She followed, and the portal closed, just as she said it would. She set the gem on a random table and stood at Runner's side. "Well? Home sweet home."
They stood in a living room with a front row view of the beach, giant windows taking up an entire wall and a glass door leading to a balcony. The room was decorated in typical beach decor. A coffee table squatted over a cream, fuzzy rug right in front of the corner couch, where an equally fuzzy blanket was folded. The entire house was cozy, just like how Tessa liked it.
"Looks very pretty." He blinked a few times, still trying to stay awake.
She led him to the sofa and gently pushed him on it, tossing him the blanket should he want it. "Sleep," she said.
He spread his arms out. "You wanna sleep with me?"
She snickered. "Nice try, but I need to change and get a shower."
She leaned over, bracing her hands against the couch on either side of him, and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "I'll be back in half an hour."
"M'kay." He rolled over on his side and closed his eyes.
She made her way to her bedroom, picking out a large sweater and sweatpants, and hopped in the shower after peeling off her concert clothes. True to her word, she was done within half an hour–her hair was even blow dried.
She went back into the living room, peeking around the bend to see if he was asleep.
He rolled over, his eyes half-open. "See how…dedicated I am…?"
She smiled and rolled her eyes, walking over to him. "Clear as day."
She sighed and sat on the sofa, lying down and curling up next to him. "So needy," she teased.
He sighed happily, closing his eyes.
"Mhm…" he said, and was soon asleep.
She lied next to him, unable to fall asleep but still content to stay there, listening to his steady breathing mingling with the crashing waves. It was calming, and she needed calm.
After a few minutes, he seemed to flinch in his sleep, his face scrunching up for a moment before reverting back to normal.
Her eyes darted to his face in worry. What's he dreaming about?
After a few more seconds, it happened again, but this time his face stayed scrunched, making him look like he was in pain.
She wrapped her arms around him, unsure of what was going on but worried nevertheless. She tried speaking to his sleeping form in the soothing Italian lullabies she herself was sung when she was 12 and having nervous fits.
He began shaking his head, mumbling, "No, no, no, no," under his breath.
She started shaking him. "Runner. Runner."
His eyes shot open, and his fist reared back for a moment before realizing it was Tess. But the crazy look in his eye never went away. "Dad's coming…" he whispered.
"Shit!" she hissed, getting up. I didn't even put a bra on! "Go to HQ, tell Demitri or whoever. I'll meet you there."
He nodded, still looking shell-shocked as he sprinted out onto the balcony and leaped into the air, turning into his dragon. He zoomed past her window, rocking the whole house because of the speed.
She darted upstairs, quickly stripping her bummy clothes while running into her room, then changed again–putting a bra on this time. Done, she summoned her wings and leaped off the balcony just like Runner did, following him to the Vanguard's headquarters.
(I'm gonna have to go)
((Quick question, do you already have a plan for Runner's mother or not? Because I have an idea))
