And Then, There Was Fire.

twenty two.

"Wilkkommen bei Ritz-Carlton" The blond haired, blue eyed woman smiled brightly behind the counter, waking her monitor by waving her mouse in front of her.

Lauren stood beside Trey, allowing the fragrance of the hotel lobby put her at ease after their long, exhausting flight. The lobby was enormous; elegant at that.

"Hi," Trey greeted the clerk as he slipped his license on the counter for his reservation.

"Ah, American, yes?" The clerk began to accommodate their English.

He just smiled, unable to force more enthusiasm due to their circadian rhythm not yet adjusting.

"I'm so hungry." Lauren yawned, slipping her fingers through Treys as she leaned the side of her face into his arm, still being able to smell the fading cologne on his heather gray hoody.

"I know. See what their room service menu looks like and just sleep." He suggested, leaning against the counter as he ran a hand over his fresh, lowly-cut waves to remove the hood of his hoody.

"Did you let Kurisch know we're here?" She asked while lifting her head back up, waiting for the clerk to finish checking them in.

"Yeah, but he said the best time to meet is later this afternoon so I know I'm gonna crash soon as I eat. This time change hits different." He yawned, checking his gifted Rolex from his mother as he saw that it was now nine in the morning in Germany after adjusting his watch at the airport. Meanwhile, their bodies were still assuming it was three in the morning.

Within hours of checking into their room, Lauren found herself in a deep sleep after Trey's suggestion of ordering room service.

However, Trey found himself on the balcony of their room, sitting in a modern chair before the balcony was extended to the idle jacuzzi. He sat there the entire time she slept, preferring to lounge outside in the cool, whispy breeze. The sun was slightly casted by clouds but still brightened the German city eleven stories below that he could see through the glass balcony rail.

Once Kurisch gave Trey a time to meet as they ate their food earlier, he couldn't find it in himself to sleep. To know that he would finally be meeting someone who has known his father, to hear all that has to be said about him as well as himself, heightened his anticipation.

He glanced on the home screen of his phone, seeing that it was just fifteen minutes past three; meaning that it was getting closer to the four o'clock hour that Kurisch had planned for them to meet.

He stretched from his position, leaning his elbows onto his knees as he cracked his knuckles while overlooking the view.

He watched his hands as he thought, feeling the breeze flow through the hood of his hoody. He flipped his hand for his palm to face upward, watching the flame casually appear directly from his palm as it danced in his hand.

Staring at the tip of the flame, he softly closed his hand by clasping his fingers in an accordion style, watching it disappear. He repeated the gesture, watching the flame return and rest in his hands; a gesture that he's been repeating in private for days, perfecting his new phenomena.

The sound of the sliding glass door from behind caused him to clasped his fist quickly to put the fire out. He felt Lauren's hand on his shoulder as she stepped around and onto his lap.

"It's chilly out here." She yawned, wrapping an arm around his neck as she looked over the view.

"It feels amazing."

"This place is amazing." She softly replied. "Well, the hotel at least." She corrected herself, causing him to chuckle.

"What time are you wanting to head out?" He asked her as he squeezed her thigh.