?"

Ash looked at him and smiled back at him. “Me. Why stick around at the clinic? And why come with us to a meal unless you are wanting something from me…no one helps like you have without a reason”