[hr][right][code]Home > The Gym[/code][/right][hr]
Even though she’d claimed she wasn’t tired the night before, Trisha’s body completely disagreed. It wasn’t until the morning was practically over that she properly woke up.

She could mostly remember hours earlier when Casey woke up. The sleepy kisses and clinging on her part, far too weak to keep him there and too tired to wake up and go with him. There were enough morning cuddles to satisfy barely awake Trisha, anyway, and once Casey left she’d replaced him with his pillow. It smelled enough like him that she fell back into a peaceful, dreamless sleep. 

Waking up alone had some benefits, even though she much preferred waking up with him there. It gave her a moment to think about the things [i]she[/i] needed to do. Areas she’d been slacking in the last few days because of all the chaos. 

The bees, and exercise…

Her bees were the first priority. She hadn’t had time to visit the hive since before the ceremony, and she could feel their agitation already. It was an easy, routine, fix - going into the Greenhouse for a little while, bathing the hive in her pheromones while various groups of bees cycled around to crawl their fuzzy bodies all over her. It was a bit tiring just having to stand there and let them do their thing until they were content. It was easier when they were in her bedroom. 

But she got it done, and the bees were happy again, a small group coming with her as she made her way downstairs. She assumed Casey would be in the office so she’d just pop in on her way out, let him know where she was going… except he wasn’t. But Norm was, and he directed her to where Casey actually was - the ground floor gym.

Which was fine. She had to go downstairs anyway. 

A quick trip down the elevator, with just a couple of the bees getting freaked out by the shaking of the lift as it went to the normal floors. She was pretty used to it now… at least, it didn’t bother her when she was in a good mood like she was this morning. She didn’t even mind going out of her way a bit to actually find the ground floor gym! 

[color=d1b300]“[i]Caas-eeyy[/i]?”[/color] she called out as she stepped inside. She looked, deceptively, like she was dressed to be there. All in white, wearing a tennis skirt and a sports tank top which stopped at her waist, leaving a small gap of skin on show. Her high ponytail swished from side to side as her head moved to look for him. She did have a small backpack on, which was maybe a bit more out of place…

Loud, frankly nonsensical music was blaring through the speakers as a mixture of drum beats and… Sirens? So many different noises painted in layers across their auditory canvas in different signatures, like stereotypical “alien” music. Out of this world.  

[color=C67C12]”Sloppy!”[/color]
Against the chaotic background, the sound of padded slams echoed around the brick walls of the well equipped gym. It seemed like every Temple facility had one of these: Even this one was associated with the famous Gravity brand, a boxing glove holding onto a black hole strung from a band like a medal. Leon and Casey were both shirtless, lacking any sort of padding save for some trimmed down gloves. They were actually boxing, it seemed…

Casey’s head spun to look at the entrance toward Trisha, and Leon nearly caved his brother’s head in with a long swing from the opposite angle. Thankfully, the enchanted gloves broke the air around Leon’s fist, causing a less damaging shock of air to smash into Casey’s head. It still hurt, but far less than it could have.

It still put him on the floor…
[color=C67C12]”Oh, fuck! Dude, dude, dude!?”[/color] Leon stammered, quickly kneeling to help as Casey returned to the world of the living.
Casey had a dumb grin when he finally looked up and saw Trisha again.
 
[color=577d06]”That’s funny… I saw an Angel, then the lights went out.”[/color] he giggled up at her.

[color=d1b300]“What the fuck?!”[/color] Trisha ran over as soon as Casey got punched in the head, trying not to start trembling at the sight of him on the ground [i]again[/i]. He wasn’t dead, he was smiling and awake- but fuck, seriously?
[color=d1b300]“That’s not funny at all! You got knocked out- why did you look over?”[/color] she crouched down beside him too, peering over him with a worried expression, biting her lip. A hand came out to wave in front of his face… making sure he didn’t have a concussion. Though she wasn’t sure if that was any way to check. 

Her head then snapped up at Leon. 
[color=d1b300]“Why were you going for his face in the first place?!”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”It was a[/color] [color=#C67C12]f[/color][color=#B67C10]a[/color][color=#A67C0E]i[/color][color=#967C0C]n[/color][color=#867C0B]t[/color][color=#767C09]![/color][color=#667C07]"[/color]
Casey and Leon’s voices blended together as they both finished the sentence. Casey’s arm waved Trisha off.
[color=577d06]”Baby, it’s fine… It’s… It never would’ve hit me if I was paying attention, that was just… It was dumb, it was by chance, Leon wasn’t gonna try and hurt me.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Nah, no way! I wasn’t, Trisha, I swear…”[/color] they both sounded like boys being admonished by their mother.

Trisha’s lips pulled into a thin line as she looked at Casey, then Leon, then back to Casey. She let out a soft sigh, while trying not to laugh at the way they were both defending themselves. It reminded her of when her brothers used to get in fights, and she’d watch them getting told off by their nanny. It wasn’t a particularly bad memory.
[color=d1b300]“Alright, alright, I get it, it wasn't on purpose,”[/color] Trisha held a hand up before they started defending themselves more, leaning back on her heels. She reached out for Casey’s hand, taking one in both of her own, still worried. 

[color=d1b300]“I didn’t think he was [i]really[/i] trying to hurt you, just seeing you falling like that after yesterday? I’m not mad or anything, just worried. I didn’t come in here expecting to see my boyfriend punched in the face by his brother… I didn’t even know Leon was going to be here…”[/color] She mumbled out the last bit, before squeezing Casey’s hand.
[color=d1b300]“Are you… actually alright?”[/color]

[color=577d06]”Yes… Yes, I swear, I'm absolutely fine. The gloves suck up most of the force, anyway: [b]Hi Baby![/b]”[/color] Casey belted with a greater amount of enthusiasm. His arms slipped under Trisha's, pulling her close and planting a kiss on her forehead.
[color=577d06]”I'm glad you're up! And you look like you're ready for the gym too! I was getting a little cagey after missing it for like a week… You want me to start on the tread with you?”[/color] he asked with great enthusiasm. 

[color=d1b300]“[i]Heyyyy[/i],”[/color] Trisha giggled back, her smile soft and gaze full of affection. Her arms loosely draped over his shoulders… but she quickly went from pure joy to a little bit of guilt. Just a bit. He was so enthusiastic, cute even, and she didn’t want to let him down. She really didn’t, but she also didn’t particularly like gyms. She’d suffer through it for him, but especially not when Leon was there… And not right now.

[color=d1b300]“Uh, about that, Babe… As much as I’d love to do that with you, I was actually planning to go on a run outside. I was just coming to let you know… I’m feeling cagey too since I haven’t done it in a couple of weeks. It’s my gym equivalent- I’m happy to join you in the gym normally, I just need the weekly run.”[/color] She ended up rambling in her need to explain herself without him feeling hurt, arms pulling back so her hands were holding onto his shoulders, fingers digging in.

[color=C67C12]”I mean, I should go anyway… I hear you're tentative on our meeting for the Adjoined Society?-”[/color] Leon asked Trisha gently.
[color=C67C12]”I'm sure there'll be [i]food you like.”[/i][/color] he intoned, a vaguely conspiratorial wink following.

[color=577d06]”Oh, that's perfect! I'll just leave with you then, Babe, we'll go together.”[/color] Casey's childlike grin beamed expectantly at Trisha.

[color=d1b300]“I’ll try to come [i]tonight[/i]... but I don’t eat much in groups, no need to worry about that,”[/color] Trisha looked over at Leon, partly to shield herself from Casey’s smile. It was too much… but it wasn’t like she could just ignore him. She turned her head back towards Casey, but wasn’t quite able to meet his eyes. She did want to spend every waking moment with him, but this was also the one thing she wanted to do alone. Just a little bit of time.
[color=d1b300]“You know I really love you-your company, Case, but I meant alone. It’s healthy… It'll only be an hour or so. We probably run at different paces, anyway.”[/color] 

Casey’s brow furrowed. She wanted to be crammed up his ass the entirety of last week? The end of the week previous? So…
[color=577d06]”Woah, there’s no way!-”[/color] he said reactively, voice wavering slightly. [color=577d06]”-I thought we talked about, y’know, making sure you’re safe! I mean, we don’t have to talk or be cute together or anything; Hell, I’ll even give you the Governor treatment! Twenty paces back, just close enough that I can secure you if something happens… Babe…”[/color] he pleaded with an almost childlike reaction, frowning wildly.

[color=C67C12]”Caseau… She’s fine in this part of town. Furio said response times are thirty seconds to a minute-”[/color]
[color=577d06]”With fucking Clarissa, Leon. Remember? The Security Team lynchpin?”[/color] Casey replied with a slight aggression in his voice. It clearly stressed him out to think about Trisha going out alone.

He wasn’t going to tell her that he felt like she was bored of him, or leaving him… His vague understanding of her own personal feelings made that option more than a bait for conflict.
[color=C67C12]”You should ask her for help then! Until you find someone else willing to do the job!”[/color]
Casey simply stared at Leon with a vaguely disappointed look on his face, then turned back to Trisha.
[color=577d06]”You… Really want to be alone?”[/color]

Trisha bit her lip, and looked down, before nodding. It was a conflicting feeling for her, the constant need to be with him versus a dislike for being restricted. Flightiness she couldn’t control… but would be manageable if she went out like this. It was [i]because[/i] they’d talked about it last night. It brought out the feeling of being trapped, and she didn’t like it. She just needed to clear it away.

[color=d1b300]“I know you’re worried, but there’s people everywhere at this time- and I won’t be going far.”[/color] She moved forward to hug him, as if [i]she[/i] was worried he was upset enough that he’d go away.
[color=d1b300]“Just one hour, once a week. I’ve been safe for months, an hour will be fine… But if I’m out longer than an hour you can call me, I’ll tell you where I am and you can pick me up. It’s to keep my head clear as much as it’s for exercise… that’s why I need to be alone.”[/color]

[color=C67C12]”Would a suggested route be a decent resolution here, Casey?”[/color]
Casey’s face was sullen, frustrated and stuck as his brain rolled from thought to thought.
[color=577d06]”W-would that be something you’d agree to? The path with the most Temple businesses on it? You don’t need to know which are which, just which roads to follow…”[/color] he almost begged.

[color=d1b300]“Yeah, of course, if that’ll make you worry less,”[/color] Trisha nodded frantically. She didn’t want to worry him, so she’d agree to anything - outside of anyone being there - that would make him worry a little less.
[color=d1b300]“I normally go down by the harbour and through Memorial Park… well, I’d still like to go through the park’s main paths if possible- But yes, just give me a route and I’ll follow it.”[/color]

Unprompted, Leon pulled out his phone and adeptly air-dropped a map with a route on it to Trisha’s phone.
[color=C67C12]”This is my gym tour. Ignore that it says it took me twelve hours to get through it; I stopped at every gym along the route and did an hour. If you’re just going over it at a leisurely pace, it’s probably an hour and a half? You can cut it shorter by taking whichever connecting street back to this part of the hub.”[/color]
The large man smiled and nodded at Trisha, truthfully trying his hardest to be as friendly as possible.
[color=C67C12]”If it helps for tonight, Gin and Eddy will both be there. Hopefully it counteracts the fact that Layla Hyacinthus and her new Adjoined will be in attendance as well… You’ll probably be interested in knowing that, out of all the people to die and come back as a ghost, Alizee Altiere managed to reconstitute herself…”[/color]

Casey tilted his head back and sighed. 
[color=577d06]”Fucking headache those two…”[/color] he commented with an annoyed tone, once more kissing Trisha on the head.
[color=577d06]”You’re gonna be alright then? I mean, you [i]will[/i] be safe. You’re a grown woman, there’s no way you attract people’s fists to your face, right?”[/color] he tried joking, thumb moving to brush against her cheek.

[color=C67C12]”Adora’s got some pretty serious PTSD. It could’ve been anything that set her off that night, probably wasn’t even Trisha.”[/color] Leon offered.

It was definitely her that had set Adora off. What Trisha had said wasn’t [i]that[/i] bad but… she’d known she’d get a reaction out of Adora. It wasn’t something she’d admit. 
[color=d1b300]“Alizee Altiere… I didn’t even know she died…”[/color] Trisha said quietly, furrowing her brow. She was pretty out of the loop with these things, through her choice not to join the coven and general lack of care. Alizee was like many of the coven were to her - someone she’d tried to be friendly with, but just couldn’t tolerate in the end. Layla… she didn’t even remember. Neither were people she wanted to see, but she’d tolerate them this time.

[color=d1b300]”I’m only going because Ed asked in the first place, so, yeah,”[/color] Trisha shrugged one shoulder, and turned her attention back to placating her overly worried boyfriend.
[color=d1b300]”I’ll be alright. That happened once! You got a unique experience, Babe, once in a lifetime,”[/color] she managed to joke back, smiling softly at him. She leaned in and up to lightly kiss him, not particularly caring that Leon was right there. It was just a brief kiss, anyway.
[color=d1b300]”Just an hour or two, and I’ll be all yours for the rest of the week.”[/color] 


Casey nodded his head gently, accepting Trisha’s explanation and taking a deep breath.
[color=577d06]”I’ve got my eyes on you the whole time, okay? I mean, not really, I know privacy and trust is the point, but… Y’know… My heart? I guess I have my heart on you?”[/color] He tried to sound omniscient and powerful, but realized midway through that it probably wasn’t the way to comfort her.

[color=C67C12]”I’ll see her out?”[/color] Leon offered.
[color=577d06]”Fine, if she wants. I’m gonna head upstairs and get showered. I’ll see you soon, Babe.”[/color] Casey said, planting another kiss on her forehead.
[color=577d06]”Oh, also, I’m headed up to the base for my official discharging this weekend. We’ll talk about if you want to come or not when you get back.”[/color] he smiled at her.

[color=d1b300]“Alright,”[/color] Trisha said simply, nodding and smiling warmly at him. She already knew what she’d prefer, unless there would be anything extreme involved… but they’d talk about it after. And she decided not to think too hard about the eye… heart… thing.
[color=d1b300]“I’ll be back before you know it.”[/color] 

She then looked up at Leon. 
[color=d1b300]“You can walk me out, sure… Might as well get more used to your company now.”[/color] Her tone was light, and she meant it as a joke, even if there was some truth to it.

[color=C67C12]”Getting used to one another is a good thing, yeah. I’m starting to kinda like you anyway. You really pissed the Cat off, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard it. I’m… He already yelled at me. Pretty loudly, and if it’s rank he’s pulling, there’s not a damn thing I can do. My little brother got to scream in my face for an hour and a half this morning, and I had to take it. And, I deserved it. I’m sorry they were around to hurt you guys at all. I’ll make that right.”[/color]
Leon didn’t mince words today. He was hoping to see and apologize to her expressly, which is why he stuck around for so long when he was supposed to be meeting a different Coven member.

Holding the gym door open for her, they were able to walk back into the main lobby of the apartment building.
[color=C67C12]”You’re really not much of an eater, huh? We’ve shared a few meals now; I’ve noticed how you barely touch it, even when you know its clean. Is it a trust thing? Or, just… Not much for food?”[/color] he asked casually.

[color=d1b300]“Low appetite. I trust Casey enough to eat anything he gives me,”[/color] Trisha replied shortly, in a way that made it clear it wasn’t something she wanted to talk about more. It was technically the truth. Group meals were the worst, but it was all rooted in her upbringing. Not something she wanted to talk about, or even think about. One of the many touchy subjects in her life. Her parents had never cared if she ate or not… she just got used to not doing it.

[color=d1b300]“Since Casey already yelled at you about the Cat, I won’t bother going on about it… so long as it doesn’t happen again. Because that [i]thing[/i] almost killed him.”[/color] Funny that the topic of her boyfriend almost dying was a more comfortable one for her than food. But she tilted her head up towards the much taller man so that he could see she was being genuine.
[color=d1b300]“I appreciate and accept the apology… I’m glad it’s pissed off. Next time I won’t miss.”[/color] 

Leon nodded, a smile crossing his face as he avoided the brunt of Trisha's ire. The exit had a smaller coat lobby where the mailboxes were. The signage already had a mailbox for “T. Vanburen & C. Richoux”, and there was a phone inside a little glass box with a sign that read “Caseau Richoux: Superintendent”. It had been a nice little moment Casey shared with her, one where they came to replace the old signage.

It was a satisfying status symbol, putting the little piece of paper with their names on it into their mailbox slot. Leon opened the door to the outside as he noticed it.
[color=C67C12]”Awww, that's pretty cute. You guys share a mailbox… Thank god porn doesn’t come in the mail anymore, huh?”[/color]

He laughed, waving Trisha out the door and walking down the steps with her.
[color=C67C12]”So, Ed will give you a call. I'll be here around five-thirty to pick you guys up. See you then?”[/color] he casually asked, reaching into his pocket to pull out some earbuds that slowly climbed up toward their destination.

Trisha rolled her eyes at the porn comment, but didn't snap at it, because she was too satisfied with him calling it cute and looking at their names on the mailbox anyway. It was just so nice…
[color=d1b300]“Yeah, I'll see you then."[/color] She nodded, hand raising in a slight wave. The bees that had been moving around her shoulders gently buzzed to more hidden locations - her hair, under her skirt. Her own earbuds went in, and she checked the route Leon had sent her at the same time as playing some relaxing orchestral music to run to. Then she set off in a light jog out of the apartment parking lot. 

It should be a relaxing run, with absolutely no problems, and she'd come back feeling refreshed and ready for the week ahead.

[hr]
[url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5559929]The Birds and the Bees: A Companion Post[/url]
[hr]
[right][code]Memorial Park > Home[/code][/right]
Trisha let Casey chastise her the whole walk through the forest and out of Memorial Park to the main road, not saying a word, just nodding occasionally where it seemed she should. Her gaze was firmly downcast, just up enough to stop her from tripping over as she walked, and her lips pressed into a thin line. Even though all of her wounds were closed up she was still covered in blood, staining her white clothes, and mixing with snot and tears across her face from where her nose had been continually bleeding. She looked a mess, and she felt like one too. A mixture between a need to flee further, to avoid any stern words or possible shouting from Casey, but also to stay and appease him and not have him leave. 

She was really scared of that. 

With the inner conflict she ended up in a halfway there state where she wasn't fully paying attention to what he said. She was counting the losses of her bees - four thousand and seventy, four thousand and ninety, no, four thousand a ninety seven - and thinking about what she could say. Because she knew it was mostly her fault that he was worried. She wasn't at fault for the fight… but him being so angry and concerned meant that he cared. Enough to stay, right? 

She was still trembling, whole body in a tense with her hands grasping her skirt and digging into her thighs. But eventually there was a gap for her to talk. She didn't want to but… she didn't want to be apart from Casey either, or ignoring him.
[color=d1b300]“It was a faster route back, I was going to get home early,"[/color] she blurted out, eyes firmly stuck to her lap. She'd managed to send back most of the bees, with about two hundred still left clinging to her, mostly around her upper body. 
[color=d1b300]“Running along the road didn't work. It would've been fine and I would've been back before an hour was up, then I wouldn't have gone out again. But then I saw Lila and I thought I'd be polite, just five minutes, I'd still get home early, but then she said stuff, and my bees got eaten, I couldn't just leave. It wasn't on purpose."[/color] An absolute mess came out of her mouth as she struggled to word it while knowing that really, nothing she said was going to just fix things and calm him down. But she didn't know what else to do.

[color=577d06]”And you wanting to get home is fine: We planned for this! I was satisfied with you being on the route, and any detour you may have tried to take that kept you in that grid… But if you remember correctly, we [i]met[/i] because you got into a [b]bloody fist fight with another Sycamite![/b]”[/color]
Casey wasn’t the type to get angry. Even now, it wasn’t anger so much as frustration; that the literal first time he wanted to not worry about things, something like this happens. 
[color=577d06]”Leon is trying to change. He wants to be better! Part of that is respecting the both of us, not just as a couple but as [i]individuals[/i]! That means doing good things for you, even if he fucking slips up… But we [i]cannot[/i] expect that to happen every time you meet someone who doesn’t like you! Like, Edict for example… That guy is [i]scum[/i] at the end of the day, and I absolutely wouldn’t trust you alone in a room with him! Imagine if he’d wanted to hurt you the other day when we saw him and I wasn’t there? He could’ve! Easily!...”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“I’m not stupid, I know,"[/color] Trisha interrupted, trying to clamp down on her own frustration. If it had been almost any Sycamore member she would've kept going. The list of ones she'd consider approaching with good intentions, though previously zero, was still small. Luca, Jasper, Sully, Lila… until now. She hadn't been like that before.
[color=d1b300]“She wasn't that- we never fought before. She was quiet! I just thought… it should've been fine. I wouldn't approach someone I thought was going to hurt me… I really didn't think that would happen. And- and I hurt her just as much as she hurt me."[/color]
She bit her lip, hands trembling. She wasn't supposed to be arguing or getting angry back, but she just couldn't help trying to defend herself, because otherwise she had to admit… She was wrong. At fault. That wasn't the case. 
[color=d1b300]“I’m not that weak, Casey."[/color]

[color=577d06]”Really? Because honestly, I feel like she could’ve kept going. How many bees have you lost? How many, Trisha? What’s that going to do to your hive, how many girls is that? Totally avoidable! Fuck, Babe, why’s this… Why!? Why do people attack [i]you[/i]!? Does it make any more fuckin’ sense to you why I’m so anal about making sure you’re…-”[/color]

Casey paused as they made it out into the main street. It was the first time Trisha would’ve been able to see him completely: In this strange black jumpsuit, with body armor and gun magazines… He really looked like a soldier; and it’d be a little hard to explain that to anyone driving by. He was just thankful Norm was quick, and their car was pulling up quickly.
[color=577d06]”-I just wanna keep you safe, Trisha… I fuckin’ love you! Why are you like a fucking lemming?!”[/color]
His arms wrapped around her, hugging her and rubbing her shoulders. He kissed her forehead, but the ceramic plating in his vest made his chest feel hard, harsh and unwelcoming.

Trisha didn't want to tell him how many she'd lost. She knew better than anyone. She'd felt every single death, and even after eating the Key Lime pie she could still sense it. A loss, pheromones she'd never smell again, a strange fuzziness and disconnect in her brain. She hadn't lost that many since the Stygian Snake. Back then she'd gone down to something close to the number she started with, and the years after were spent growing her hive again. She'd almost forgotten how much it hurt. There was no need for anyone else to tell her how bad it was… she knew. So she avoided answering the question.
[color=d1b300]“I don't know why people attack me,"[/color] she said quietly. She knew. It was because she was petty, and because people always took what she said the wrong way. Over and over again. But it wasn't her fault. 

She turned her head to the side so she wasn't facing the cold ceramic, not feeling particularly comforted by his hug. She didn't hug him back either, though her body tilted forward in a want to lean into him, then back again when it didn't find the normal, unarmoured warmth. Was he still angry with her? His words were angry, but he was hugging her… she didn't understand. 
[color=d1b300]“But I'm not… I'm not like that. I was trying to do something different. I wanted to be- be-"[/color] better. But that meant admitting she was flawed in the first place.
[color=d1b300]“I know you want to keep me safe. I really didn't mean to worry you… I know. I understand. It won't happen again, I- I won't go out again."[/color]

Casey scoffed at the last little comment.
[color=577d06]”This is [i]not[/i] the end of the world, Trisha… You’ll go out again. You’ll go out again, you’ll probably fuckin’... You’ll probably scare us again. We’ll react accordingly, and we’ll do this dance again.”[/color]
Both of his hands grabbed her face gently on either side, lifting her up to look him in the eye.
[color=577d06]”Just… Think about it for one more second next time. Even a tiny improvement is an improvement, Trisha… Please, Baby. We’ll do it together.”[/color]

The car was there now, and Casey quickly opened the door to let Trisha get in.

Trisha nodded slowly, before getting in. She waited for Casey to also get in before talking. 
[color=d1b300]“I will, I'll try. I'll think about it more… but I wasn't lying this morning, it really doesn't happen normally. It's the… coven… but I'll improve, I'll really try to, as long as you're there. Even if you get angry or upset again, if I- I- don't improve much, don't- I'll try."[/color] There was that fear bubbling up to the surface again, so irrational, but also unstoppable. He said he loved her, he said he wanted to keep her safe, he cared for her… but she just couldn't believe it, not that easily. Not enough to push down her worry at yet another point that people would normally leave her. She was still reeling from the loss of the bees, not processing it as well as she could have, still working through attempted damage control even with Casey hardly seeming angry at all anymore. 

[color=d1b300]“I’ll make it up to you today… for scaring you. Whatever you want today, tomorrow."[/color]
Casey was pulling his body armor off his chest, the rifle between his legs getting in the way as he tried to slide it one way or another.
[color=577d06]”Babe, please… Make up to me? I’m not like that; you want to make this up to me, then you remember what we talked about next time something like this happens. Otherwise, don’t even think about it… Besides, you’ve got bigger problems to worry about, don’t you?”[/color]

Finally slipping the chest piece off, he reached out and grabbed Trisha. Sliding her across the bench seat, his arms wrapped around her again… The warm love was back. Nothing was between her and his inviting chest except a thin layer of cloth. For a long while, most of the way home, Casey just held onto Trisha…

[color=577d06]”I’m sorry… For being mean. You lost a lot of bees… I should consider your circumstance more.”[/color]

Trisha shook her head. He'd feel every movement with it pressed against him, curled up as close as she could get. As he held her the trembling in her limbs had subsided, her breathing had evened out, and the panic subsided. She hadn't expected him to hug her like this… not so soon, at least. She was used to drawn out fights, anger that led to coldness or everything just ending. It always lasted just like hers did. Maybe she wouldn't hold onto things so much if she'd had warmth like this in her life earlier… 
[color=d1b300]“You were worried, I understand. If you consider that mean you're going to struggle when you meet half my family."[/color] What was meant to be a joke with some truth behind it was awkwardly delivered… but for once she did understand and she was able to admit it. She'd been scared and frustrated, but Casey's harshness had come from concern. Even if it was difficult for her to believe entirely in that care, she could understand. 

[color=d1b300]“It really hurt,"[/color] she continued quietly, curling in towards him even more. She turned her face to press it against his chest as she continued, words half muffled.
[color=d1b300]“Four- four thousand nine hundred and seven. I felt every single one. It hurts the more I lose, but it's the same mentally. I can't sense them anymore. I called them all to protect the ones I had… because I was angry… but more got killed. I haven't lost that many since-"[/color] she shook her head again.
[color=d1b300]“Maybe it would've been better if I didn't call them."[/color]

Casey sat there with her as the car slowly pulled into the apartment’s parking lot and into a spot. Theo was waiting outside, a massive rifle slung under his arm that betrayed strength hidden in his small, lithe frame. Soft features crinkled a smile seeing Casey and Trisha making it home in one piece, and immediately hardened upon Norm stepping out. 
[color=9d33d6]”Great work, Dickwaffle… I nearly hit you! And I could’ve hit The Boss, what would that’ve been like, huh!?”[/color]
[color=4a6358]”But you didn’t! So, why don’t you go back to bragging about being the best shot in the Temple and we forget about it! It’s bad enough we’ll have to file the incident report and-”[/color]

The two slipped back inside, leaving Trisha and Casey to their private moment in the back of the car. Casey could only stifle a giggle in return. He didn’t want Trisha to think he was laughing at her, but the situation was grim enough that his instinctive reflexes were still on. 
[color=577d06]”Since the Snake… I… I know. That is a lot, and I bet it’s gonna make you a lot more cautious in the future, won’t it? I won’t sit here and blame you: You know how that interaction went down, and what happened now has happened. Just sit, let me hold you… And I promise everything is gonna be alright. Do you want to do something for them? A service or something?”[/color] he asked in a very sincere manner, long having pulled tight to her ear so a whisper would be enough.

Trisha let out a muffled sigh of relief, the last bit of tension in her body going with it. She'd still been worried that the car journey had just been a break, and that he'd be angry with her again when they got back. Really, she could deal with the anger, but the blame? She couldn't. 
[color=d1b300]“I don't want them to get hurt again,"[/color] she said softly, tilting her head towards his. She wanted to properly look at him now - not like her avoidance of eye contact earlier. To make sure and… well, she just really liked looking at him too. 

Especially when he suggested something like a service for the bees. She'd never even considered something like that. She silently mourned each one and then moved on. Against the Snake there wasn't even time to mourn the people they'd lost. 
[color=d1b300]“I think I'd like that. Just something small, just you and me and the rest of the bees… they won't understand, but it would be nice. I was never able to do something like that before. I don't know what exactly but something. A little bee service."[/color] She half giggled at that, though it was still more hollow than normal, and she pressed closer to Casey as if trying to become one with them - when there were very little gaps between them already.

Casey just rubbed her back for a while, taking a deep breath. Eventually, his hand reached out to his armored vest, pulling the radio from it and flicking the switch. He spoke calmly.
[color=577d06]”Theoooo… Could you bring an incense burner upstairs to the bench outside Port One? And some sticks, like a few boxes of popsicle sticks.”[/color]

Trisha would only vaguely hear the response from Casey’s earpiece, a gentle confirmation echoing through the electronics. With that, Casey released the handset and moved back to fully holding Trisha.
[color=577d06]”You’re okay, Babe… I’m sorry this happened, you know? It really sucks, I know what it's like to lose things that are attached to you… If our unit’s surgeons weren’t so good with their magic, you’d be dating a potato with a head.”[/color]
Again, a crude joke, one he knew he shouldn’t try to tell, but after so long that was the only reflex he had for comfort of loss. He was avoidant of the drink, or of other methods of repression: It was the belief that one needed suffering in their lives. 

And in that moment, he realized that just as much as he was physically and mentally attracted to Trisha, he was equally attracted to the pain. The feeling of struggle that she exuded, something that was a coiled serpent inside. It was the same thrill he got jumping a line, or making a break from house to house.
Her ups, her downs- She thrilled him. She was unpredictable.

[color=577d06]”And… You may think it’s weird? But I’m happy I got to get dressed up and shoot at something that was living… You gave me a reason to… Be.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“That’s… pretty weird,"[/color] Trisha pulled her head back a bit so that he could see she was smiling, rather than actually judging in any way. Of course it was weird but… It didn't bother her. She understood a little bit. She did a lot of things other people didn't like, and it wasn't like he'd killed Lila. Or had been aiming to… 
[color=d1b300]“But I'm not going to argue if it made you happy. Which coven member should I approach next, then?"[/color] she joked, awkwardly laughing as soon as she said it. Probably too soon… she didn't want to get into situations like this again. She couldn't lose any more bees. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m glad you're not a potato,"[/color] Trisha leaned her head forward to rest against his, smiling softly. 
[color=d1b300]“I don't think we'd be as good of a match. You wouldn't be able to get dressed and shoot things if I got in trouble… and we wouldn't be cuddling like this."[/color] She spoke softly, getting more relaxed. She was comfortable again, not worried… as long as she was with Casey she felt like everything could be alright. She hoped it could be. He wasn't even angry for long when she'd not done what he'd asked and put herself in danger…
[color=d1b300]“I really, really like you."[/color]

It was a tender moment all things considered. One he didn’t want to ever forget. He needed to remember how much the whole experience meant to him. The best of times, and the worst of times. Both deserved his respect, and his attention. 
She didn’t judge him, she didn’t speak out… She asked who he wanted to fight next. That was something only a real trooper did. A real commander. There was respect there that Trisha probably never would’ve or could’ve understood. So he kept that part to himself.

[color=577d06]”I really like you too, Trisha Bee… And we’ll avoid these situations. One day, you’ll have a lot more bees. And the little memorial we’re gonna make will be a beautiful reminder of lessons we’ve learned together. Ain’t that something to look forward to?”[/color]
Rubbing her back for another moment, he finally patted her to prompt her up.
[color=577d06]”Come on… I’ll carry you back up how you like… Then we’ll get to work.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“I [i]can[/I] walk, you know,"[/color] Trisha jokingly pouted, getting up and shuffling out of the car. But contrary to her words, she didn't move very far, turning around and holding her arms out towards him. Just waiting for him to scoop her up.
[color=d1b300]“I don't really know how to make a nice memorial, so you'll have to be patient… but I guess we have time. Unless you have to work? Then we can do it  later… where will we put it?"[/color] It was a lot of questions asked quite earnestly. There was the Sycamore memorial but… she didn't visit it. Couldn’t. Not since it had been erected. 
[color=d1b300]“Maybe we should get some watermelon for all the other bees too… They dealt with a lot."[/color] 

[color=577d06]”Don’t you worry about it… I already know what we’re gonna do and how we’re gonna do it. You said four thousand nine hundred and seven, right? So, that’s four thousand, nine hundred and seven popsicle sticks. And four thousand, nine hundred and seven new flowers. We’ll plant ‘em in a nice honeycomb pattern, burn some incense while we’re doing it. You can… You can pray, or whatever you want. Just think good thoughts about them, and honor their memory. And yeah, we’ll put some cut fruits down, all kinds. While we’re doing that, I’ll have Theo get all that taken care of: He loves the bees too; I know you haven’t heard much from him I don’t think… But, he’ll help… Sound good?”[/color]

As soon as she was up and out of the car, he already had Trisha tucked back up against him, cradled in his arms like she didn’t weigh a thing.

[color=d1b300]“Where will we get the new flowers? Are we going to plant them?"[/color] Trisha loosely wrapped her arms around Casey's neck, resting her head on his shoulder. 
[color=d1b300]“... I'll stop thinking too hard about it, I'll just follow along with you. That sounds really nice. I've already perfected the honeycomb pattern making so, yeah… sounds good."[/color]


She tilted her head to press a light kiss against his jaw. The suggestion of praying wasn't something she planned to do, or particularly liked, but it was fine. It wasn't like it was being forced on her like it had been when she was a kid. Good thoughts… that was easy to do. She loved all her bees, even if there was very little to differentiate between them sometimes.
[color=d1b300]“If you're not busy or working, we can make the memorial, then we can just spend the rest of the day together… cuddling, relaxing. That would be really nice."[/color]

Casey cleared his throat.
[color=577d06]”J-just… Just about the whole day. I’m gonna get some serious work done, and you’re gonna go with Leon and Eddy to the Gathering Center. You’re going to talk to your fellow Adjoined, and they’re gonna comfort you about what happened just like I am. You can tell them all it was totally Lila’s fault, and that she did everything to you; a totally innocent person. Because you’ve earned it.”[/color] he explained as they came to the elevator.
[color=577d06]”It’ll be good for you. Adjoined are some of the most chill and accepting people I’ve ever met. You get real tolerant with headmates like that.”[/color]

Trisha pouted, immediately caught trying to get out of the meeting she really didn't want to go to anymore. Not after the fight. She just wanted to stay at home. 
[color=d1b300]“We have very different experience of Adjoined. I guess they're nicer when they don't have Apparitions forced on them…"[/color] Of course there were some chill Adjoined in the old coven. Luca, Olivia… but people like Emily really ruined any possibility of Trisha viewing Adjoined as tolerant or accepting. Even if she was one herself. 

[color=d1b300]“I don't need them to comfort me anyway… Do I really need to go? I won't even bother you. I'll just stay at home while you work… I don't really want to go out. Or talk about losing so many bees. Anyway, I've had my fill of other Adjoined for the day. For life, with some of the ones from Sycamore… I'll go next week."[/color] She didn't really have any intention of going the next week, or the week after. 

[color=577d06]”You know that’s pointless as well as I do-”[/color]
The elevator lurched to let them know they were on the unmarked tenth floor, its magical locking mechanism loosening up as familiar Lux passed through its barriers.
[color=577d06]”-because next week you’re gonna say the same thing. Fight or no, you’re never going to want to go to this thing. The only way we can possibly change your mind about it is by making you go. There’s no time to waste.”[/color]

Casey nuzzled his face into her stomach, taking a deep breath of her before coyly looking up.
[color=577d06]”I won’t be home anyway… There’s something that needs to be done today, and the timing lines up perfectly. You’ll probably even have some alone time upstairs before I get home.”[/color]

Trisha pressed her lips together, once again caught right away. While it was frustrating, and she really didn’t want to go, she also didn’t want to argue with him right now… not when he’d just stopped being angry with her. She still felt like she had to make it up to him, even if he said it wasn’t necessary. She’d rather keep him happy… she could do something she didn’t want to for once. It was just once. Even if she’d much rather just stay at home, alone or not.

[color=d1b300]“Fine… I’ll go,”[/color] Trisha said with a soft sigh, tilting her head down to look at him. Hair that had fallen out of her ponytail during the fight framed her face and cascaded down towards his. 
[color=d1b300]“Just this once, since you want me to and won’t be home anyway. I’m doing this for you, okay? I expect loads of kisses when we’re both back. Loads and loads.”[/color] 

She leaned down to kiss him gently then, a bit awkward with how he was holding her. But she needed it to push past the annoyance that was bubbling up again. She wanted to enjoy their time together before she had to go to the meeting. She pulled away as the elevator reached the top, doors opening with a ping.
[color=d1b300]“I’ll need to shower before then… unless I spend the rest of the day looking like I had a really bad nose bleed and got it everywhere.”[/color]

Gently patting her rear, Casey waved his free hand forward with a flourish. She’d pulled away as it was, even if he wanted to keep holding her, so if she really wanted to run, he figured he’d let her.
[color=577d06]”Are you [i]okay[/i]? I mean… Like, do you think you can get upstairs? Or do you want to shower down here? Because I need to file the incident report so we can track resources spent, and I figured I’d do that while you were showering, so…”[/color] he let his voice trail off, leaving the statement open for her to answer.

Trisha looked up at him, head tilting from side to side for a moment as she thought about it. She needed to get a change of clothes, so she'd have to go upstairs to get those. Then wouldn't it make more sense to just shower upstairs? But if she showered downstairs then Casey would be right outside. She'd probably have to come back down anyway… 
[color=d1b300]“Aw, I was hoping you'd shower with me,"[/color] Trisha half joked. There wasn't exactly room, and she'd rather he filed that report while she was busy anyway. 
[color=d1b300]“I’m okay, the key lime did its job… but I'll go get a change of clothes and shower down here. I'd rather be close- and then I can subject you to ten minutes of me drying my hair."[/color]

She moved towards the elevator door, then changed her mind, spinning around and going up onto her tiptoes to quickly kiss him again. 
[color=d1b300]“I’ll be back down soon."[/color]
Trisha turned around and hurried down the hall, going as quickly as she could across the roof. It was chilly, and she wasn't dressed to be outside unless she was exercising. Actually choosing something to wear took a bit more time. She didn't want to get changed again, so it needed to be something she was comfortable wearing to the adjoined meeting tonight… but also comfortable enough for making a bee memorial. Eventually she chose, and went back downstairs. 

After another quick drive by kiss, but not wanting to disturb Casey too much, Trisha got into the shower. Another thing that took a while - she had to wash away all the sweat and blood, which was most difficult where it had gotten on her hair. Just washing hair as long as hers was enough to a pain without getting blood in it. Eventually she emerged, wearing a cozy dark green wool jumper tucked into wide legged jeans. She stopped just a bit before Casey's chair, holding up the hairdryer she'd brought down with her. 
[color=d1b300]“Where should I do this that won't bother you? My office?"[/color] Not that she wanted to spend more time apart from him while they were actually together before tonight, but after the sheep in the game last night… she was a bit more aware that random sounds might be an issue for him.

Having swiftly dispatched the evil paperwork meant for himself to read and keep record of (a redundancy he was more than used to in the military), Casey was free to worry about the current situation that needed his attention. He didn’t love that he was being tasked by Grace to a situation where he felt like a glorified mobster. There was no joy in intimidating or hurting mundane people who chose to get into the way of the Temple’s path. The only way he was coping right now was by imagining that the Temple itself was a cruise liner or a battleship in the ocean: Stopping the momentum wasn’t reasonable in such a short period of time.

Did he want to keep the engine running? Of course not: And he’d already discussed this sort of thing with Lynette. Classically, she redirected toward God’s plan and the Temple’s status as the Chosen Peoples. It made him a little sick; especially after having spent the last part of the war fighting a group of people who took that sentiment with them in every part of their life…
[color=577d06][i]No… Not all of them. Only the cream atop the milk was spoiled.[/i][/color]
He liked to imagine that people were inherently good, and that it was more often circumstance which allowed evil to fester and rot the soul.

It begged the question: What did he think of his mother? Even he didn’t know for sure, and every waking moment involved with her was a gamble with one’s morals and sanity. He felt the problem with evil was that it never saw itself in black and red. Evil, in its own ego, was bedecked in white and gold in appeal to its own self aggrandizement. Maybe it was to protect itself, but Casey thought it was almost always ignorance. It had to be if one was going to accept all humans were good…

The bad guys only see their vision as good… How could they ever stop what they thought was right?

But the stressful feeling that had Casey cupping his face and self-soothing all melted away when he saw Trisha fresh, dressed and squeaky clean. He looked at her with those same warm, bright blue eyes he always looked at her with, and a smile crossed his face that hopefully told Trisha everything was okay.
Spinning his chair to face her, he patted his lap.

[color=577d06]”You can do it right here. I’ll even help you get it dry quicker.”[/color] he said gently, almost longingly as his feet scooted the chair toward her.

[color=d1b300]“With magic?"[/color] Trisha smiled back at him, quite happily closing the rest of the distance and climbing into his lap. She twisted herself to sit sideways across his legs. The tension that had come back just in the time she couldn't see him disappeared the moment she was close enough to feel his warmth. Those little worries that he'd think about it when they were apart, or the paperwork would be so annoying he'd be irritated with her… but he wasn't. He was looking at her and smiling at her just the same as normal. 
[color=d1b300]“Either way you can hold it, just point it towards my hair."[/color] She handed the hairdryer over to him and wriggled a bit as she pulled a small comb out of her pocket. Then she pulled her long, damp hair over her shoulder so she could actually reach most of it. 

[color=d1b300]“Sometimes I think about cutting my hair much shorter, because it's so annoying to deal with sometimes… but my mom always had shorter hair, and I don't want to look like her. I like it, really, it's just a pain."[/color] As she talked she quickly brushed through it to get out any bad knots before it was dried. 

As Casey took the drier, he started to tussle Trisha’s hair, teasing out little knots he could find. Having his own hair so long, and that being the Richoux’s common styling since they were children, gave him a leg up on helping her deal with the long, thick mop of hair she was dealing with herself.
[color=577d06]”No matter how your hair looks, you’re still an Angel to me… Hey, look-”[/color]

Still in his lap, he spun the chair slightly to look at his desk. There were pictures where there hadn’t been before; apparently a slow process of moving into the space comfortably. Most of them were full of people, almost all of them in uniform. His free hand pulled one of the pictures down and placed it on the desk so Trisha could better examine it.
Honestly, it would’ve been terribly difficult to figure out which one was Casey were he not so fucking tall. Though, many of them looked freakish just the same. It was actually astonishing how [i]clear[/i] the fact that this was a group of magical individuals was.

There was Casey, bald and beardless, holding this massive kind of rifle Trisha hadn’t even seen in movies. Then another man, dark skinned, shirtless with a helmet. They were flanked by a woman, and the very clear Apparition attached to her which seemed to replace an arm with some old naval cannon. An individual of indeterminate biological orientation, as they appeared to be more animal than human overall; not a bear, not a lion, not a tiger… But somehow all three and more at once. 
And those were just a few of the dozens who posed for a picture surrounding and clambering atop this massive construct or undead behemoth… Something big that they’d probably killed. The scenery didn’t offer much in the way of interest, as it was mostly sand and sky… Clearly somewhere in North Africa.

[color=577d06]”That’s my short hair… I started growing it back as soon as I could.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“That’s… really short…"[/color] Trisha leaning in towards the desk, eyes squinting to look at the picture. It was a lot to take in, both Casey completely shaved and all the different types of magic on display. It was like some of the pictures the old coven had gotten… more obvious, because there were so many adepts in that group. But she still tried to take it in as best as she could, looking over everyone there, and everything in the background. She looked away from the photo and back over at Casey, head slightly tilted. 
[color=d1b300]“Good to know you'll still be really handsome even if you start to go bald… though I like how your hair is now."[/color]

She smiled at him - though she felt that wouldn't really matter anyway. She was attracted to him for more than just his looks… really it was the other stuff, his personality and how he treated her, that made her like him so much. 
[color=d1b300]“Shortest I've had mine was just above my shoulders when I was… ten? My mum made me cut it."[/color] She shrugged as if it hadn't been a terribly traumatic ordeal during one of her summer visits. She understood, she'd barely been able to maintain the long, messy waves she'd had then but it was still… the lack of choice. Her head turned back towards the picture. 

[color=d1b300]“Is that your… squad, then? I don't really know the terminology."[/color] She stopped brushing her hair as she asked, having got most of the knots out, and reached up to tap his hand holding the hairdryer to indicate he could start it.

The whirring of the dryer almost drowned out his mostly soft voice.
[color=577d06]”That’s the Platoon, Baby. Squads are usually around ten people, and three or so Squads make a Platoon. Sergeant Pasqual was in charge of our Squad.-”[/color]
Casey pointed to the dark skinned man next to him in the picture. Then his hand slid upward to tap on one of the men standing at the very top of the behemoth they were gathered around. This one too was a giant of a man, only he really made Casey look tiny. He made everyone look tiny, and the harpoon thing he was still gripping onto that was stuck out of their hunt looked like something you’d find holding up a barn.

[color=577d06]”Lieutenant Gerber led us all. He was in charge of our ragtag group of hellions, and I’ll probably miss him every day of my life. He was just one of those guys, you know? Everything slid right off that massive back. We called him Baby Huey… He [i]liked[/i] it. He [i]liked[/i] being mercilessly teased and bullied and… And I don’t think I ever met a person who took advantage of that. He was just too nice, too kind. Too willing to be a good man.”[/color]
Casey had stopped moving the hair dryer, indicating his slow transition into another time and another place. Focus and attention drained, the warm air from the dryer blowing just perfect enough in his face that there was no way it didn’t feel like Libya. It was hot and dry and he didn’t like it.

Finally the annoyance of it brought him out, and he took a deep breath before kissing Trisha on top of the head. The dryer began to move again.
[color=577d06]”Sorry… I know I keep the pictures, but I don’t look at it every time thinking about how many of those people are dead. You know? Maybe you’d get that way seeing a picture of the Coven together before stuff got bad…”[/color] he offered the thought.

Trisha didn't think she'd get that way seeing a picture of the Coven. Was there even one? She remembered a few people took them… Bianca Manalo had been especially annoying with it. Things weren't so bad when she'd joined… aside from what had led to her joining in the first place. But was she really close to anyone who died? She liked them enough… dated some of the dead before they were killed… The memorial she refused to visit… Martin…
[color=d1b300]“I don't know if I would, it wasn't the same. There were so many of us."[/color] Trisha looked down at her hair, brushing through it on autopilot as the hairdryer moved over it. 
[color=d1b300]“Nobody died from the main group I was in."[/color] Which was technically true, if she just thought of herself as part of the rich clique, as opposed to one of the members that very actively mingled. Trying to make friends and find a family she didn't have elsewhere. It didn't work out in the end. 

[color=d1b300]“I’m sorry I made you think about it,"[/color] she reached out for his free hand with her own, gently tangling their fingers. It made things a bit awkward for her with her hair, but that was fine. She didn't really know how to offer comfort otherwise… it wasn't like she had the same issues. Definitely not, she avoided a lot of things related to the former coven, like the memorial, because it was awkward. She gripped his hand a bit tighter. It really wasn't the same.
[color=d1b300]“If you don't want me to ask about them, I won't… and if you ever want to talk about it, I'll be here."[/color]

Casey frowned slightly, tilting his head and kissing her scalp again.
[color=577d06]”I love those people. I always wanna talk about them, remember them, think about them. I’d say it’s not their fault I’m still alive, but I can point out a couple of people who probably died directly because they chose to save my ass… But I’d be dead in their place if the roles were reversed.”[/color]
His free hand still ran through Trisha’s hair, separating sections to get them dried quicker and more efficiently overall.
[color=577d06]”You know I would’ve died to protect you today, right? Today and any day.”[/color] he whispered into her ear, his head moving to the side of her head to speak it.

Trisha froze, not responding at first, breathing quickening slightly. Her hands kept moving on autopilot through her hair as Casey did most of the work. It should be comforting, but it wasn't. She didn't want him to die to protect her. Because then he'd be leaving her. He'd leave her in a way she couldn't get him back. She'd have to watch him die and live with knowing he'd thrown away his life for someone like her. Just like… 

[color=d1b300]“I don't want you to die for me,"[/color] she said quietly, staring straight ahead without quite seeing. The shadows cast by the table and the screens were increasing in her sight, like they were creeping towards her. Phantom pain across her abdomen, one hand dropping as if to cover the scar already hidden by her clothes… she didn't remember it, just the pain, the bees that didn't listen, the unnatural screams. The emptiness afterwards. Suppressing it.
[color=d1b300]“You’re not allowed to die first. I'll- I'll stay out of danger, just don't leave me like that. I don't want that. I'd rather we both died."[/color] Because dying was better than going back to living all alone. 
[color=d1b300]“Don’t make me go through that."[/color] Again.

There was a moment where, probably just after Casey abruptly turned the blow dryer off, one could hear a horn in the far distant bay signaling its return to port. Casey didn’t turn Trisha to look at him, but if she chose to look back to see what the holdup was, she’d be greeted by a stone-faced Casey staring far off into a wall.
He didn’t want to look down at her, didn’t want to feel her vague sadness as he imagined the infinite worlds where she could possibly put herself in harms way trying to protect him. His teeth clenched into themselves so tightly, the veins around his neck were starting to pop out.

[color=577d06]”Then maybe we’ll forget it. Who needs to die, huh?”[/color] he said, voice straining slightly. He took a brief moment, a deep breath pushing out of his nose. Eyes closed, he took his free arm and wrapped it around Trisha tightly, and then he sat for a moment in that silence, face buried in her still-damp hair.
[color=577d06]”Lets just make smart choices, and watch one another’s backs. Deal?”[/color]

Every bit of that moment was his post-deployment behavioral therapy being fully deployed to deal with a situation. He was mere milliseconds away from escalation, from the bring of maybe touching off an argument, maybe just shaming her into crying more; he didn’t know and he didn’t care. He hated his base instincts, and in that moment had the urge to drown himself in a tub of flaming petrol.

[color=577d06][i]But that would be just as bad, wouldn’t it Soldier Boy?[/i][/color]


[color=d1b300]“Deal,"[/color] Trisha whispered back. She was trembling slightly, bringing her knees up towards her chest so she was a tight ball on his lap. Her body tilted towards him, and underneath his face her head seemed to move up and down in a constant, slight nodding motion. Forget it. Yes, that's what she wanted to do. What she always did. She took a deep breath, eyes moving to look at her knees rather than the creeping shadows around the room. They weren't real, anyway. 

As the irritating panic subsided to just a background noise, she tilted her head up to look at Casey. Her eyes were slightly red, but she hadn't actually been crying. Unshed tears, from what he'd initially said and an event she was trying her best to completely forget again. There were still hints of desperation in her eyes, more fear than she should have over some simple words. But she managed to smile at him all the same, forcing it out. 
[color=d1b300]“Didn’t you… you said this morning about going for your official discharging this weekend? I'd like to come… unless there's some reason you think I shouldn't?"[/color] Changing subject seemed best, though she wasn't sure if it was the right subject to change to. But her mind was filled with noise - bee death, human death - and she could only think of something he'd said they'd talk about. 

Casey’s eyes lit up at the thought like he was a coin-slot doll coming to life. He [i]had[/i] mentioned his discharging… Maybe that was part of why he was so on edge. He’d been so far gone from his position for so long that it felt like he left the military months ago. But, the reality was he was still reporting, and the only reason he hadn’t been in recently was approved leave for the Halloween Festival. Which meant, it was his last report and technically his official discharge. He didn’t imagine too much was going to happen to see him off considering the unit he was a part of in the Reserve…
[color=577d06]”What? No, Babe, there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t come. It’ll be the most tame thing you’ve had to adjust to around me, I promise. Magical security is the shit; we’re actually allowed to bring our significant others to bases and shit because the White Adepts are all Federal narcs. Super Rats, practically; they’ll fuckin’ shit on you if you steal a pen. So, I guess just don’t take anything?”[/color] he laughed aloud.

The blow dryer flicked back on and he began to dry her hair again, thinking about the few people he’d bother going to say goodbye to. It wasn’t like active duty… The people just weren’t the same. Agnew, Deetz, Sheffield… Obviously Commander Kurgan.
[color=577d06]”If anything, it’ll probably be quick too. I can’t think of too many people I care about seeing before I go.”[/color]

[color=d1b300]“Good thing I've got enough pens I don't need to steal any,"[/color] Trisha laughed lightly, unfurling her body and her hands moving back to her hair to brush it out as it was dried. 
[color=d1b300]“Will it just be a day trip then? The discharging- I assume there's paperwork- and seeing the people you want to, that's it? That does sound pretty tame in comparison… really, magical soldiers just sound like less immature Coven members."[/color]


Casey laughed.
[color=577d06]”It’s the Coven of the United States Government… You’re perfectly correct.”[/color] 
Petty, lazy fucks: Sounded just like Sycamore to him.
Looking at his clock on the table, he saw it was still fairly early. Early enough that he wanted to relax before real work started.

[color=577d06]”Hey, if we get you all cleaned up like this, is a nap out of the question?”[/color] he asked her casually.

[color=d1b300]“Already tired from the day?"[/color] Trisha asked back with a soft smile. She raised a hand to her chin as if thinking hard about how to answer. 
[color=d1b300]“It’s not out of the question. As long as my hair’s properly dried first it'll be fine. If I lie down with it wet it's an absolute pain to deal with afterwards. I don't sweat much when I nap… I don't think… we can go lie down if you want to. Some cuddling sounds really nice."[/color] Her hair was almost dry, anyway. 

She could feel his fingers starting to search for any more damp spots, which he quickly began to target with the dryer as he smiled to himself.
[color=577d06]”When you’re out in the field, you try to sleep whenever you can. You’re always exhausted, your hours are never regular, and you’re on the go constantly; you don’t think, you don’t worry, you just fucking sleep while you can. Some guys had trouble with that, but I didn’t. I only started getting bad nightmares when I got home…-”[/color]
He sounded like he was just talking about whatever, but as he did one last search and found her scalp and hair dry to his standard, he cleared his throat.

[color=577d06]”-But with you, they’re gone. It… It makes me remember how much I used to love just fuckin’ napping.”[/color] he giggled at her, putting the dryer down and kissing her gently on the cheek.
[color=577d06]”You make me feel so many things, Trisha… Thank you.”[/color]
Of course, he was waiting for her to slide out of his lap, but he probably could’ve fallen asleep right there with her.

Trisha hummed softly as she carefully got up, not moving any further than right in front of him.
[color=d1b300]“Well, we can have plenty of naps together. I only ever really napped because I had to from not sleeping. Especially against… the Snake, because we had to be up all night. I was used to it more then but it's nice to just nap because I feel like it. With you."[/color]
She leaned in, hands loosely falling on his shoulders and nose rubbing against his. Her eyes gently creased as she smiled. Yeah, it was the same for her. Casey made her feel a lot of things she didn't normally. Safe, loved…
[color=d1b300]“You’re welcome for getting beaten up in a place you could find me,"[/color] she giggled, before kissing him softly. As she pulled away she held out a hand for him.

He only shook his head with a stupid grin, taking her hand gently before rushing forward and scooping her up off her feet. It wasn’t his shift right now; he didn’t care about the office being empty… He only cared about being with Trisha. Only the comfort so long denied.