With Friends Like These

Chapter Six

"Listener?" Korrin could feel herself slipping away from the warmth of her dreams, sliding into her reality of a pounding headache and unhappy stomach. She groaned, turning over and covering her head with her blanket, unwilling to come out of her warm cocoon. Until her blanket came off of her, her skin exposed to the biting cold air of the sanctuary. She curled up against herself, trying to get the message across that she didn't wish to wake up yet.

"Listener, breakfast is going to start without you!" Cicero chimed, so jubilant at such an early hour it nearly pissed her off.

"Cicero..." She groaned his name, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. She could still feel the heaviness of last night's emotions weighing on her chest, leaving tired bags under her eyes.

"Ooh, the Listener looks rough. Perhaps she should come eat with us, then take a nice, relaxing bath and wash away that hangover!" He said so merrily as he pulled her out of bed, dragging her to the dining area as she wrapped her blanket around her. Everyone else besides her and Cicero were sat, just beginning to eat. She sat down with a groan, her stomach churning.

"Rise and shine, Listener. You just look ravishing this morning." Nazir seemed to take pleasure in teasing her as she glared at him. She ate quietly as the others talked, Cicero acting like he wasn't watching her as per usual. Her feet were cold against the stone floor, shivering as the breeze seemed to cut through her bare legs.

"We have to be able to heat this place somehow, it's far too cold for my liking." She muttered to herself as she stabbed at her eggs, her eyes giving away her frustration.

"Perhaps another fire." Cicero whispered to himself, smiling eerily as he stared at Valin who wasn't paying attention to anything except his own hangover.

"What do you have against him?" Korrin whispered back, confused as to where the sudden distaste was coming from. Cicero merely smiled at her, going back to eating.

After breakfast, Cicero began pulling her away from the others and towards the bathroom.

"Cicero, what are you doing?" She asked confusedly as he pulled her along.

"Making the Listener feel better!" He replied happily, pulling her into the bathroom. He kneeled beside the bathtub, turning on the water, removing his glove and checking the temperature as it filled.

"Cicero." She groaned, shifting from foot to foot as she grew colder. He stood when he was done, turning to her and grabbing the blanket. "Hey!" She said as he took it, draping it over his arm. She folded her arms over her chest, beginning to feel exposed even though nothing of importance was uncovered. She gave him a pointed look and he realized she was waiting for him to leave.

"Oh, Cicero will be right back! He will bring you your armor, oh yes!" He turned and left, and she sighed. She looked to the bubble bath, and it did seem nice. So, she went along, removing her nightgown and her undergarments before slipping into the warm water, allowing her hair to drape over the back of the tub. She sighed contently, closing her eyes, her body threatening to fall asleep as she relaxed. Until she heard the door open once more and Cicero entered, humming, with his arms full. He began placing things down on the counter neatly: her armor, her body oil, her hairbrush. She watched him in bewilderment, her words lost somewhere behind her mouth. He turned to her with a smile and her face turned bright red. She knew he couldn't see her body, covered by the bubbles, and yet she still felt so seen.

"Thank you, Cicero." She said nervously as she watched him, and he watched her. She sighed, closing her eyes once more. "I'm going to fall asleep if I'm not careful, I don't think I'm going to drink like that again."