James nodded to her question, noting the sudden small spikes in the texture of her wings. "Like a baby bird," he clarified, with a kind of half-grin. "The first few times were not particularly graceful or successful, but I didn't really need to learn. My body knew how." Just as much as it knew how to kill. No one taught him to go for the throat, but it had been instinct. The same way that stalking the weaker ones was instinct.
And the mimic was completely comfortable with his abilities. In a different world, he would have retreated to a log cabin on some mountain and lived his life hardly ever masquerading as a human. But that wasn't his world. He had commitments, responsibilities. Things that required sacrifice. "I suppose it would be," he agreed.
The hand on his shoulder stopped him, and he turned to her questioningly. He was surprised at her insistence. But since it was cold, and now wet, he didn't feel like arguing. shrugging, he led her back inside. "I'll go up with you to my floor," he said, leaving no doubt that there was no arguing that point. since he lived on the fourth floor, there was little trouble she could get into between that floor and the roof, since the building was only four stories.
Once he got there, he nodded to her to go to the door for roof access. As soon as she was out of sight, he turned off his ability, crying out and staggering slightly. Changing back always took a lot out of him and he leaned against the wall heavily as he caught his breath. And even though it was warmer inside, he began to shiver quite a bit. A hot shower was definitely in order. By the time Tori returned, he was on his feet again, waiting stoically for his shirt. For someone who preyed on weakness, he knew exactly how important it was to hide such a thing. "Thanks," he said. "You go straight back out. No dallying."