A TEMPLE OF GOLDEN SUNLIGHT.

❛ funny you say that, bugsy, ❜ the words floated up from a barricade of cigarette smoke. his arm slung around her shoulders with the full intent of burdening her equally sleep-deprived body until she hunched a little beneath his weight, a gesture that conveyed both his annoyance and his affection. ❛ 'cause i remember saying something weirdly just like it, but someone was too excited to listen to me. ❜ nevertheless he eased up, arm still ribboned around her when he brought her close, her nonsense momentarily muffled against the collar of his shirt. a drop of silence in an otherwise restless city, he hadn't been able to catch a wink with his mind racing, not knowing who else was crossing the building. she had managed a few hours at the least, but they were in need of sustenance if they were to survive.

still, the poor experience was a small price to pay; the better half of the day prior had been spent watching her forget her worries, and learning bits and bobs of italian slang from him as they made their way through the city walking. eventually when she pulled away, he accepted the offering and sipped coffee, and with his other hand he'd withdrawn his phone, looking for respite.

❝ mm, doesn't ring a bell. ❞ her uninspired retort confirmed only that he had indeed correctly foreseen their situation. one might have assumed two former frequenters of the foster system would fare well in a room full of strangers for the night, but the years of living on her own had spoiled alina. now she slept best in her own home, so perhaps it was the knowledge of @daylighter somewhere in that room with her ( the only source of familiarity for miles ) that allowed her momentary slumber. brought in close under the weight of his arm, she slung her own around his waist as her sarcastic mumble disappeared into his shirt collar: ❝ surely I would have agreed to such an inspired idea. ❞

forced into movement by the gentle tug of his hand, she followed his path down the near-familiar streets of trafalgar square. even in the sleepy haze of waking, his attempts to lure a smile out of her settled upon her skin like warm rays of sunlight. the grey english weather was no issue so long as he was there. were alina in the mood to gouge out a grimace of nausea from him, she might have said so out loud.

Why?