Re: [B&B: Nishka and Atticus]
If the wolf was uneasy, so was Loki. He couldn't figure out exactly what it was about this guy that had caught his attention, as much as the man's talk of a 'drink' had caught hers (one couldn't hurt, could it?), but he was suddenly on guard, even if Nish wasn't. Nish, unaware of Loki's sudden caution, found a smile for Atticus and did her best to shake off the last of her nerves about this place at the same time.
"Sure," she said, stepping aside so he could pass her and then following him down the hall. She walked quietly beside him, absently rubbing one hand over her ribs when she felt a dull throb in the healing bones. She forced herself to take a deep breath despite the pain.
"Yeah," she replied to his question, "I've been here about a week," she said, keeping pace with him and idly looking around them as they walked. She glanced at him then, looking him over a little more carefully. He seemed comfortable here, like someone who has lived here for a while. "What about you?" she asked, "long term resident or just passing through?" She'd heard about people who live in hotels, even had a few as clients. She could definitely see the appeal of it - basically renting a fully furnished apartment with the added bonus of daily services - but she also missed her old apartment in Newport Beach. And her friends. And James.
She frowned, but turned her head away so he wouldn't see it, instead focusing on the wallpaper like it was the most interesting thing in view while trying to hold back the inevitable tears that resulted from thinking about him.