Luca's eyes stared at her with sleepless anger. After a few tense seconds, he lowered his sword and grudgingly sheathed it. Then resumed back on his walk as if he just didn't threaten a life.
Michael decided it wasn't a bright idea to follow Luca anymore. They had walked enough where he could find the inn on his own.
Veronica tapped him on his shoulder. "That went better than expected, don't you think?"
"You…you were trying to make fun of him?"
She watched Luca walk off on his own. "Luca came as a party of two, which I remember you heard earlier in the day, and his friend left the quest alone. And thinking about that matter, we thought about doing the same. Nobody wants to deal with Luca anymore."
Michael felt the cold wind skimmed past his skin. "I should head back to my party."
"Yeah," she fixed her hair from her eyes. "You do that."
"If it helps," Michael called to her. "My party is at the inn just a few blocks from down here. I really think we could help you."
"Beating up Luca to his senses or with the quest?"
"Umm…both?"
She snorted. "Go home, kid, I'll see what I can do for you."
Michael saw her turn away, catching up with Luca to pick off from his deteriorating mental state. She was definitely brave for him to admit. Playing around with a man that was beginning to have nothing else to lose, it made him think if Luca was even viable to their quest.
The sword deeply hummed on his back, cutting him through his thoughts.
"I wasn't staring." he complained quietly as he started his way back to the inn.
When he finally reached his room, after enduring the growing cold of the night, he hesitated to open the door. He sort of missed sleeping alone in his own privacy. Every time they would find temporary housing during their quest, he always had to share the room between Stefan and Ellis.
He imagined none of them were comfortable being in the same room whenever Evelyn decided it was a great time to be herself.
Spending time with Evelyn today, he didn't feel like just hugging his sword tonight. She had twisted his arm in making new breakthroughs in his challenge, he couldn't help himself and give into her.
With no other choice, he walked a couple rooms down. The more expensive ones were stretched down the hall to accommodate their size.
Michael knocked on Mave's door. Staring at the refined wooden door, he didn't know what to expect. Maybe a fist full of anger, having her be woken through her sleep and greeted with one of the unbearable members of her party. It was still relatively late in the night so curfew hours were in effect.
But she opened it. Her straight jet-black hair was carelessly falling down her shoulders and her squinting dry eyes fluttered through each emotion. Confusion, realization, then agitation.
He gulped. Words couldn't come to his mind. Looking at her face depleted the lasting courage in his body.
Mave groaned, her voice tired. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I—" he hesitated. "Could I sleep here instead? I…feel like our room is a little bit crowded for me."
"Do you think I give a damn about that?"
"Sorry," he muttered. "I'll go back."
She groaned again, leaning by the doorside. "It's because of her, right?"
He turned. "What?"
"Don't play stupid with me, boy, I know what you're trying to do. It's so obvious, how more scandalous can you be with me? Not even my own house was enough for you two?"
"Umm…" Michael was worried the nearby rooms could hear. "I didn't—we weren't going to do anything like that."
"Says the boy who sleeps with his sword every day."
"I'll go back—"
"Get in." she said. "Don't make me regret it."
Michael was surprised by the sudden gesture. He crept slowly, and carefully, towards her room expecting she would tug him away last second. But once he stepped inside, the door shut behind him.
Mave's room was every way better than what he had before. Her luxurious bed could have sized two people, she had a tall window providing an open view of the outside, a richly crafted chest, a wide dresser with a mirror, and a very own personal and clean bathroom just for her.
This shouldn't have been only for one person, Michael thought enviously, what type of money did Mave make to be spoiled like this?
He knew she always took a portion from their rewards since they lived in her house but certainly it shouldn't be enough to be lavish for just a quest. Maybe it was her father's reserve that was the majority. The perks of being a noble.
"You're on the floor." she handed him spare bedding from the chest. "And don't you ever think about touching my bed."
Michael nodded.
"I mean that fully, boy."
Michael nodded again. He reached over to his back and unsheathed his ego sword. A quick flash of light came from inside the room, making their eyes wince through the dark.
Evelyn stared around before locking eyes with Mave.
Mave climbed back onto her bed. "What are you looking at?"
"What a big bed," she wrapped her arms around Michael. "Doesn't it feel lonely, sleeping all there by yourself—"
"Alright, get out."
"No, wait!" Michael spun and covered her mouth. "We can be on the floor, no problem."
Mave gave them a doubtful glare before disappearing under her thick blanket.
Michael placed the bedding a reasonable distance away from where Mave slept, just between her and the window. It was sort of similar how he had it back home, back inside that attic.
As Evelyn squeezed next to him, he also forgot this bedding was meant for one person. He tried to get comfortable but every time he moved, he was brushing against her skin. She didn't seem to mind this at all, matter of fact, she was actually enjoying this struggle.
He quietly sighed and rested his eyes, facing a few inches away from hers. It looked exactly the same from what transpired in that alley.
She softly giggled, knowing he was trapped with her. "What, Michael, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Are you going to do that again?"
"Do what, exactly?"
"You know what I'm talking about—" he shivered, feeling cold fingers reaching under his shirt. "What the—what are you doing?"
"Quiet," she pressed her other hand to his lips. "I'm not kissing you, am I? I'm not breaking your stupid challenge."
He moved his mouth away. "It's not about my challenge, it's about having manners. Do ego swords not have any when you were made?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Can we sleep normally, Evelyn?" he asked. "We're on a quest and I can't have us doing this every night—ow!"
She pinched his rib. "What's wrong with you, why are you trying so hard to push me away?"
"Stop—ow!"
Mave sat up from her bed and tossed a pillow at them. "Are you two incapable of keeping quiet?!"
Michael moved the pillow away. "Sorry."
Evelyn peeked over him. "Sounds like someone's jealous—"
He stuffed the pillow on her face, burying away her voice.