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<span class="mu-i">
I need to make Harn realize I'm not an enemy!
</span>
Cady sees Enja still smirking at her.
<span class="mu-i">
I need to keep up the pretense for why we're down here in the first place!
</span>
Before Harn can turn toward the stairwell, Cady steps alongside. "Can I help carry those?"
"Ha!" Ejna pops up on the other side of the crates. "Maybe she's a good match for you after all." Enja smirks at Cady and crinkles her nose. "Harn likes to use his muscles for everything, y'know."
<span class="mu-i">
Did she have to phrase it like that?!
</span>
Cady forces out a laugh and stands on her tip-toes to grab the top crate. "I volunteered to help Master Harn move these!" She tugs the small crate off the stack but it's heavier than she expects and she stumbles backward cradling it.
<span class="mu-i">
Is this solid metal? My arms are already shaking!
</span>
Cady lurches sideways as she trails up the stairs and into the commissary. "Wh... where..."
"On that table is fine." Harn lowers his stack of crates to the floor and Cady feels the thud in her feet.
<span class="mu-i">
How much did that weigh?!
</span>
She has to heave the crate onto the table and once she's rid of it she stoops forward panting. "What... what's in that?"
"Ration tanks."
<span class="mu-i">
Is this the horrible slop that Deline made me eat?
</span>
"I see you've already had some." Cady looks up at Harn and he closes his eyes. "It's not expensive, but I wouldn't mind something else every now and then."
<span class="mu-i">
Now I have a second reason to get some quality ingredients! They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, after all!
</span>
Cady takes another breath to slow her breathing and then stands up straight but Harn is standing in front of her so close she almost loses her footing. She looks up from his chest to his chin to his eyes as he gazes down at her. "Your feelings are obvious."
"Guh?"
<span class="mu-i">
Does he know I'm crushing on him?
</span>
"You don't seem to have anything to do with last night's guest." Harn crosses his arms without breaking eye contact. "But it's clear you wish to hide your own talent." She starts to stammer when Harn leans forward until Cady's head is tilted completely back and a strand of his hair brushes her cheek. "Perhaps I can draw it out of you and into the open."
<span class="mu-i">
We can absolutely do it right here in the commissary in front of everyone!
</span>
The sound of a door sliding open makes Cady squeak and she looks behind her as Deline hurries across the room toward them.
"Princess Cady!"
"I must go prepare for class." Harn walks toward the doorway and nods at Deline as she bows hurriedly on her way past him.
"Princess Cady!" Deline skids to a halt in front of the crates. "Everyone was worried when you didn't come with! Oberon found some old ruins!" Deline glances at the door as it closes behind Harn and looks back at Cady. "You and Master Harn didn't-"
"You can't rush these things!"
"-have a sparring match, did y... huh?"
"Um... forget it, what were you saying about ruins?"
<span class="mu-i">
Nice save, me!
</span>
