The queasy, nerve-wracking feeling of someone watching awoke Corrine the next morning. Despite that, she felt clear headed and remembered how she fell asleep and with whom and kept the presence of mind to keep her eyes shut. For a few moments, she laid there feigning sleep and trying to assess what was going on. When stillness and silence met her inquiry, she hazarded opening her eyes a crack.
The sun had barely started coming up outside, lighting the room with a damp gray glow. In the olive trees in the backyard she could here the starlings starting their morning routine. None of that grasped her attention really. At her side was the dark form of Entreri, sitting on the blankets and staring fixedly at her.
Either he was still slightly inebriated or she was really good at playing dead for he didn't seem to notice that she was awake. Lying on her back, Corrine watched the strange array of emotions playing on his features. His expression was soft in thought and the hard, icy glints that normally decorated his gaze were gone. Now, the grey-black of his eyes seemed like tranquil pools despite the light frown.
Looking away from her, Entreri ran a hand through his gnarled midnight hair and dragged his palm over his face. He needed a shave, she noticed; there was a decent five o'clock shadow on his sharp chin and he still looked tired. She could feel on her collarbone where his shallow beard had rubbed on the skin; it itched.
Suddenly, one of the kids laughed loudly, the sound echoing down the hall from the living room. Taking the sound as a reason to wake, Corrine sighed sleepily and shifted as if just waking up. Through her cracked lids, she could see the expressionless mask slip onto Entreri as she moved, covering the soft, wondering expression he had on.
Blinking her eyes open all the way, Corrine feigned ignorance of him and yawned. Looking to her side, she caught his gaze and stilled as if startled. For a few moments, they just stared at each other mutely, sizing the other up. Finally, she licked her dry lips and swallowed the cottony feeling in her mouth.
"Good morning," she muttered softly, praying this didn't end up too awkward. The assassin narrowed his gaze at her for a moment, his hair playing on shadows in the angles of his face. The look disappeared immediately.
"Morning," he replied in what could only be described as an irritable growl. Corrine rose an eyebrow at him before sitting up and itching where his mouth had rested.
"Not much of a morning person, are you?" she commented dryly, scratching at her neck and collar madly. Damn, those little bristles itch!
Noticing what she was rubbing at, a strange look passed over Entreri, an almost guilty grimace and he asked her with his eyes if he had done anything untoward. Corrine found that she was actually surprised that he was asking, albeit silently. Why she was, was beyond her especially considering that she knew that he didn't like the idea of rape in any form. She gave him a reassuring shake of her head and a small smile to say that she was fine. A ghost of relief passed over him before he moved to stand up.
"The children are awake. And hungry, it sounds like," Entreri commented bluntly as he stood, one hand clutching his head in pain. Corrine snorted at the indirect hint that she should make breakfast and scooted to the edge.
"Yeah and it sounds like you need an aspirin."
He gave her a strange look of incomprehension.
"It's medicine for hangovers and headaches. You look like you need a few and a cup of coffee."
Entreri shook his head and actually managed a wince at the pain it produced. Corrine sighed and rolled her eyes at him before locating her phone.
"Trust me. I know hangovers better than anyone. I'll get you on your feet by noon," she reassured before dialing the mailbow. Hopefully, Sarah and Jaraxle had managed to stay out of trouble. Entreri gave a soft groan as he attempted to walk to the door.
"Noon? It takes that long for this to leave my system?"
"I didn't say anything about it leaving your system. You'll be able to function at the most. Hold on," the mailbox had finally gotten to Sarah's message. Putting a finger to her lips to silence the crabby assassin, Corrine listened to the sound of Sarah laughing drunkenly. Apparently, she hadn't meant to call and hadn't noticed that her phone had dialed. Jaraxle was talking nearby but it was too garbled to understand. Sarah whooped like they were on a rollercoaster and then silence.
"They came in during the night. I heard them stagger in a few hours ago," Entreri supplied tiredly once she hung up the phone. He eyed it oddly, wary of the strange device and the proximity of it to her head. Corrine frowned at it before chucking it over her shoulder to the blankets.
"Then they'll be out for a good few hours. Let's go get you your coffee," she prodded a bit playfully as she stood. Once she gained his side at the door, Entreri gave her a mildly threatening look at her lightness.
Taken aback, she gave him a confused frown before catching on. He didn't want anyone else aware that he had been drinking as well. It was a weak moment that his companions didn't need to know about. It was pride, she supposed, but she had indulged him in that moment and that made her bound to silence.
Corrine gave him an understanding nod and a bracing smile before leading the way to a clearer head and a fully belly.
