When Kaidy wakes up, it's still just as dark as it was when they fell asleep, but the faint moonish glow from the vidscreen on the wall shows her angles and curves: the pale white arc of Martin's shoulder, the light-lined tilt of his jaw, ruffled curls of hair turned reddish-silver. He's curled on his side, clutching the pillow as if expecting to be dragged away from it, and even in this trace of light she can see how tired he looks; when she leans across to press a kiss to his shoulder, he doesn't stir even a breath. She wraps an arm around him again and carefully allows herself to drop back against the pillows, breathing slowly, her smile so self-satisfied that even Douglas Richardson couldn't match it, and lets the clock slowly count its way to 6:50 before she moves.
Even when she slips out of bed Martin barely stirs, though he mutters something until she gently tugs one of the blankets back over him. Frankly she'd really like to stay, but her boss will ask very pointed questions if she's not at the morning briefings, and Challie Harper has earned herself the nickname of 'God' from her staff for very good reasons.
"House? Lights to 1," Kaidy orders, voice little more than a murmur; the light level raises a fraction, just enough to let her find herself clean clothes and boots without tripping over the tumbles of discarded clothing from last night. She keeps one eye on him the whole time she dresses - if he wakes she'll explain where she's going - but Martin never stirs again, so finally she directs the lights back down to zero and slips out, boots in one hand, leaving him to sleep - and a note on the door, just in case.
Outside, in the little communal lounge she shares with Ariel, her flatmate watches with considerable amusement as she laces up her boots.
"So who did you bring back last night?" he demands, grinning evilly at her from behind the mug of tea he's nursing. "Don't try to tell me you did no such thing - you're practically radiating smugness. It wasn't that redhead from before, was it?"
"Well, funny you should say that..." Kaidy, completely shameless, grins back at him as she straightens and accepts a mug for herself. "Come on, I'll give you the gory details on the way."
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When Kaidy wakes up, it's still just as dark as it was when they fell asleep, but the faint moonish glow from the vidscreen on the wall shows her angles and curves: the pale white arc of Martin's shoulder, the light-lined tilt of his jaw, ruffled curls of hair turned reddish-silver. He's curled on his side, clutching the pillow as if expecting to be dragged away from it, and even in this trace of light she can see how tired he looks; when she leans across to press a kiss to his shoulder, he doesn't stir even a breath. She wraps an arm around him again and carefully allows herself to drop back against the pillows, breathing slowly, her smile so self-satisfied that even Douglas Richardson couldn't match it, and lets the clock slowly count its way to 6:50 before she moves.
Even when she slips out of bed Martin barely stirs, though he mutters something until she gently tugs one of the blankets back over him. Frankly she'd really like to stay, but her boss will ask very pointed questions if she's not at the morning briefings, and Challie Harper has earned herself the nickname of 'God' from her staff for very good reasons.
"House? Lights to 1," Kaidy orders, voice little more than a murmur; the light level raises a fraction, just enough to let her find herself clean clothes and boots without tripping over the tumbles of discarded clothing from last night. She keeps one eye on him the whole time she dresses - if he wakes she'll explain where she's going - but Martin never stirs again, so finally she directs the lights back down to zero and slips out, boots in one hand, leaving him to sleep - and a note on the door, just in case.
Outside, in the little communal lounge she shares with Ariel, her flatmate watches with considerable amusement as she laces up her boots.
"So who did you bring back last night?" he demands, grinning evilly at her from behind the mug of tea he's nursing. "Don't try to tell me you did no such thing - you're practically radiating smugness. It wasn't that redhead from before, was it?"
"Well, funny you should say that..." Kaidy, completely shameless, grins back at him as she straightens and accepts a mug for herself. "Come on, I'll give you the gory details on the way."