A Room at the Arms Hotel, Sunday Evening

[wwiii]

Today had been a completely nonfunctional day. There was Warren, with his hotel room paid up for an extra day and his portal arrival rearranged to let him stay with Karla a little longer. And there was a warm bed, that hadn't been vacated all day.

And there was Karla, wrapped in his arms and buried under one wing, with her face nuzzled into the curve of his neck. He could take another day off from school. One more day couldn't hurt.

"We should probably eat something," he murmured into Karla's hair. "Room service, we don't even have to go anywhere."

[For the lady!]

Comments

[glacial_queen]

"I know I don't," she said, hugging him close to her. "And for that, I am forever grateful. You make me stronger just by being nearby."

Warren had somehow mastered the art of giving her strength without fostering dependence. She could lean on him when she needed, but he made her stand tall.

"Any thoughts on that? What I need to strive for, I mean?"

[wwiii]

"The same thing you always have, Karla," Warren murmured. "Compassion. Strength. You won over the support of Arceria with that passion of yours, Karla. You did that because you had to, because your people were being hunted and hurt. You did that as you."

[glacial_queen]

"I still feel--"

Her stomach took that moment to growl, surprising a chuckle out of her.

"Hungry, I guess. I still feel hungry."

And loved. So very loved, sitting in his arms while he reminded her of the good she had done.

[wwiii]

Warren ducked his head a little and laughed, giving her a squeeze and pressing another kiss to her forehead.

"What would you like me to order, my love?"

[glacial_queen]

"Surprise me," Karla decided, glowing a bit at that endearment. Because it was nice to hear, that's why. "I don't think I'm up to making a decision right now. Not without a lot of second-guessing."

[wwiii]

"A little bit of everything it is," he replied, making an executive decision. "I'll have them send someone out for Fina's crepes for us, while they're at it. How does that sound?"

[glacial_queen]

"That's just cheating," Karla informed him--not that she was objecting. "That's hardly a decision."

[wwiii]

"I decided on everything, with extra crepes," Warren pointed out. "That's totally a decision. And it means we don't have to leave the room tomorrow morning, either."

He thought it was a good choice, anyhow.

[glacial_queen]

"You'll stay through tomorrow morning?" Karla asked, sounding pathetically eager to her own ears. "You mean it? Promise?"

[wwiii]

"I mean it, I promise," Warren replied as he reached for the hotel room phone. "I don't have anything in Sunnydale that I can't catch up on later. Being with you is way more important right now."

[glacial_queen]

"Because you're worried I might fall apart?"

[wwiii]

"Because it kills me a little every time I have to leave you behind."