Morning came around, I had been making breakfast mostly out of boredom but also because I enjoy it. The sun came up leaving a beautiful glow over the land around us and I took a deep breath. A small smile crossed my face. I notice Malachi waking up and I start handing him a plate of food, “Mornin.” I said to him.

“Good morning,” He says with a yawn and a few stretches, “Breakfast smells amazing by the way. I could definitely go for a bite.”

“Eat up, I made plenty.” I said looking back toward the small fire while taking up my own plate. Nexxis was back in her small form, munching away at her own food. I looked up at the mostly clear sky, “Hopefully today is a peaceful day.” I muttered.

As Malachi finished his delightful breakfast, he turned to reach for his chest plated armor before he paused, smelling the underside of his arm in disgust and lowered his arm, “Ew, I could definitely go for a bath,” He comments before his ears perk up to the sound of a running stream, “Guess it couldn’t hurt to bathe before we hit the road again.”

I took a quick sniff of myself and it wasn’t the most pleasant. I usually take better care of myself. My nose involuntarily scrunched up. “So bath time?” I asked, tilting my head. As he turned away from me, I had already stood up and stripped all my clothes off and held them in my hand as I waited for him.

“Yeah probably be the best, I’ll head downstream and give you some privacy-” He started saying as he turned his head back to look at me, he immediately turned his head and averted his eyes in shock, “By the divine! Lia! What are you doing!?”

I tilted my head the other way. “What do you mean?” I asked genuinely confused. Nexxis also tilted her head confused. I don’t understand why he’s so surprised. This is normal- Right?

Malachi covered his blushed face with his back to me, “What- no Lia, this is highly inappropriate. We’ve barely known each other, for what? Over a week? You can’t undress wherever you please!”

My eyebrows knitted together and I approached him and tried to look around his hand, “I don’t understand. I never have had privacy before. Why does it matter if we bathe together?” I asked with a pout.

He seemed to be trying to relax as he let out a sigh, “Look, it’s inappropriate for those who barely know each other and being the opposite sex, to be bathing together. For all you know I could be some perverted man!” He said as he kept one hand in front of his eyes and used his other to feel for his bag, “Now, I’m going to leave you in peace and take my bath downstream okay? So enjoy your bath.”

“But, but, but...” I started to protest but I eventually just lowered my head. Malachi fumbled forward, trying to find his bag, eventually using his tail to reach for it. “Am I not attractive to you?” I whispered trying not to be heard before I ran off toward the stream. Zagasihr trying to put doubt into my head. I tried to enjoy the cold water washing over my naked body. Pushing all other thoughts out, including Zagasihr as I washed myself and simply enjoyed the peace and quiet. Eventually I went back to camp, Malachi hadn’t come back yet. I set up a towel to sit on and sat in front of the fire. I draped my hair over my head to use the heat from the fire to dry my hair. The dripping of water from my inky black hair made a little mud puddle. I went through my thick hair in layers, flipping the bottom layer over my shoulders, covering my back.

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Malachi eventually returned from his bath, stepping out from the woods. He lowered his head and shook his hair. As his hair puffed up from the air drying, he approached the fire, clawing his nails through it to brush it, “Welp, I’m all finished and feeling refreshed. Enjoy your bath?” He asked as he ploped down, resting against his shoulder bag.

I ran my fingers through my hair repeatedly to try and dry my thick hair quicker. “Yeah, I love the water.” I said, my hair covering my torso.

He reached over and grabbed for his boots and slid them on, he gave a mild chuckle as he reached for the buckle and straps, “Yeah, well, that makes one of us.” I shrugged and flipped my hair over my head to reveal my face and bare chest. My hair had a lot of volume due to the air drying and heat of the fire.

His attention was briefly caught by me flipping my hair, but as his eyes landed on me, his tail immediately wrapped around his eyes, “Li-Lia, why are you not wearing a shirt? I could’ve waited off in the woods if you told me you weren’t done getting dressed.” Malachi said, clearly uncomfortable and awkward.

“I didn’t want to get my shirt wet and I don’t see the issue so why would I have said anything?” I asked, sounding slightly annoyed but did eventually reach over and slip my shirt on, adjusted my breasts and sighed, “My chest is covered now,” I said, rolling my eyes annoyed.

He peeked one eye from behind his tail before finally lowering it entirely. He sighed in relief as he finished strapping his boots on. He falls back, allowing his tail to fall to the ground, “I’m confused how you think this isn’t a big deal. Have you not heard of public decency?”

I tilt my head to the side, “But we are not in public.” I point out plainly, “I’ve bathed in front of others and them in front of me when I’ve traveled but most of my days, at least recently, have been simply on my own.”

Malachi waved a hand in ignorance to the first comment, “I hope the people you bathed with were close friends or family. Besides, the two of us are still basically strangers. Probably not a safe call to bathe in front of each other.” He said as he pulled his knees up to his chest, his hands hovering over his knees as he started playing with lightning magic between his two index fingers, obviously wanting to change or drop the subject.

I shrugged, “I mean eventually they became close friends I guess, but the only family I had contact with since I was ten was my uncle and that was a very long time ago.” I got up and plopped myself down in front of him, watching what he did with interest.

Malachi kept a careful eye on his magic to avoid causing any serious damage, his ears perked up hearing me though and I noticed his eyes fall sad, although he made sure he didn’t lose focus, “I’m sorry to hear that. Being separated from family can definitely have its burdens.”

I shrugged again, “I ran away... the only one that is alive that I miss is my uncle, and I guess my brother to a point.” I said nonchalant and tried to play it off as if I didn’t care but there was a hint of sadness to my tone I couldn’t get rid of. “I have magic too, not as fun as that lightning though,” I said.

He eventually lowered his hands, his eyes resting on the fire, “That must have been hard for you. If you ran away, I can only imagine the reason why.” He lowered his head to rest his chin on his knees. He raises an index finger, shooting off little sparks of electricity, “And trust me, this isn’t very exciting. Not really useful either unless I wield my ax... though I suppose I have been destructive with it... By accident of course!”

I laughed, “It’s exciting to me.” I said sticking out my tongue, “I use a lot of fire magic.” I smiled at him but tilted my head as I thought about the long travel ahead of us, “So should we head out now then?”

Malachi gave me a small smile, “Probably a good idea. I still have a bit of traveling left before I reach my master’s house. He probably thinks I’m dead at this point.” He said as he stood up, giving a quick stretch before reaching for his chest piece and sliding in on. After he finished equipping everything I looked him over while covering my mouth to muffle a giggle and grab my bags, tying my bow back into my hair.

“Alright, well let’s go then.” I said with a smile.