Stavanger Bay losing feeling's getting old

dalia lifted her face to his; velen's plume swayed at his heels. but he did not expect the question she posed. and so for a long moment, the dark chestnut of his gaze was swallowed by the turquoise and the cornflower of her own eyes. "i'll stay as long as you need," the boy declared, hopelessly snared. for her, he wanted to be strong, resolute, but the need of his presence had produced in velen another feeling, a protectiveness he had not realized had long felt for dalia.
a sheepish curve wreathed his lips; he blinked. "i sort of sleep, uh, wherever. so." so we have to go to your den," was the finishing to that thought, though velen was suddenly too awkward to admit that the prospect of being in such close quarters with the budding warrioress made him quite nervous — and exhilarated.