Nazario Calabresi had been driving for the Lucian Royal Family for longer than he could remember. He had driven for Noct when he was just a boy and then as an adult and for the now King?s children as they too grew. Much as he had for Claire and Noctis when they needed to escape the pressure of Insomnia, he was Averia?s inevitable go to when it came to following through with her father?s request that she and Nick leave the city for a little while. It was a drive he had made many a time, the there and back to the country manor in Duscae. It was strange, leaving the little princess there with a man he was only passingly familiar with and no other family. It felt wrong almost. Especially considering the rumors. But at the end of the day, he trusted his King and it was with no small amount of chagrin that his bid the young couple farewell in the front drive of the manor and made the trek back to the city. Anticipating only a short stay, Averia had brought a single bag, slung over her shoulder as she watched the black sedan disappear down the lengthy driveway. When he finally turned back onto the main road, she tipped her chin up to cut Nick a sidelong look.

?Well. We?re here. Do you feel any more relaxed?? She asked. Mostly because she didn?t. Not yet at least.

The car ride indeed hadn?t made him feel any more relaxed. The drive itself wasn?t unpleasant, time with Averia sitting close was always good. Nick couldn?t really get the mob scene out of his mind though. Maybe it was too soon? He shook his head, looking at the manor house hopefully. ?No, but it?s quiet here and we certainly don?t have to worry about being ambushed by cameras and questions.? The way they?d left, he doubted anyone but Alex, Nazario, and her father knew they were out of the Citadel. ?Maybe we should do something to relax a bit?? There was that grin again, he picked up his bag, took her hand and headed for the house wondering idly if there was going to be a staff present or not.

?You know the only thing that really matters is that we?re together, right?? This he believed in his soul. They?d gone through too much to let anyone or anything come between them. ?I would still like to get out for a while, there may not be a city here, but we don?t have to stay in. Maybe we could go for a ride, or just a walk??

?If anyone tried, they?d be given exactly one warning before being shot.? She said with a sigh. It didn?t sound like she was joking either. Her father evidently took his privacy very seriously when it came to the country house, a fact that the twins had simply come to expect as normal over the years. Shoes crunching on fine gravel sounded out their approach to the manor where they weren?t met by the customary staff to take their bags. Averia figured her father had told them to leave the couple be, or at least make themselves scarce.

?I think I?d like that though. Cabin fever is not a good look on either of us. Short walk after dinner maybe? Then we can do whatever we want tomorrow.? Shouldering through the door, she turned straight for the staircase to the second level, intent on dumping her bag and maybe digging out something better suited to a little while out in the cold.

They were alone, he?d considered what that meant on the way there. What it might mean at least. Now he was here and uncertain if he should do what was proper, or what he wanted. He eyed the room that he?d occupied the last time he?d been here, then turned away from it to follow Avy into her room to deposit his bag. ?There?s plenty of time before dinner to get cleaned up from the road.? Not that he?d gotten particularly dirty in the back seat of the car. ?Feel like joining me for a shower?? It seemed like months since they?d been able to enjoy one of those together. He looked over his shoulder at her as he left a trail of clothing to the door of the bathroom. ?I?m feeling pretty dirty.? Nick let that be taken whatever way came to Avy?s mind. The top of his jeans was just pushing over his hips as he stepped through the bathroom door.

It took her little time to agree, especially knowing that they were generally alone. When all was said and done, they had gotten dirty and clean several times over until finally the water ran cold and chased them from the shower. Shivering as she dried off, Averia tugged on a fresh outfit, layering with the knowledge that they?d be going outside before long. The house was quiet in a way she wasn?t quite used to so she found herself sticking close to Nick more than she anticipated until the creak of floorboards downstairs preceded the wafting of delectable scents from the kitchen. It was enough to hasten the drying of her hair and the dusting of minimalist makeup before she found Nick again.

?If I didn?t know better, I?d say that?s behemoth aubergine parmesan.? Had she been less of a lady she would have been drooling as she tugged on his hand to drag him downstairs. She had a vague idea of who may have been behind the neatly prepared meal but by the time they made it to the first floor, whoever it was was gone once more. It was eerie almost because out of sight didn?t necessarily mean out of mind. Still though, she cut him a smile and dug in. Just as she foretold, the behemoth was delectable, paired perfectly with sauted eggplant and a generous dose of cheese. It was more than enough to lift Averia?s spirits even if by the end of it she was almost too full to want to go out. She had promised Nick though so true to her word, she reluctantly tracked down her shoes and coat and met him at the door. ?I?d say we?ve got an hour and a half, maybe two before sundown. Good by you??

Nick had been starving, though that could have been from their recent exertions, it had been that way for the last several days. He?d have been embarrassed by the amount he consumed if it had been more than just the two of them. Alex would have been unmerciful in his teasing. He was more than ready to get out of the place when dinner had been finished. The wine consumed was negligible, two glasses consumed with the food. ?Two hours with no walls sounds perfect. Do we need anything else?? He was already donning his shoes and the heavy leather jacket that he?d worn for the first ten minutes of the ride out before the car became far too warm for it.

?Avy,? He was lingering in the foyer near the door, waiting for her to finish getting ready. ?I keep wondering if there?s something I should be doing. I mean, since the auction. I?m still a bit aimless.? Nick wasn?t bored, he made a point of never letting himself get to that point. There just seemed to be something missing from life on an industrial level. When she was ready he pulled the door open and held out his hand for her to take. ?You know what I mean? If I hadn?t left, I?d likely have been pulled into the family business. But things have changed, and I see so many options. Too many really, I feel stuck.? He knew where some of that was coming from. He put no stock in the gossip rags that had been raking their names over the coals. What he did see there was not what they wanted people to focus on. Everyone mentioned in the articles was somebody, or something. Avy was the heir to the throne, and aunt Claire was the queen. Even his father was a smith of some note. It was difficult not to be known for something. ?That?s part of why I want to compete. I?m good at it, and honestly I think the people of Lucis need to see me as something more than what they do now.? He?d been busy talking, which had him walking with her without paying too much attention to where they were going.

?You?re not him.? Averia stated simply. From a cabinet in the foyer, she stole away a pair of what looked to be slim maglites. Popping each one open, she checked the battery compartment, nodded her approval, and shut them up. One was stuffed into her coat pocket and the other offered to Nikolai for him to carry. Without bothering to lock up behind them, Avy led the way, venturing down the cobbled path that cut through the property to head along the treeline furthest from the main road. Eventually a set path gave way to brown grass, newly uncovered and still damp from the snow melt.

?You?re good at it and you enjoy it which is actually more important than being good at it. I?m good at a lot of things, doesn?t mean I enjoy them all and it definitely doesn?t mean I want to do them constantly.? Though they were cold, she didn?t put her hands into her pockets. Outside of the property?s perimeter she maintained a watchful eye with a periodic swivel of her head. They still had an hour and a half of sunlight by her estimate but that didn?t mean they shouldn?t keep an eye out. Eventually their trek turned them down an open break in the thinner part of the forest and Averia bumped her hip to his. ?But it doesn?t matter how they see you. They?ll never see you as you are. And they shouldn?t, because we aren?t required to share the entirety of ourselves with the public. Still though? I want you to be happy, Nick. Whether that?s in a forge or on a free run course, you know I support you, right??

?I am him, not the smith maybe but I am like him. Your mom, or both of them maybe have said as much. I do enjoy the competitions, win or lose. I like challenging myself.? Nick walked with her down the path, and along the treeline. He was far less conscious about the dangers as Averia was though. He hadn?t spent much time in Eos at all, and had certainly never seen any of the things that the twins had described. That wasn?t exactly accurate, perhaps one of the key differences between Rhy?Din and Eos was how diverse the population was. A monster there probably was self aware, and had a damn good reason for being as it was. Lacking a good reason, there was always a reason to be had.

Nick took Averia?s hand and looped it around his waist. ?I am happy, I hope you know that you are a big part of that. What I am not, is sure how to be a mystery to people. I am also not so good at letting people take shots at you and your family, just because of me.? His arm was around her shoulders, he watched the tree line and on a whim turned towards it. ?You know that I love you, and your support. I?d be a mess without you.?

?You?re not him,? she argued, her brow furrowing. ?Like him does not mean you are him. You don?t have to live in his shadow, not as bright as you are.? Her fingers found a belt loop, tangling there as his arm slipped around her shoulders. The woods were muddy thanks to the thawing ground, leaving their shoes to squish through the muck more the deeper they got. The canopy wasn?t so thick that they couldn?t still see the sky here and there but the foliage became denser further in. ?Nobody says you have to be a mystery either, Niko. Just be you. I love you, you as you are, not who you think you have to be for anyone else??

?Avy, do you ever feel the same? You?re mother?s plenty accomplished. We all have some kind of shadow to find our way out of.? Nick pushed on silently for awhile, content in a couple of things. First and foremost was the girl next to him. Averia was solid, a steadying presence even when she too had reasons that had pushed her to the country manor. The second was the bit of freedom that they now had. Days being essentially trapped inside had Nick feeling that a night out was exactly what they needed. As the trees thickened, so too did the view of the house diminish. It would be easy to get turned around in such a place, and as good as the weather was proving to be, he knew that wouldn?t last either.

?I?ll be me, because I don?t know who else to be. I have to warn you though, me is quite taken with you. I might not want to share you sometimes.? The sky disappeared over head, branches intertwining to cut off the blue with shadowed greens, now there were only hints of sunlight breaking through, the angle severe as it slowly made its way towards the horizon. ?My father worked to make a life for him, and me, and honestly as often as he could for Addie. I would like to do the same, for you and me.?

?Every day.? There was no hesitation in her response. Never had she felt the need to censor herself around Nikolai, a fact she was most grateful for. Seldom did she get an opportunity to speak so freely in Lucis but with him she never had to hold back. As they hiked through the woods, she did little to deviate their path, trying to stick to a straight line to make it easier to retrace their steps on the way out. ?But I don?t think I?ll have the freedom to do that. Dad?s the King, Mom?s the Queen and some legendary military badass, second only to the Immortal Shogun himself. Even in Rhydin I can?t be anything but ?the daughter of Claire Caelum, dueling legend and philanthropist?. I?ve accepted it but you don?t have to.?

Her hand tightened on his hip, squeezing him against her affectionately. ?I endeavor to keep the sharing to a minimum. You know, once we get married, nobody can really tell you that you can?t be as close to me as you want.? Her smile was coy, angled his way with a look through a veil of midnight lashes. It wasn?t as though the young couple would want for much in life but the fact that he wanted to be a part of it to begin with made her stomach flutter and her heart skip. Still neither was enough to relieve the minor nagging at the edge of her consciousness. Averia frowned, tilting her head as she listened. Not so much as a bird?s chirp accented their march through the forest. ?Nick? tell me what you hear right now.?

Nick had been prepared for the state of disrepair that met them, but the ceiling was still intact, and the lack of windows in the foyer had him pulling free the flashlight Avy had given him earlier. At first he didn?t pay much attention to the place, trying to find some vantage point where he could see what the red daemon was going to do. This became more difficult at the light provided by any source that wasn?t the flashlight dimmed and then disappeared altogether. Not that the light was dim by any means, its blue white blaze would have been blinding to be on the receiving end of. Nick moved through the first level of the place swiftly, checking every window he could find for any trace of the Red Giant, catching it in the darkness among the trees would take a miracle.

The lights beam cut through the darkness outside, and Nick strafed it along the brushline of the forest until he spotted what he?d been looking for. It wasn?t much, a hint of red hued flesh among the grey bark of leafless foliage. The hint soon became something much more as the creature stepped out from the trees. From the corner of his eye he caught a flicker, a firefly sized hint of light that sputtered and died. Then came another, from the other direction, and another, simple bursts in the night, like static. The beam of his light hit the beast full in the chest, causing it to cry out. More static lit the area, though this time it seemed to arc across the horizon and connect with the light emanating from Nick?s direction. The instant it made contact the entire treeline lit up as a wall of brilliance burst into place between the giant and the building.

Nick went searching and Averia focused on securing the door they had broken through. She pulled a table from the entryway to prop at an angle against the door after she closed it. From there she piled whatever she could grab on top of it, adding weight to the blockade just in case the giant got the idea to go through where they had. It was her hope that she had ported them quickly enough that they could make a clean escape but life had taught her to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. She heard Nick?s footsteps as they got further away but they were soon drowned out by the pained roar of the daemon outside. Tripping over her own feet, she found a window and looked out, her silvery eyes reflecting the brilliance of the wards as they flickered to life.

Outside of the city, many places employed sunlight or starlight flares in their wards to keep the daemons of the night at bay. Gravely injured by the light as they were, they were sent back into the dark until sunrise brought their ultimate demise. Averia hadn?t expected this place, rundown as it was, to still have such protections but sure enough, the wards held the daemon at bay. Just beyond the brilliant light, she could barely make out the rage filled pacing of the giant beyond as it looked to find a way past the light that burned it. Given time to breathe, Avy went to find Nick. ?Nikolai? Are you okay??

?I?m okay!? Nick turned away from the window at last, heading back toward where he?d heard his name called. ?There?s something weird going on out there though.? The wards he knew tended to be invisible to the eye, and quite often that was their effect on things too, making them unnoticed by those unwanted. Little Addie?s house had that. Kind of a strange thing to remember now. It had been nearly a week since he?d thought about that night. That was probably because the sensation of being trapped inside had given it a thin veneer to lurk beneath. ?I mean, at first it was like fireflies or maybe will-o?-the-wisps. Then they, it? something hit the light beam and bam! Instant wall.?

Nick took her hand and tugged her along to the window he?d been looking out when it happened. ?You think it?ll hold?? His breath came out in a visible mist, the temperature was dropping. It didn?t help matters that they?d worked up a sweat running from the Daemon. If there was one out there, many more could stand between the manor and the two of them. It seemed pretty obvious that they were going to be stuck for the night.

She nearly crashed into him when they met in the middle, her heart pounding in her ears until she was certain he was as okay as he claimed. Her fingers pinched at the bridge of her nose as he dragged her to the window where the treeline was lit up with brilliant light. A shiver ran down her spine, not from the cold, but rather the faint flicker of red in the forest far beyond the reach of the wards. Avy bit at her bottom lip, tucking herself close to him for warmth.

?This place doesn?t have power as far as I can tell? so whatever those wards have left is a remnant of the last time they were charged before this place was abandoned. Maybe? maybe if we?re quiet it?ll go away before they die out.? It wasn?t a matter of if but rather when. Surely they couldn?t sustain a full night?s protection. Averia didn?t know the last time anyone had lived within miles of her father?s country home. Many had cleared out when the Starscourge began to get out of hand almost twenty years ago. ?I blocked the front door off. We should probably avoid the windows, just in case.?

?Place has got a lot of windows, but maybe something further in will do.? His arm went around her when she got close, he was doing his best to warm her with his body. ?Maybe there?s something smaller too, with a fireplace. There must be something in this place that will burn.?

To say the place was massive was likely accurate, the emptiness of it somehow made it seem larger than its dimensions. There was a piano, or at least the remnants of a piano in the room they?d first entered. Stairs went up to the second floor, turning elegantly upwards despite their state of disrepair. Dust and darkness obscured much of the detail, but a pass of a hand over the walls told of carvings that were likely beautiful once. Many of the rooms were large, but lacked any real furniture unless you counted the pianos that they kept encountering. None of them were in usable condition, most of them were more piles of wood and strings than the instruments they?d once been. ?Seriously? Who needs this many pianos??

It made Nick laugh to say it, and he?d started playfully suggesting they take bets on what rooms they were about to enter would sport another. Many of the rooms sat at odd angles to the main hall, giving the place a kind of faceted feel to Nick, a gemstone in desperate need of polishing. It wasn?t until they?d roamed quite a bit further into the place that they came to a room that would suit them. It did still have windows but they were mostly unbroken, if dark with dirt and age. It wasn?t the windows that made the room, it was the shelves that lined the walls. There were still books left on them, the evidence of the room being plundered suggested there had been more once. The final, and perhaps most crucial aspect was the condition of the fireplace. A little work would have it free of debris, and it was large enough that they could build a decent fire to keep the chill off.

Nick playfully suggested using the books as fuel, and received that look from Avy that he was looking for. She was fierce, and soft all in one. Twenty minutes after finding the room, there was a blaze going, one of those broken piano piles was quite a few boards smaller. He leaned on his elbow, curled around Averia as he looked at one of the books on the floor. ?Lot of these have something to do with music. That why they were left behind, or do you think it means something??

?Why? are there so many pianos?? She wondered aloud, bewildered by the sheer number of them. It seemed a shame to burn any of them, but it was either them or the books and the books would go over her dead body. It was a mammoth of a manor, larger even than the one they had left behind hours prior but smaller than the New Haven manor her mother called home. The rooms were unique even in their rundown states. At one point, it may have been beautiful, that much Averia was certain of.

?I?d say with all of the pianos, it makes sense.? Sitting cross legged in front of the fire, she kept her hands out in front of her to soak up the warmth. Here and there she watched him explore, a fond little smile etching itself upon her lips as he looked them over. ?But the last buildings in the area cleared out almost two decades ago. I?d have to ask around to see if anyone knows what this place is or was.?

?Would you? I think I?d like to know.? It was utterly unsatisfying exploring the place in the dark, though the library in the fire light offered a great many things to distract him. He never strayed far from her, and always found himself back with her going over whatever treasures he?d managed to uncover. ?I kind of wish I could have seen this place before whatever happened to it.? Or know what had for that matter. Nick?s arm looped around Avy and he pulled her back against him. ?I?m sorry, I guess we should have waited until tomorrow to go for a walk.? It likely would have meant not finding this place, which would also have been a shame in his mind but he preferred having her safer than the questionable refuge they?d discovered.

?What do you think a place like this goes for? Could a guy get a handyman special on it?? He looked up at her and snickered a little, yet somewhere in the back of his head he really did want to know.

?What? I mean? property in Duscae goes fairly cheap if only because maintaining wards like that gets expensive. It isn?t very appealing to most, you know?? She leaned against him, her head angled just enough to look up at him. The fire cut dancing shadows across his face, drenching his features in light and shadow both. Even in the dark he was, as Addie had once said, offensively pretty. Avy caught herself staring and forced herself to look away, a small smile curling her mouth.

?But if you want to look into it, we can. I didn?t realize you?d come to like this area that much. Especially after what we ran into out there.? They weren?t near a window but she still looked toward the room?s door. ?You know that?s a regular occurrence out here away from the city, right??

?What?s it take to maintain a ward?? There was plenty he didn?t know about Avy?s other world. Too much really, and he saw that as a big part of the problem. ?It?s quiet here, and honestly there?s something about this place that reminds me of.. I don?t know what really, or maybe I do. When I was little Belglade was kind of like this A place with empty buildings and lost memories. Then we kind of refilled it. Besides, there?s things I?d do here. I can almost see this room full of books again, ones I?m sure that you?d find a way to read each and every one of them. Or the big foyer, with the too high ceiling, it?s just begging for a chandelier. Makes me wonder what I?ve missed in the dark. I might even be convinced to have a piano somewhere as a tribute to all those that sacrificed their lives here.?

?This is still part of Lucis, right?? They were like opposite ends of a spectrum of knowledge. Nick knew next to nothing about the place that she would go to for months at a time, but he was sure that she had already visualized a map in her head and knew the answer to his question. ?You know I love you, right?? He waited for the smile, or nod, whatever indication that said she did before continuing. ?Part of being with you is what?s to come. I?ll have to live here to be with you, and I will want to be here with you. I want to love your people too, but I can?t do that if I am just a part time visitor. I?ll never see the real side of them, and they?ll never really trust me. So, yeah I know that what we ran into is a regular thing, but I want to be here anyway.? His fingers played with her hair. He?d always been slightly in awe of it, and how it seemed to drink light and trap it. ?I?m not sure if that makes sense.?

?Depends on how you want to do it. You either boost them magically or you use packs like the ones in our flashlights. The latter is more practical if you don?t have a mage on hand but if you can afford a mage, that route?s easier.? She found herself rambling and went quiet in favor of listening to him. Only on occasion did he talk about Belglade so freely and it made her smile, leaning back against him comfortably as he spoke. ?We?re stuck here until day breaks, maybe you can check it out then.?

?But yeah, the territories stretch from what?s left of Galadh on the islands east of Lucis, west through Leide, Duscae, and Cleigne before you get to the edge of Solheim or southwest to Tenebrae. That?s where Aunt Lunafreya?s from.? Her smile softened with the blurt of his admission, her chin bobbing a nod to acknowledge that yes, she knew. The ring on her left ring finger said as much. His explanation only furthered that, bringing her gaze back up to his face. When he finally finished, she answered with a twist in her positioning so that she could crush her mouth to his. Maybe that would tell him whether it made sense or at least just what it meant to her.

So long as they were together, and the wards held, daybreak could hold off indefinitely so far as Nick was concerned. The kiss she laid on him brought that feeling on. Strange though their situation may be, he really hadn?t felt this relaxed since before stepping through the portal. Perhaps she was starting to feel it too. Nothing like the threat of bodily injury to put things into perspective. He pulled her deeper into the kiss, determined to leave her breathless before it was done. With a shift and tug he was pulling her on top of him. Nick had already determined a couple of things, the first was that they had nothing to use as insulation to the cold. The second was that they probably wouldn?t need it until they?d collapsed from exhaustion. At least the heat from the fire would keep the stone floor warm, they?d likely miss the mattress they?d left behind before the sun went down.

Accordo, there was no driving to it. The trio had been given transportation by Alex and Avy?s father. There had been more than just the two of them and Nick. An escort of personal guards that included the young captain Fidelis. There had been an air of tension surrounding their departure. The reporters had been wise enough to stay away from the citadel for the most part. That was not really what Nick was feeling. It was the sense that people expected him to mess up again and start another incident; one that he wouldn?t have the same protection from. It wasn?t an unreasonable assumption, though at least the three of them knew that it was less likely considering that Marcus was not supposed to be there. Why would he be? This kind of small time tournament was likely beneath his notice.

Their arrival in Altissia was tame, the detail with them had done their job well enough to keep reports of when and where they?d be landing from leaking. There?d be no contact at all until they?d reached the course that he and Alex would be running. That particular reception had begun warmly enough, the league president and promoters all waiting to greet royalty. It was a vast chasm between those officiating the event, and the reception given by the other athletes. That too had been discussed between them, Alex had understood rightly enough that since they?d not had to qualify, they?d be looked at as token participants at best. Still there?d been a much warmer reception for the prince than for Captain Cover up. That was the name Nick had heard in low murmurs as he passed by participant and spectator alike. It was odd not to have the crowd. Even when he?d first started competing, there?d been the cheers of those who knew of his father. He held tightly to Averia?s hand and did his best to ignore people.

?For maximum impact, we?ll have Nikolai in Heat Nine and Alexander in Heat Ten.? Explained the commissioner, oblivious to anyone?s discomfort. They were fast approaching the competitors entrance where Averia would need to say goodbye. She did so reluctantly, slowing down with a tug on Nick?s hand until she finally stopped short of the pneumatic door that would take her brother and fiance away from her.

?Break a leg.? She whispered against the corner of his mouth, offering him a quick kiss and the slip of her hand into his pocket to deposit a good luck trinket. In medieval times, a lady may offer a ribbon or other cloth to her knight. Averia gave him something a little lacier and a whole lot more scandalous. ?Good luck getting Second Place, Alex.?

?Gonna need luck for that since I?ll be too busy taking First.? Alex grinned at his sister, looked to his best friend, and then back to the commissioner. Avy stepped back with a nip to her bottom lip, letting go of Nick?s hand against her better judgment. This was a good thing though, he and Alex would have fun.

?Alright gentlemen, if you?d come with me.? The pneumatic doors opened and the commissioner gestured them through.

He?d felt her touch at his leg, and pushed his hand into his pocket. His fingers found the lacy garment, and Nick was suddenly eying Avy wickedly. He raised her hand to his lips, it would seem a small kiss to any looking. Only she would feel the graze of his teeth on her skin. ?I will, and not mine.? Reluctantly he went with the commissioner, turning away from Avy, and giving Alex that grin he got every time they went running or climbing for that matter. ?Maybe, if I don?t beat you to it.? He looked over his shoulder as the doors closed, watching as the guards took the places that had once held Alex and himself.

The looks shot at him weren?t missed, though whether that was about being invited to compete or the bad press he had no way of knowing for sure. Likely some combination of both. ?Either way, let?s show these guys that we belong here.? Beyond the door was a practice course, obstacles that they could use to warm up on. Nick had already set down his bag and was changing shoes. He stayed close to Alex for as long as he was able. The athletes in each heat were taken out to the course as a group. ?Looks like they?re doing speed first?? There were monitors along the walls so they could watch the progress. It almost didn?t seem fair to Nick, they?d get to see how others ran the course and use that knowledge. Then again, everyone else here had already run it more than once in qualifiers. Maybe it wasn?t so unfair after all.

The commentary was loud, they had said the crowd was much larger than anticipated. It helped to know that at least broadcasters knew what they were looking at, offering replays of missed steps or tricks that were outstanding. Six man heats in round one, with the top two moving to the next round. The groups that returned were all sweat, and smiles and only a third as large as the ones that left. ?I hope Avy?s not bored to death out there.? Even as he said it there was a shot of her and another person that Nick hadn?t expected to see. ?Did you know Jules was coming?? He only knew the man by sight, and the fact that the commentators were quick to mention both their names.

After Alex and Nick were led away through the sliding door, Averia was left with her cadre of guards. Long after the door closed, she stared through it frowning before finally turning back to Fidelis and company. ?I guess we go find our seats.?

Some part of her wished she were enough to compete in such a thing but this was Nick and Alex?s bread and butter. The sidelines were where she belonged in this instance. Fidelis sent off the bulk of their detail before taking her to their seats in a private box with a perfect view. It kept her away from too many prying eyes save for the cameras that loved nothing more than to pan over the Who?s Who of the event at regular intervals. She was surprised to see Julius there and double relieved to see Marcus hadn?t joined him.

?Jules! I didn?t think you?d actually show.? Avy said breathlessly, sliding into a seat beside him. Kat wasn?t there, though that didn?t surprise her too much. Solheim was more than a day?s trip away even by airship and until they got married, the pretty blonde had to travel back and forth between the two kingdoms more than was already necessary.

?It?s practically in my backyard. I?d be remiss in saying I?d be here and not actually coming, you know. Besides, it?s a nice break.? The Prince shrugged and swiped open a compact display in front of their seats. It would give them a drone?s eye view of the course as the runners progressed, a nice perk to the private boxes. Behind her, Fidelis slid into a spot on the padded bench to protect the young royals from the terrible threat of stale popcorn and flat beer. A bit of chitter chatter small talk killed the time through the first handful of heats before Julius excused himself briefly during the seventh. It gave Fidelis a bit of time to converse with the Princess.

?I got that information that you wanted, about the manor in the woods in Duscae.? He said, patting a binder he had brought with them all the way from Lucis. Averia turned in her seat, her curiosity piqued by the statement. Eager fingers flipped the cover of the folder to go through the stack of pages inside. ?It was a music school but that was nearly twenty years ago when it was last used. You know how things got outside of the city? they left it pretty abruptly, nobody really knows why. But there?s a pretty big main building, then you?ve got a few outlying outbuildings including what looks like a caretaker?s residence and some horse stables.?

?Horse stables?? She lit up, flipping quickly through the pages. Sure enough there was a decent enough building though the inside was in desperate need of an overhaul. It wasn?t a surprise considering the manor itself.

?Yeah, stables and such. There?s already some rudimentary groundwork for older starfire wards, which I guess is what you saw that night you were there. How they still had any power, we don?t know. They need a definite redo.? Fidelis leaned to turn a few pages for her then sat back. ?It?s been up for bid for awhile now. Nobody wants it. The bank?s practically giving it away just to try and recoup their costs.?

?Hmm? that?s?? She began, only to be interrupted by Julius?s return and the announcement of the ninth heat. Slapping the book shut, she quickly turned her eyes back to the course. ?Go Nick!?

Nick had spent most of his time stretching and watching the monitors with Alex. He?d been pulled aside eventually to group up with the members of his heat, leaving Nick alone with the other five in his own. They all seemed to know each other, even though he could tell they were all from different places simply by their accents. Their looks would have been a dead give away too in many cases. As they were led out, Nick was shouldered to the rear of the line. He glanced towards Alex for a little exchange of winning grins.

It was one thing to look at the course through the safety of a monitor, the camera angles all set to catch the runners at key points along the course. It was another to see it first hand. The contestants all moved forward as their names were called, each playing to the crowd as much as possible. There wasn?t much cheering going on for Nick as he name was called, though he did hear one voice that was always on his side. He stepped forward and pointed right towards the box that contained Averia, flashing that I?m adorable grin at her. The moment cut short as Dimitris, the person announced just before him, bumped into him.

?Does it bother you that you?re only here to sell tickets?? His accent was so thick that Nick had to translate it in his head before responding. Dimitris acted like the contact had been unintentional, waving to his fan base.

?Not at all, kind of flattered really.? Nick?s smile never faltered, he?d been on the receiving end of intimidation before and took this attempt in stride. ?Tell me though, does it bother you that you?ll need to find some excuse why I beat you to the finish line??

He moved to take the outside most position, it wasn?t where he prefered to be, however he would need to earn his way to something more towards the center. Nick got into his starting position, holding up a hand to say that he was ready, then waited the longest few seconds of his life for the horn to start the race. He exploded from the starting blocks even faster than he?d anticipated, gaining half a step on Dimitris as they hit the first obstacle. A wall run had him on top of the railway container, and bounding for the other side. He forward flipped his way over the gap between it and a second container, rolling on his landing and leaping from the edge over a wall and to the obstacle beyond that.

Nick?s feet hit the bar for only an instant as he ran across the top of the series of them and did a twisting forward flip into the finish line still several paces ahead of the next to cross. It wasn?t pretty, but it was enough to advance him to the next round. He flashed that grin to the camera, playing it up as much as he could, but there were still quite a few boos and hisses coming from the stands. It was a bit demoralizing, as was being rebuffed by Dimitris as he tried to congratulate him on his second place run.

As the ninth heat finished, the tenth was just beginning. Despite having ?not earned? his place in the competition by the standards of many of his competitors and some of those watching, Alexander knew he deserved this spot. He was among the best of the best and even if he hadn?t been a draw for name alone, he should have been a shoo in for such exhibitions.That said, it didn?t really get to him. The Prince of Lucis was here, he was going to wreck the place. With the starting siren he was off like a shot, in the middle of a small pack of men all intent on the goal line. The only thing louder than the din of the crowd was the frantic war drum cadence of his heartbeat in his ears.

Alex flew, oh, how he flew. Lazy vaults and dash vaults, walk jumps and round offs, they came with the practiced ease of muscle memory that persisted even in spite of his lacking familiarity with the course. He could hear rapid footfalls behind him but rather than look back, he burst forward, the finish line in sight. An underbar swing gave him a little more distance but whoever was behind him was fast. Soon he could hear panted breathing right on his flank. Before he could make the last jump, he was jarred forward by the hard check of a shoulder. Alexander snarled, rolling to keep himself from faceplanting. When he got back to his feet, he had slipped into second place and the man ahead of him was scrabbling up the sheer face of the last wall before the finish.

?Son of a?? The rest would have assuredly been bleeped out by any censors but he set off at a dead sprint, pushing the entirety of his energy into his legs. Short of the wall, he launched into a cat leap to end all cat leaps, planting his hands hard to the top of the wall to haul himself up. It was at the exact time that Mr. Pushover had made it to the top and both men went tumbling across the finish line in what could only be described as an ugly tangle of arms and legs and at least three thrown punches. Alex would plead innocence on that one. When all was said and done, the tenth and final heat had its top two finishers. One may have been sporting a fat lip and both wore dark scowls at one another, but the crowd loved it. Their roar was deafening even as they were lead away to prepare for the finals.

Nick had tried to get a moment with Alex before his heat, but all he could manage in the available time was a look that said everything he couldn?t. Kick their collective asses. It wasn?t much, but he knew his friend?s capabilities, even if his domination of the course surprised the on air announcers. They?d caught the blatant attempt to put Alex off his feet, and gave the usual rhetoric about how sometimes contact couldn?t be avoided, but that seemed blatant and the footage would likely be reviewed. He saw a fine in the competitor?s future, if that wasn?t somehow negated by the flurry of punches that got thrown. He didn?t blame Alex in the least, the other man was lucky he didn?t receive more than the swollen lip. The crowd loved it though, and even though no one was quite ready to give Nick his due he did hear them acknowledging Alex?s skill. It was enough, for now, to make him grin in that way that would melt Averia.

The route to the disheveled, okay perhaps dilapidated would be a fairer description, manor was further by road. It was faster though, and definitely safer. Nick had practically taken up residence at the Lucis manor which was the closest safe point available to him. That meant a lot less time back in Rhy?Din, for him and Avy alike. She still had her commitments though, and often that left him to make arrangements for things like having wards reinforced or remade. He still wasn?t sure how that worked, or how often it was necessary. He had a lot to learn about Avy?s world, one thing he?d managed to pick up on pretty quickly don?t go out at night, especially on your own. That much he?d discovered on the same evening that they?d found the place.

It wasn?t night now, though the sun was still low on the horizon. There was a lot that needed doing, and until today that was limited to what could be done with the sun still in the air. He was dressed to work, old clothes that wouldn?t matter if they got grimey or torn for that matter. That didn?t explain the scruff on his face, he?d stopped using the razor quite so often but Avy didn?t seem to mind. If anything that might be the reason behind it. He hadn?t waited for breakfast either, there was a camp stove at his new property, hopefully it would be called home eventually. ?If you go fire up the stove, I?ll grab the cooler out of the trunk.? He gave Avy?s leg a lingering squeeze. He missed her when she was gone, but their reunions were always? energetic to say the least.

Her parents had been skeptical to say the least when they found out about Nick?s plans to buy the old music school. It had been empty for years, left to be overtaken once more by the forest around it. That the perimeter wards were at all viable was a miracle in and of itself but even still, the amount of work the place needed was daunting. Still, Averia supported her fiance?s dream, visiting as often as she could though unless she dragged her tutors to the country house, it often meant she had to wait until the weekend to see him. This week was no different but when she rejoined him, there was no lacking amount of excitement. She had even traded out her prim and proper dresswear for something more befitting the camp out idea in the old manor, jeans, old t-shirts, sturdy boots.

?Don?t take too long,? she said with a smile before heading inside to see about warming the place up a bit.

Don?t take too long might have seemed an odd statement, considering that he was only a about forty or so paces behind her. That could seem like an eternity to them both though. To Nick it felt like when she was around, he needed to be close. That inevitably meant within touching distance. It wasn?t always a good idea, in fact quite often it became a bad idea that neither of them would have any other way. Those times did limit the amount of actual work that would get done. He didn?t know how to keep his hands off of her, was that such a strange thing? Today he?d have to exercise a little restraint, the best he could get out of the person he?d hired was that he?d be there before noon. That left quite a lot of leeway.

Plastic hit the stones as he set the cooler down in their makeshift kitchen. There was still so much that needed doing. Most of the contents was drinkable water, there was a fast moving stream not far away, but who knew what might be in that? Not that a good boil would kill most things, but at least until he could get the plumbing working it was best to be prepared. ?I had the dumpster moved to the west end of the house. I figured we could start clearing out that side first.? His dark eyes took in his fiancee, that lower lip finding itself pinned between his teeth. Definitely needed to keep moving! That dark hair of hers was just too tempting.

?But everyone knows that you?re not supposed to go in the west wing. It?s forbidden.? She said with a grin. The desolate manor gave her certain Beauty and the Beast vibes, particularly at dusk and dawn, before the sun had risen or set fully and the monsters of the night weren?t quite ready to show their faces. He decided to keep moving so she followed after him, getting in close enough to wrap her arms around him from behind. It made walking awkward but she didn?t mind too much, peering around him to make sure he didn?t run into anything. ?So how?s being a homeowner feel??

?If I forbade you from going to the West Wing, that would be the one place you wanted to go. That?s what Beast did wrong. He should have said, look the west wing is a rundown mess, so if you go there I expect you to work on that. Then Belle would have stayed out, cuz even kidnapping victims don?t want to be forced to clean.? He covered her hands with his own, and yes their progress became much more awkward, but having her pressed against him like that was worth it. ?Too many pianos, and most of them smashed beyond repair. I think that might sum up how it feels, like a dream that?s got to be found and fixed amongst the detritus of so many others.?

Fortunately the doors off the end of the building were double wide things. There would be no playing how do we get this out through that opening. Looking around though, it seemed like there was so much more that had to go than would be able to stay. ?How did your training go this week? Going to show me some of those yoga positions later?? There was a reason she didn?t do that around him? if she wanted to finish that is.

?Exactly right.? She grinned against his back. Even Nikolai knew that few got away with telling Averia what to do. Even in hypothetical situations. Weaving her fingers with his, they ambled along down the dusty halls and past unused rooms. Eventually, someday it would be beautiful again. That much she was certain of.

?Poor pianos, it?s not their fault.? Speaking of, they passed a piano with only three legs, its body angled down toward the floor and its lid closed. She gave it an empathetic look before continuing. Nick had a way of distracting her like that. ?It was a lot of blah, blah, blah or however you say blah, blah, blah in Classical Greek. But you just wanna bend me like a pretzel and do terrible things to me.?

?No, definitely not their fault. I?m going to do my best to save at least one of them.? He thought about that for a moment as they left the oddest of footprints in the dust on the floor. ?One more thing that will need to be seen to sooner rather than later I suppose. If only to know which ones to hang on to.? He stopped abruptly pulling free of her fingers so he could turn around and face her. ?I think that might be an exact pronunciation in any language.? The rough palm of his hand slid across the dark curtain of her hair.

?I always want to do that to you. I am almost convinced it?s why you do it.? He knew better, if only because she?d been practicing it far longer than they?d been a couple. He let out a sigh that was part disappointment and part resignation to the task ahead. ?I think we need to start on that side of the room? so we can check the load bearing walls.? A dip of his head indicated the space that was piled high with the kinds of rubbish that were once useful, and likely beautiful too.

?There?s a baby grand upstairs that might be good for that.? She pointed up toward the ceiling for emphasis. He stopped and she ran into him with a soft giggle. It left her to peer up at him as his hand grazed over her hair. She glanced over to the indicated pile of junk and grimaced. It wasn?t going to be much fun but it needed to be done. ?And? just how do you wanna check the load bearing walls?? There was a touch of mischief in her tone.

That got a laugh out of Nick, though it was full of promise too. ?Thoroughly, inch by inch until I am sure it?s able to hold everything we have to throw into it.? She had a way of bringing out the dirtier side of him. That was far from a complaint. He did look up at the ceiling though. ?I think I know the one you mean. Might be just the thing, and maybe it?s weird but I?d love to bring it back by using parts from the others, kind of like a metaphor or something.?

His hand came down on her backside, sending a slight echo through the room. ?Of course we won?t be able to test the walls if we don?t clear them first.?

?I like inch by inch.? She said with an innocent smirk. Her hands traced along his chest and down his arms before she sputtered a laugh with the connection of his hand against her rump. ?Like? a franken-piano? That?d be kinda neat though I don?t know anyone with the sort of skills needed to do that. At least not here, maybe back in Rhydin.?

He was teasing but he was also right, they needed to get some work done or else this project would take much, much longer than it should have. Her hand sought his to draw it up so she could kiss his knuckles before letting him go. ?You start on that side, I?ll start on the other and we?ll meet in the middle. Whoever gets more done gets to pick where we start? other things.?

Franken Piano, the term had him laughing. That wasn?t what he meant, but he did see her point. ?Maybe it?d be a bad thing, the monster tried to kill his maker. I am now having visions of a piano chasing me through the house playing a dirge.? He released Avy, if only so he could make every effort to remove more of the trash than she did. He was pretty sure he wanted to determine exactly where to start other things.

There was more than just bits of furniture in the mess. The wind had managed to blow plenty in from outside as well, not to mention the space made a perfect home for vermin. Gloves became a necessity as shards of glass and rusted nails were a part of the mix. Progress that had moved quickly with the larger pieces slowed down immensely as the junk beneath was exposed. ?Well, at least something was getting some use out of the place.? Not that it looked like the dead rodent had fared well as a resident.

?Dun nuh nuh nuhhhhhhh!? She sang after him with a laugh, imitating the killer Frankenpiano. But with that, she headed for the opposite side of the room to work on sifting through the disaster. Bits and pieces of the years had accumulated into a gross pile of dangerous muck, but he had been prepared so she made remarkable progress. At first. Eventually it became a two person job as they got closer to the thickest part of the pile. She scrunched her nose at the poor dead mouse. ?Safer in here with the wards than out there in the forest.?

Shovels and buckets, they really should have acquired wheelbarrow for the job, and now that he knew there would be one next time. The work got done though, little by little until the wall was clearly visible to them. It wasn?t pretty by any means, but at least it looked like it was still solid. Nick stood looking not at the space they?d managed to clear though. He was looking at Averia, and couldn?t help the slow grin that spread over his face.

?I guess some things never change. I was getting you all mussy when we were kids, and I?m still doing it today.? He was sure that he looked just as dirty as she did, and at least this time she wasn?t wearing one of those dresses that was meant to be kept clean. ?Maybe we should go roll in the mud by the creek too while we?re at it? Unless you want me to carry you across it.? Those words once would have been a challenge for her, now it was more of an inside joke for them. He pulled his hands free from the gloves he was wearing, sticking them in his back pocket and reaching for the tiny princess so he could pull her against him and start a musicless slow sway. ?I can practically feel that look your mom would give me.?

?Oh c?mon, it was hardly just you getting us messy,? she said with a good natured roll of her eyes. Peeling her gloves off, she stuck them in his other back pocket with a smirk and stepped into a side to side sway a la middle school formal dances. Slipping her arms around his neck, she peered up at him with a small smile. ?The looks she gives don?t matter because I?m yours now. And you?re mine. And this is ours.?

?True, but don?t let your mom know that those looks are broken.? Nick snickered a little at the thought. His slow sway had a purpose which would become apparent when Avy?s back found the wall they?d just cleared. It was much too late for him to fight his wants, bending towards her and stealing a kiss. ?Ours, almost makes me feel like a grown-up? only not old.? Maybe old enough though.

Fortunately the sound of a vehicle pulling up stopped him from going any further. Unfortunately there was a vehicle pulling up just when he was ready to test the stability of that wall. His eyes shifted toward the wall like he could see through it to the person who was interrupting the celebration. ?I knew this guy would have bad timing.?

?It?s a good kind of grown up? like this is the start of our life together, ya know?? The wall met her back and she tugged him toward her. His body heat was welcome and she would have gladly helped share that heat between their bare skin when? they were woefully interrupted. Avy sighed, her shoulders sinking some. ?Maybe I can convince him to come back in fifteen minutes??

Nick thought that was meant as a joke, but he was seriously considering it when the wizened little man called to them through the doorway. ??Ellloo! Uh, if I had one gil for every time I saw this kind of thing, I could have retired ages ago.? It was far from what Nick expected to walk through the door. The guy looked more like an accountant than someone wizardy enough to fix up the wards. ?I expect you?re the boy I spoke to about the job?? The old man peered past Nick when he spoke, fixating on Averia for several moments. ?There?s something familiar about you? just can?t place it.?

?Nick Allen, and this is my fiancee, Avy. Sorry we?re in such disarray, we figured we?d get some work done while we waited for you.? Just not the work he?d been hoping to get to. There would be time soon though, right?

?It?s nice to meet you,? she offered to the man with a polite smile. The little princess was smudged and ruffled, hardly her normally poised and composed public persona that the rest of Lucis saw. She exchanged a look with him, uncomfortable under his scrutiny as she withdrew and positioned herself slightly behind Nikolai.

?You must be the inspector? Glaber, wasn?t it?? Nick could sense her discomfort, and wanted to do what he could to ease that. ?I?ll take you around the grounds let you get a good look at what we?re dealing with out there. I will probably have a ton of questions for you.? That much was certainly true. If there was anything he wanted, it was to know how that defensive grid worked just in case it needed a quick fix. ?Why don?t you start lunch, and we can eat when the inspector and I have finished?? Nick gave Averia his most confident grin as he led the old man out the door once more.

Glaber. She committed the name to memory just in case, still wearing a placid and practiced smile. Behind Nick, she gently squeezed his hip, a reminder of what they still needed to do once this Glaber guy was gone. With a peck to her fiance?s cheek, she sent the men on her way and headed for the makeshift kitchen to put together some sort of rudimentary lunch. It wasn?t much, all things considered, but it would do and it would be ready just a little while before Nick finished his circuit with the inspector.

He was supposed to be guiding the old man, but honestly it seemed more like the other way around. Glaber found the first ward point and instinctively knew where the most likely placements were after. His words were pretty much what Nick had come to expect, they needed a lot of work to be put back in order. He was actually surprised to hear that they?d been operational the night Nick and Avy had discovered the place. Not that Nick mentioned Avy had been with him, what would be the need for that? The complete circuit took every bit of a half an hour while the old man made notes and advised him that the trees should be cleared back much further than they were for the barrier to be at its most effective. He didn?t invite Glaber back inside, that may have been a bit rude, but the anonymity of Avy was chief in his concerns. Once the old man was back in his car, Nick watched him all the way off of the property. He had a lot to chew on, though that seemed to begin with his bottom lip. He was still doing that when he caught up with Averia.

?That was almost painless.? Nick offered her a page on which Glaber had made copies of his notes and estimates on how much repairs would run. ?I?m not overly familiar with how much this is supposed to cost. Would you want to go over it with me later??

?You know I haven?t the slightest idea either right?? She said with a laugh, taking the sheet off his hands to look it over. Yep, she was absolutely clueless. Still she grinned up at him. ?Lunch is in the kitchen, let?s go mull it over while we eat.?

?Well that?s just perfect! You did this, why?? It would have been good if he?d just left the room and focused that new anger on cleaning out another room, but Nick wasn?t making good decisions at the moment. He was looking at the man appointed to watch his back with more heat than he?d felt since that day at the Citadel.

?Why? Because despite the fact that Dentatu?s a raging prick, he?s the best at what he does. You want the best for the Lady, yes?? Unfazed by Nick?s anger, the older man came closer. He had to be approaching sixty, his skin worn with age and the scars of battle. A limp accented every other step but his posture was proud and his expression was hard.

?Of course I do, but I wanted to do it without having to beg for help from anyone. It?s not like anyone is going to be forgiving of the fact that I had to have the help of Avy?s father. Now it?s going to look even more like I?m just trying to up my status or some bullshit like that.? He?d been proud of how well things were going, the frugality he?d used in order to bring this place back basically from the dead. Not that it didn?t still look like a corpse, but it was coming along, right?

?There was no beginning involved. You want to be stubborn, fine. But I?m not going to let your bullheadedness keep you from having the proper protections on the home you intend to share with your eventual wife and whatever family you build together.? Unlike many others, Cor Leonis had no problem acknowledging that Nikolai Allen was the man Averia had chosen for her own and would likely one day help her further the Lucian royal line.

?Don?t take me wrong, I get it. I know how I?d feel if something did happen, if despite our best efforts, Avy was left alone to face whatever came. You just did it though, said nothing. Maybe part of me is glad they?re here, it?s just buried under the feeling that you didn?t think it was something I should be told about. I may have lost some control over my life. You being here is evidence enough for that. That?s you doing as commanded, as your honor to duty sees fit. You just took away my say in my home, without so much as an if you please.? Nick had already been churning against the imposition that he was bound to now. More would come, he was sure of that, and he?d accept them, but to have no idea what was happening now just made him see too much red.

?Not just Averia. Averia. You. Your children.? Cor folded his arms and regarded the young man before him with some minor amount of annoyance but also with a slight tick of amusement. ?If we?re being technical, it?s outside of your home. But your safety is paramount and I will not apologize for bruising your ego. In case you haven?t noticed, when you become a part of this family, you unfortunately forfeit certain amounts of autonomy. I suggest you take this as preparation.?

?So, you?re telling me that when it comes to matters of security, you?re going to make the final call?? He wanted to bristle, despite knowing that it was the wiser decision. How far could he let his stubborn streak go before it became a detriment to the family he was hoping for. It didn?t make it sit any better for Nikolai, something he probably had another older male to thank for. ?Fine? Maybe you can compromise enough to suggest better options in the future. I?ll admit that my experience here is insufficient. Back where I come from the monsters walk among us.?

?Ultimately? Yes.? He nodded once. There was no need to dance around the subject or sugar coat his words. He had a task and he was going to fulfill that task even if it was the fact he had been relegated to guard duty at the end of his career. At the very least, he was fond of the young princess. ?I can try, where needed. But I am intimately familiar with the gods and monsters of Rhy?Din. Trust me. I?d sooner deal with the Daemons.?

Nick looked away from the man who had about an inch on him, through a broken window. A dozen people moved through the field all under the scrutiny of the prickish Dentatu. If he were being honest with himself, and Cor it was a relief not to have to worry about things he didn?t understand. He?d be honest later, probably after he?d managed to calm the pound of blood in his brain. ?It would be appreciated. I may not get much choice in the matter, but I?d like to pretend that I do at least.?

He slid past Cor, heading back to the room where they?d been when the Keeper had shown up. He might as well use the fury that was inside of him for something constructive, or deconstructive as the case might be.

(Thank you to the player behind Cor)

Renovations: Soft Light and a Warm Bath

Issues

Yeah, I got issues
And one of them is how bad I need you ~ Julia Michaels

Nick stood outside looking towards the manor house. His gaze followed the cables so recently buried which ran from a small outbuilding to the larger main building. Cor would be getting grouchy with him soon, pushing the work until the sun was falling once again. The wards were still up, but maybe the old man just didn?t trust them. Now wasn?t really the time to give in to caution. His hand lowered to a lever, giving it a pull and opening a gate to the stream above.

Water rushed down a trench, and into an underground pipe which opened up in the outbuilding. Nick counted his heartbeats, listening for the sound that would change everything. It started, low at first, a turbine turning with the pressure of the water. The generator it was attached to groaned in protest the massive motor unwilling to move but the turbine was giving it no other choice. The winding sound spun upwards like a trombone sliding up the scale, if that trombone were massive enough to be felt through the ground and in his chest.

In the darkness came his reward, the lamps within the manor snapped to life, lighting the way back home. ?YES!? Nick?s triumph echoed down the banks of the creek only to be buried by the sound of water falling back into the stream from beneath the power house. He looked at the man who stood watch over him, he might have been impressed, might have been amused by Nick?s outburst. It was honestly impossible to tell with Cor. Talking right now to find out seemed impossible. There?d been so many hold ups, diverting the stream, then getting the proper pressure. Putting everything into place, not once but three separate times. This was a victory, and Nick for a moment wished that the man who looked on were more like someone else. Someone who would have been even more excited by the feat.

?We should get inside the safety of the house, Prince Consort.? Cor had moved close, putting his hand on Nick?s shoulder, maybe it was meant as congratulations.

?I miss my father.? That powerhouse reminded him of the man, small, loud and full of energy. Avy would understand. He nodded to Cor, and started for the lights, pulling his phone free and sending a message out into the aether hoping that they would find their mark.

Sometimes it was difficult to live with Cor, for that was really what was happening now. The stern faced man watched over him no matter what Nick was doing, seldom offering advice and even taking an odd bit of amusement at his failures. There had been a few visitors as well. Locals mostly, and it was then that the old man began to seem not so old anymore. He?d position himself between Nick and anyone which of course only left the visitors completely confused. No matter how often Nick told him that they were supposed to be anonymous, Cor still did as he chose. It wasn?t really fair, shouldn?t Nick be the one who did as he chose and Cor just have to deal with it? This wasn?t like the movies at all.

The further they got from the powerhouse, the less audible it was, though Nick had no doubt that he?d hear it all night when he finally went to his bed. Well, sort of a bed. It was a double mattress and box spring, not much but better than the floor. Another insistence of his personal guard, as he heavy handedly said it would be best for the princess. Blast the man for knowing Nick would do anything for Averia. It was hard to say the place had improved for Nick as they entered. That?s what the pictures were for, to remind him of how bad things had been, and that he still had a long way to go. But there was power, that meant a lot of things...no more renting the portable generator, first and foremost. Heated water for another? The old tub upstairs was large and quite frankly heavy. Tonight it would be put to use? hot bath instead of cold stream or sponge bath.

Perhaps he didn?t really need anything from Cor? the bath would be enough reward.