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At 4:59 there would come a sharp knock on the door as Zeke came to lean on the wall beside it. Like Harley, the Mist had come prepared with swimming trunks already riding comfortably on his hips. They were black, with dark grey and green lines if varying thicknesses cris-crossing along the sides. A lighter grey tee shirt covered his upper body.

Boredom had prompted Ezekiel to give Harley a poke. It was true he had found a pool, and he knew she of all people would enjoy it, but had a certain blonde Life hunter not been off on leave he likely wouldn't have been standing at Harley's door.

No offense to her, that was just where Zeke's primary interest lay at the moment.

The door opened, and Zeke flashed Harley a grin as she greeted him, one that faltered at the mention of chocolate. "s**t." He frowned. "You know what, I actually ..." He looked down, as if he might apologize, but a second later he was pulling a Snickers bar from his back pocket and offering it out to her. He had a stash in his room of various goodies from the vending machines and cafeteria, and candy bars were included.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving." He stepped back, giving her room to join him out in the hall. "Nice shirt by the way."

Admittedly Zeke had been expecting a little more than a kiss on the cheek, but it was cute all the same, so the man smiled down at her as she did her little spin to show of her shirt. Then the banter, double entendre, and Hazel eyes rolled as he gave a derisive little snort. "Mmhmm." After that little taste of sugar he was under the impression she was more talk than action, which wasn't actually a bad thing, just amusing.

He'd nod to her question, waiting for her to fall into step beside him before heading down the hall. "And then a nice, refreshing dip in a pool." It had been a long time since he'd gotten a chance to go swimming, and it was very clear he was looking forward to it.

"Have you done much sparring since you woke up?"

"if you will recall," he mused, head tilting as he looked down at her. "I did not." Alluded to it, certainly, but the word 'forgot' had not actually passed his lips. And so he grinned, smug, as he sank his hands into his pockets. He still hadn't gotten a proper bead on the Life girl, but that would come with time. She was interesting enough to keep his attention, and that wasn't exactly easy, so already she had that advantage over most.

The frown was noted, raising curious questions that wouldn't be voiced just yet. "A fair few, yes. You'll be number nine." He wasn't sure if that was high, low, or average for a trainee with the number of months under his belt that he had, but Zeke Considered it decent at the least.

Lagertha would have preferred it to have been more. She pushed her partner at any given opportunity, and he, much to her chagrin, tended to ignore her.

As they reached the cafeteria the Mist stepped forward to grab the door for her. Habit, though not really out of any chivalrous ideals. Just something ingrained in him from hi mother since a young age.

He blinked as her hands closed over his cheeks and pulled him down to her level. It hadn't been a big deal, just a little light teasing he hadn't expected to amount to much, but she tipped her head and leaned into him, catching his mouth, and it was hard not to respond. Her lips were soft, and there was a faint hit of cucumber melon body lotion clinging to her skin. Crisp and clean and light. It was different than kissing Ever, so very different, but enjoyable all the same.

Seconds stretched on, and a hand come up to rest lightly on one of her elbows before she drew back enough to speak, and he was returning that grin. Well then.

Their conversation continued, and Zeke licked his lips, smirking, as she curtsied at the door. "You're very welcome." Quirky girl, very quirky, but undeniably cute.

"Have you been here a month yet? If so, you can head off island, anywhere you want, and that can include a stop at a Red Robin for whatever sort of burger your heart desires." It'd been a bit since the Mist had headed ashore, though he hadn't really noticed until now. Time moved fairly quickly here, it was easy to loose track of it. Especially when he was working long hours in the infirmary and keeping himself otherwise occupied off duty.

As they reached the line of hot plates and hotel pans holding whatever had been prepared for them that night Zeke grabbed a couple of trays, handing one to Harley.

And suddenly Zeke was jealous. "I hope it's a good aquarium." Interest betrayed by the too casual tone of his voice. In Denver he'd managed to drag Ever to an aquarium, but the Life had been rather hung over, and though he'd soldiered on admirably, he wasn't the best company. It would be nice to revisit the place with something a little more enthusiastic.

Their meal was a pleasant. Conversation and banter flowed effortlessly, and though the food wasn't exactly gourmet, Zeke still ate with the sort of vigor reserved for hungry young men. Albeit very neatly. The Mist had manners, his mother had drilled them into him.

As they made their way out to the training field pale eyes drifted down to the girl as she bounced away from him and pulled the top layer of her shirts over her head to set it safely aside. Understandable, it was a nice shirt, but he still smiled, broad and bordering on a leer. The pink was nice as well.

The ax she summoned garnered a low whistle from the man that tapered into a laugh. "That's a ******** ax." Lagertha buzzed through his mind, affronted, and Zeke's grin just grew wider. "Bigger than mine." And at that he'd summon the much smaller weapon(s), twin throwing axes connected by a chain. Pretty, with feathered details along the blades like wings, but next to Harley's ax they seemed damn near dainty.

"Charges is fine, unless you'd rather not."

"Sounds like a fabulous idea." Hopefully she was serious, because Ezekiel had every intention of holding her to the offer.

His shoulders rose in a mild shrug as she listed an obvious pro for his weapon. "That is true, she's pretty easy to handle, though the chain can be a pain in the a**." To this the Valkryie merely hummed in cold amusement, the ghoul's eagerness radiating through their bond. Her opinion was clear; less talking, more fighting.

A brow did raise curiously as Harley requested they not use their charges, but Zeke wasn't going to push her. This was supposed to be fun, after all. "If that's what you want."

{Unacceptable!}

Not your choice, Laggy.

The valkyrie made a disgruntled noise, but Harley was coming at him, and there wasn't anymore time to argue. He jerked back, but the reach on that damn ax was impressive and he felt the blade catch and tear at his shield before he was out of range.

Only to charge right back in, taking a swing at the red-head's shoulder.


HP: 37
DMG: 2
CHG: 1/3