The blurry twinkling thing he held in his arms brought a smile to his face in the morning, even more so when he slid on his glasses and beheld Zia's sleeping face in its full clarity. His expression softened as he gazed at her. She was so beautiful. Not just because of her appearance...just because she was her.

The sun streaming in through the windows had her skin glittering. He brushed a lock of her shimmering hair from her face, his fingertips skimming along her warm cheek.

Remnants of his dream still lingered in his mind, and a bitter disappointment crept behind his eyes. He never would be able to introduce her to his parents...to his family...perhaps that was a good thing given her curse. Percy liked to believe they would be open minded about such a thing, yet there was a fair chance they wouldn't have been. Nobility didn't often act noble in the face of outliers. If you looked different...if you thought different.... yet maybe Zia would be a sort of exception to that. Maybe they would have loved her anyway- as he did. Not right away but perhaps if they saw how much he cared for her and got to know her then in time...time was something they didn't have to share anymore. Why was he even thinking about this? He was just making himself hurt about something he would never truly know the answer to, about something that would never truly happen. He retracted his hand and rubbed at his eyes under his glasses with a vicious pinch, as if he could gather the tears and throw them away. Fuck. He missed them all so fucking much. Gods why were even his good dreams capable of making him miserable?

He composed himself-tried to at any rate. He shoved down the swirling misery with practiced ease and refocused his attention to the woman sleeping against him. The sight of her brought peace to his aching heart. Percy pressed a kiss to Zia's forehead. He must've jostled her too much when he pulled her closer- because when he pulled back from her she was awake.

She snuggled her face into his shoulder and made a valiant effort to have the rest of her head become one with the pillow.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He murmured in apology, "Go back to sleep if you can. It's still early don't mind me."

Zia smiled, "Hm. It might be a little late for that. You're all over my mind already. I still can't believe you want to romance me..."

"You know I'm not sure romance is really a course of action."

"No? Then what would you call all that we did last night?" Zia teased him.

Percy thought about it for a moment. Though it was fun that hadn't been all it was. It had been more than that. Much more. It had been...it had been romance he supposed. "I stand corrected."

Zia laughed. "It was nice you know. Last night. Everything you said...and we did. I don't really get kissed a lot." She reached up a hand to his cheek, paused before she made contact, pulled it back to study her gloved palm for a moment, and then once it was deemed safe- placed her hand on his cheek like she had wanted to. Through it all Percy waited and it was well worth the reward. The touch was gentle and her glove was soft against his skin.

"That's sounds like something I am going to have to remedy." He tucked a strand of her hair that fell into his face behind her ear. "Shall I make an attempt now or at a later date?"

"You still want to kiss me?" Zia's eyebrows rose as she laughed. "Really?"

"How could I not?" Percy chided, "It's quite the enjoyable activity...but only if you want to. I understand if you don't. It's okay to say no."

"Is it okay to say yes too?"

"Of course."

"Then I think I'd like another kiss or two..."

"Consider it done." His fingers hooked below her chin to guide her lips to his.

Zia hummed leaning forwards, but winced as the sun glinted in her eyes. Percy's glasses having caught the light. "Ah," she moved back.

Percy's eyes opened in concern as he felt her shift away.

"Zi-what. Oh. Ow." Percy blinked in disdain, the sun catching on her crystal eyes just enough to make her pupils as blinding as the rims of his glasses. He put a hand over his eyes to shield them.

He reached back for the bed drapes intent on pulling them closed to block the bright morning rays but the damned thing wouldn't move. It was merely a small strip of fabric sewn in a way to look pleated.

"Fucker was too cheap for actual bed drapings." Percy's sighed letting his arm drop, shifting to be more on his side, encasing Zia in his shadow. Instantly, he missed the sparkling but he didn't want either of them going blind. "I suppose we'll just have to watch how we lean..."

"That's your solution?" Zia rubbed at her eye with a laugh finding amusement in his irritation at the dead dragon. "I feel like watching each other is how the eye pain began."

"Mm, then might I remind you as you reminded me last night...kissing is supposed to be done with closed eyes." Percy murmured, leaning down to capture her lips with his. Her lips were smooth, and warm thanks to that damned sun.

"Hm, how could I forget?" She murmured, allowing her eyes to close, placing her hands on either side of his face.

Percy sunk into the kiss, he reveled in the warmth of her. The weight of her. The solidness of her frame against his. He slid a hand down her neck, across her shoulder. She answered in return by having her hands skim at the neckline of his vest. It was nothing more than a playful tease, but that didn't stop him from wanting to urge her to go further, to dip her fingers underneath the fabric, undo buttons- it was okay. He would let her. She was more than allowed. But he refrained. He would let her explore at her own pace. When she was ready. When she wanted to. When they weren't in this damned manor anymore. He could wait. He would be patient. There was no rush.

He could kiss her all day.

That is, if they didn't have places to be.

"Oi! Zia," Vex banged on the door. Zia jumped, and sat up quick, pushing Percy from her lips in a startled gasp. The poor lord was forced to sit up, as she did, or risk a popped out shoulder.

Vex tried to turn the knob but it was stuck on account of the crystal wall. That door wasn't going to budge until the crystal was cleared or if Vex got Grog. Zia's eyes trembled as she looked to Percy then the door then Percy again.

"Fucking door..." Vex complained. "Zia! Wake up, the dragons dead. We've got to tell the king. Whether you stay outside with Trinket or not. We aren't leaving you here. Get ready."

Zia's hand remained clutched at his vest, her finger on one of the buttons-

"Uh, I'll-" Zia managed to find her voice. She swallowed, that had sounded much too nervous. Percy squeezed her hand. She tried again, voice steadier this time. Her eyes transfixed on the door. "I'll be right down. Promise..."

Vex seemed to accept that answer walking away with a resounding mutter of now where the fuck is Percy?

Zia's eyes flicked back to Percy. She let go of his shoulder, smoothing out his vest that she managed to crumple in her grip. "I think kissing is over for now."

"For now." Percy murmured in agreement, swinging his legs out of bed. "I should go. If Vex is rousing everyone."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." She slid out of bed, and unsheathed one of her swords. "Uh, I'll get the crystal out of the way."

"No need." Percy denied. "I'll slip out the window."

Zia raised a brow at him. "What? Why the hell- We're on the second story."

"No need to worry." Percy shrugged as he adjusted his coat and strapped on his holster. "It shouldn't be too bad of a climb. If I fall, well, I'll aim for the bushes."

"Percy- thats ridiculous. You aren't actually-Percival. Stop." Zia dropped her sword and rushed forwards. She grabbed his wrist just as he managed to get a leg out of the window. "You're going to hurt yourself. Bushes or not that's a far fall for you."

"Zia, clearing that crystal won't be quiet. Everyone will come to check out the noise and they'll see me in here."

"So?"

"So, I saw the look on your face when Vex came knocking just now. It was like death was knocking at that door. You clearly don't want anyone to know about us, am I wrong?"

"Percy, I don't even know what there is to know yet. But I know I don't want it to be this." She slid her hand to his cheek. "You are not risking life and limb just for a few measly kisses. It's not worth it...I'm not worth that."

"Firstly, you definitely are worth that." Percy protested. "More than worth that if we're being honest. And secondly, that isn't what I'm doing. I'm trying to leave this way to maintain our peace. Whatever little bit we can scrounge up for ourselves with this group. I know you don't like attention all that much. I don't fancy having people nosing about in my private matters either close friends or no. This is just simpler for now."

"Simpler." Zia breathed, studying Percy's face. "Okay, alright. If you want to go out the window - we'll go out the window."

"We? What do you-oh my." Percy fretted as Zia scooped him up in her arms, one hand under his knees, the other at his back. As if he were as light as a leaf or a feather. He stared at her.

"Hang on tight." She advised just before she dove out the window, and Percy cursed softly, clutching his arms around her neck. He shut his eyes as she had the audacity to do a flip-and then they were on the ground without a sound. Safe. No broken bones. The only damage done was a few snapped blades of grass under Zia's feet.

Her giggles were what convinced him it was safe to open his eyes again.

Ever so slowly did he pull back from her neck. Zia set him down with a soft smile her giggles tapering off. When his feet met the ground he shifted his arms but did not let go of her.

"Thank you," He murmured, the rush of it all had his heart racing...this woman...he had to kiss her again. And he did. Slowly, sweetly... until a soft push at his chest separated them.

Zia smiled at him again. "Taking one for the road De Rolo?"

"I'm merely expressing my gratitude for your assistance. It was most appreciated."

"I'm sure it was." Zia took his hands and un wrapped his arms from her neck. She squeezed his hands. "I'll be going into that throne room with you...so no more kissing. We have to look presentable and I can't have my hair a mess mister, and seeing how Scanlan's at dick height we should not do anything more to excite little Percival down there. That gnome'll see and promptly tease you all the way up those damned steps."

Percy chuckled. "Yes, yes, very well. I see your point."

Zia hummed pressed a kiss to Percy's cheek and then leapt back through the window. He watched her go with a smile-his fingertips touching his cheek where she'd planted that last little kiss. Somehow it felt more special than the others they'd shared. His gaze remained on the window until she was fully out of sight, but when he turned to go back inside he came face to face with Keyleth staring at him from the other side of the first floor window with a face akin to a rosey apple.

Oh, fucksake.

They stared at each other for a solid five seconds. Percy spoke first.

"How much of that did you-"

Her stammers of  "I-I didn't see anything." With flailing limbs and a barely caught staff

told him that she had in fact seen everything that just transpired. She ran away going who knew where in the house.

Perfect.

He cleared his throat, adjusted his coat, and started walking towards the door. Well that would be something he would need to tend to later. He made his way around the side of the house and quietly through the front door.  Just in time too because Vex came out of Krieg's kitchen.

"There you are." Vex trudged out to the entryway. "I've been looking everywhere for you. I was beginning to think you went poking about the basement."

"Ah, no. I assure you I've been upstairs the whole time. I just got down actually. You said, you've been looking for me?"

"Yes." Vex sighed as she toed the rolled up rug. "Zia's crystal shit. It's all over this place. Even if we scrape it away we have that...shimmer residue left behind. We're going to have to leave this place a mess...none of it looks good. You should be prepared to play lawyer."

"The thought already crossed my mind." Percy adjusted his glasses pushing them up the bridge of his nose. "Hopefully it won't come to that."

Vex laughed lightly. "With our shit luck you think it won't?"

"It's likely to happen I know. And if the trial goes south?" Percy frowned at the female half-elf.

"Then make sure your pepperbox is fully loaded." Vex replied hand on her hip. "Zia isn't leaving that room clasped in irons."

"Speaking of Zia leaving a room," Keyleth began twirling a lock of her red hair around her finger walking over to the pair. Percy's shoulders tensed. Don't ask about the window. Don't ask about the window. Don't ask about- "I guess she had another curse accident last night- she's having a little trouble getting-". There was a crash from upstairs. A blur whizzed down the stairs and then skid to a stop at their feet. "Oh. Nevermind." Keyleth blinked.

It had taken both Zia and Grog's combined strength to get the door to budge. She pushed, he pulled, and this was the result. The door ripped off its hinges-careened down the stairs, the doors edges still crystal coated. Zia on top of it and Grog smushed below.

"Are you alright?" Percy offered Zia a hand, helping her off the door.

"I'm fine..." Zia smiled in reply, letting go of his hand as soon as she was righted. Which Keyleth pouted at, not that anyone paid attention to her, as Grog got to his feet, the door sliding off of him.

"Buddies!" Pike slid down the stairwell, Scanlan running down the steps just behind her. "Are you okay?"

"Don't worry, Pikey. I'm fine. Zizi and I showed that evil door who's boss." Grog boasted.

"I still say if you two waited five more minutes I could have gotten it open for you." Vax glared making his way down the stairs.

"Your way wasn't workin'" Grog lifted up the door and twisted the knob. "It still won't turn."

"Well, of course it was taking longer. Zia cursed the damn thing." Vax defended his skills.

"I...I didn't really...uh...that's not how it...I can't spread my curse to anything. I mean it spreads...the crystal spreads...but the curse itself doesn't really...um spread."

"All this talk of spreading...I bet there's something else you can spread real good, huh twinkle tits?" Scanlan smirked at her.

"Oh my god. Z, do not answer that." Pike told her. "It's too early for your bullshit Scanlan. Leave Zia alone."

"I was just trying to make her less nervous about the door. Yeesh." Scanlan put his hands behind his head.

Percy walked forwards to get a closer look at the lock. "There's crystal in the mechanism...it looks like the crystal embedded itself halfway through the wood. It's actually quite fascinating. I wonder why it didn't pierce through both sides." Percy studied the lock with a hand on his chin.

"No, no, no, no Percy. No time for ogling gears. We have to go see Uriel and his council- or lack there of right now. Before it gets later and Krieg and Fince don't show for the meeting."

"Uh hang on, shouldn't Grog shower?" Keyleth asked pulling a face at the Goliath as he was still covered in the dragons blood.

"Nah, this blood I got all over is more proof! Why'd I wash that off?" Grog tilted his head like Keyleth didn't have the brains of an owl.

"Huh, you know he's got a point." Scanlan shrugged in agreement. "Why waste evidence of a good time?"

"In what way was that a good time?" Pike made a face at the other gnome.

"Enough. We're going as we are. We don't look any worse than the first time we showed up."
Vex insisted, and with that said they were out the front doors of Krieg's manor and back up the damned steps.

When they arrived they weren't expected. Allura was pacing, Lady Kima was trying to calm her down. The King was yet to even enter the throne room. It was possible the man was even still sleeping.

"Allura you're freaking out over nothing." Kima told her.

"Kima- this isn't like him. He called a pre-meeting meeting. He only does that when there's trouble he doesn't wish Uriel to worry about."

"Actually, I believe we've dealt with the trouble." Percy spoke up announcing their presence.

Grog lifted the tooth above his head with a huge grin. Zia clutched onto Percy's arm, tight enough that he would likely have a hell of a bruise later, but Percy didn't care. He knew she was terrified of whatever snap judgement that was about to be made when the situation was further explained.

Except, there wasn't any judgement. Not even a mention of a trial. Allura believed him, them, and Kima cussed the dragons ghost out. Apparently, Fince had suspected Krieg was a traitorous piece of shit for a while and had warned Allura that if he did not return in the morning then the general had killed him because he found out too much.

Gods, how wrong were all of them about that guy? Next time something like this happened Zia would need to be listened to.

They were instructed to wait for the reward. Uriel would be done with breakfast soon. He came out soon enough, and righted his crown.

"There." Percy rested a hand over Zia's. "You see? Our efforts are being rewarded..." His voice was low, and gentle. It calmed her some. The confirmation that she wasn't going to get clasped in irons as a reward had her easing her grip.

"Vox Machina, for your selfless heroism, I proclaim you all. Protectors of the Realm and honorary members of the council of Tal'Dorei." Uriel smiled at them all.

"What!?" Zia's voice went so high it was a miracle the windows didn't shatter. "A-all of us?" She took a nervous step back. "...you can't be serious."

"Oh, but I am." The king chuckled. "I know." The King smiled at Zia noticing the uneasy look on her face. "I can hardly believe it myself."

The kings smile was kind, almost fond, and Zia's nervousness somewhat lessened. He didn't look angry with them.

"Oh, how I've missed respectability." Percy sighed adjusting the front of his shirt. He smiled Zia's way. "This is wonderful news, no one in Emon is going to fuck with you now..."

"No one?" Keyleth raised a brow at Percy leaning on her staff.

"No of course..." Wheels turned in his mind. Wait- had she meant.... He looked at Keyleth sharply, green eyes widening. She had a shit eating grin on her face that meant mischief. That little Druid...Percy narrowed his eyes at her. Not in front of the king. "....of course not. We're council members now. That's a highly respectable position."

"Yes, yes, yes, that's all fine and good, but where is the..." Vex began to demand just as a chest was brought before them. "Ah. There we are."

"Payday." Scanlan cheered as they all huddled around the chest. "Uh... Keys? Parchment? Where's our reward?"

"You're holding it. The deed to your new keep here in Emon."

"Keep? You're giving us a home here?" Zia asked stepping forwards. Her eyebrows lifted, as she studied the parchment and her eyes watered at the news. She couldn't help it. The king wanted...he wanted them to stay? Wanted her to stay? No one's ever...her childhood had been spent getting run out of villages, towns, and kingdoms. No one had ever asked her to stay before.

"Of course." Uriel smiled. "We need our protectors close at hand to, you