"Just a little farther," Daine grunted. She lurched through the doorway, stumbling under the added weight of the man draped over her shoulders. Numair mumbled something, stumbling into the study.
"What?" She sighed, eyeing the distance to his bedchamber door with a scowl.
"I can get to my rooms by myself." He straightened with a defiant expression, wobbling precariously. Daine raised her eyebrow, tempted to step away and seeing if he tipped over.
"We're in your rooms."
Numair looked around them slowly, gaze unfocused. Finally he gave a small nod, satisfied with the results, and moved to sit on a nearby footstool.
"Oh no you don't," she lurched and pulled him upright where he slumped against her once more. "Let's get you into bed, Master Mage."
He stopped, abruptly, nearly toppling them both over. "That's in-" he faltered, brow furrowed. "Ina-Inner-"
"Inappropriate?" she offered, both exasperated and amused that he could remember to lecture her even when he was so far gone. "What in Mithros' name got into the two of you?" She urged him forward again and he sighed.
"Bad influence," he mumbled.
"Harailt, or you?"
"Hairailt and I, magely," he corrected, nodding his head seriously.
She eyed him, smirking despite herself. "So you're both a bad influence?"
He seemed to take pause at that, nodding thoughtfully. "Both, yes. Maybe."
Reaching the next door, Daine clutched the knob and swore vividly when she found it locked.
"That was not very ladylike." He shook his head as Daine propped him against the doorframe, grimacing at his precarious position.
"I'm not much of a lady, Numair," she sighed again, running a hand along the shelves of the nearby bookshelf where she knew he usually kept the key.
"I know," he sniggered and she scowled at him. She found the key wedged between two heavy tomes and moved back to the door.
"I would be careful about teasing me," she smirked, feeling the lock click, "who knows what stories I will have come morning." She pointed at him with the key, adding emphasis to her statement. Numair opened his mouth to speak but seemed to think better of it, or forget where he was-she wasn't sure. Instead he watched her as she deposited the key back to it's hidey hole and returned back to him. Daine held her hands out to help hold him steady and he grinned widely, extending his own arms and enveloping her in a hug that was half embrace, and half tackle.
Daine grunted, barely bracing herself in time for the impact. "Numair," she groaned with the effort to keep them both standing, "I need you to help me here."
"I like hugging you," he nuzzled her hair, long limbs slowly collapsing closer and closer to the floor.
"Yes, yes; we can hug more later if you'd like but first we need to get you into bed." She heaved forward against him to no avail.
"That's in-" He stood up suddenly, eyes wide. "Harailt," he slurred the name so that it was barely decipherable. "You should help Har-" Daine waved him off, speaking over him.
"Lindhall has him. He said he's had enough experience herding you," she trailed off, shaking her head. "I'm realizing now he meant it as a warning." She maneuvered him into a manageable position once more and prodded him until he tottered through the doorway.
Numair mumbled an apology and Daine shushed him, patting his back. They made surprisingly good time to the bed where Daine depositing the mage with a sigh of relief. He leaned back on his hands, staring at the ceiling.
"Feet, please." Daine kneeled in front of the mage, holding out her hands. "Numair?"
He looked down at her, struggling to focus. "I don't have any extra," he replied, looking very concerned.
"No," she laughed, "these ones." She grasped his ankle, pulling at his leg until he extended it and she could make short work of his boot and stocking before moving to the other side.
He watched as she worked, sighing. "You're my favorite," he trailed off, struggling to keep his eyes open.
"Your favorite what?" She looked at him, pleased despite herself.
"Hmm?"
"You're favorite what?"
"Oh, you know," he gestured vaguely, "everything."
She placed his boots to the side and stood, brushing the wrinkles from her breeches. "Well, I am quite fond of you as well." She smirked at the silly grin that spread across his face in response.
"Really?"
She snorted, "yes. It's not exactly a secret. Arms up please." Daine tapped his shoulder and motioned for him to raise his arms. Tugging his shirt and tunic over his head was somewhat more difficult than the boots since he seemed to lose balance with every tug. She noticed, not without annoyance, that as soon as the garments were removed he seemed to stabilize once more. She reached for his belt and felt his entire body tense when she touched the buckle.
"I," he stuttered, a blush staining his swarthy features. He tried to block her hands, missing by a wide margin. "I can," he tried again but Daine swatted him away.
"Shush, there, it's done." She pulled at the belt, sliding it off of him and waving it at him before throwing it onto the growing heap on the floor. "All done. Just need to tuck you in," she teased, sitting next to him. "Will you be alright by yourself?" She placed a finger under his chin, turning his face to hers. He nodded, eyelids drooping.
"Are you leaving?" He yawned, leaning into her hand.
"Soon, yes."
"That's too bad." He leaned forward so that his forehead pressed against hers, eyes closed and smelling of whiskey.
"Is it?" She chuckled, patting his hand.
"I wish you could stay." His voice was quiet, and followed immediately by his lips pressing against hers. The kiss was firm, and clumsy, and brief and made her stomach flip. He pulled away and sighed, "but you can't." He leaned away, laying across the bed diagonally. "It would be in-inna-"
"Inappropriate," she murmured, breathless. "It would be inappropriate." She turned to him when he did not reply and found him still, breathing steady and deep. She brushed a stray hair from his face and carefully released his hair tie, knowing how he hated waking with his hair matted from being up. Sighing, she made short work of putting blankets over the man before blowing out the candles and leaving for her own rooms.