Private Lakeshore

[Cassian Abrantes]

Shade ​

"Good to know." Cassian smiled, taking a deep breath. Taking in her scent, warmth and love. "We should probably get a move on though. We still have some things to do before we settle in for the week. If we stay like this any longer, we might not get up for the rest of the evening."

Cassian mused, as he kissed the top of her head, as he moved to sit up.

He was selfish, because he didn't want to go anywhere, at least not right now. But, his thoughts were directing him to what they needed to get done. Nothing to severe, drastic or life changing. But the would need supplied for their stay here, and what better way to act like a regular couple then to go shopping.

Cassian laughed lightly, giving her thigh a small squeeze as he stood up, he stretched, a good stretch too. Before letting out a small happy sigh.

This was nice, much more than he deserved.

 

[Shade]

Shade did not move when he first pulled away.

For a moment longer, she remained where she was, watching him as he stood, as if committing the quiet ease of it to memory before allowing herself to follow. There was no reluctance in her, but there was a pause, deliberate and brief, the kind that marked a transition, a quiet savoring of what they were becoming.

Then she rose.

Smooth. Unhurried. Her hand brushed lightly against his arm as she stepped in beside him, the contact brief but intentional, a silent tether that did not need to be tight to be felt.

"You say that as though it would be a failure," she murmured, a faint note of warmth threading through her voice. "I do not see the disadvantage."

Her gaze lifted to him, steady, softened in a way few ever saw. For a fleeting second, her mind drifted to the days ahead, not as a series of tactical maneuvers, but as shared moments. Mornings that did not start with a briefing, evenings where the silence was comfortable rather than cautious. She found she was actually looking forward to it.

"But you are correct."

A small shift, her posture settling back into something more composed, though not distant. Never distant from him.

"If we intend to remain here, we should do so properly."

Her fingers brushed his hand again, this time lingering just slightly before easing away. The thought of a shared routine, making tea, perhaps, or simply existing in the same light without a shadow to chase, felt surprisingly like a luxury.

"Supplies. Routine. Visibility." A faint pause, then the barest hint of something lighter, a genuine spark of anticipation. "All the elements of appearing… ordinary."

Her eyes held his for a moment longer, something quiet and certain beneath the surface. It was a new kind of mission, one where the objective was simply to be together.

"We can manage that."

A subtle tilt of her head followed, almost inquisitive.

"Though I suspect you will find I have very little experience with what constitutes 'shopping' in this context."

The faintest trace of amusement touched her expression, a rare, bright thing.

"You may have to lead. I find I am quite eager to see how you navigate the mundane."

Cassian Abrantes

 

[Cassian Abrantes]

Shade ​

Cassian couldn't help but laugh, and he was more so laughing at both of them. But also laughing at her. It wasn't a hurtful way, it was just sweet. He loved seeing her like this, human, less worried with work. She was so stern and professional, and while he loved that about her, seeing her like this. It was almost pulling layers away until the true person was revealed. Sweet, loving and true....

They arrived at the market, Cassian gave her hand a gentle squeeze. He looked around, scouting out a basket for them to use, finding one, he held at his side. "What do you think?" He whisphered to her, giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek, just to see if he could get her to blush. He found himself teasing more often than usual. She was indeed changing him, for the better.

It was true and it was just perfect.

There place had the basic of things, complimentary drinks, foods, toiletries and such. But It wouldn't last over the next few weeks. That's why they were here.

"What first? I'm putting you to the test." He said, cleary in a amused tone.

 

[Shade]

Shade registered the shift in environment the moment they stepped into the market, her senses instinctively heightening before she forced them to settle. The air was thick with the scent of roasted grains and brine, and with the low, melodic hum of ordinary life unfolding without urgency. It was a stark contrast to the sterile corridors or war-torn landscapes she usually navigated. Here, the complexity didn't lie in hidden traps or tactical layers, but in their absence. The simplicity of people bartering over fruit was, in its own way, the most alien terrain she had ever encountered.

Her hand remained firmly in Cassian's when he gave that gentle squeeze, her fingers answering the pressure without a moment's hesitation. When he leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek, she didn't stiffen or pull away as her training might have once dictated. Instead, she turned her head slightly toward him, closing the remaining distance rather than retreating. Her expression remained composed, yet there was a visible softening in the line of her jaw. A deliberate and warm response that was for him alone.

"If that was an attempt to distract me," she murmured, her voice a low vibration meant only for his ears, "you may find it less effective than you hoped." While her words were steady, the faint ghost of a smile touched the corners of her mouth, betraying a sense of comfort that went deeper than mere flirtation.

Her gaze drifted away then, sweeping across the various stalls. She wasn't scanning for sniper nests or exit points this time; she was assessing supplies, duration, and utility. She was a creature of adaptation, and if the mission was 'domesticity,' she would master it with the same clinical precision she applied to everything else.

"If it is a test," she continued, her eyes locking back onto his with a quiet intensity, "then I will do my best to pass."

With a movement that was both smooth and confident, her fingers slipped from his hand just long enough to take the basket from him. It was a small gesture of shared labor, a silent acceptance of this new role. "We start with what sustains consistency," she said, her stride purposeful as she began to move. "Food that does not spoil quickly. Water, or its equivalent. Then we look for the smaller details that maintain a daily routine."

She paused, looking back over her shoulder at him, the market light catching the silver-blue of her skin. "You said we are to appear ordinary. If that is the case, then we should behave as though we truly intend to stay, rather than just pass through."

Stepping back toward him, she let her shoulder brush against his as she navigated toward the nearest stall. It was a subtle, grounding contact. "Stay with me," she added softly. Less an instruction and more a quiet invitation to remain in her space. "You can evaluate my performance as we go, and tell me if I'm learning to be 'ordinary' fast enough for your liking."

Cassian Abrantes