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Between tutoring Krypto and the info dump from Seth he'd received roughly a month ago now concerning his own future participation in the Empire, not to mention running an empathic marathon on both kraken and the cheetah as well as all the happy stress and busyness of their wedding...well, Eli was just glad for the peace of the quiet library and study. He'd left the door open, and the communication system in the building did allow him to hear Krypto's goodbye, but it had been quiet since. The kuppy had gone back to reading, heterochromatic eyes focused on the ancient runes he was attempting to translate, as he propped his head in one paw and the other traced the page of his book with the lightest of touches with one claw. It was a terribly fascinating read, but it did not seem to relate at all to his current line of research, so part of his mind was wondering if perhaps he shouldn't try the next book in the pile on his desk...

Eli made a face when the lights went out, peering through the darkness towards the door. Cass better not be playing tricks--he'd thought she was out anyway? Shopping or something--though a more frightening possibility quickly came to mind. Dear heavens above, let it not be Kitten coming back after everything else that had happened--

"It better just be this room and not somebody overloading the sim room again," he murmured grumpily to himself, sitting up slightly in his chair and lifting a hand to summon a small orb of brightly shining magic. It hovered above his palm, illuminating a few of the shadows, but leaving him otherwise oblivious to his "guest's" presence. "Is someone there?"

It was only the warning of his name called in a very familiar voice that prevented some of his more fancy displays of defensive magic--he really was going to need to fill Kamiko in on things so she realized why sneaking up on a camellia level Contractor was a bad idea, especially now--though he was still very shocked, and very pleased, to hear Kamiko back. Feel her back? His magelight had flickered out in surprise so he couldn't quite see her, but he could definitely feel her very close as she embraced him...

He obliged her unspoken wanting with a bit of a flail as he tried to at least prop himself up on his elbows, wanting to retain a modicum of dignity. Not that Kamiko wasn't very good at stealth, but the fact that she'd managed this stunt probably meant he ought to double-check the wards and shields... (not that any of them were built to keep her out, either) Still, unspoken worries aside, his smile was genuine, as was his faint blush at her closeness. "Kamiko-chan! Yes. Yes I did," he said, summoning another magelight without words or gestures to hover in the air over them both. Aah, he could see her slightly better now. "And you never could resist a more exciting 'welcome home', hmm? If you'd told me you were coming, I could've made preparations," he protested, teasing slightly. Still, back was back, and it had been an awfully long time since he'd seen her last...he wasn't inclined to quibble over seeing her once more, no matter what method of surprise she chose to greet him with.

"I'm sure I do," he agreed, gratefully taking the hand up and brushing his long hair over his shoulder. The magelight bobbed upward in the air, still content to hover above their heads. He was grateful for her next hug, as well as her 'apology.' "I can't argue with having you home sooner," Eli said, ducking his head slightly in an unspoken apology of his own as he hugged her back. "I just wish I could have prepared a proper welcome for you. But I suppose there's nothing keeping me from doing so now that I know you're back..." Though, given what she'd been off doing, she might simply be glad for some rest and relaxation. Living more on edge for months could be exciting, yes, but surely she would need a small break from the excitement?

His blush somewhat deepened at the touch, and he reached to take her stroking paw in his own furred hand instead. "I am tired," he admitted. "Some things happened while you were away...but things are fine, for now. You just got back. I don't want to worry you with such things when we're just now seeing each other again." Because, really, he didn't want to spend another evening worrying about Nevreso or Mayameer or any of the million things that could or had gone wrong. Could possibly go wrong. "I take it everything went well then? With the undercover work." He didn't know many details, of course, just the basics of it.

"A quiet night you shall have then," he promised. He didn't mean to make her frown, or worry, or doubt the necessary evil of her absence. Eli knew that her work was just as important as his, and he had no intentions of keeping her from what she loved doing...taking down bad guys, fighting for the sake of good and justice. He had missed her, of course, but the hardest part of everything hadn't been the lack of her--it had been learning from Seth that the rest of the people he relied on had been lying to him for some time... Ah, well. They'd straightened that out, at least. And Kamiko, likely, had been just as oblivious to all of this traveling to Phanes business as he had been.

"I hope I don't make you worry too much," he said, chagrined. He really didn't want her to feel badly in any way... Her smile and snuggling, however, suggested it wasn't too burdensome a thing, and he slipped an arm around her waist in loose embrace. Yes, he had certainly missed this... Despite Dacj's assumptions to the contrary, it wasn't as if the kuppy and Shiba Inu weren't close in their affections. They just...hadn't stepped over an invisible line yet. That the line involved something so simple as a kiss was likely shocking to some (like the kraken), but...it was just how things were for them, right now.

"Krypto was fine. A little stubborn...but we worked out our differences in training perspective eventually," Eli said ruefully. That he was downplaying the trouble might occur to Kamiko, but that didn't mean Eli wouldn't still attempt to do so. "He's advanced quite a bit. I'm sure he'll be very eager to show off for you."

"I suppose that's true," he agreed, on her musings on a girlfriend's "job." Though it went both ways, of course--a boyfriend ought to worry about the well being and happiness of the woman he loved. He was glad she was pleased by the hold, though; given it had been so long and he wasn't sure what had transpired, he didn't know if physical closeness was really going to be openheartedly welcomed... (just as Dacj had worried so about regaining her comfortableness with Seth, really, though Eli hoped--prayed--Kamiko had not had any trouble near to what the kraken had undergone recently)

The kuppy's ears twitched forward slightly. Krypto was going to be gone for awhile. They had the place to themselves. And she was asking what they should do... "I think getting a little more comfortable wouldn't be a bad idea," he suggested. "Shall we take ourselves to one of the couches?" He was quite comfortable snuggling now, yes, but standing for ages would get tiring. And he had the inklings of...an idea forming, or perhaps just a faint desire.

He chuckled, waving her off as she moved to go change. Eli couldn't blame her for wanting to switch to something else, especially if she really had hurried over straightaway after dealing with the police at the tail end of everything. Of course, the thought did occur to him her shorts were rather...well, short, not to mention close-fitting, and her favored casual tops were hardly 'better.' He usually found himself somewhat inured to her typical favored clothing, but since it had been some time since he'd last seen her and even the sight of Kamiko in short top and shorts was a hazy ephemeral memory...

Focus, Eli.

At least, he tried to tell himself that, but it was rather hard not to let his gaze linger on her form. He did note the slightly paler skin, which he attributed simply to wearing more clothing than usual for a long time, as well as the minor injuries and the ones that looked angry enough to leave scarring, and felt a pain of regret. If there was one school of magic Eli particularly lacked in, it was the ability to heal. He wondered if he should ask Seth by in the morning (assuming the cheetah would leave his bride's side yet--or would Dacj want to come along?), see if Seth's careful study into healing magic might prove more useful in this instance... Or did Kamiko want to keep her scars, as badges of honor? He would have to ask her, he supposed.

"Well. There's the living room downstairs, though that would leave us more open to interruption later. There's one in the karaoke room. Or some of the spare bedrooms on this floor have loveseats in them too, you know." Damn it, why did mere mention of a bedroom bring a renewed flush to his cheeks? Or maybe it was that paired with Kamiko's current closeness... "What would you prefer?"