The night of the soldier’s ‘dispute’ Cece had been left alone after fixing Hawke’s leg. She had declined that he being another soldier to keep an eye on her, and hardly slept a wink after he was gone. It wasn’t that she feared the other soldier’s would come back, instead she worried that he would be the one hurt or that she may not see him again.

It had been weeks since the incident, and each passing day Cecelie saw Hawke she grew more attached. He had come for dinner now and again and even stayed for a little while after sundown, but never long enough to start enough rumors among the scum that lingered around her home. Yet without rumors that she was taken by another suitors still bothered her like flies, and a baker in a better part of town had taken an interest in her. He would send her flowers, baked treats, and other junk that Cece had just ignored. She even tried her best to ignore him when he surprised her at school, but Cecelie wasn’t rude enough to tell him to butt out.

After a surprise visit at school she had left class early and let her students leave over an hour before school was normally done. She had gone home and poured herself an extra large glass of wine, and had begun to paint. She needed an outlet, but to find outlet in an adventure in the slums was dangerous if done alone. As she painted a slight pout formed on her lip that Hawke had yet to come and help her escape with the adventure she had in mind. Would he stay away now that the baker had been bothering her, or would he be brave enough to visit her regardless?

Hawke had never been so smitten before in his life. He had met women before who interested him some, but nothing like Cecelie. He constantly wanted to be around her and speak to her and look at her and yet he hadn’t stepped up and been a man yet. He’d visit her between his rounds and chat with her, but never did he flirt or show any indication he had affections for her. But he felt that was the right thing to do, for she was a lady and he did not want to impose anything on her or make her uncomfortable. That evening as he walked about the slums, a familiar face sauntered up to him “Well, Hawke, handsome Hawke, flew down to visit us wretch worms, eh?” Her name was Annabelle, a prostitute he had helped get out of trouble more than once. He nodded respectfully to her “Good evening, Annabelle.” He greeted and stiffened as she threw her arms around him with a grin.

“Aye heard yew been spending lots of time with a gurl. Pretty dark skinned gurl. Don’t tell me yew courtin’ her, break all the gurl’s hearts” She chuckled and he shook his head “Cecelie is her name and no we are not courting. She is a friend” He explained, stepping back from the woman who dropped her arms and smirked “Well that good then, ain’t it? Since she got someone courtin’ her already” Hawke gave her a strange look “She’s being courted?” He asked in surprise and Annabelle laughed and slapped his arm “Guess ye ain’t that good of friends! I hear some baker got his eyes set on ‘er. Wants to make ‘er his little wife” This made Hawke frown further “Where did you hear this?” He asked, which only made her laugh more and wink at him “We ladies ‘ear everything”

All the way to Cecelie’s home, this was on his mind. She hadn’t told him she was being courted…but then again it wasn’t his business, why would he need to know such a thing? Yet he felt such disappointment to know at the same time. Trying to clear it from his head he knocked on her door, though his face was scrunched in an overall frown. He couldn’t ruin her chances for marriage…he’d have to speak to her about it.

While Hawke was doing everything in his power to remain stoic and gentlemanly to Cecelie by not flirting, she had done everything she could to tempt him to. Cece had worn her better dresses as of late, put flowers in her hair on nearly a daily basis, and had even curled her hair or put a very faint stain on her lips. All for nothing! The man was impossible, and yet all her attention seeking efforts had only drawn other’s she didn’t care for.

That particular evening Cecelie sat on her stool, lazily stroking her brush across the canvas to paint a beautiful waterfall. She sipped her glass of wine and had rubbed the stain off her lips, but they remained pouty and pink from the wine she drank. There was a pink flower in her hair that she idly toyed with every now and again. Her body was restless with the thoughts on her mind, and when there was a knock at her door she didn’t imagine she could have sprang from her seat any faster. The young girl hurried to the door but paused to fix her hair and straighten her dress before opening it, not stopping to take precautions (she had grown comfortable opening the door for Hawke and slowly but surely her caution for evening visitors had dwindled away).

“Hawke,” She started, her face lighting up the moment she saw him and her heart nearly skipped a beat beneath her breast. “What a delight to see you.” She reached out and touched his arm to welcome him in, but before inviting him she stepped closer and peered passed him to make sure no prying eyes were watching. “Please come in.” Her hand slid from his upper arm all the way down to his hand to guide him inside before anyone could see, her fingers lingering on his made her heart jump a little faster. It may have been after dark, but she wasn't going to stall and ask him why he visited so late. He was a flighty man and such a question may provoke him to leave, and that was the last thing she wanted. Instead she would welcome him with hospitality, as she always did, and would offer him treats to get him to stay. "Would you like a glass of wine, or some chocolate?"

Her efforts had not gone unnoticed, though Hawke never showed what she did to him. She was absolutely lovely, he wanted to tell her that every time he saw her, but once again righteous Hawke didn’t think it was the proper thing to do to comment on her appearance, for it meant he was paying very close attention to her and he didn’t want her to think his intentions were dirty in any way. Today was the same like all the other days, she looked beautiful, but his expression stayed composed until she tried to invite him in. He frowned and glanced around, not seeing anyone but he had learned there was always eyes watching “I…merely came to say hello. I cannot stay” He didn’t want to outright tell her no he wasn’t going to come in or jump her with his knowledge of her being courted, he felt going slowly into this would be best.

He hung back and didn’t enter her home, even when she had ahold of his hand and tried to pull him through the door. “No, thank you” He said politely to her offers, feeling odd and nervous inside. If he brought it up, what would happen? Would she be upset he knew knowledge of her private life? Think he was asking because he was jealous? And what if he was wrong and she grew cross at him for jumping to conclusions? Suddenly he wished he had thought this out more before coming to see her, or asking Annabelle how to approach the subject. She didn’t have the class Cecelie had, but she was still a woman who dealt with many men, she may have known the answer to this.

Cecelie would have died to know that Hawke was interested in her in any way. She felt like one of her school girls with a crush on the boy, except her boy didn’t pick on her. No, Hawke was perfectly gentlemanly. Still he made her heart race and her cheeks blush like the young children she taught.

When he said he couldn’t stay she tilted her head to the side. “Oh.” The look of disappointment on her face was similar to a puppy that had just been passed up in the pound, but she regained herself and cleared her throat after a few seconds. “Well then… hello, soldier.” She leaned on the doorway, playfully batting her lashes at him before she laughed gently and stood up straight. It probably wasn’t the best to play a silly coy version of herself with him still standing out in the open where people could see him. No need to start rumors about a noble Urun soldier in cohorts with a girl from the Eder Kemo.

“Are you sure you cannot come in? You seem as though something’s on your mind…” It wasn't like she expected him to spill his deepest darkest secrets, but the soldier she knew seemed off. She gestured once again for him to come inside and offered him a charming but small smile. "I will not keep you too long."

The look on his face made him feel terrible. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but he just simply could not allow their casual encounters to continue for her sake. He was actually a bit surprised she hadn’t ended them herself if she was being courted by another man. They were just friend’s yes but, people didn’t see it that way when a man visited a woman almost every single night and stayed for hours. He had been worried about her reputation before but hadn’t thought of it too much…until now. Now he realized what he was doing wasn’t proper to be alone with her as much as he was. She would never be married if that got out and he would hate himself to ruin her chances of a happy, fulfilled life.

He nodded and folded his arms behind his back in his typical soldier pose “I am sure, yes” He frowned when she mentioned him having something on his mind and nodded once again, glancing inside but shook his head again. No…no he couldn’t do that. If she was promised to another man in courtship, it was not right for him to be alone with her in such a way even if it was brief “I merely wished to speak to you. I have….come to the knowledge you are in courtship with a baker. I do not want to ruin your reputation or your chances with this man so, I will respect you and him and not allow myself to be alone with you any longer or spend so much time in your presence, less people think something is happening between us”

Cecelie Atreyu had not been raised as most women had. Her mother was from J’nanin, a place where women were the queens and men were merely there for strength and companionship. She had some manners like women from other places, yes, but for the most part was a very independent young girl. So when Hawke decided it would be best he kept his distance for her sake it unsettled her. She tilted her head, staring at him for a moment as if she hadn’t heard him.

“What?” She finally breathed a response and shook her head. “No. He merely admires… He… No.” Well, so much for Hawke getting his way. Cece stepped down into the street with Hawke and shook her head. “I have not accepted his requests… I do not appreciate you making this decision to cease our friendship without consulting me, Hawke Vezzan.” Even when Cecelie was scolding someone she had a charming way of doing it; a little smile lingered on her face and her voice wasn’t nagging. “I enjoy your presence. I dare say you are among my few favorite people to be with.” Actually, he was her most favorite. “I would be inconsolable if I were to lose you as a friend.” She teased him with a smile and tugged his hand. “Stop being silly and please come inside.”

Once the words left his mouth, for once in his long life Hawke was actually afraid. He didn’t know how she’d react or what she’d do to him, he just hoped she’d understand or agree with him that he was correct. When she stepped closer to him he stepped back almost as if he thought she’d hit him and when she began to scold him shame was written all over his face and he lowered his gaze like a dog trying to avoid punishment. He only heard the words, not paying much attention in the way she was delivering them. “I apologize, I only wished to respect the man and to respect you. I was under the impression you both were courting and accepting his advances. I am sorry” Why did he listen to Annabelle?! The woman probably just wanted to get him in trouble for her entertainment.

He glanced up at her however when she didn’t continue to scold him and instead spoke of their friendhship. It is then that he saw her smile and he looked confused, wondering if she was kidding about being mad or kidding about being friendly. “So you are not…in courtship with this baker?” He still wasn’t exactly sure, so he wanted to make sure. Yes, Cece spun his head around, he never seemed to know how to behave with her. Uru women could be so much more frigid and even the ones in poverty still held to tradition. He often forgot Cece came from J’nanin, a Age he had heard was filled of endless freedom and practically no rules.

It surprised Cece that little old her could make such a large man back up from mere words. Her mind reveled in that while scolding him, but she did her best not to sound too harsh. Men were not fans of nagging or shrillness, but she had to get her point across.

“No. I am not, but even if I was I can think for myself and I can partake in the company of anyone I see fit. If the baker does not like that then he will eventually stop his efforts. I do believe there is already rumors of you and I and yet he chose to woo me regardless.” She blushed and cleared her throat, trying to bring some of her sunny disposition back and finally a smile returned to her face. “I am not like the women you know, soldier. I pay no attention to gossip, and if a man has a problem with my friendship then he is not worthy of my time.” Was it obvious enough that her mother had been from J’nanin? They may have traveled, but her roots were still the core of who she was.

“Would you not be my friend if you were convinced I am not as innocent as you think?” She asked, tilting her head slightly as she threw him a playful test, her eyes bright as she gazed upon him.

He nodded “I apologize. You are right. You are free to do as you wish” And what she wished just simply did not follow the norms of Uru society, but Cece was not any normal woman and that was why he was sure he was so attracted to her. She was strong and independent, not meek and simpering. He smiled softly when she did and chuckled a bit, relaxing as he realized she was not truly furious with him “I know you are like no other” And there was a hint of affection in his voice that he could not hide. Most other people would say it was exactly this mindset that she had that was the reason why she was still unmarried, but Hawke liked that she was so, so different from the people in Teledahn in which that was all they cared about was how others perceived them and he had never been that way.

Her last question though threw him off and for a moment he wondered if she was merely giving a random case scenario or she was trying to tell him something. He took a moment to think about it so he could give her a honest answer, and soon he shook his head “I would still be your friend. It would not change my opinion of you” He’d be surprised certainly, but he tried not to pass judgments upon people.

Part of Cecelie was surprised that an Urun soldier was so willing to agree with her and be apologetic, yet another part of her felt eased by it. She hated men that were so bold and brash, and that didn’t realize women had minds of their own. They were not the sort of men she had grown up alongside. Hawke was a comfort to her. He was the sort of man she wanted… Wait, what? No. She couldn’t be thinking that about the soldier. Next subject.

The young girl smiled in a relaxed way at his comment. “And you are like no other soldier, Hawke.” He didn’t leave her angry or scared and that was definitely not like an Urun soldier. When he decided on her friendship she laughed melodically. “Good answer.” Would it leave him questioning her? The idea of leaving Hawke on his toes enticed Cece and she opted not to linger on that subject any longer. Instead she grabbed her house key from within the door, then shut and locked the door behind her.

“Were you lying when you said you could not stay? I have an itch for adventure tonight and wanted your company. But if you really must go…” She said the words while stepping towards him and tapped the armor on his chest, smiling coyly. After touching the soldier she started off up the street towards the outer boundaries of Eder Kemo, leaving him to flee or follow.

Hawke had always seen himself as different from other soldiers, but enough to befriend a woman who hated Urun soldiers? He hadn’t thought himself that different, but it appeared to be true. Cece always left Hawke on his toes constantly, he felt like he was forever walking on a thin wire up in the sky. She said things and did things that always left him wondering and with a million questions he felt he shouldn’t ask but really wanted to know the answers. Like when she suddenly dropped the subject and stepped out of her home, he blinked and looked curious. Moments ago she had been arguing with him to come inside, and now she was leaving?

He frowned, not wanting to admit he was lying but Hawke didn’t want to lie about lying, that would just be terrible “I was…I am sorry. I did not mean to lie” Adventure? With Cece, he could only wonder what this itch for adventure might be. Even if he did have something to do, there was no way he was going to let her wander off at night in Eder Kemo, she’d get herself killed. He quickly followed her, watching her curiously “Do you often venture off at night?” He didn’t like the idea of it and wanted to advise her against it, but as they had already established, Cece was her own person and she did as she pleased.

The reason Hawke was different from other soldier’s was his innocent nature. He may have been a trained machine who could probably kill a man in one swift movement, but his mind was innocent. He was pure. There was no hatred in him, no malice or cruel nature. He only wanted good and that sang beautifully to Cecelie and her sweet soul.

“You can make it up to me.” Apologies were only words. He could work to earn her forgiveness (even though she was never truly offended). As she walked away the young girl found herself sauntering, her hips swaying in an exotic way that roused a man’s attention. As she realized it she glanced back at Hawke and smiled, slowing down enough for him to catch up.

“I do. I do not like being cooped up, so I know many hidden paths to help me escape.” Within a few minutes of looping through alleys and ducking under fences they arrived at the edge of a forest. There was no hesitation in the gypsy girl as she walked calmly into the unlit woods. Confidence was something that was rooted deep in her, even though it had gotten her into trouble more than once. “Do you ever stop to enjoy life, Hawke? I mean… do you have hobbies? Do you drink or play games, or perhaps you are a fan of gambling?” The sound of water was only a little ways ahead and it serenaded Cecelie closer, a smile never leaving her lips as she imagined what Hawke must have been like when he 'let loose'.

Hawke found his eyes traveling down to her hips, admiring them as they swayed. Uru women’s hips didn’t sway, unless they were women of the night, but he had never paid much attention to their hips as he seemed so intent on hers. He wondered if all J’nanin women walked this way or just Cece…but realizing he was staring at her inappropriately he quickly raised his eyes and stared at the back of her head. How could he be staring at her like that? It was wrong, but although he always did his best to be good, some things like just being a man could not be ignored so easily. Luckily his eyes had risen just in time as she looked back at him and he was relived she had not caught him. He didn’t think she’d take his apology a second time today.

“Do you not believe that to be unsafe?” Even if she knew hidden paths that didn’t mean anything, for there were probably many others who knew the same paths and could be lurking there. He felt uncertainty in following her, not for them now for he knew he could protect her and himself, but because he kept thinking of her doing this often by herself and it was a bit unnerving. He shook his head at her questions, becoming very alert and letting a hand rest on his sword as his eyes roamed the darkness around them “I do not drink, it clouds the mind and gambling only gets a man in trouble” How many soldiers did he know that were in mountains of debt because of too much drinking and gambling? He did not want to bother with such things, not even dabble in it, it was only asking for trouble.

If Cecelie was aware the trance she could set Hawke in she would have been delighted. Shy, but delighted. The young woman was unaware of the effect she had on him. Even as her hips swayed naturally and her long hair curled down over her shoulders and back, moving back and forth so elegantly, she was oblivious.

“If I worried over safety I would find a completely different place to live, my dear soldier.” She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him, laughing quietly at his hand on his sword. The teacher slowed to walk beside him and touched his hand and then his sword curiously. “Gambling does seem to have that effect. Tell me how you enjoy yourself. There must be something you like.” It was not long before they came upon the water and Cecelie seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. It was a beautiful sight. A small but deep pond was the end of a breathtaking waterfall that stood only half the height of most old trees.

For a moment she stood still, taking in the sight before she looked back to Hawke. “This is how I make time to enjoy myself.” As she spoke she began untying the robe that covered her white undergarments. At first she blushed and smiled, but realized he must have seen hundreds of women in their underwear. After her robe dropped she reached to touch his armor and her fingers moved to undo the ties that kept him so secure.

He tilted his head as he walked with her “Why do you live in Uru? Is not J’nanin a better place? Especially for a woman like you” In J’nanin she could explore and be independent all she wanted, from what he had heard of J’nanin she’d probably have all the men chasing after her because of her strength and personality and it was known to be a safe Age with all but zero crime. He had heard of some people coming to Uru in hopes of reaching a high status, but he heard of many more people, especially in Eder Kemo, fleeing to J’nanin or even Tomahna. When she touched him it sent electricity through him like it always did, but oh was he so good in not showing that at all. He chucked “As I have said before, I merely do my duty. I do not have time for revelries”

When they reached the water he looked around to make sure the area seemed safe before he even began to allow himself to relax. When his eyes landed back to her they widened as he watched her undress, staring in shock before quickly looking away “Um…” What was she doing? He had seen very little women in such small amount of clothing before, some welcome and some not so much. He never expected such boldness from Cece. He glanced to her as she began to untie his armor, looking very confused and very shocked “Um…” He repeated, rather speechless for words.

The young teacher tilted her head and glanced to him. “Women like me? How do you mean?” She smirked as she questioned him, knowing she kept him on his toes. Soon her smile faded some and she looked forward and at the ground while answering him. “I have no family left, soldier. After my mother was killed the family friends that took me in were kind enough to take care of me. For months I could not speak to anyone, save a child who kept me company. They saw it fit to set me up with a home in the Eder Kemo where similar children needed a kind teacher. So I stay, to honor them and educate the kids I’ve grown fond of.” It was rare that Cecelie spoke of why she was in the Eder Kemo, let alone what had happened to her. She swallowed hard at the words and walked in silence for a few moments as the sadness surrounding her mother’s memory loomed in the air.

It wasn’t long before Cecelie was back to her playful self and testing the soldier’s patience. She giggled softly at his loss of words and continued untying his armor. “I will show you how to have fun, Hawke.” With that she slid parts of his armor off and felt her heart beat quicken. “We’re going swimming, soldier. Do you want to swim in your armor, or will you help undress yourself?” She continued to remove his armor and left his chest plain, the sight making her blush and feel faint. Soon the accidental siren turned from him and hurried to the water, stepping in gracefully and wading deeper. As the water hit her hips she glanced back over her shoulder and beckoned for the soldier to follow, then turned and dove in to swim beneath the dark water.

Damn…he opened his big mouth again, didn’t he? He always seemed to word things the wrong way. “I mean…independent. And adventurous.” When she started to speak he listened intently, his eyes set on her. He had asked her questions before about her beginnings, but she always either got playful and deterred away from answering or gave him a simple answer with obvious intentions of not wanting to elaborate and so he had never pressed it and stopped asking. Hearing her story touched him and he fell silent as well after she was finished, understanding now completely why she stayed in such a place like this “That is very gracious of you, Cecelie” She could have fled and gone back to her home Age, but she chose to stay here and help the children. Not many were that selfless.

Her undressing him and speaking about fun made his typical straight laced mind go to some pretty crazy thoughts of what that fun might be. When she said they were going to swim however he let out a rush of breath and relaxed more “Swimming…” He chuckled to himself. Of course they were just going to swim, he shouldn’t have thought any different. He should have told her he could remove his armor by himself but, he seemed father frozen as he watched her take off the plating he was so used to wearing. It stirred things in him that he knew should not be stirred, but he couldn’t help it.

He watched her go towards the water, his eyes roaming over her body. No, Hawke, he told himself. Keep your eyes to yourself and respect the woman. He laughed some when she beckoned for him to come to the water and he obliged, wading in to his hips but no further.

Gracious, adventurous, independent… he was full of compliments tonight. It made Cecelie’s heart race and her cheeks pink with modesty; but it would seem that modesty was running short. She was undressing the man for God’s sake, though to her it was innocent… okay, so maybe it wasn’t entirely innocent. The man was devastatingly handsome and she had to do something now and again to grab his attention.

The sounds of the night were undisturbed for a few moments as Cecelie swam beneath the water. Soon she resurfaced, deeper where her toes barely brushed the bottom. Her hands ran over her dark hair to smooth it back and she batted her lush, wet lashes to dry her eyes. “Are you going to stand there all night?” She swam closer to the soldier, staying low in the water until she was in front of him. Her hands reached up to his and she pulled herself up, forgetting the way the wet white linen clung to her body, and she tugged on his hands while stepping back. “Swim with me, Hawke. I love the water. It reminds me of home..." One hand let go of his and her fingers trailed up his arm over a deep scar. "It washes away all stress and trouble.” Cecelie backed further and further into the water before turning her back to him and going back to where she could hardly reach the bottom. She treaded water, playing the part of a siren beckoning a sailor out to sea (not to mention giving him the same expression a siren would) then splashed water at him with a melodic laugh.

He chuckled when she called him out for just standing there. He just…he wasn’t sure what to do. A part of him said this was highly inappropriate and he should not be in the water with a all but naked Cece, yet another part of him said this was harmless and they were merely two friends having a swim together. The problem was he didn’t see Cece as just a friend, but he couldn’t very well go out and blurt that out could he? He made sure to stay steady so she could stand up and his eyes went straight down to her body like a magnet before he forced them up to her face. Damn it…that time he couldn’t hide his staring and he felt embarrassed for doing it so boldly. It was just a swim…just a swim…just a swim. He kept repeating it in his head to try and make his body relax from everything it was going through at the moment.

Washes away stress and troubles? He felt stressed and like this would give him trouble, but he didn’t say. ..and realized there were a lot of things he didn’t allow himself to say. When she swam away he watched her and he could have just simply stood there and done nothing but watch her, but when she splashed him he laughed and darted forward through the water towards her. Like any soldier he was taught to swim, but he couldn’t remember the last time he had done so. He reached her and splashed her back, able to stand where her toes barely touched. “Do you always come here alone?” He would pretend he was asking it for her safety, that it was better she come here with someone…but really he wanted to know if any other men got to see her as she was now.

Even through all the effort she made to be oh so subtle about keeping Hawke’s attention Cecelie still felt herself blush when he looked to her wet body. She looked down to herself and ran her hand over her chest then stomach. Part of her wanted to ask if there was something wrong, and another part wanted to ask if he liked what he saw. It made her realize she spent too much time around the vixens in the Eder Kemo.

Once in the water she was safe again. Safe to make playful advances then swim away like a mermaid from a poor infatuated man. When he splashed her she laughed and swam back further, testing him to see if he would chase her. By the time her toes could no longer touch she was already starting to get cold but wouldn’t complain… yet. “Yes.” She always came alone. “Women from here do not appreciate the water.” She watched him for a moment then smiled. “And I trust no man like I trust you, Hawke.” The girl swam back to him then, reaching forward and pinching him playfully under the water. First she touched his chest, then his stomach, and then prodded his legs with her toes playfully. “Do you see many women in their undergarments?” She laughed with the question, then pinched his chest and swam back to get him to chase her.

He had hoped perhaps she hadn’t caught him looking, even though it had been the most obvious motion in the world he could only hope. However when she looked down to herself he realized she had in fact caught him and he mentally groaned. He deserved a slap, a glare in the very least, but she didn’t seem to be angry at him at all. Hawke was always a gentleman…alright ninety nine percent of the time. There was one percent of him that no manners or training could ever cure, and that was the one percent that was pure male that no even the sweetest of boys could escape from. He felt safe with her submerged in the water as well, kept her body hidden from his deviant eyes that seemed to not care for keeping to manners.

He did chase her, able to walk in the water far further than she could, but even for him the water began to become too deep and his toes started to barely touch. When she mentioned women well…that wasn’t exactly what he was fishing for but he supposed he still received the answer he wanted. Then she added men and he looked surprised then touched that she trusted him so much “I am honored to hold your trust, Cecelie” He told her earnestly. A woman like her he knew did not trust very easily, and too be a trusted friend he appreciated. He laughed as she poked and pinched him, not even twitching from it, but his mind was a bit elsewhere at the moment. Her question made him give her a funny look, it was a…odd question and he laughed again “Ah…no. No I do not” He even looked a bit bashful when he said it.

Most men in the Eder Kemo had absolutely no manners. It was not uncommon for Cecelie to be howled at, or to be touched when walking to or from work. Those men were quick to be put in their place, but that was beside the point. They had no manners to begin with and you couldn’t teach every dog a new trick.

“Do you trust me?” She asked, treading the water gracefully and sinking lower after she asked, as if she was afraid he would say no. She felt a blush in her cheeks that was subdued by the coolness of the water. When he said he didn’t see many women she lifted herself higher out of the water and laughed. “I find that hard to believe, Hawke. I am not calling you a liar, but I don’t understand why you don’t have more women in your life.” The young woman then swam a little closer to him and splashed him playfully. “I… “ There was a blush in her cheeks. “I have not seen many men… so close. Certainly not any man as…” As Cecelie’s voice trailed off she swam close enough to feel the warmth from his body in the water. Her hand reached out and hesitated then gently touch his chest. After a short moment a breath of air escaped her and she shook her head as a flush colored her cheeks brightly. “My apologies, Hawke. I don’t mean to be inappropriate.” She just couldn’t help herself, he was just so large and… and... different than any man she had seen. To lighten the mood she began to laugh and pushed him playfully, then swam backwards slowly. "You are supposed to try and catch me."

He didn’t even hesitate “Of course I trust you” In fact he was pretty sure he trusted Cece just as much, if not more, then some of the soldiers he had grown up and trained with. She had never shown him any reason to ever be suspicious of her, but he was also always so taken by her he probably wouldn’t even see if she did do something to betray him, but she did not seem the type. He laughed when she didn’t believe him and he gave her a curious look “Why is that hard to believe?” Then he looked taken aback and chuckled, a bit of boyish behavior creeping into him, shy and awkward “Women? More than one?” Plural? Why did she expect him to have several women instead of just one? Him having one woman seemed rather spectacular in itself, but having several? He had never been that type of man.

“Men like…?” He didn’t understand and wondered why she suddenly looked so shy. When she came closer and touched him he felt his body go very still, reacting eagerly to her touch. How could she do that? Turn his insides into mush just by merely touching him, even so faintly. He had been touched by other women before, some he had been intimate with and his body had enjoyed it but…with Cece it was just altogether a different experience. He smiled and quickly shook his head when she apologized “Nonsense, do not…feel you need to apologize…” Because he liked it, but he couldn’t say that, he just didn’t want her to feel she needed to be sorry for being herself and doing what she wanted. When she pushed him he didn’t react, but when she told him to chase him he realized she was trying to play and he…wasn’t always so good at playing. But he wanted to try and have her enjoy herself so he jumped forward through the water and tried to grab her with a laugh.

The trust that the soldier had in her made Cecelie smile warmly. Trust enough to swim with her late in the night, and trust to remove his armor.She had only seen him without his armor once before and it still made her blush. She laughed and splashed him gently. "Because you are very, very handsome, Hawke. I am surprised that you do not have a wife." the words made her smile bashful and she tilted her chin down slightly while batting her lashes at him.

It would seem Cecelie was in over her head. A siren would have been able to keep her cool, but innocent virgin Cece was all blushes and smiles with the beautiful Hawke. She giggled as she swam back from him, squirming in the water to get away from him but he was too fast. She let herself be captured after a few moments once she could no longer touch and she laughed as she tried to catch her breath. Feeling her heart race she swam up to the nearly nude soldier and held onto his shoulders. Another moment passed until she leaned in closer for more support and felt goosebumps raise her skin. Her body brushed against his a few times as her legs moved back and forth slowly. "I am cold." The words left her south in a breath hardly more than a few inches from his face as her warm honey eyes felt memorized by his handsome face.