As Senna stood in the shower, conflicting emotions rushing through her mind, Sting patrolled the surrounding areas around The Rocky Grove in search of Corrin's scent. Finding nothing lingering or fresh, he was satisfied that the dirtbag had heeded his warning and he started making his way back to Senna's apartment.
He knocked on the door and pushed it open. "Senna? It's Sting." No answer came, but he could hear the shower running and decided to take a moment to get the fire going in her fireplace.
Senna finished her shower, taking a moment to compose herself a bit. Despite not wanting to have sex in an alleyway, Senna had been willing to entertain the idea of sleeping with Corrin as it had been a long time since she had last taken a partner to bed. If Corrin hadn't tried to force himself on her after she told him not in the alleyway, she would have invited him back to her place. If it hadn't been for Sting coming to her rescue when he did, Senna was sure that Corrin would have still tried to do something shady or inappropriate.
Senna stepped out, wrapping herself in her bathrobe and drying her hair with a towel. She opened the door and made to go to her room, sighing heavily.
"Hey, how are you feeling now?"
Senna stopped when she heard Sting's voice, seeing him stand from where he had been sitting on the couch. "You started a fire?"
"It's getting a bit chilly outside and I didn't want you to catch a cold or anything," Sting started off, rubbing his neck nervously. "I, um, searched all around and it seems like that asshole is gone for good. You should be able to rest easy tonight."
Senna came around to his side of the couch, the towel coming to rest around her neck. "You didn't have to."
While Sting responded, Senna was more busy looking over his features in the glow of the fireplace. Without thinking, she reached up and touched his cheek.
"S-Senna?" Sting was a bit surprised by this, but not as much as how tender her gaze was at that moment.
"What would I ever do without you?"
"Senna, what's going on? Are you sure you're alright?"
Senna stepped closer to him, resting her head against his chest. "I'm sorry..." She sighed. "Between the alcohol and... other factors... my judgment has been a bit clouded tonight. You coming to my aid like that was a blessing."
"I'm just glad that I got to you before something happened," Sting replied, wrapping his arms around her. "Who knows what that guy would have done to you if I hadn't?"
"Thank you, Sting, I mean it..." Senna looked up at him, offering him a smile.
"Any time, Senna." Sting reached up to brush aside some hair that had fallen over her face. "Do you want me to stay, just in case?"
Senna wanted to say yes, that she needed him, but she knew for the sake of their friendship that she would have to say no. She shook her head, stepping back and bringing her arms to her chest. "I'll be OK, but thank you."
"Are you sure? I don't mind at all."
"I'm sure. Instead, how about free breakfast tomorrow as thanks?"
Sting smiled at that. "Alright, sounds like a deal."
Senna walked him to the door, leaning against the doorframe as he stepped out onto the balcony. "Be safe getting home?"
"Always am. Try to get some sleep?"
Senna nodded. "I will do my best. Thanks again, Sting."
Sting took his leave, but he stayed in the area for a while just in case. He took a walk around town, checking everywhere else for any signs that Corrin had remained. He was rather pleased that his warning had been heeded- at least as far as he could tell.
While Sting walked around town, turning his attention next to the town's progress in making preparations for the festival, Senna was having a hard time falling asleep. Her mind was still racing and she wanted to forget about what had happened as much as possible. She had gotten dressed in a nightgown and robe, slid on her slippers, then headed downstairs to fetch a bottle of her strongest liquor from the bar.
As she made her way back towards the back stairwell, someone called out to her and she smiled with surprise. "Amelia? What are you doing here?"
Amelia, an old friend of Senna's, grinned and ran to embrace her. "I'm just in town for a few days and thought I'd stop by to see you!"
"I was just going to drink a bit more tonight, wanna come up and join me?"
"Absolutely!"
Amelia looped her arm through Senna's and they made their way back upstairs.
"Wow, this place hasn't changed one bit!" Amelia exclaimed, looking around as she set her bag on the armchair.
"Make yourself at home," Senna said, setting the bottle of plum sake down on the coffee table. "You in town for the festival?"
"Ya, just the first day, though. I have business in the next town over, but I couldn't pass through without at least saying hi to you." Amelia noticed Senna reaching for the glasses and chuckled. "Senna, let's just share the bottle."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, why not? Saves you some dishes and means more cuddles while we drink!"
Senna chuckled, finding that she was relieved to see Amelia after having such a rough night.
"So, tell me what's been going on."
Senna popped the bottle open and sat next to her. "Where do I even start?"
Sting made his way back towards The Rocky Grove, wanting to check on Senna one last time before heading back. There was just something about her behavior that had him worried, as she didn't quite seem like her usual self. As he walked by, he noticed the lights were on and he could hear laughter coming from inside.
'She must have company over...'
Sting was relieved that Senna wasn't alone, but he found himself feeling rather disappointed that he wasn't the one keeping her company. Sighing to himself, he headed back home to the guild.
It was fairly late, but there were a few people still awake- including Orga and Julian.
"Master, you're back late."
"Yeah, Senna ran into some trouble earlier so I was just helping her out."
"Miss Senna doing OK?" Julian asked, lowering his drink with a furrowed brow.
Sting sighed and nodded, slumping down in a nearby seat. "I think so. She's home safe at least, with a friend."
"What happened?"
"She went out on a date with that Corrin guy, right? Did things not go well?" Julian asked, bringing Sting a drink as well.
"I found him trying to force himself on her in an alleyway..."
"That punk ass little bitch," Orga growled. "I hope you kicked his ass?"
"And then some."
"Good."
Julian sighed. "That's horrible. And Miss Senna really liked him, too. She was so excited about going on a date."
Orga watched Sting for a moment. "Did something else happen?"
Sting shrugged. "Senna just seemed really out of it afterward, even when she got home. I feel kinda bad for leaving her, but at least her friend stopped by."
"You sound disappointed," Orga commented, "and when did you start calling her just 'Senna'?"
Sting shrugged, then paused- unsure of when that happened. 'Why didn't I notice it before?'
"I bet she was really shocked by what happened," Julian mused. "I hope she'll be able to sleep tonight."
"I don't know, she seemed... off."
"Off how?"
Sting explained how flushed her cheeks were, the subtle panting, her racing heart, how tenderly she'd smile at him, even how lightly she'd touch him. When Orga and Julian exchanged a few glances, then started chuckling, Sting glared at them with confusion. "What?"
"Master, she wasn't sick or anything."
"Yeah, Sting, sounds more like she wanted you."
"What do you mean?"
Orga made a few crude gestures, causing Sting's face to erupt with redness. He laughed at the young guild master's reaction. "I'm telling you, Sting, she wanted you. And bad, from the sounds of it."
Julian sighed with a smile. "Master, Senna wasn't sick, she was holding back. She has too much respect for you and the friendship you share to let a night of drunken horniness ruin your relationship."
Sting wasn't sure how to handle this new information and simply excused himself, mortified by Orga's teasing. He hurried off to his room and shut the door quickly, careful not to wake Lector.
'Is that what that was..?' Sting suddenly recalled Senna's comment about "other factors" and it hit him. 'Damn it...'