Getting Attention

[Nox]

The look alone on Raffe's face made Nox glad that Aria's place wasn't far. If Asha was there, Nox knew a place he could go, but it was hardly romantic for their first time to be in some ratty motel. There was a part of Nox that said even Aria's place was a bit low ball. But Nox didn't want to wait till they found their way home. Nox couldn't let Raffe lead the Atharim home. And trying to evade cameras was sure to kill the mood. Though they could go to Dorian's. That would be better. And they could get out without a problem.

Nox entwined his fingers in Raffe's. "Change of plans. Someplace a little more swanky and still affordable."

It was a walk. And Nox made sure to pass by all the right cameras too.

The Vega estate in Moscow was newly fortified. Crude stone walls were erected around the property leaving on the drive way gate unprotected. Nox looked at the lawn and saw no leavings of traps made of the power like there used to be. There was a stinging bit of hurt as he walked up the alley. Nox had intended to head into the side door of the grand three floor mansion, but Christian was waiting for him by the door. Nox pulled Raffe closer and walked to the main house.

"I didn't expect to see you back so soon after your last visit."

Nox grinned at Christian. "I was hoping to use the spare bedroom in the basement and then escape through the tunnels when we were ready to go home."

Christian laughed. "Everything is as you left it. Ana decided it would stay that way hoping you'd come back." He nodded towards Raffe with a bright smile. "Your friends are always welcome here too." He offered Raffe his hand, [b]"I'm Christian, welcome to our house. Don't let him keep you in the basement. The whole house is available."[\b] Christian moved to the side allowing them to enter.

They walked in and pangs of nostalgia hit home, mostly for the loss of Nova as he headed down the hall past the unused dinning room with seating for twelve and into the grand kitchen Nox missed most. But he still didn't feel at home until he was walking down the stairs into the familiar musty smell of what he'd turned into a home. Nox didn't give Raffe a tour until their feet were on the floor of the basement. "This is where I was before Kallisti. Before Dorian betrayed me and I left." Nox pointed to the rubberized flooring and fireproof walls. "This was partially where I trained." There were tennis ball machines set up at various locations dusty from lack of use surrounding the rubberized mat. A set of weights and a punching bag sat in the far corner. And in the middle of it all was a simple couch that overlooked it all next to a small fridge which probably still held beer. Nox tugged Raffe down a hall and and pointed into a small room with no door - a simple bed and a rock rolled in front of a make shift tunnel were the only contents. "The walls of the room are lined with lead to keep out some of the more dangerous Atharim weapons. And an escape route if you use the power to move the boulder. I slept in there."

Nox pushed open the room across from the escape route. The bed was neatly made and Nox felt slightly uncomfortable coming in since he'd never really been in it for more than a few minutes. "We can stay as long as we like."

But now that they had walked all this way, and Nox gave Raffe the small tour he felt nervous. The desire wasn't gone as he looked over at Raffe, but the immediacy of it was gone. Maybe now wasn't the right time? Did Raffe even want to now? Did he ever? Was it just a joke? Nox knew that he had, he'd seen it in his face, but now there was doubt. A lot of fucking doubt.