Mera watched this display with an expression caught between jealousy and interest. Her tail twitched against the chair.
"Is this the part where you two establish territory?"
"This is the part where I remind Rome that his situation requires more than one support structure." Laurana straightened. Walked past my chair to stand in front of Mera. "You provide emotional grounding. Tactical extraction. The kind of intimate connection that keeps his drain stable and functional."
"And you?"
"I provide access. Influence. The weight of a retired four-star hero who still has friends in high places and enemies in higher ones." Laurana's smile turned genuine. "I also provide the kind of professional expertise that comes from decades of working with powerful Essentia users. The kind that might help Rome master his abilities before they master him."
"And what do you get out of this arrangement?"
Laurana was quiet for a moment. Then she laughed. A real laugh, not her usual controlled amusement.
