It was nearly 3 AM when Eha finally stumbled out the red-bricked storefront that served as cover for St. Mungo's. More than any injury, more than breathing toxic smoke or the burns that managed to sear their way onto her neck and shoulders, it was the exhaustion, both physical and emotional, that got her. She'd been on the job for nearly 20 hours straight, seven of which had been spent locating victims, creating a barrier against burning rubble, and digging the casualties out of the collapsed remnants of the Leaky Cauldron.

Her superiors kept telling her that, "It could have been worse." There could be more than two wizards dead. There could be more than 30 injured. The injured could be incapable of recovering, joining the victims of the last two wars in the long-term ailments wing as shallow wraiths of their former selves.

It could have been worse. Somehow, that repeated affirmation did not make things any easier.

After a night like that, Eha needed a drink, or a lay, or something, and she needed it bad. But what in their world could possibly be open after the Leaky Cauldron went up in explosions and flames? She stood on the sidewalk outside the "Purge and Dowse" storefront, eyes on the nearest streetlamp, trying to muster up the focus and conviction to aparate back to her lonely flat, when the window suddenly opened behind her.

With a roll of her aching head, Eha glanced back at the person who stepped through the glass. She took in the appearance of a tanned young healer who couldn't be much older than her before chuckling under her breath and turning her gaze back to the distant streetlamp with a sigh. "Some night, huh?"

It was nights like tonight that made Kale thankful that he worked with animals. Animals were predictable. They hunted and killed out of necessity and instinct, not a sense of entitlement or for sport. Even werewolves, whose underlying human nature made them the bane of the Creature Injury floor, could be predictable and mostly contained. Humans, though, they were another story all together.

Humans were cruel. They killed for survival, true, but they also killed for fun, for power, and with a sense of entitlement that no other creature possessed. A sense of individualism twisted into megalomania through rationalization. The events of November 5th, 2010 were frightening proof to the senseless cruelty of humans: Two dead, a relatively small number next to other tragedies but a tragedy nonetheless, dozens mutilated both mentally and physically, and a landmark for the wizarding world, that had stood for hope for wizards and muggleborns alike for centuries, left in an unrecognizable heap of charred wood, brick and mortar. For what end? The question lingered at the back of the mind of everyone involved, if not the forefront. There was no clear answer and Kale doubted that there would ever be.

It was thoughts like these that had, not long ago, driven Kale to drown the world out with anything that would numb his mind. After hours of applying tinctures, stitching wounds and soothing panic, Kale begin to feel his old urges resurfacing with a vengeance. He needed something, anything, to block out the images of crying faces covered in brutal burns. He considered, briefly, of going to Dora's flat, but seeing her, heavy with child, reminded him that his human weaknesses were about to bring another life into an unkind world.

Besides, would she even be willing to see him? He doubted it very much. Though initially eager to be there for her and his child, Kale struggled with the impending responsibility. It was almost funny that he spent his days with the lives of others in his hands, but the idea of being a husband and father left him feeling helpless and trapped. He was more than willing to provide her with money and he had every intention of spending time with his child, but he couldn't fathom the idea of being a family man with a regular 9-5, 2.5 kids and a dog. He could barely take care of house plants. It was for this reason he and Dora remained as 'complicated' and it was also for this reason that Kale decided that seeing her right now would only lead him to making matters worse.

Stepping out of the window of Purge and Dowse, Kale was surprised to find another body occupying the adjacent sidewalk. He didn't recognize her as another healer, and judging by her lack of nail bitting anxiety or freshly treated wounds, he didn't think she was a relative of a patient or a patient herself. Her weary expression and resigned chuckle, followed by a sigh and "Some night, huh?", made it clear that she was connected to the attack in some way. It dawned on Kale that it was likely that she was either one of the bystanders that had helped rescue the victims or law enforcement. Since the bystanders were all ushered out hours ago, he decided she must be an auror.

"Yeah... right?" He nodded, adding a humorless chuckle that offered as much relief as the wheezing final breaths of a dying man. He glanced at her out of the corner of his weary eyes, sympathizing wholeheartedly with her state of mind. Her job meant seeing some of the worse cases of human cruelty that the wizarding world had to offer, so he could imagine that she just wanted to drown it all out now and then. He then stood in silence next to her, staring at a distant, indiscernible point down a street swathed in early morning shadows.

He didn't know what compelled him to do it. Perhaps it was that other human trait that craved socialization and camaraderie in the light of a tragedy or perhaps he just felt like she needed one as well, but Kale suddenly turned to her and said "I know this is kinda sudden but... wanna get a drink? I need one after all... this..." He added, waving his hand in the general direction of St. Mungoes.

There was almost nothing to talk about, after the day they'd had, but Eha appreciated the acknowledgement anyway. She also appreciated the view, as even out of the corner of her eye the healer (-in-training, judging by his robes) cut an attractive figure. Tall and athletic, with nice steady hands and a handsome face. He'd make excellent company.

And it seemed that he thought the same of her. His offer for a drink drew a laugh. Just one, humorless and dry. Exhausted. "Jumal, me too. I'd say lead the way, but...the pub exploded. Makes it tough."

True, they could go to a muggle pub. Bound to be one still open somewhere. But that felt wrong. The thought of all those happy, clueless revelers indulging in their bonfire festivities without the barest inkling of the night's events...made Eha sick to think of it, an ill-ease that flashed momentarily across her eyes. She'd do something she regretted if she went to one of those.

Still...

"I have a stash at my flat. On Baker Street." Eha eased closer, her slow and idle steps drifting ever so slightly to turn towards him and close the distance between them. "It'd be nice not to drink alone."

Gloved fingers curled around the healer's wrist, not grasping, just a light curl. A tease and an invitation, subtle but clear. Perhaps the attempted seduction would be stronger with skin on skin, but such were the risks of her secrets. She'd lost a few potential lovers to cold feet once they felt the leather and certainly wouldn't begrudge him if that was the case, or if he genuinely didn't want more than a drink, or whatever.

But oh, if he was willing, she would be happy to oblige.

"I'm Eha."