This is nice. Amara was surprised Russel avoided the door closing on part of her arm. She could barely feel it when she over-extended like this, and normally spent the next several minutes at least cursing up a storm in all three languages she spoke fluently. This time however, she was silent. Did not open her eyes either. Doesn’t count if I can’t see your reproachful stare Jane. She saw no reason to adjust her position either. Russel had not set her down in the limo, instead climbing in to sit with her still in his arms.

She was no stranger to cuddling, and being almost always the smaller half of any couple she made Amara was used to being held. Still there was something different about Russel. She felt… Safe. How ridiculous is that? It was the last feeling that could make sense. Russel couldn’t protect her from anything. Except being lonely. Which he’s doing quite nicely. Smiling Amara snuggled closer, curling up on her new seat.

“Comfortable?”

Jane sounded professionally considerate to Russel. Amara knew it was just as much a dig against her. Psh. I am, thank you. Quite content here.

“F-fine, thanks. What’s going on?”

Oh, their just going to talk about boring stuff I already know. Meh. I’m tired. She didn’t expect to, but within minutes Amara was asleep.

A soft voice broke through the darkness and at first Amara shied away. It’s nice here. But the voice was nice too. Gentle as it spoke her name. All right, all right. Amara dragged herself back to consciousness. I’m not being held. Rather, her head was on Russel’s lap, a hand resting on her shoulder. At least leftie is more or less back to normal. The branches that she used for that hand had bent and curled back into their roughly arm-like shape and she could feel her hand again. Dimly, but sensation was there.

“Amara,” Russel called a third time.

“I’m awake.”

“The car stopped. Jane’s getting out.”

Ah. At the airport already?

“Okay.” Amara shifted a little and stretched before settling back in.

“I think we’re supposed to get out.”

“I will,” Jane’s voice added from outside the car, “see that you perform the next concert entirely in pink if you don’t get a move on.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Amara’s reaction to the familiar threat was immediate. She didn’t sit up to say it. “face that kind of media bomb.”

“Try me.”

Jane distinctly annunciated each word. After roughly a second of careful consideration, Amara got a move on. Standing straight as she got a step away from the car, she realized Russel wasn’t right behind her. Turning, she found him still sitting on the limo bench seat. Once again she extended her right hand, with a gentle smile.

“I don’t bite.”

“Don’t believe it for a moment.”

Not in enough of a hurry to be out of earshot eh, Jane?

Russel smiled lop-sidedly, staring at her hand only a moment before taking it, and climbing out. Amara winced as soon as she saw him in full light.

“You look tired Russ.”

“It’s been… Quite a day.”

“Sorry.”

He didn’t answer, squeezing her hand. That he’s still holding, she reassured herself. He fell into step with her as she followed Jane inside the air terminal.

Getting through security had only minor hiccups, mostly thanks to Russel’s cat which Jane had yet to let go of in spite of jockeying at least two separate phone conversations, one attendant all while keeping an obvious eye on the two of them.

As the party made their way onto the private jet, Amara made a covert glance to her partner. Russel was apparently in shock the whole time, as he appeared no more surprised by her plane than everything before.

Once they got into the plane, he sank into a seat. Her favorite seat. The bodyguard gave her a look but Amara just shook her head with a strained smile. Still Russel hadn’t said a word since leaving the limo.

“Can I,” he broke his silence quietly, without looking up, “see Katana please?”

“Hmm?”

“The cat,” Amara told Jane, “it’s her name.”

As if hearing the summons, the feline left Jane’s shoulder where it had been content to stay until then and landed in Russel’s lap. Petting his cat quietly, the boy passed out before they had even taxied to the runway. But before she could get comfortable beside him, Jane took Amara’s arm and pulled her to the far end of the cabin. She went with a resigned sigh.

“All right. Let me have it.”

Jane didn’t at first, glaring into her eyes in stony silence for nearly a full minute. Amara braced herself.

“Congratulations. You have a boy on your plane. This blank space you think you need a boyfriend to fill has a boy in it. Maybe. Did you think for a second about his life? His job, his apartment? Family, friends?”

Jane paused for breath. Amara knew she wasn’t finished yet and didn’t try to interrupt. It’s always worse if I try to head her off.

“What are you going to do with him? Just cart him along for the whole tour like a new puppy? Or send him off with a pat on the head in some random country when you get bored? For that matter, what if he gets fed up before the tour’s over? Or when he learns how ‘accidental’ your meeting really was?”

Amara, keeping her face neutral and eyes downcast, raised a hand.

Jane sighed explosively. “What?”

“I have a question. How did they get a tiger and two trolls into the middle of the city without anyone noticing?”

“Those weren’t trolls Amara.” Jane spoke slowly, as to a child. “My little trick would not have downed a troll. Likely plain ogres. That brings me to another question. You think dragging Russel off on this little jaunt is going to keep him safe? That they’ll just leave him be when he goes home?”

Amara stuck out her lower lip.

“Maybe he won’t go home. Because he already is.”

“Really? Decided he’s the one have you? He doesn’t even know you. Ms. Sunrise.”

Amara’s pout deepened. She refused to let the tears that threatened beyond the corners of her eyes.

“He has time to learn, now.”

“Learn about you?” Jane folded her arms over her chest. “Or the you that you think he wants to see?”

“I’m not lying to him, Jane.” Amara started to look up with pleading eyes. Caught herself and sat straight. “He’s already seen magic, and still came along.”

“In fear for his life, Amara. The alternative was pretty obvious at the time. We’ll just see how he feels about it when he’s fully conscious, shall we?”

Amara lifted her chin, silently accepting the challenge in Jane’s words. With a final sigh, Jane sat back and pulled up her tablet, an effective dismissal. So Amara headed straight back toward the front of the plane, and Russel.

Russel hadn’t moved, except to slouch a little with his head tipped onto his shoulder. He snored softly. The cat, Katana, was contentedly curled under his hand on his lap.

With a wicked little grin, Amara carefully sank into the seat beside Russel, sidling over so his tipped head was almost on her shoulder. Before Jane could catch her, she lifted her phone to snap a shot. Perfect. Bet his friend would love it. That or want to kill him. Satisfied with herself for the moment, she left her phone on the table to visit the restroom.