Well...Aren't they just the cutest?

Thanks to Lionel's limited time to meet with Rædnael and both of them taking a liking to the Rosso Plaza, they didn't mind to continue meeting there while they were both busy, allowing the halfling to not worry about making excuses for why he couldn't have Lionel visit his place.

Not to mention that thanks to Rædnael having established his "friend" that he's meeting about finding work, he could use that to limit their encounters, especially if he was worried about his disguise faltering. He knew, however, he had to use that excuse wisely, not wanting to make Lionel feel like he's being waved off.

"This place really has the best baked goods in the area," Lionel grinned after taking a bite of a piece of fresh berry tart the two shared, from the last batch to be made for the evening. "I'm glad you like it too."

"I'm glad you recommended it," Rædnael smiled back, having a hard time wrapping his head around how many sweets he had in the past week. It was probably more than he had since leaving Heks' foster care. "I promise I'll pay you back for this."

Lionel chuckled back, covering his mouth to not flash a mouthful of berry custard at his date. "You really don't have to, Rodrick. It's just some coffee and pastries, I'm happy to share."

Still feeling a bit awkward yet thankful for being paid for, Rædnael nodded and took another bite, trying to focus on the flavor as a nagging feeling kept itching at the back of his head. This little, pecking feeling that he's being stared at, which was made all the more potent as it made him feel like his disguise was failing, having only Lionel's lack of reaction to go by. As ironic as it was, if what Adder said was right, then Lionel would notice it first if any of his features suddenly came through.

Then again, other people wouldn't care as much. Other people would just think he was an exile with a permit. If Lionel was the one to notice, though...Well, Rædnael would have to hope he can outrun him once again.

Doing his best to swallow that feeling down and keep up the casual banter over the sweets, he tried not to feel nervous about every passing stranger, telling himself that it's just people going about their evening and none of them would even shoot a second glance at them having an evening snack. But as he tried to convince himself of that fact and find a sense of security in it, someone in the crowd briefly caught his attention. At first he brushed it off as being his imagination, but then he realized the same person seemed to be approaching them.

A short, young lady with a confident posture, looking around for a bit.

Maybe looking for the entrance to the café—

No, she was definitely walking towards them.

Rædnael kept looking at Lionel as they talked, pretending not to notice the approaching lady, to not appear nervous as he could pick up the approaching steps from the dozens of people moving back and forth in the plaza.

And soon enough there was a hand on Lionel's shoulder, for once making the off-duty officer jump in his seat, but quickly laughed it off as he looked up to the surprise visitor. "You two are looking just precious," she grinned, giving Lionel's shoulder a little squeeze, looking up across the table, "and you must be Rodrick."

Rædnael tensed up a bit, fighting the instinct to fumble for the correct ID card, nodding at the woman.

"Oh, Rodrick, this is my commander, Miss Faraday," Lionel smiled proudly. "One of the best Las Flores has to offer."

"You can just call me Sofia. I've already heard plenty about you, no need for such formalities," she laughed, reaching to shake Rædnael's hand.

The halfling smiled awkwardly and shook her hand back, holding himself as best he could from shaking as he did. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am— I mean, Sofia. Sorry," he stammered, taking his hand back as soon as she let go.

Sofia chuckled, nodding back at him. "Lionel told me you were a bit on the shy side, I see he was right," she said with a pat to Lionel's back. "I'm not here to judge, of course. Or to ruin your fun. Thought I'd just say hello and get to meet you at least once, since I've heard coming over to the station is a bit too stressful for you."

"I'm...yeah, it's all the—" the disguised halfling tried to explain, but Sofia stopped him.

"You don't have to make an excuse, I totally understand. It's not for everyone," she smiled, moving away from the table. "It was nice meeting you, Rodrick. Hope to see you around more often," she said as she waved at them, going about her business and leaving the plaza area.

"Looks like she likes you, too," Lionel grinned, catching Rædnael's attention again, as he gave the officer a confused look. "Or, you know...like an older sister approving of her sibling's date," he clarified, "not that I had any doubt, I really told her a lot about you."

The halfling smiled, feeling a gentle warmth within him, seeing that this seemed to be why he felt watched. "Only the good things, I hope."

"There wasn't anything else to tell her."

"I had a really nice time, Lionel," Rædnael said as they were about to part for the night. He was tired, and felt like he had stretched his disguise nearly to its limit.

"I did, too. Hope we can meet again soon," Lionel smiled back, beaming.

"I'll let you know. Might finally get that new job soon, so...I hope I'll stay available."

"Fingers crossed."

Rædnael nodded and turned to leave, but as soon as he did he felt a small tug at his sleeve. He turned around and was immediately met with a warm, gentle embrace as Lionel pulled him for a hug, giving a little squeeze and letting go. It couldn't have been more than a second or two, but the halfling felt as though he was held for a long, blissful moment.

"See you around," Lionel winked after stepping back, turning around to take his leave.

Still feeling warm and fuzzy inside, even as he allowed his disguise to fade once safely back in the demon district, Rædnael couldn't stop his tail from swaying happily behind him. He never expected to get a hug from Lionel like that. It felt like it was out of nowhere, but it was so nice, and so warm, he wished he could have indulged in it more. For hours, even.

He felt safe, even more after meeting the other officer. He was nervous at first but knowing that someone else – someone that wasn't seeing him with rose-tinted glasses like Lionel – was seeing him in a positive light, made him gain just a bit more confidence about what he was doing.

But...perhaps a little too much confidence.

Eventually reaching the apartment complex, Rædnael was overcome with the uneasy sensation of being watched, draining all of the warmth from his body in seconds. He hoped it was because of some loitering exiles, these were sometimes hanging around and just leering at passersby. He wished that it'll just pass once he's back in the building so he can be in his drab but safe apartment again, getting some rest.

The halfling’s heart was beating faster with each step as anxiety rose in his chest, the feeling of being watched intensifying the closer he got, until his legs seized up and he couldn't walk any closer. His chest tightened, warning him of something dangerous ahead.

Should he go another route? Circle the neighborhood a few times?

But he was so tired, and so close...

Yet his legs wouldn't budge, despite not seeing any danger up ahead.

Rædnael swallowed a lump in his throat and found that his limbs abide to him when he tried to move away, taking a step back, only to be nearly scared out of his skin by the feeling of a large, muscular body behind him - one that was quick to put a hand to his mouth to prevent him from screaming.

"Hello, Rodrick," a gruff, raspy voice growled lowly in the halfling's ear, making it ever so harder to keep his breathing steady, and even less as the two Moray exiles he had confronted before stepped outside of the entrance to the building, completely shrouded in darkness. "You're just a treasure trove of surprises, aren't you?" The exile holding him continued, holding Rædnael in a way that wouldn't let him recognize even what kind of demon he was, but clearly he was at the very least second-class, seemingly having an authority on the Moray.

"Le...let me g-go!" he tried to fight the hold, which surprisingly lifted easily enough, only for him to realize he was completely cornered. "I...I-I already told you guys, I will not be doing any—!"

"Oh, but you will," as Rædnael turned around to face the larger exile, realizing fast how bad it was to have his back turned to two other exiles, he recognized that the one that grabbed him was also a Moray, judging by his teeth, but he was clearly larger and more powerful that the other two. "Being able to disguise and getting close to an officer? Guess you're so pathetic you pass for human."

Rædnael's heart sank to his stomach, still beating like a hammer and making his gut twist in knots. "How did you—?"

"You think you're the only one loitering in disguise around the plaza?" The large Moray's teeth glistened in the poorly lit street. "We saw you being cute with that cop. You're really fooling yourself if you think he'll see you as anything but a threat if he knew."

"He won't—!"

"Yes, he will. And even if you have your little escape plan, as you surely do...we could accidentally drop some anonymous tip at the station. Or make sure you...accidentally turn back where and when he can see it's you, just another lying, thieving little runt?" He leaned to loom over the halfling, that stared up wide-eyed with his tail coiled tightly around his leg.

"You..." Rædnael's voice choked and his vision blurred. There was no need to ask why they'd do that. There was no doubt. "Please...Don't..."

"Or what?" He laughed, joined by hisses and cackled from behind the halfling as the smaller Moray drew closer. "You either play along...or we get even with your little sweetheart, too, after we break both your hearts."

Rædnael's heart was beating so loud that he felt dizzy. He wanted his last lie to be having to move away from Las Flores for a new job, to excuse not meeting again. But now...now he couldn't bear thought of what Lionel might say or do if the veil was suddenly lifted. Or him getting hurt by other demons because he'll be used as a lure.

But the Moray wanted him to be trading Tar.

Wanted him to ruin all his hard work, to waste all the effort put in by Heks and Adder.

"Looks like you're starting to get what your place is in all of this," the large Moray laughed, roughly ruffling Rædnael's hair, as it felt like he was purposefully using enough force that could crack a horn at the right angle. "Don't worry, you can keep being chummy with that pesky cop, for now. Maybe get some insider info from him. But one word about us and the Tar, and you're both going down," he moved his hand to grab at the halfling's face, "got that, half-pipe?"

Rædnael couldn't move. Barely even whimper. Not even his invisibility potion would help, even if he could move to reach it.

"Good," the large Moray growled, sounding satisfied enough with scaring Rædnael to tears, letting go of his face. "We'll contact you tomorrow. Better answer if you know what's good for you," he issued one last threat before turning to leave with his cackling lackeys.

Everything was hazy after that.

Rædnael was barely aware that he took off running, flying up the stairs to his door, vaguely aware of the sound of it being unlocked and locked shut by him. He heard his bedroom door being locked from the inside.

He knew he was crying, buried under everything that was strewn around on his bed.

He wasn't even sure which part of that was a dream, not knowing when did he fell asleep.

All he knew, at that point, was that he messed up.