Quantum Entanglement: Howzer and Aurelia

21. Fresh Start

Aurelia woke the next morning feeling much better, save for the inescapable fuzziness that accompanies an excessive amount of sleep. There was nothing new on her datapad except a cryptic note from a sender she didn't recognize. Upon opening it, however, she felt a warm and fuzzy feeling as the words sank in.

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ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION//0600 HRS
Good morning. I hope your relentless thirst for me didn't keep you awake all night. Hope you're feeling better too. Little something on your porch for you. Meet me outside the barracks at 1900 if you fancy a walk?
CC-2420//END
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Feeling a bit more optimistic, as well as intrigued, she ventured to the door. It slid open to reveal a small, unmarked box. She brought it in to her kitchen counter, slicing through the string it was tied with, and peered inside. There was a container of cold caf, a bag of dried meat, some fresh fruit, and a small pile of flowers scattered throughout. They were brightly colored, some slightly smashed, and made a fragrant mess.

Her heart swelled in her chest. He had been slowly showing little glimpses of his old self, and she was hopelessly enraptured. But it was a beautiful thing because she didn't find herself longing for the Howzer she'd known before, rather finding it a whole new delight to discover the nuances of his maturity, growth, and complexity that had developed over the years. She wondered how things would have gone if he hadn't been shipped off right after he hurt her... but that was in the past, and she felt that his apology and subsequent behavior had smoothed it over.

Scooping the flowers out into a bowl, she poured water over them and set them on the bar counter before pulling out the rest of the contents. The caf was just the perk she needed and even more of a delight since she didn't have to make it herself. She enjoyed it over ice with her breakfast, gathering her thoughts. Feeling an odd sense of simultaneous sadness and hope, she sat on the balcony with her datapad, browsing local job listings in the hopes of finding something nearby. Everything was Imperial, however, except a dishwashing position at a restaurant in Lessu. It wasn't far from her home, so she marked the location and changed into her best clothes. It was worth a try, even just to stay near Howzer if she could. There wasn't much for her back on Coruscant but disappointed and judgmental parents. So even if it meant starting back at a mundane job, she wanted to give it a shot.

***

The interview seemed to go well, and Aurelia was instructed to wait for their decision. She was afraid to go near her office in case Howzer's guess about the Pykes had been wrong, but her curiosity was getting the better of her. Slipping into a local data center, she perused the HoloNet for any news of suspicious disappearances or kidnappings. None found. Doing her best to shove down the rising anxiety, she went home to get ready to meet Howzer, taking extra care to wash and primp up a bit. He was showing interest, though in a much more subtle way than the overt suggestions he'd made the first time around. She didn't want to scare him off, but felt an unsettling amount of attraction to him, and couldn't help but want to put her best foot forward.

***

"Well you look like you feel significantly better," Howzer commented as she rather sheepishly approached him at their appointed meeting time. She had remedied her two-day bed head and donned some comfortable adventure clothes.

"I do! That was a really sweet package, by the way. Thank you," she said, looking him up and down. "I see you dressed up for our date."

He tapped the ever-present armor plate on his thigh, "Well, you know how many options I have. And I see you've decided it's a date?" A small grin curved the side of one cheek, and instead of further teasing, he offered her an arm. "I guess I'd better be on my best behavior then."