"Gzel?" He sifted through his wardrobe for what felt like the thousandth time in a single moment. "Have you seen my pullover?"
There was a beat of silence. "Nooo."
His hands came to a standstill. "You're wearing it, aren't you?" Turning to look at her, she smiled slightly, covering her mouth with the balled up sleeves she curled in her hands. Shaking his head, smiling in fond amusement, the Virtue turned to reach for his leather jacket instead. Of course, then he sought out his scarf, and frowned when he couldn't find that. "Where's my scarf?"
He knew she shrugged behind him and he stilled again, heaving a sigh. "Rio's wearing it, isn't she?"
"Maybe…..?"
Shrugging, appeased that someone was getting use from it at least, someone he cared deeply for no less, he turned back to face her. "Ready?"
The unstable angel nodded, climbing off her bed, stretching out the tension that had formed from her position. She reached out for his hand, and he gladly offered it out, curling his fingers around hers as she grasped his hand softly. Gzel had started helping him in the Infirmary, saying she'd rather help people then hurt them, the same reason Orion chose to become a healer after everything she'd been through and witnessed. Squeezing her fingers lightly, he guided them from their room, down the empty hall for the lounge of the Loft, and towards the stairs at the other side.
Side by side, they descended to the Infirmary floor below them, it was a lazy day, not as busy as they usually were. It allowed them to reorganize and restock inventories that needed restocking, Zed out in the atrium around the back picking herbs and such for his tonics, Zaveriel folding blankets and tunics to put in their designated cabinet, Oren was organizing the files and volumes in the grand book shelf at the other end of the hall, everyone found a task to be doing. And those that didn't have a task to complete caught up with one another, read through one of the books for the shelf in the back, Orion sat at his desk creating something in her sketch journal.
"What are you going to do today, Gzel?"
She looked up at him thoughtfully. "I'm going to help Oren with the books."
"Good girl." He pat the back of her head as she turned to head off and complete the self-assigned task. Akriel stood there long enough to watch her greet his Captain, Oren smiled down at her, squeezing her close to his side a moment, and nodded when she gestured to the piles of books around them. Knowing she was in good hands, he turned for his other girl, bent over her journal completely, everything else having faded to the background. He followed the trail to his desk, silently crossing to stand behind her, smiling at her lack of notice. "Whatcha working on?"
Orion jumped, startled out of her intense concentration, and spun around in his seat. He took quick notice of his missing scarf and tugged at the end that hung over her shoulder. "Nice scarf."
"I found an interesting flower in the atrium when I was helping Zed pick herbs." It was a slow process, but they were starting to open up to the others. Small steps at a time. "Does it look okay?" She lifted her book up for him to see, and he smiled proudly, running his finger over the intricate design and detail. "It's beautiful, Rio, absolutely exquisite."
She beamed at him, a mile's worth of progress, so much more expressive then when they first started working together. "What chore did you accomplish this morning?"
His little healer gestured to the beds in their section. "I changed out the sheets and made the beds."
"All of them?" He frowned lightly as he turned to look at them all. "On your own?"
"No. Inca helped me."
Nodding in acknowledgement, he reached his hand up, curling it around the other side of her head, and pulled her closer to press a kiss to the side of her head. "Great job."
"Thanks, Ak."
"Always, Sunshine."
She smiled up at him, turning to peck his chin lightly, Orion was a very bright person. Once you got passed the cautious exterior, she was a very warm soul, her smile was contagious, her laughter sweet as nectar, and it was all for him to bare witness to. At the moment anyway, they were starting to open up to the others, right now they were working with Zed. He let her pick flowers from his atrium garden.
"What chore have you done, Ak?"
He narrows his eyes playfully. "I just got down here. Someone took my pullover. And then, I come to find someone took my scarf, when that little miss someone has one of her own."
"Yours is softer."
"It's made from the same spool of wool." She smiles up at him, and he leans forward to kiss her nose lightly. "Is this the same thing that you two have with my bed?"
Orion giggles lightly, a soft fluttering sound, the soft jingle of a small bell. She nods in affirmation and he chuckles. "You have to do your chore, Ak, it's important."
"Who's the guardian in this relationship?"
The little healer giggles again, reaching for the large stack of papers he'd collected, and put off doing for as long as he could. Akriel holds his hands out as she drops them into his grasp, and he huffs deeply. "Paper work?"
"You have to do it."
"But it's boring."
Her smile brightens his heart. "That's why you have to do it."
"Are you saying I'm boring?"
She giggled again, closing her journal quickly, and hopped up from the chair she sat in. "Coming G!"
"No one called your name, you little mouse."
"She did! I heard her!"
"Oh, I'll show you 'boring'. Maybe not now, but don't forget whose room you return to after night falls." He sits in his chair, settling the thick pile of paper in front of him, winking at her playfully. "I can wait. I'm very patient."
Orion giggles, brightly, pulling a spare chair away from the wall behind him to sit on his other side. "I'll keep you company while you work."
"Your company is much appreciated."
"You're welcome."
