The sound of tiny, tinkling bells created a quiet cadence about her ankles, long, purple folds rustling about her legs with each step. Ashira had decided to come out of hiding, sick and tired of staying in her apartment, hiding from the world. Everyone she knew had moved, or been sucked up by the never-ending, always stealing Nexus, including her only friend Lux.

It had been years since the identity-thief had seen her friend, let alone any one else, save for the vendors she bought food and clothing from. A slender hand rose to push aside wayward strands, a light brown mess falling haphazardly down her back. Soft shoes were near silent as she rounded the corner where the street emptied into the marketplace, the gentle sound of the water from the fountain drawing her eyes toward the other side of the road.

Home.

She had avoided it for weeks, preferring to stay in the Inn, comforted by the thought of all the other travelers slipping through, especially since she had gone for so long in solitary confinement. A faint glance sent pale eyes scanning the near empty market before she turned down a small street, flanked on both sides by looming, concrete buildings. Nimble fingers dipped into a hidden pocket at her side, plucking a single key to slide into the lock of her apartment door. She pushed it open, quickly stepping inside to push the door closed, her hand never leaving the knob as she leaned her back against the thick wood.

With a slow breath, she released the handle and stepped down the hall, glancing into the small, bare kitchen (she?d have to go shopping soon), and then to the other side where her tiny bedroom was (sheets still a mess from when she refused to leave for months at time). The hall ended in a decent sized living area, her destination. Curtains were drawn, faint light spilling through the windows to slide across the floor. Long fingers slid to rest on the wall of the entrance way, her eyes rising slowly to scan the room.

A rustle. A movement. A stir of those rumpled sheets. It seemed that when one left their safety nest some others would come out and about to prowl.

Those misbegotten sheets seemed nothing more then sheets before they seemed to move.

Exquisite stretch, languid arch of back in near feline awakening as lips were licked and a purr became breath to Lux.

Prowling from the bed that Ash had so easily left in disgrace she moved to the main room.

Naked as a jay bird save for the slick mane of black and the black leather boots that snaked up to her thighs.

Hand on hip and a smile curled like the cat that had plucked the canary's feathers one by one to demand her share of the world.

"About time you got home. Damn near annoying to watch you moping like that."

Yes. Welcome Home indeed. Lux was back.

"I can sleep on the floor if it is such a problem."

The words were husky honey coated in the saturation of a purr. The embrace was a welcome thing. Something that was found soothing to Lux's ever reckless nature.

"Never underdressed. It is just a play on an old story. You should get... the reference."

Pleased the smile, languid as she moved, followed in the track patterns of Ashira's quiet step.

All save for the bells.

Little chiming bells that rang in her spirit and made Lux feel ever... playful.

The bedroom return brought a lift of brow though the sound she made was no moan of pleasure but a sigh of exasperation.

Resigned to Ashira's whims she took the robe and cinched it to her waist.

The wall her leaning post.

"I believe so. This time. For now."

All for the sake of time