Nothing prepared Avicia for the Vidaroc clan's hospitality and vigor. As soon as the car was parked - which roused her from her nap - four orcs came pouring from a large farmhouse, waving and grinning with broad toothy smiles. She barely managed to step out of the vehicle before introductions whirled past, her hand being grabbed and shook with over-enthusiastic amicability. A smile transfixed to her lips as she did her best to keep up in her groggy frame of mind, though nervousness had brought dizziness to the party.

"Can't believe you kept her from us, Kahd!" Fanuma, Kahdreg's youngest sister, crowed. Though shorter than Kahdreg, she still stood taller than Avicia - all the Vidaroc family did - and built lithe, like a dancer or a runner, with short cropped hair dyed platinum blonde. Her brown eyes sparkled with teasing, her grin puckering the scar at the right side of her lips.

Avicia had realized, seeing the Vidarocs in full, the scar on Kahdreg's lip must have been the clan-designated mark. Each of their family had the same exact scar on the right side of their mouth.

"Your own poor mother had to find out through a tabloid!" Norgorzi, Kahdreg's grey-haired and grey-eyed mother, swatted at their shoulder. As she moved, her braid danced down her back, flipping with her expressive movements. She was built like a washerwoman, simultaneously muscular and soft. "A tabloid, Kahdreg!"

"I know, I know." Kahdreg held their hands up, like a shield, tossing Avicia an apologetic look during the chaos. They knew just how much their family could apparently be.

Avicia could only return a wry smile, as if to say 'you kind of deserve it' before attempting to step in on Kahdreg's behalf. "It all happened rather quick."

"Oh?" Nogorzi turned an interested and intense gaze onto Avicia. She shoved away from her child, leaning closer to the human woman, almost conspiratorial. "Do tell, since apparently they won't keep us in the loop!"

Kahdreg threw their head back, groaning an exasperated, "Ma, I've been busy."

"Too busy to give us a call?" The mother challenged, once again turning back to her child. The sparkle of interest in her grey eyes darkened into a stormy challenge, her lips twisting downward into a displeased frown.

"Yes!" Kahdreg threw their arms wide, as if to demonstrate the hugeness of something. "I'm in charge of a huge project right now!"

"But not busy enough to date." Namra, the middle child, added quickly. Her voice was steady and soft, compared to her mother and sister. Like Kahdreg, she had the same orange eyes, her long dark hair hanging loose and framing her face. She crossed muscular arms over an equally muscular chest, cocking an eyebrow at her eldest sibling in silent challenge.

At that, Kahdreg's lips pressed into a solid line. There was no argument to be had there. If they had enough time to pursue a lover, they should've had enough time to pick up the phone or shoot an e-mail to family. Flailing in dealing with their family, Kahdreg sighed and shot Avicia another helpless look.

Avicia partially hid her amused smile behind her knuckles, momentarily debating letting Kahdreg fend for themselves. But the longer Kahdreg stared at her, with that hopeless kicked puppy expression, her soft heart gave in. Turning to the family, she raised her hands in front of her and laughed, "To be fair, I was his personal assistant until a month or so ago. He doesn't go far from his work, even with me."

All eyes turned to her, eyebrows raised and an apparent hunger for what she had to dish. Oh no, Avicia realized right away she just stoked the gossip mill. Kahdreg groaned, covering their face with their hands. From the corner of her eye, Avicia could see their shoulders hunch up to their ears, like a child bracing for a lecture.

Despite the still amused tilt of her lips, she continued as she rehashed the same lie they both had crafted to tell Kalinaera at the charity ball. "I kind of had a crush from the beginning and it was thanks to another co-worker locking us in a supply closet, we... um... yeah."

Surprisingly, Avicia couldn't find the words to finish as her cheeks burned with a blush. The intense and rapt attention of Kahdreg's family made it hard for her to find the rest of the lie. Guilt nibbled at the edges of her thoughts, but Avicia pushed it away.

Fanuma suddenly looped an arm around Avicia's shoulders. "Good, they didn't force ya into anything! Or else I'd have to beat them up!"

"I was worried there for a second," sighed Norgozi, hands held to her chest as if to still a face-paced heartbeat.

Kahdreg bristled at their insinuations, their hands fisting. "Do you really think I'd do that to someone?"

"I don't know," Fanuma snapped, relieving Avicia of the weight of her arm as she slipped away to step closer to Kahdreg. The blonde orc mirrored their older sibling's annoyed body language, hands fisted as she leaned forward. "You never talk to us anymore!"

Avicia took a couple steps back, attention flickering from Kahdreg to Fanuma. Both seethed with irritation and, briefly, she thought they might come to blows. It was a common orcish practice of disagreements resulting in physical brawls. Avicia didn't quite understand it, but - from what her patrons explained - their penchant for strong feelings needed an outlet before compromises or agreeances could be made.

"Alright, that's enough excitement for me. I'm gonna go finish up that firewood," sighed Kraull, Kahdreg's bald-headed father, who had been silent - other than introducing himself - for most of the proceedings. He, too, had orange eyes and a soft, though commanding, way of speaking, much like Fanuma. Though, of all the present orcs, he was like a bulky bison, muscular and strong and big. "Orzi, don't you got to prep dinner?"

Norgorzi perked up at her husband's call, but sighed theatrically as he reminded her of her responsibilities. With a resigned nod, she disappeared back into the house.

"I can help you with that firewood." Kahdreg started after their father, before half-turning toward Avicia and holding out their hand. "Come with, Avicia?"

The expression on Kahdreg's face could only be described as hopeful, Avicia knew. Perhaps relieved to find an excuse to free both of them from the gossip mill. She didn't have to be asked twice. With a nod, she accepted her boss's proffered hand and allowed them to lead her away. Avicia was definitely not ready to be left alone with the two over-eager sisters, fearful of her own slow-growing guilt and what the two might inadvertently suss out about the fake relationship.

Though those feelings didn't keep her from glancing back at Namra and Fanuma, the two leaned toward one another, muttering between themselves. Avicia turned back, heat licking across her cheeks and up her spine. Despite herself, she wondered if they were unimpressed with her. Or maybe they could smell the farce in her relationship with Kahdreg. Without thinking, she squeezed at her counterpart's hand, apprehensive for what was to come during the weekend trip.

Her chest constricted as Kahdreg gently reciprocated the hand-squeeze, making the guilt swelling inside her inexplicably diminish a little. She tried not to focus on why that was, as confidence reassured her they could do this. They could totally fake a loving relationship - without making the strange resonance between them worse - and fool the people who raised and grew up with Kahdreg. Easy peasy, right?

Nervously swallowing, Avicia tried not to focus on that thought as she watched Kahdreg's back.

---

Retreating to the woodcutting area didn't seem to dissuade Namra and Fanuma, though. They followed at Avicia's heels, asking good-natured questions and carrying on with small talk. Half the time, the human woman didn't even need to participate as the two orc women exchanged quick snarky patter, as if they had rehearsed the conversation beforehand.

It was almost a relief, how little she had to participate. However, watching her boss splitting wood wasn't exactly without its own problems. It was like a scene in a bad romance book. Kahdreg tossed their shirt to the side upon entering the clearing, hoisting up an axe that a human couldn't dream of hefting. Avicia watched their every movement, eyes drawn to the muscles flexing along their arms and back. Kahdreg's face pinched with concentration, a crease between their eyebrows and the beginning shimmer of sweat on their shoulders.

Heat caressed down the back of her neck, spreading tingles across her skin as heat weighed heavily at her core. Unbidden thoughts of other sweaty activities teased at Avicia's mind. Clenching her teeth, she tried to ignore her body's reaction. She never once considered chopping firewood sexy and she wasn't about to start now! But, damn, if Kahdreg wasn't making a good, wordless argument. Maybe that was what was so alluring. They weren't smirking or saying anything smarmy to ruin the moment.

Kahdreg, on the other hand, was having a far easier time. Their father was quiet when focusing on a task, though - occasionally - the older orc man would glance between Kahdreg and Avicia.

After a thunk of his axe, Kraull paused to voice their observation. "Still tryin' to use the ole choppin' firewood t'show off, I see."

"I don't know what you're talking about, dad," mumbled Kahdreg, thankful for the heat of exertion masking their embarrassed flush. Had they subconsciously decided to show off in front of Avicia? It certainly wasn't their intention when asking to help. Really, they just wanted some distance from their sisters. Kahdreg grinned over to their dad, a taunting tone in their voice as they slid a little back into informal speech, "I'm just helpin' you in your old age."

Kraull eyed Kahdreg with a skeptical look, a heavy eyebrow raised high. "That mean you won't take off once you realize your sisters took off with Avicia?"

The bombshell dropped just as Kahdreg was midway through halving a log of firewood. Once the blade thunked into the wood, they twisted to look where Avicia had been observing. Only empty air stared back. "What?!"

She was gone. As was their sisters. An annoyed growl curled from Kahdreg, imagination already full with what embrassments Namra or Fanuma were airing to Avicia. It made the blush burning at their cheeks hurt all the worse. Leaving their axe wedged into the stump, Kahdreg took a step toward the house before Kraull grabbed their arm.

"What happened to helpin' your old man?" A teasing, crooked grin tilted at Kraull's lips and, had Avicia still been around, she would have seen the sheer resemblance between father and child. Grabbing Kahdreg's axe, Kraull yanked it from its embedded spot before pressing it into their child's hands. "Finish your stack, before y'go."