A handful of remarks came to mind, mostly centering on how he shouldn’t have to protect her, nor did she want him constantly worrying over her wellbeing. There were a good amount of options for self defense, some even coming from residents of the building. But still she wondered how effective they would or could be against the more supernatural aspects of their location. More circular thoughts, still no solution in sight, but she would dwell on it more another time. “I’m glad I’m with you then.”
“Oh, I could unpack later. It’s not as if I have much to unpack. I might have to swing downstairs later to pick up more clothes. I only packed for a few days at the most.” She was careful not to mention Peter, not wanting to bring him up anymore than she absolutely had to now. She had wanted a definite break from her old life, and had gone to the hotel to give herself time and space to move on and clear her head. When she saw Vlad again she was determined to not let too much bleed over into her new relationship with him, and even though she didn’t stay away for as long as she should have, she was still ready and happy to be there with him.
She gave Cain and Abel one more happy scratch behind their ears before turning around and surveying the penthouse as if for the first time. “I’m half tempted to insist on a tour,” she teased. “It’s been so long I might have forgotten where everything is.” In a way it was like being somewhere completely new. She often stayed well within their work areas, never really venturing to his rooms for fear of being inappropriate. Even now she was only vaguely aware of where the guest bedroom was, and even then couldn’t recall what it looked like. His insistence that she make herself at home made her laugh, for she also thought of Boyd for a moment and when they had met. The time since then had long healed over any lingering jealousy Helena had back then, making way for amusement at the memory instead. “Careful. I might just prance around your home in skimpy sleepwear that barely qualifies as clothes.”