Avicia stared up at them, trying to convince her thrumming heart to slow. Heat crept up her spine and, mortifyingly, her cheeks began to warm. But something more bristly shot through her, the longer Kahdreg smirked down at her. Smug and challenging, goading her to react, to pull away, to distance herself

Faintly, she wondered what they'd do if she defiantly chose the other direction.

"No clue," she finally answered, her hands moving up the orc's arms, fingertips grazing across bare forearms and pausing at their elbow. Avicia ignored the alarms in her head, the cries of 'inappropriate.' She wasn't just his employee now. She was an equal in a scheme and that gave her a dash of boldness. Standing a little straighter, extending her neck as far as she could, Avicia closed the distance between their faces. Narrowing her eyes, a challenging grin curled at her lips, her tone taking on something semi-provoking, "Are you going to show me?"

Something caught in Kahdreg's expression. Avicia wasn't exactly what it was. Maybe a slight widening of eyes, a sharp - but silent - inhale, a darkening of cheeks. It was too small for her to really notice. Heat rose, without notice, between the two as silence enveloped them, weighing down on them.

Both their senses focused on one another, skin prickling from the muted electricity in the air as body heat and scent lingered around them. Beneath her fingers, Kahdreg's arms tense and she thought their breathing slowed, like someone trying to regain control of fly-away emotions.

The corners of Avicia's lips twitched into a broader grin, still amusedly waiting for Kahdreg's move.

Kahdreg surprised her by pulling away and sharply turning, heading into the living room. Over their shoulder, they called back a hearty, "People that call orcs cowards are subjected to a movie of the orc's choice."

The moment was a bittersweet one, a joint victory and failure. Mentally, Avicia scored Kahdreg's retreat as a win, presuming she had flustered them she half-grinned to herself. Another part of her thoughts were slightly disappointed with the outcome. There would have been much more interesting ways for the night to develop, after all.

"A movie? Aren't you tired?" She prodded, following after them. It would have made sense to be exhausted, given the day they had. Yet, she'd be lying if she said she wanted to go to bed now. There was something buzzing in the air. Some unlabeled excitement.

"What can I say?" Kahdreg crouched down to finger through a collection of DVDs. "A captive audience has energized me."

"I'm not really captive," she taunted, thumbing in the direction of the guest room. "I could just go to bed."

"You could," they admitted, before flashing a movie in her direction. "But then you'd miss out on this beauty."

'Beauty' couldn't have been more subjective, Avicia decided as she peered at the case. Judging from the aesthetics - and the words 'Blood of the Gods' in red dripping font - it was obviously a horror flick. Though little could be discerned in the shadowy cover, it wasn't like she was well versed in the horror genre. It could've been anything from a campy horror flick to a gore-a-thon for all she knew.

With a wince, Avicia glanced back up at Kahdreg. "What if I said I already saw it?"

"Who's a coward, now?" They grinned down at her, their eyes lighting up. The movie wobbled in their grip, like they were taunting her with a fake bug.

Their words were met with Avicia's eyes narrowing and a frown pursed at her lips. Despite the fact she knew she was playing into their game, she bit out, "Fine, put it in."

"Miss Thorn," gasped Kahdreg mockingly as they turned to the DVD player. "Isn't that a bit forward? Even for you?"

"What do y-" She started to ask as she settled onto the couch, before spotting his teasing grin. The entendre suddenly smacked her in the head a moment later. Heat flared through her cheeks. "Oh. Shut up."

A cackle of a laugh boomed from Kahdreg as they set up the movie. While they busied themselves, Avicia checked her phone. There'd been a litany of messages from patrons, upset that her day job had cut into her weekend hours or concerned about her disappearance. She managed to send a few replies, smoothing the ruffled feathers with promises of new content and soothing concerns over her well-being.

As Kahdreg stood, her attention flickered from her phone to the orc and she quickly turned her phone's display off. "All set?"

"Wait a minute," they waved her question away, returning to the kitchen. "I have to set the theatrical mood."

She snorted, despite the amused grin at her lips. At the mention of theaters, Avicia's mind shifted to high school dates. Sitting at the very back of nearly empty rooms, to touch and make out. Little noises being drowned out by the surround sound as she tasted the sugar of soda and candies on her partner's lips.

Not to mention the at-home viewings. It was an easy excuse to turn the lights down. Hell, there were even people that chose horror flicks specifically to have their hopeful partner cuddle close. At that thought, Avicia's suspicions turned toward Kahdreg.

While she relived the memories, the unskippable trailers droned on. Kahdreg flitted about the apartment, setting the tone for a quiet movie-watching experience. From the corner of her eye, Avicia watched. They dimmed the lights, retrieved snacks, procured a couple bottles of water. Eventually, Kahdreg was situated on the opposite from Avicia on the rather large couch. Snacks and drinks set on the coffee table, within comfortable reach of both of them.

"So, obviously, your whole personality revolves around movies." Avicia waved a hand around the room, indicating all the movie-centric memorabilia and knick-knacks. Kahdreg glanced up from the remote, as she illustrated: "Directing, watching, collecting."

"I have other hobbies," they muttered, a tad defensively, just as the movie's beginning played.

"Oh?"

Kahdreg's lips thinned, their eyes on the screen as they ignored Avicia's exasperating grin. When it was obvious she wasn't going to stop staring, they deflected. "How about you?"

"My hobbies?" That smile never left her lips. Now it was joined with a glint in her eye, one that wouldn't forget their change of focus.

"Or your interests or your family." Kahdreg waved a hand flippantly in the air, like they were swatting at a lazy fly. "Weren't those the other 'dating' things we were supposed to talk about?"

"I'm just your average consumer of pretty much any media." Avicia shrugged, leaning further into the couch. "Books, movies, anime and cartoons, video games, comics, online fandoms."

"Ah, very eclectic," Kahdreg chuckled, a slight grin on their lips.

Both fell silent as their attention shifted to the movie. Every so often, Avicia's concentration would be drawn away from the moving images on screen to the orc, as they leaned to grab a handful of trail mix or their water bottle from the table. Likewise, Kahdreg's attention would shift to Avicia whenever she did the same.

A pressure of sorts strung in the air. Not uncomfortable, but curious. Each waiting for the other to say or do something, so they could react. The surreality of their situation had fully settled. An employer and their personal assistant, spending time together to solidify their 'dating' credentials.

"You know, I don't bite," Avicia finally said, once they were a third of the way through the movie. She had to raise her voice, between the distance and the sound of tense music throbbing from the speakers.

"Don't you?" Kahdreg surveyed her from the corner of their eye. A slight grin slanted at their lips. "Pity."

"Careful." She narrowed her eyes, mischief coaxing her to crawl across the couch, toward Kahdreg. They turned their attention a little further toward her, the movie casting stark lighting across their face. It was hard to tell if Kahdreg minutely stiffened in anticipation, but Avicia got the feeling they did. Once close enough to not raise her voice, Avicia paused. Leaning forward, her words dipped into soft suggestiveness, "Keep flirting like that and I'm going to assume you actually are interested."

To Kahdreg's credit, their expression didn't break. Their eyebrows ticked upward, the air around them still with carefulness as their grin twitched a little wider. "Who says I'm flirting?"

Without meaning to, her lips pursed into a pout while they simply smirked back at her.

"Look, you're the one paying for a girlfriend experience," she huffed, unabashedly nudging at the orc to adjust their positioning.

"You haven't been paid yet," they countered, while humoring her, shifting at her touch. Soon, Kahdreg was lounging back on the couch, one leg on the cushions and the other still planted on the floor. Avicia crawled between their open thighs and sprawled atop their chest.

Their size difference came into stark focus, in this position. It made the orc swallow and glance away from Avicia. At the same time, the firm heat of Kahdreg taunted Avicia's senses. Her thoughts swarmed with ways to teasingly touch and tantalize them, part of her wondering how worked up Kahdreg could get until Definite Bad Decisions were made.

Before getting completely comfortable, Avicia dragged the blanket draped along the back of the couch over top them. Once encapsulated in warmth, she snuggled against their chest. Kahdreg's heart throbbed against her cheek, hitching slightly as she settled in. Meanwhile, her own face warmed, part of her knowing this position was inappropriate for a boss and their employee while trying to act as if it was all perfectly fine.

"I trust you to honor our agreement," Avicia finally replied, raising her hand to Kahdreg's bandage shoulder. At the ginger touch, Kahdreg stilled further beneath her.

Her words caused their steady heartbeat to stutter, their voice thick with seriousness when they answered. "I will."

"Good," was Avicia's simple reply. With a few more small shifts, she comfortably laid atop Kahdreg, her arms curled to her chest and her face turned toward the television. Likewise, Kahdreg had gotten comfortable, with one hand behind their head and the other resting, tentatively, on Avicia's back.

It was easy enough to pick up the strings of the plot after her location change, at least. Though the suspense and horror of the movie had a hard time penetrating Avicia's mind. With Kahdreg's heartbeat in her ear and the steady rise and fall of their chest as they breathed, being unsettled was the farthest sensation from her thoughts. In fact, she felt frighteningly comfortable.

"I wouldn't have pegged you for the cuddly type," Kahdreg said suddenly. The words were joined with their large hand moving slightly, as if to stroke Avicia's back, before the movement came to an abrupt halt.

"I wouldn't have guessed you - a rich and famous director - would need a fake partner." Like a cat, Avicia arched her back into Kahdreg's palm, encouraging their hand to continue.

The internal restraint that had stopped their hand dissipated and, soon, the orc softly stroked her back. Around her lower back, careful not to dip too low into rear territory. In return, a quiet sound left Avicia's lips as she contentedly squirmed against the touch. As gentle as their touch, Kahdreg chuckled, "Touché."

"Why don't you have a partner?" Craning her head, Avicia looked into Kahdreg's half-shadowed features, cushioning her chin with her forearms folded atop the orc's chest. With a teasing grin, she added, "Too focused on your job?"

It had took Kahdreg a beat to reply - as if they were tempted to relinquish something else - while their touch slowed at her inquiry. The momentary temptation was ousted as they gave a tepid answer. "More or less. And you?"

"What about me?" Avicia blinked innocently up at them. A deeper part of her mind noticed how they sidestepped giving her a direct answer.

"Don't you have contenders for your affection?" Kahdreg rolled their eyes as they clarified their question. The orc's hands came to Avicia's sides, giving her a playful squeeze. "Like the barista who thought you had a beautiful smile?"

A snort of a laugh left Avicia's lips. Though she saw the demon barista - Brier - frequently at Java Brava, it'd become increasingly obvious they didn't quite click. She was surprised Kahdreg even remembered such a small incident. And she tried not to look too much into it, even if her heart caught a little.

With a shake of her head, still smiling, Avicia sighed, "I'm too busy to date."

"Not too busy to fake date, though?" Skepticism splashed over Kahdreg's expression, their eyebrows raising. Avicia could see their point. She could have easily made a pointed comment about how needy her boss was on the weekends, but she chose to give them a break.

"Of course not," she said with a teasing tone, walking her fingers up their chest before booping her index finger against their nose, "For the right price, at least."

A thoughtful grunt was Kahdreg's only reply.