A cloud of steam billows into the hallway after me as I step out of the bathroom, running a hand through my still-damp hair. I can hear the phone ringing, so I wander down the hallway, wondering where Delsus disappeared to. Glancing to my right as I reach the end of the hallway, I can see him stretched out on the couch, expression slightly troubled even as he sleeps. I hate the expression on his face--I�ve seen it too many times in the mirror.
Callie sits on the counter, staring at the phone like its ringing was a personal insult to her. I suppose this should have been my warning as to who was on the other side of the line, but I ignored it and reached for the receiver anyway.
�Don�t�� Delsus grabs my arm, halting my movement, �It�s probably him.� With one hand still around my upper arm, he reaches over with his free hand, picking up the phone and putting on a convincing act, any semblance of the depression completely gone.
�Azarze here.� No sooner does he say this than his grip on my arm tightens almost painfully. �I�m sorry, sir, Himeko woke me up at six in the morning, and I was tired. I fell asleep again.�
I flinch under his near-bruising grip and he releases me with an apologetic look. I shake my head as if to say it�s all right and turn my attention to Callie, who�s still glaring at the phone. She nuzzles my hand to show she appreciates being petted, but doesn�t take her gaze off of Delsus.
�Dakumi, sir?� Delsus asks, gaze shifting to me as a visible tremor runs through me, �No, I haven�t seen him, why?� He arcs his brow at whatever answer he receives and shakes his head in disapproval. �I�see. Anyway, I apologize, sir, but I must be going. As you know, I need to go after Adel soon--� his head tilts slightly and a somewhat confused look crosses his face, �Yes, of course that�s fine. Right, a report when I get back, I know.�
Delsus mutters some sort of goodbye and hangs up, running a hand through his hair with a tired sigh. �We�re going to have to be careful,� a concerned blue-gray gaze meets mine, �I have the feeling he knows exactly where you are. I don�t think he would have randomly asked otherwise.�
�Lovely,� I mutter, �so what now?�
�Well�first of all, you need to take the week off. Stay here. I have to stay with Adel and his group for a week, supposedly so I have enough time to find out all their plans, but the real reason is that it�s probably just to get me out of the way.�
�Are you sure? Won�t it get you in trouble�?�
�I don�t really care,� he says simply, �anyway, you probably shouldn�t be answering the phone. Himeko will show up every morning before work and every evening after because she�s supposed to be looking after Callie for me when I�m gone�but now I suppose she�ll be keeping you company instead.�
�Hey, wait a minute,� I say, ignoring that rest of what was said for now, �what do you mean you don�t care?�
�As I said, I have to go get Adel soon,� he replies, heading down the hallway to change, �have to get there before Bladen does something�unfavorable.�
�Dells--�
�Later, Dakumi.�
�Damnit, Delsus,� I half-yell, stalking down the hallway after him and grabbing him by the shoulder, �is it that fucking hard to answer me?�
He sighs tiredly again, but doesn�t turn around. With a sigh of my own, I release his shoulder, glancing down at the ground. �Fine then��
Delsus turns to face me then, grabbing my jaw lightly and tilting my head up slightly. Before I have time to ask--or even wonder--what he�s doing, he leans down, pressing his lips to mine gently.
�Because I love you��
I was leaning against the countertop, staring off into space. To say I was still in shock may have been an understatement. I sigh longingly, then make a face. Callie looks at me questioningly, and I wave my hand in a somewhat dismissively manner.
�Look at me, I�m like a lovesick schoolgirl.�
Lovesick. I�m not even sure if that�s the right word--I can�t say I�ve ever thought of Delsus like that, and I�m still too busy trying to accept his confession to think about it now--but the word choice seems to amuse Callie anyway.
I don�t even know how long it�s been since Delsus left, but apparently it�s been long enough, because I hear the door opening.
�My apartment,� I hear Delsus saying through the still half-closed door, �they don�t know where it is, so it�s safe enough.�
Introductions are made and I thought I caught a flash of recognition in Adel�s eyes, but it was gone as soon as it had appeared. He never saw me around the company that often anyway, so hopefully he wouldn�t remember me.
�You�re worried about him too, aren�t you�� Adel says suddenly, attention shifting to a less-than-happy looking Delsus.
�Yeah,� he replies with a sigh for added effect, �but he can take care of himself�it�s a little comforting.� Adel nods slightly in understanding and Delsus smiles slightly. Meanwhile, I actually start to believe this will all work out without too much trouble and glance to the cat beside me, who seems to be thinking the same thing.
�I don�t want to put you out�I mean, it�s not as if I don�t have anywhere to go��
"It�s fine,� Delsus insists with a wave of his hand before glancing at me sideways, �besides, it means he can�t kick me out of bed.�
�Fuck that,� I say airily from the sofa where I sit next to him, somehow managing to keep the blush of my cheeks, �I�ll make you sleep on the floor. I have no conscience when you piss me off.� Delsus� face falls, as if he can�t possibly comprehend I just said that to him. Adel just laughs and Callie lightly hits me in the head from where she lays on the back of the couch, as if reminding me to be nice.
�Hah,� Delsus exclaims, pointing to the calico, �see, you have to be nice. Or Callie will make you pay.� She hits him too, causing Adel to laugh harder.
�Hey, choose a side already,� I complain, stretching as I stand, �anyway, it�s getting late. I�m turning in.�
�You know what they say, cats are fickle creatures,� Delsus replies, standing as well, glancing over at Adel, �you need anything?�
The cat shakes his head, sitting on the couch and laying back. �Nah, I�ve got a pillow, and it�s really all I need,� he blinks, smiling slightly as Callie makes herself comfortable on his chest, �and it seems Callie�s volunteered to keep me warm anyway.�
�Don�t be too pleased with her decision; she only wants you for your body heat,� Delsus warns with an amused smirk, following me down the hallway.
I let my eyes close as my head hits the pillow, letting out a content sigh. The bed dips down somewhat as Delsus lays beside me and I turn my head to look at him. �Your bed is a lot more comfortable than your couch,� I inform him matter-of-factly, burying my face in the pillow, �I think I�ll tell Himeko that, just because she�ll freak out.�
�You�re evil,� he says with a laugh, �but I like that.� The lamp on the nightstand is clicked off and he turns on his side, wrapping his arms around my waist. I settle back against his chest, heartbeat quickening at the close contact.
