Vorden continued to hold Lana. "Is there a more comfortable place where I can hold you? Please?"
She nodded and the branches swung their way, wrapped around them and deposited them in her room. It was a quaint little area with 6 blankets, two each folded on top of her three huge pillows (one blanket was in her dorm room). Next to her pillow bed were the boxes that contained her new outfits. Folded on top was the uniform she wore today with her undies on top. She didn't even think to be embarrassed. She felt comforted in Vorden's arms though she had the feeling his were the least comforting of the three (she could only guess on the little one based on his energy).
Still holding her in his arms, he managed to lay on her pillow-bed with his back against the wall, so she would not feel backed against a corner. He gently stroked her hair though her tears had stopped. She closed her eyes and just breathed. She was soon fast asleep.
As the sun started going down Vorden guessed an hour later, he decided to wake her. He could not have her going back to the dorms dressed like this. He kissed her forehead then called her name softly and her eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Hey, the sun is going down. I thought you might want to change into something less comfortable to head back to your room," he gave her a soft and gentle smile.
"Do you not like my outfit?"
Vorden chuckled, "While it's not something I particularly like, other men would love it. The problem is, the response to this outfit would be worse than what you were wearing the day you helped me get to the doctor's office."
She frowned and got up to change. "So I can't wear this one?"
She seemed sad so he chimed in "Only wear it for us. We won't request it of you but if you want to wear it, we will be happy to see you in it."
She had unzipped the front and was getting ready to take it off when she turned a bit, "so this outfit doesn't offend you in any way?"
He saw a small bit of breast and turned his head. "Why would beauty offend me?"
She was so used to changing in front of Dobin and so comfortable in Vorden's presence, she didn't even think about what she was doing. She got changed pretty quickly with a smile on her face then it was time for her military boots. "Why do these boots suck so much?"
Vorden chuckled. He could see the appeal in this girl. Not everything about her was to his liking, the same with Raten. But he could understand why Sil was interested. And why he went on a tirade over what she had endured just months before she escaped to a place most people consider hard. This place must be paradise for her.
"Can I ask you something," Vorden couldn't help himself.
"Sure," she said with no hesitation.
"Why do you have a bedroom in a tree on the opposite side of campus to our dorms?"
"Well, you just said it. If I'm out here busting my buns and I get tired, as I often do after lunch because I'm working hard all morning, I like to come up here and take a nap. I feel safe up here. As I said, the trees have always protected me and this one is no exception."
"Understand I use my ability a lot. I think that's why I have to many MC. If I use it all morning long to create plants for food to sell in the market, for example, I'm going to get exhausted. Now, that is going to change. I just did my last double day of the weekend. I'll be Sundays only from now on. I have things I want to accomplish and I think I can make enough money to buy Alto his level 5 ability book by the end of the year. We made a killing on that last outing. If we make a small portion of that on the next one, his book is ours."
"Is he helping you? I did see him out there, right?" Vorden struggled to remember because he only went to her stall on opening day. "Why is it so important to you that your team grows with you?"
"Of course, they are all helping. I should think it would be obvious as to why. The bad people come in numbers so they can easily subdue their prey. We will not be so easily subdued. In that, I was wondering if I could get a favor from you?"
"What's that?"
"Find out if there are any level 6 earth users in your elemental class. Don't say anything to Dobin about it but tell me who they are, if there are any." She smiled brightly.
He grinned, "are you planning to steal a book?"
"well, if they have learned it, they don't need the book anymore, do they." She grinned back.
"Shall we step out and have the tree lower us to the ground?"
He put his arm around her and escorted her outside, stood on the branch which held the room and picked her up bridal style as the branch swung up to get them and gently set them on the floor.
He pointed at his head. "Our past is complicated. While we all care about you, for now, it's best if we keep it quiet.'
Lana smirked, "I was planning on that anyway if I ever managed to worm my way into your heart. The more I thought about this Pucket situation, I think it's best if our relationship remain between us. If…the upper leadership find out, they could use you against me. Let's not make that a possibility, okay?"
Vorden nodded sadly.
"Shall I head back first, or you?"
"You," he replied, "so I can watch your back.'
It was her turn to nod.
When she got to her room, she noticed Vorden was right behind her. He nodded toward her room and looked around to make sure there was no one. There were no cameras in these halls due to the original families so he didn't need to worry about that but eyes were a different thing.
When she opened her room, he slid in with her. Just inside the door, they could hear snoring. It was another hour until curfew but Kattie was obviously tired.
"I'd like to hold you until I need to head up if that's okay. You feel asleep out there and I'd like to see if it gives you a more peaceful sleep. Can we try it?"
She smiled, "let me brush my teeth really quick."
While she brushed her teeth, he offered to remove her boots, an offer she gladly accepted. They were clunky and heavy. He placed her boots at the foot of her bed while she relieved herself and removed the top layer of her uniform, now only in her under clothing. He took off his boots, leaving everything else on and lay on her bed. Off went the lights. She lay on her bed and he wrapped his arm around her firmly but not so that she would feel frightened.
She was out in only a minute. He left her room once the curfew alarm sounded making sure he carried his boots and closed the door softly behind himself.
Sil watched the whole thing and smiled in satisfaction that Vorden took care of her.
Lana slept peacefully until the morning alarm went off telling her it was time for breakfast.