I wasn’t used to sleeping on my stomach, so I would roll onto my back in my sleep, and the pain would wake me up, and I would turn onto my stomach, and the cycle would continue. I kept looking at my watch on the nightstand, hoping that what I was feeling was wrong, that I had actually slept, but I never managed more than 20 minutes. I tried for two hours ‘cause Anne said it was still good for me to try, but I honestly couldn’t tell if I felt any better.

“Anne?”

She sighed, “Fine, but you’re gonna have to figure out how to sleep eventually.”

“I know.”

“And we got our money. They slide an envelope of cash through the letter slot.”

“That doesn’t seem secure, at all.”

“Yea.”

We stared at each other for a while.

Anne looked away when she spoke. “I was thinking we can get the rest of our clothes now, with the cash, and then, I don’t know.”

“I’m fine really, I’ve been through worse.”

“Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

It was nice to do something. Sitting in our room there was nothing to do but focus on the pain. I wish I liked reading as much as Anne, maybe one day I could. I only took one wrong turn on the way to the tailor’s.

John looked up from his sewing machine at us as we entered his shop.

“Oh it’s you two.” He sounded almost annoyed, “I asked around, you told me the truth, though I admit, I don’t know exactly what to do with the opportunity. If, I won’t be able to make money off rich humans, politicians, they’re never going to come to a place like this, but if you are going to anything with demons, or the public, that is where the advertising helps.”

Anne nodded, “Whatever you think is best, we just want to help.”

“If you have a schedule or something?”

“Not for that sort of thing,” Anne replied, “Unless you care about parliament sessions, they are open to the public.” John shook his head. “In that case, yea, no schedule.”

“What about my dinners with Ezrylliil?”

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Anne nodded, “forgot about that, and for other things, it’s whenever we want, have the time. Gonna go to an arena, and a concert, Zal what was her name again?”

“Lilly.”

“Yea she invited us.”

“I’ve heard of her, I’m not a fan of that new music, but thank you. Do you know the date?”

Anne shrugged, “I think whichever we want.”

“That’s fine, what I have for you today I want for that, for the arena you want something more casual, I want something more casual to represent my work.”

Trying on all the clothes was an experience. I hadn’t worn many tailored things, and having options, all high quality, all fitting well, was new. The riding clothes were more formal than I was expecting, but wearing them I could tell they would work well for their purpose, even if it was a little much. John saved the best for last, a properly matching suit and dress.

“What is this?” Anne asked when John handed her the dress.

“Synthetic silk. I have to get it shipped in, but it’s still cheaper than the real stuff, and very few people can tell the difference on appearance alone.”

“Oh, neat, and John, sorry Zal, but her wings are coming in, and her bras are too tight, and I figured you might have something for that.”

“Mhm, but nothing too tight, it’s not possible as far as I can tell, but they work as a sports bra, the band is lower, avoids most of the new muscles, but it is impossible to keep pressure off all of them. Why don’t you try on what you have, I will see if I have anything that will fit Zal, she is taller than most.”

I think Anne apologizing made it more awkward for me, but I couldn’t help but be grateful, it’s not like I would have brought it up myself, and if she warned me she was gonna bring it up I would have been nervous about it.

The suit was nice, black, with a dark purple shirt and accents, and a black tie. I liked how the purple was almost black, it felt fancy, but not in a way that would attract attention. I stood out enough, didn’t need my clothes to as well. My chest looked a little big but what could I do without a bra. I knew I looked better than I usually do, and Anne would too, but seeing her.

She was looking at herself in the mirror, smiling deeply. I couldn’t do anything but watch as she twisted and turned to admire every angle. Gods I love her so much, seeing her this happy, this happy for herself, it felt like my heart was beating for the first time.

“Zal!” Anne almost skipped over to me and straightened my already straight tie. “You look good, handsome, but –” I kissed her, “ – what do you think of the dress?” She was looking up at me, so much of her smile was in her eyes, in a way I hadn’t, had I never seen her this happy before. On leave, when we first kissed, on the train, maybe it was because this wasn’t about anything so serious. No war to escape from, no complicated relationship to figure out, nothing for her to worry about, she could go to university, do whatever she wanted. Was this how Anne was going to look at me when her happiness didn’t have to pull her from a place of sadness, struggle. I had seen glimpses of course, brief moments when our eyes would meet, but I could convince myself I had imagined it. This Anne was everything, and all it took was a dress she liked, I would marry, do everything I could to see her like… I couldn’t imagine a future without more moments like this, how could I not live for this, her.

I kissed Anne, “the dress is perfect ‘cause I can see how much you love it.”

She hugged me, pressing her face against me. “You’re gross.”

I laughed, “I know.”

I put my arms around her and she purred softly.

“Zal,” she nestled a little deeper into me, “I love you.”

“I love you too Anne.”