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The door shuts somewhere behind her, strong steps stamping out damp and cold as their owner shakes herself out no doubt. A quick look out the window confirms it’s still raining, heavy and quiet outside. There’s the sound of muttered cursing and the damp thump of an overcoat being dropped.
“If it rains tomorrow as well, we’re going to Rivain.”
“So, should I start packing then?” There’s an inelegant snort behind her, and she feels strong arms wrap around her shoulders from behind.
“Is that pessimism for the weather, or optimism for the vacation?” Tez’s soft voice lilts by her ear, and Neve knows when she’s being made fun of - can’t find it in her to be annoyed. Rana had dropped off their latest inquiry in the Swan and had told her they’d committed to meeting a few leads tomorrow. They weren’t going anywhere for at least a couple days - longer, if the threads she could already see in the notes spread across the desk panned out - and Tez knew it. “Already see something, hm?”
“Maybe… without talking to them, it may be nothing, but…” She reaches up to squeeze the hands at her collarbone before leaning forward. There’s give for a moment, before the strong arms around her pull her back. There’s an undignified noise hanging in the air, but she’d invite the wisps back home before admitting it came from her. Tilting her head back against a broad chest, she sees the sparkling laugh in Tez’s eyes as she looks down at her, her curly mane of hair heavy with rain falling down to curtain the moment. “I won’t get too far into it, but I do want to-”
“You just said it yourself. Without talking to them, there’s not much to go on yet.”
“That is not-”
“Neve, your hair is still damp.” Gentle fingers thread through her hair at that, pulling out the pins keeping it neat and the relief that hits her temples as it falls free - her eyes flutter shut and she can feel her shoulders drooping. “You came in from meeting Rana and immediately sat down here didn’t you?”
“I grabbed coffee.”
“From this morning. And the last thing you need is coffee. Come on - no point in riling yourself up until tomorrow.” A beat of quiet, staring up into those warm brown eyes watching her with such fondness. She could push - there is something there - and Tez would let her. But…she sighs softly, eyes slipping closed as she reaches up to press her fingers into her temples.
She’s cold, tired, and getting all the facts before she dives in has never been a bad thing. She can feel the low rumble of a laugh more than she can hear it as it melts down her spine. “You know Trouble, some day, this won’t work.”
“Mm, someday.” Tez agrees as she steps back, taking only Neve’s hand with her, and trusting her to follow.
She’s not quite sure how that ends up with her in a steaming bath, heady from the close heat, even as she can still hear the rain on the roof. Sweet-smelling candles are lit, and she can feel the remaining tension of the day - week, hell the last month - slowly seeping out of her. Tez is perched on a seat beside her - when did she have time to change into sleep clothes? - reading something…
“So it’s just me who doesn’t get to work?” She asks, leaning over to prop her arms on the rim of the tub.
“Bellara sent over her latest work - wanted our eyes on it before she sent it to her publisher.”
“Oh? She figure out what to do with the assassin and the warden then?”She murmurs, resting her cheek on her arm and feeling her eyes slip closed under the gentle ministrations of the heat and the sweet scent of…what was that? She’d have to ask Emmrich next time they saw him…
“She sounded excited, but wouldn’t tell me anything. Said I should read it for myself and tell her.” There’s a soft scratch of papers turning before she feels a hand on the back of her neck - familiar fingers expertly finding the last knot of tension in her, firm and soft at the same time.
Comfortable silence falls then, broken only by the rain, and the occasional rasp of parchment. She didn’t fall asleep, though it was a close thing - Neve knew she’d be too busy to have moments like this in the coming days - she was going to enjoy this while it lasted.