I stirred awake to soft lips pressing insistently against mine. My eyes fluttered open to find Taylor's face mere inches from my own, her gaze intense and almost desperate. I returned the kiss, licking at her lips for entry.
Our bodies tangled together beneath the sheets as we traded increasingly heated kisses. Taylor's hand drifted up to cup my breast, squeezing pretty hard. I hummed approvingly, arching into her touch.
"My, someone's feeling horny this morning," I purred, rolling my hips to press my dampening panties against her thigh.
Taylor didn't respond verbally. Instead, she attacked my neck with open-mouthed kisses, nipping and sucking at the sensitive skin. Her fingers fumbled with the clasp of my bra, practically tearing it off in her haste.
"Whoa there, tiger," I laughed, both surprised and delighted by her boldness. "What's gotten into you?"
Again, Taylor remained silent. She straddled my hips, pushing up my top to expose my breasts. Without hesitation, she latched onto one nipple, suckling hard enough to make me gasp.
"Oh fuck, Taylor," I moaned, threading my fingers through her hair.
She lavished attention on my breasts before trailing kisses down my stomach. When she reached the waistband of my panties, she glanced up at me. The look in her eyes was almost anxious.
Taylor yanked my underwear down, spreading my legs wide. I felt her warm breath ghost over my exposed pussy, causing me to shiver in anticipation. But as she leaned in, I noticed her hands trembling slightly.
"Taylor, wait-" I started to say, but my words dissolved into a gasp as she began suckling on my swollen clit.
Her technique was sloppy and overeager, but the enthusiasm more than made up for it. I moaned, my hips bucking involuntarily. Yet something felt... off.
"Taylor," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Taylor, stop for a second."
She didn't seem to hear me, or perhaps she was choosing not to listen. She redoubled her efforts, sucking harder on my clit and eliciting another moan from me despite my concerns.
"Fuck, Taylor, that feels amazing, but we need to talk," I managed to get out between gasps.
She took a long, slow lick of my pussy, from entrance to clit. The pleasure was intense, but I knew I needed to put a stop to this. Gently but firmly, I grasped her hair and pulled her away from my wet folds.
"Taylor, what's going on?" I asked, my voice soft but serious.
She looked up at me, and I was startled to see tears glistening in her eyes. "I... I just want to make you feel good," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You've been so kind to me, Lara. You deserve this. You deserve everything."
My heart clenched at the raw emotion in her voice. I sat up, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Oh, Taylor," I murmured, stroking her hair. "We don't have to rush anything. Remember what I said last night? This is all about you and what you're comfortable with."
Taylor clung to me, her body shaking with quiet sobs. "But I want to be with you," she choked out. "Don't you want me too? If we both want this, why wait?"
I held her close, letting her cry it out against my shoulder. When her tears subsided to sniffles, I tenderly cupped her face, guiding her gaze to meet mine.
"Of course I want you, Taylor," I said softly, my thumb caressing her cheek. "But what I want most is for you to be happy and comfortable. There's no timeline we have to follow here. If you want to take things slow, we can. If you're ready for more, we can explore that too. But only when you're truly ready - not because you think it's what I expect."
I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "This isn't a race, okay? We have all the time in the world to figure things out together."
Taylor's eyes searched mine, still glistening with unshed tears. "You really mean that?" she whispered.
"Absolutely," I assured her with a warm smile. "Whatever pace feels right for you is perfect for me. I'm not going anywhere."
She nodded hesitantly, slowly wiping at her eyes.
"Why don't you go take a shower?" I suggested gently. "It'll help you feel better."
As soon as I heard the bathroom door click shut, I flopped back onto the bed, my hand already sliding between my thighs. God, I was so worked up from Taylor's tongue. My fingers found my clit easily, still slick and swollen.
I started slow, teasing circles around the sensitive bud, but quickly grew impatient. Slipping two fingers inside myself, I started pumping furiously, my other hand coming up to pinch and roll my nipple.
The pleasure built rapidly, coiling tighter and tighter in my core. I was so close, right on the edge, when suddenly-
The bedroom door swung open.
Taylor stood frozen in the doorway, a towel wrapped around her body, eyes wide as saucers as she took in the scene before her.
And in that moment, staring directly into Taylor's shocked gaze, I came. Hard.
My back arched off the bed as waves of pleasure crashed over me, a strangled moan escaping my lips despite my best efforts to stay quiet. My body shook with the intensity of my orgasm, fingers still buried deep inside myself.
As the aftershocks subsided, I slowly opened my eyes to find Taylor still rooted to the spot, her face beet red.
"Sorry about that," I said casually, as if she'd just caught me reading a book rather than furiously masturbating. "I was still a bit horny from earlier. Guess I lost track of time."
Without waiting for a response, I walked past her stunned form towards the bathroom. "My turn for a shower now, I think," I called over my shoulder.
The warm water streamed over my skin, washing away the lingering evidence of my climax. As I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a fluffy towel around myself, I couldn't help but smirk at the memory of Taylor's wide-eyed expression when she'd caught me in the act.
Padding back into the bedroom, I found Taylor perched on the edge of the bed, already dressed in her usual baggy attire. Her eyes darted up to meet mine before quickly skittering away, a deep blush coloring her cheeks.
"Taylor," I sighed, shaking my head as I approached. "You're not really planning on wearing that, are you?"
Taylor squirmed uncomfortably, tugging at the hem of her oversized hoodie. "It's... comfortable," she mumbled, still avoiding my gaze.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I turned to her closet, rifling through the sparse contents. "Comfortable doesn't have to mean frumpy, you know," I called over my shoulder. "Aha!" Triumphantly, I pulled out a forest green sweater that would hug her curves nicely. "This is much better. Put it on."
Taylor hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. "I don't know, Lara..."
"Trust me," I insisted, tossing the sweater her way. "You'll look much better."
Taylor opened her mouth, likely to protest, but I silenced her with a stern look. Reluctantly, she pulled off her baggy hoodie and slipped into the fitted sweater I'd chosen.
"See? Much better," I purred, reaching out to smooth a wrinkle from her shoulder. Taylor tensed at my touch, her breath catching audibly. "Don't you think?"
"I... I guess," Taylor stammered, her gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
I frowned slightly at her skittishness but decided not to push the issue. Instead, I focused on getting myself ready, slipping into a nice white skirt and red top. A few dabs of makeup later, and I was good to go.
Grabbing my purse, I fished out the golden key to the Smithy. "Ready to see what this magical milk can do?" I asked, trying to inject some enthusiasm into the awkward atmosphere.
Taylor nodded, finally meeting my eyes for a brief moment. "Yeah, let's... let's check it out."
I approached the wardrobe, key in hand, but paused when I noticed Taylor fidgeting nervously, her eyes darting around the room before settling on me. Or more specifically, on my white skirt that barely reached mid-thigh. Her gaze lingered there, a dreamy look crossing her face as she licked her lips. I set the key down and turned to face her.
"See something you like?" I teased gently, causing Taylor to jump and blush furiously.
"I-I wasn't... I mean, I didn't mean to..." she stammered, unable to meet my eyes.
I stepped closer, cupping her cheek tenderly. "Hey, it's okay," I murmured. "Remember what I said earlier? You're my girlfriend now. There's nothing wrong with looking."
Taylor's eyes widened behind her glasses. "Girlfriend?" she whispered, as if testing out the word.
I nodded, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips. "Mhmm. Which means you can look all you want. And touch, when you're ready."
Her breath hitched, a blush spreading across her cheeks. I stroked her face gently, enjoying the way she leaned into my touch.
"You don't have to be embarrassed," I continued. "What happened earlier? That's totally normal. And in the future, you might see a lot more of that."
Taylor's gaze flickered down to my lips, then back up to my eyes. I could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she processed this new dynamic between us.
"Now," I said, reaching for the golden key once more. "Ready to see what that bottle of milk can do in the Smithy?"
Taylor nodded, a small smile finally gracing her features.
I stepped through the portal first, Taylor following close behind me. As we neared the smithy, I froze in my tracks. A pulse started, but it felt odd.
[Pool of Magicka - The Elder Scrolls] - Free
The arcane energy known as magicka leaks into Nirn through the Sun and Stars, holes into the divine Realm of Aetherius. And while normally leaving the Aurbis would result in losing access to magicka, that is not the case here. You now have a decently sized pool of magicka that regenerates over time.
Before I could process this new perk, a second pulse immediately followed the first. It felt as if the Grimoire was practically shoving the ability into my mind.
[The Way of Life - Toaruverse] - 200cp, 50cp remaining
In certain extreme situations, taking a life may become the last resort to save someone else. However, you now possess a unique capability: you can modify all your abilities and powers to be non-lethal. This special function allows you to utilize even the most destructive abilities without causing fatalities, merely rendering your opponents unconscious, regardless of how lethal those abilities were originally intended to be. In this mode, the damage only affects the surroundings and non-organic objects, while organic beings and people experience excruciating pain but remain alive.
I blinked rapidly, struggling to process the influx of new information and abilities. Taylor's hand settled on my arm.
"Lara? Are you alright?" she asked softly. "You seemed to space out longer than usual."
I shook my head slightly, refocusing on the present moment. "Yes, I'm fine," I assured her with a warm smile. "It seems I've gained a couple of new abilities."
Taylor's eyebrows rose with interest. "Oh? Do tell."
Brushing a stray lock of silky black hair behind my ear, I explained, "Well, for starters, I can now make any of my powers non-lethal. Like, no matter how destructive they are, they'll just knock people out instead of killing them."
"That certainly seems quite useful," Taylor remarked, giving a small nod of approval. "Especially if you gain more...volatile powers in the future."
"Right?" I grinned. "No more worrying about accidentally going too far."
Taylor's smile faltered slightly. "And the other one?"
I pursed my lips, pretending to think about it. "It's... weird. Like I've got this pool of energy now, but I can't really use it yet? I think I need to get some other powers first before it'll actually do anything."
Of course, I knew I needed to acquire actual magic spells - something I had ironically yet to acquire through the Celestial Grimoire. The only thing I really considered kind of magical was my teleportation power, but that required no prana as I would've expected from a power belonging to a Fate setting. I didn't even know how it functioned, but all I had to do was focus on wanting to be somewhere within my line-of-sight and I appeared there in a flash of red light. I felt that the red light had to mean something was being done, but I had no idea what it was.
I also wasn't sure why I acquired two powers in a row from the Celestial Grimoire, but since this was the first time I got a free power, I guessed that it was related to that. Maybe I had to spend my choice points, so when I got a free power, I got another chance? I'll only know for sure the next time I get a free power.
Taylor and I continued following the dirt path for a few more seconds, and I could see the old Hylian Blacksmith was dozing in his chair, snoring softly. I cleared my throat, trying not to giggle as he startled awake.
"Oh! Welcome back, young ladies," he said, stifling a yawn. "What can I do for you today?"
I reached into my purse and pulled out the small glass bottle filled with creamy white liquid - the 'Lon Lon Milk' I had gotten from A Bottle of Something. "Actually, I was hoping you could tell me more about this?" I held up the bottle questioningly.
The Blacksmith's eyes lit up. "Ah yes, Lon Lon Milk! A fine product indeed." He nodded sagely. "Back home in Hyrule, that particular brand would cost anywhere from 70 to 100 rupees for a bottle."
I nodded slowly, considering his words. "I see. And does this milk have any...special properties? Beyond simply being a tasty beverage, that is?"
A wise smile creased the old Hylian's weathered features. "Why yes, young miss, it most certainly does." He leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "You see, Lon Lon Milk has restorative properties. Consuming even half a bottle can restore five full heart containers' worth of vitality."
I glanced at Taylor, who looked adorably confused. "Heart containers?" I echoed, knowing that she probably wasn't aware what he meant. "What exactly do you mean by that?"
"Ah, forgive me," the Blacksmith said with an apologetic dip of his head. "I should explain further. You see, the average Hylian possesses three heart containers - representations of their life force. A trained warrior or adventurer may acquire more through rigorous training."
The Blacksmith gestured towards the bottle still clutched in my hand. "This milk, when consumed, restores five of the drinker's heart containers. Judging by the size, I would estimate your bottle contains enough for two full servings - in other words, ten heart containers' worth of restoration."
Taylor spoke up then. "So you're saying that by drinking just half of that bottle, it could completely heal someone from all wounds they might be suffering?"
The old Hylian nodded. "In theory, yes. Though I must admit, I am not sure how many heart containers your species possesses. You two are clearly not Hylian."
Glancing down at the glass bottle in my hand, I thought aloud, "Well, there's only one way to find out, isn't there?" I met Taylor's curious gaze. "Why don't we both try drinking some and see if it affects us at all?"
Taylor hesitated for a brief moment before nodding slowly. "I...yes, I suppose that we should try it out. If we ever get injured, this kind of thing would be a life-saver."
"Exactly!" I agreed brightly. "And even if we end up wasting it today, the bottle replenishes daily. So it's not like we're losing anything in the long run by experimenting a bit."
Lifting the bottle to my full lips, I winked playfully at Taylor. "I'll go first, shall I?"
Without waiting for a response, I tipped the container back and took a long pull of the creamy liquid. It was surprisingly rich and sweet on my tongue, almost like drinking melted ice cream. I forced myself to stop after draining about half the bottle, not wanting to leave none for Taylor.
"Mmm, delicious," I purred, licking a stray droplet from my lower lip. "How do I look? Any changes?"
Taylor's eyes roamed over me critically before she shook her head. "Nothing obvious that I can see."
I hummed thoughtfully, passing her the bottle. "Your turn then!"
Taylor hesitated for just a moment before tipping it back, draining the remaining contents in a few long gulps. As she lowered the now-empty bottle, I couldn't help but gasp.
"Oh wow, Taylor..." I breathed, drinking in the sight of her.
Her skin practically glowed with vitality, smooth and flawless. The faint blemishes that had dotted her cheeks were gone without a trace. Even the dark circles that usually shadowed her eyes had vanished completely. She looked... radiant.
"What? What is it? Did something go wrong?" Taylor asked urgently.
I grabbed her hand, tugging her out of the Smithy. "Come on, you've got to see this!"
Calling a quick thanks to the Blacksmith over my shoulder, I dragged Taylor back through the portal into her bedroom. I snatched the key from the wardrobe, the portal vanishing as I pulled Taylor in front of the full-length mirror.
Taylor's jaw dropped as she took in her reflection. "Is that... me?" she whispered, reaching up to touch her cheek in wonder.
I grinned, wrapping my arms around her waist from behind. "See? Told you it was more than just a bottle of milk," I teased, resting my chin on her shoulder. "Pretty amazing power after all, huh?"
Taylor spun in my arms, her eyes shining with emotion. Before I could react, she cupped my face in her hands and pressed her lips to mine in a fierce kiss.
I melted into Taylor's embrace, enjoying the passionate press of her lips against mine. Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as she deepened the kiss. When we finally parted for air, I couldn't help but giggle at her enthusiasm.
"Wow, if I'd known magic milk would get this reaction, I'd have-"
Taylor cut me off with another kiss, effectively silencing my teasing. I hummed appreciatively, my hands settling on her hips as I returned the affection.
Between kisses, I managed to gasp out, "You know, it seems like-" Another kiss. "-the healing potion doesn't just-" And another. "-fix big wounds."
Taylor finally pulled back. "What do you mean?" she asked breathlessly.
I gently traced the smooth skin beneath her eyes. "Look at your under-eye area. The inflammation is completely gone." My fingers drifted along her jawline. "And your skin... it's so firm and elastic now. It's like it boosted collagen production or something."
Taylor turned back to the mirror, examining her reflection more closely. "You're right," she murmured in awe. "I look... healthy. Really healthy."
I pressed a soft kiss to her neck, meeting her gaze in the mirror. "You look gorgeous," I corrected with a wink. "Though you always do, of course."
Taylor averted her eyes, a small smile playing on her flushed features at the compliment. She opened her mouth to respond, but was cut off by the shrill beeping of her alarm clock.
"Shit," I muttered, reluctantly releasing my hold on her waist. "We're going to be late if we don't hurry."
Taylor nodded, her expression sobering as reality set back in. "Right. School." She hesitated, biting her lower lip. "Do you think... will the PRT have contacted Sophia by now?"
I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Even if they have, I doubt she'd try anything at school. Too many witnesses." Leaning in, I pressed a quick peck to her lips. "Don't worry. I've got your back, remember?"
I froze the moment I finished my sentence, my lips still hovering near Taylor's. Energy pulsed through my mind, but it halted itself.
[Mercurial Scimitar - League of Legends] - 400cp
This wicked scimitar is made of a curious, flowing metal that swirls around within the blade. Once every few minutes, the wielder of the scimitar can invoke its power, allowing them to slip any bonds, shrug off any effects that slow or incapacitate them, and granting them a burst of speed with which to destroy any foes who think they've caught the wielder off-guard.
I let out a soft sigh as the sensation faded. The scimitar sounded pretty badass, but with only 150cp to my name, it was out of reach. Besides, getting up close and personal in a fight wasn't really my style - at least not until I had some serious physical enhancements to back me up.
Taylor held my hand as she asked, "Lara? Did you just get another power?"
I shook my head. "Nah, not this time."
Glancing at the clock, I grimaced. "Come on, we really do need to get moving or we'll be late."
oo0ooOoo0oo
I pushed open the front door, stepping into the quiet Hebert household with Taylor close behind.
"Looks like your dad's not home yet," I observed, tossing my bag onto the couch. "Probably still caught up at the Dockworkers' Association."
Taylor nodded absently. I could practically see the gears turning in her head as she worried her lower lip between her teeth.
"Hey," I said softly, reaching out to squeeze her hand. "What's on your mind?"
She met my gaze, her brown eyes troubled behind her glasses. "It's just... Sophia wasn't at school today. And Emma looked really worried all day."
I hummed thoughtfully, sitting down on the couch. "Well, that's certainly interesting timing, isn't it? Think the PRT might have actually done something?"
Taylor shrugged, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Maybe? I don't know. It just feels... weird."
I nodded, understanding her unease. The situation with Sophia wasn't resolved yet, and the uncertainty was clearly weighing on Taylor. Wanting to distract her, I decided to change the subject.
"So," I began, a mischievous glint in my eye, "how about we go check out that costume of yours? I've been dying to see it up close."
Taylor's eyes widened slightly. "Oh! Um, sure. It's down in the basement."
She led the way down the creaky wooden stairs, the musty scent of the basement filling my nostrils as we descended. Taylor navigated through the cluttered space with ease, guiding me to a far corner partially hidden behind some old boxes.
"Here we go," she murmured, reaching behind a stack of cardboard to retrieve a carefully wrapped bundle. "I actually finished painting it two days ago when you were in your room for a while."
Taylor began unwrapping the bundle, revealing her completed costume. She laid it out on a nearby workbench, smoothing the dark silk carefully. I leaned in for a closer look, admiring the sleekness of it.
The bodysuit itself appeared to be composed of multiple layers of woven spider silk, providing both flexibility and protection. Grey panels of silk and some kind of shell were arranged across the vital parts.
"Taylor, this looks incredible," I said, trailing my fingertips along the material. It felt deceptively delicate yet sturdy beneath my touch. "You've done an amazing job."
She ducked her head shyly, but I could see the pleased flush staining her cheeks. "Thanks. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out."
Giving the costume one last admiring glance, I straightened with a nod. "You know, I think our costumes will actually complement each other quite nicely. We might even be mistaken for an evil duo at first glance."
Taylor's head snapped up. "Wait, you don't think people will assume we're villains, do you?" She nibbled her lower lip anxiously. "With the dark colors and everything..."
I couldn't help but laugh lightly at her concern. "Oh Taylor, does it really matter what assumptions people make about our costumes?"
She opened her mouth, likely to protest, but I pressed a finger to her lips with a teasing grin. "All that matters is how we carry ourselves out there. Heroic deeds speak far louder than outward appearances, don't you think?"
Taylor seemed to consider my words for a moment before nodding slowly. "I...I suppose you're right," she murmured against my fingertip. "It shouldn't matter how intimidating we might look."
"Exactly," I purred, trailing my hand along her jawline. Taylor shivered delicately at the gentle caress. "Now, speaking of heroic deeds… How would you feel about taking these costumes out for a test run tonight?"
Taylor's breath caught in her throat. "You mean...go out patrolling? As capes?"
I nodded slowly. "Why not? It would be the perfect chance to get some real field experience before we decide our next move with the PRT." My lips curved into a sly smile. "Plus, I'm just dying to see you in this costume."
A furious blush crept across Taylor's cheeks at my words. I chuckled huskily, leaning in until my lips brushed the shell of her ear.
"What do you say?" I breathed. "Want to be a hero with me tonight, Taylor?"
She swallowed hard, her throat bobbing enticingly. For a long moment, the basement was utterly silent.
Finally, Taylor released a shuddering breath and nodded. "Okay," she whispered, meeting my heated gaze. "Let's do it."
[Beneath The Notice Of The Dev Team - Bofuri] - 150cp, 0cp remaining
There are a variety of worlds controlled by powerful beings. Perhaps they are ruled over by gods. Perhaps a shadowy conspiracy of seers directs the fate of those worlds. Or, perhaps most relevant to the next 730 days to you, a dev team can monitor and influence the virtual world you want to play in. No reason for you to get banned.
Whatever the reason, you are now beneath the notice of these entities that should notice everything. Even if others notice you and bring them to their attention, you'll quickly be dismissed out of hand by both parties. You will not be considered a problem or threat by these beings.
This will stop working once you use your words to taunt these entities, or you start an actual assault on these beings knowing what they're up to.
I unfroze moments later when the pulse finished, and couldn't help but smirk. This new ability was something that was actually vitally important. Initially when I first woke up in this world, I had worried whether Contessa or Scion would pay me a visit - though it had seemed unfounded when nothing happened. I still wasn't entirely sure why I'd been left alone, but maybe the Celestial Grimoire had some kind of built-in protection so I didn't get instantly killed? Or maybe the Shards just didn't scan my brain yet, who knew.
But this new perk would help greatly. I could grow my power without needing to worry that Contessa, Scion or any other kind of Entity would notice me, as long as I didn't directly taunt or attack them. This was absolutely fantastic news.
However, it was the kind of news I wasn't sure I wanted to tell Taylor about just yet. After all, she was connected to the Queen Administrator Shard that granted her bug control powers. I didn't want to risk that talking about this new ability might somehow count as taunting the entity and thus exposing me.
Taylor was looking at me curiously, likely noticing my momentary distraction. I smiled warmly at her, brushing a lock of silky dark hair behind her ear.
"Sorry about that," I said smoothly. "I just got a minor new power related to evading notice from high-up authorities. But it's nothing too exciting, really."
Taylor's brow furrowed slightly at my vague explanation, but she seemed to accept it for now.
"Anyway," I continued brightly, "we should plan out our patrol for tonight! I can spread my floating monoliths, or Menhirs as I call them, out over a wide area and teleport between them to quickly scout for any crimes in progress. Then, once I've found something that's not like...a murder or anything super dangerous, I can guide you over so you can handle the criminals with your incredible bug powers."
Taylor nodded slowly, considering my words. "That does sound efficient. But what if we need to get somewhere fast? Or make a quick escape?" She closed her eyes momentarily in thought. "Can your teleportation carry me along with you?"
I hummed thoughtfully. "You know, I'm not entirely sure. I've never actually tested if I can bring others with me when I teleport. But, there's only one way to find out, isn't there?"
Before Taylor could respond, I reached out and grasped her slender hand in mine. Our fingers intertwined as I met her curious gaze with a smirk.
"Hold on tight," I whispered.
A red light flared around us for the briefest of moments. Then, with a subtle shift in perspective, we were suddenly standing about two feet further away from our previous position.
Taylor stumbled slightly at the abrupt translocation, her free hand clutching at my arm for balance. I steadied her with a low chuckle.
"Looks like it works just fine with a passenger," I remarked, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze.
Taylor's eyes sparkled as she processed what had just occurred. "This is great," she said excitedly. "We'll have so much mobility out there!"
"Exactly," I agreed with a grin. "Which means tonight, we'll be able to-"
I froze mid-sentence as the sound of the front door opening and closing reached my ears. Taylor and I exchanged a panicked look, the implications clear - her father was home early.
"Quick, hide the costume!" I hissed in a hushed whisper, already moving to help Taylor gather up the sleek black bodysuit.
We scrambled to stuff the dark silk fabric back into its hiding spot behind the boxes. With the costume safely tucked away, Taylor and I sneaked back up to her room while Danny was in the living room, grabbing our backpacks and textbooks just as Danny's voice called out.
"Girls? You home?"
I smoothed my hair and did my best to look nonchalant as Danny poked his head into Taylor's room. "Hey Uncle Danny," I greeted with a casual smile. "We were just working on some homework."
Taylor nodded quickly beside me, clutching her math book. "Y-Yeah, Lara was helping me with calculus."
Danny's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "Well isn't that nice of your cousin to lend a hand." He glanced between us, his expression turning slightly apologetic. "Sorry for getting home so late. Another union meeting ran long."
"No worries!" I replied easily. "We were just taking a study break anyway. Did you need any help with dinner?"
He waved me off. "Don't fuss over an old man like me. You girls focus on your schoolwork."
Once her father had retreated back downstairs, I leaned in close to whisper conspiratorially.
"That was a close one. We definitely don't want your dad finding out about our plans for tonight, or that you already have your costume ready."
Taylor nodded in agreement, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose in a nervous gesture. "Yeah, he'd probably try to stop us if he knew. "
I hummed an affirmative, reaching out to playfully tug on a loose curl framing Taylor's face. "Exactly. We'll tell him eventually, of course, but let's get a bit more experience under our belts first." I winked at that, causing Taylor's cheeks to flush.
Clearing my throat, I adopted a more serious expression. "Anyway, we should probably go over a plan for tonight while we have this window of privacy. Any ideas on which direction we should start our first official patrol?"