Watching Lux walk out of the room Psyis turned back towards her date, glad to once again be spending a bit more peaceful evening with him than being pressed by the Villain.

  “You realize that money is going to be used to cause trouble for my cousins right?” Scooting forward a bit Psyis complained about where Izime was spending his money, as she reached out for the wasabi that would pair perfectly with her shrimp tempura tiger roll.

  “No, it's not, those credits are going to be used to buy Zexxianite. Something I control the price of,” Izime shook his head confident that those credits would quickly be cycled back into his pockets. Those credits would all be exchanged for some powdered space rock or for a bit of Cradle's help with repairing his equipment.

  The AI gave the wasabi a bit of a sniff before he put it back down, laying Psyis question to rest. “That or another upgrade that’s just going to get ripped apart.”

  “Psyis I told you I’m not a hero, I hope you believe me now.” Izime hoped Psyis would forgive his dealings with Lux, not wanting his past to start tainting the start of whatever it was they were trying to make.

  Trying to distract himself from how worried he was about having been so coincidentally involved with her family and how differently he wanted to involve himself now. Taking the soy which he enjoyed far better Izime set a few of his wrapped rolls on the side and poured the sauce into the tiny rice rolls.

  Quickly and nervously glancing up to see Psyis reaction, her white brows arching sweetly as she sipped her tea he said, “Didn’t expect that to get a smile.”

  “This is nice despite the fact you just gave Lux more money than I’ve ever seen.” Psyis nodded having just realized the pleasantry of Izime’s impromptu idea to go out even though it had ruined her plans.

  The thessian enjoyed the slow interplay she could feel through the gentle emotional tremors Izime was letting out or she was finding her way into. The fact he was actually worried about how she felt in a way she could feel was enlightening to find in their bond.

  The years she’d spent slowly learning her own powers made it incredibly easy to read the AI’s less muddled emotions when it came to her or the things between them.

  Psyis took another one of her own pieces and added some more of the spicey ground root, looking over towards the door Lux had shut just a moment ago as she said, “It just feels like a second date or our real first one, I’m learning about what you actually do beyond something as bland as ‘I work retail’ or something. I knew you were more than some toxin dealer… Knickknack”

  “Stick with Iz please…” Holding his hand up Izime barred the shortened version of his on-the-clock title before cocking his eyebrow and asking Psyis a question in turn. The answer popped into the AI’s head just as he’d finished asking it, “What do you usually tell people? Stupid question I guess.”

  He already knew everything about Psyis beforehand and what she would have become before he’d been unknowingly introduced into her life. The entire thought had just been stupid date-talk that Psyis thankfully played into enough to answer.

  “Yeah, as an open superhero, it doesn’t really come up.” Psyis nodded thinking Izime had only connected that she couldn’t exactly have a hidden identity. Whatever a smurf was she was clearly identifiable just being the striped blue and purple alien, if she was dating anyone they knew it was Miss Psyis.

  The known celebrity asked the more galactically recognizable man what his plans were for making do on the spinning rock, “What about you, your time being a nobody on earth’s quickly coming to a close I imagine.”

  “I’ll probably lose any chance of being elected to the IGC, Inter-Galactic Congress that’s what Lux was hinting at. Living on earth is going to cause a bit of a scandal among the stars because of that appeal.” Izime felt a bit of his casual date attitude drop as Psyis brought up issues they’d likely need to tackle in the future. An immediate response for releasing him wasn’t unexpected, a longer and more formally debated response to Earth being his residence would be just as likely to arrive at some point.

  The AI took Psyis' longer-term wants into consideration as he clarified that he still didn’t want to remain earth-bound permanently, “As for being on earth I still would like to keep it to stints I love space I was born there.”

  “But your citizenship and the paper they signed?” Psyis shot the question across the table, not noticing the bit of wasabi that fell off her sushi.

  Red eyes looked at Izime’s teals trying to find a satisfying answer to why exactly Izime staying on Earth wasn’t settled. Psyis was not used to anyone so easily vetoing her cousin though it didn’t sound like her cousin had all the respect Earth offered him off of it which wasn’t entirely surprising.

  If you had him around a star that had stopped or lowered its fission rate he would be similarly underpowered. Even with something as simple as liquid shielding James really was just another alien once you took a look at the wider spectrum of species.

  “They signed a paper that said they didn’t want Earth locking me up because they got caught up arguing with each other about my citizenship. I imagine they’re going to be just as testy when they hear I’ve decided to move here instead,” Izime explained just what the legalese of the paper amounted to before taking another bite of his sushi. Pouring another much smaller cup full of sake Izime at least had enough manners to finish chewing before he spilled the details about his own bad press, “Losing me to the planet that screams and enforces its isolationist ideas in blood isn’t going to orbit well in the stellar spheres.”

  “So when you said you're worried about your career is it batteries or politics?” Psyis asked the question while sliding her own cup back over, smiling politely as he poured her another drink.

  Taking a sip she let the light fruity notes of the sake wash away the tastes of fried tempura, the strong alcohol leaving nothing behind. It would keep Izime from overindulging and the slightly astringent drink made for a better palate cleanser than her own heavily flavored tea.

  Izime unrolled his own cutlery now so Cradle could have something else to eat as well, the extras he’d asked for apparently taking a bit to find. The AI gave a slight chuckle as the raven snipped its own bite and went to dunk the bits of handle it had in the soy sauce as well, looking up at the thessian who was smiling along at the bird's imitation of its parent as the only bit that remained was her own.

  “Batteries, politics has no interest for me aside from making sure people have their freedoms,” Sitting back for a moment Izime answered Psyis’ question explaining just where his future lay. Watching as Psyis both listened and tried to get the raven to try the other condiments as well, he gave a bit of a hopeful spin on those coming days.

  The AI clearly hinting at such with his words and through their bond, “I want those forms so we can go outside the local bubble together. I don’t think either one of us wants to quit our jobs and seeing as we have similar lines of work I thought you might like to help. O-only when I needed it, not the stupid stuff the Caulders forced you to do.”

  “You don’t want help, you’ve never needed help with doing your little Save the Galaxy hobby.” Psyis verbally denied Izime’s request for help, her face and shared excitement through the bond made it very clear that she wasn’t saying no, however.

  “No, I don’t but it would be nice sometimes and yeah, I want to show off.” With a slight roll of his eyes, Izime agreed with her, she really wouldn’t need to do much unless she wanted to. Instead with a point towards the ceiling,g he made it clear what he intended to do with their time off of the earth, “Both what I do and you, I have a two-person family here and a drinking buddy, but my life is up there. I would like to show it to you.”

  Tempering her own excitement Psyis pointed out just one of the other roadblocks in their way, “I’d love to come but what about my job?”

  She knew Izime had to spend months away from Earth at a stretch, possibly portions of the entire year. The AI almost migratory, the switch between that and her established position as a cape on Earth would obviously clash.

  “Magic, anything happens in Centropolis I can just snap us back.” Izime waved his hand not snapping but rubbing his fingers together, the runes in them singing and sparking as they contacted.

  “If they block your spells? It won’t take long for them to start adding magic to the list of counters for me.” Psyis gave a slightly sideways nod, that trick would work for a bit. Still, the villains she dealt with weren’t idiots nor did they like to play the same games the insane evil-doers in Voltham did, so it would only work for that bit.

  With a bit of regret, Psyis went back to grab another piece of shrimp tempura, her hand pausing as the seaweed it was supposed to be wrapped in was actively changing back and forth between ocean plant and gold foil. None of Izime’s void was present and the patterns were becoming just as varied as her own.

  “I’ll use something more powerful than magic and that's damned near unstoppable.” Izime scratched at his chin and stopped playing around with the state of his date's food. Explaining the whys but not the hows behind his nonchalant way of life considering he was a walking risk, “There’s a reason I’m the person Lux trusts to stop Atluer from making Earth the last free planet and I’m not scared to walk around with Cradle.”

  “I’d like that but just to be clear, is this you asking if I would do a long-distance relationship?” Psyis asked as she picked up one of the remaining bites of her tiger roll, giving the seaweed a little poke to confirm its return to normalcy.

  More concerned with the answers she’d not been able to feel in her bond with Izime than just how he’d been changing what her food was made of right in front of her with no magic at play. Already feeling like he’d relate it to his abilities to simulate reality, the powers to alter it were already familiar to the superhero.

  “More me hinting that I don’t want one of those. My ships got more square footage and we can land it wherever once that paperwork has cleared?” Shaking his head Izime made another invitation to the alien he was now dating. Feeling a bit of trepidation at the idea of filling out crew documents for a protected species once more but excited all the same.

  Looking down to take another bite just as Psyis slid her cup back over for another refill. Izime glanced up to see half her roll already gone, looking at him and the cup a bit expectantly.

  “Good, me either.” Psyis nodded in thanks as she took the cup back, letting Izime catch up with his eating a bit while she wasted his liquor.

  Glad her own biology could process the liquor as fast as she willed it to. Literally just needed to think some sobering thoughts to wash away the effects and think as clearly as she needed to. The only one she’d ever had difficulty with was that space-shine's temporary blindness that seemed to bind the effects to her.

  Psyis easily downing and this time not rinsing the effects of the alcohol away as she continued talking, “I think I’d like to go with you, and if you can promise to get me back so I can do my job when needed I don’t see a problem with it.”

  “Seeing as we are talking about things we expect in a relationship and our careers,” Clearing the table of the previous discussion Psyis took the floor, making it clear for Izime that she appreciated him. “I know I’m a thessian and I really and I can’t stress this enough, I love that you are trying to work on that side of things.”

  “But?” Izime nodded along with Psyis, already feeling the hitch through their emotional connection. The thessian worried she was beating a dead horse of a conversation, he invited her to once again clear her grievances.

  “But I was raised by humans and that affected me too. I like to express myself physically Izime, it’s the love language I was taught.” Psyis rolled a piece of her sushi around for a moment while she talked, idly turning the little roll of rice over with her chopsticks.

  “I already liked you and now that everything else is piled on top of that… I want that physical touch, specifically from you.” Finally pinching the piece carefully Psyis looked up at Izime, explaining that she knew there had to be a limit to his giving and her pushing, “I understand you have your own issues so I won’t blame you for the mixed signals, that’s my fault as well. I keep trying to ford that river for all the wrong reasons which isn’t good either.”

  Taking the bite Psyis covered her mouth while she chewed feeling a bit embarrassed to have taken the bite at all when it was clear she wasn’t done talking.

  Washing it down with a sip of her tea Psyis let the sweet raspberry flavors wash away the bits of heat from her wasabi before speaking once more. “I don’t want to rush you, but it becoming a stresser in our relationship already. How fast can we get that paperwork and is there any way I can consent outside of those documents so we have at least that out of the way?”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Sitting the tea down the thessian made her request a bit clearer. “You’re the best at bending rules to get what you want, help me get you.”

  Smiling in appreciation as Izime took her question seriously, giving an honest answer over the drama the issue might cause.

  “Pretty quick. If anyone with an agenda against me spills it outside of Sol that I’m dating a thessian there’s going to be someone coming to take us away to give us a talk about the birds, the bees, and the birdy-bees they can sometimes make.” Replying to the first part of her question the AI tried to skirt around the kinds of authorities they’d eventually be speaking to before leaning forward a bit conspiratorially.

  His girlfriend trying to get him to break galactic law Izime revealed the little he dared, “I’m hoping we can have a valid reason to leave earth and submit ourselves. As for you’re other question… possibly, but the last place I want to do something is your apartment.”

  “Why?” The question came out a bit harsher than she’d intended, Psyis only asking because they’d almost done something there.

  Only being stopped by her own self, accidentally twat-swatting her own chances by tampering with the connection too brazenly. Freaking Izime out and as such cock-blocking herself from the AI as it’d literally slipped out of her hand.

  “It’s bugged, Steven’s had to have broken in at some point and rigged the place to record you.” Izime tried to make it sound less invasive than it was not bothering to look at the thessian's purely purple face. The idea would never have occurred to her thanks to the influence of comic artists keeping her locked into the toxicity of her previous relationship.

  The AI tried to ease the topic away as quickly as he could, “So we can clean those up and… then I can think on those other ways.”

  “How?” Psyis asked excitedly about the idea of removing Steven from her life completely and the celebration that she could have afterward, though her excitement dwindled as she realized Izime was thinking of ways to cheat her out of that reward, edging on the side of the legal system with his offer.

  “First we’ve got our new connection,” Izime said as he gestured between Psyis and himself. Explaining a bit of what he could offer her outside of his physical presence in her bedroom, “Second I was the internet in my reality, as uncomfortable as I am with my own excitement if we use the bond I can provide any experience you wanted so simulating it comes to mind first off.”

  “With you?” Psyis asked, flushing deeply as she was actually considering the offer as a stand-in so she could get satisfy her curiosity over the AI’s supposedly perfect body without making him uncomfortable.

  She certainly wouldn’t go through with it as it wasn’t actually him, but she could give him something like a check-up and satisfy her own questions about his body. The thessian felt a bit dirty as she considered playing the researcher in his ‘little’ experiment.

  “It wouldn’t be me, but I have access to a library of other virtual partners.” Izime tried to sound comfortable with the idea of letting his girlfriend have a virtual romp with some of the far better lovers that had existed in his reality.

  The AI offered a chance at simulated humans whose cheap renditions could and would understand her physical wants better than he did now even as its human side seethed at the idea. Scratching at his head a bit ashamed Izime continued to explain, “You could be with any kind of man you wanted or woman? I have a few different setti-”

  “Lets not, that… isn’t what I want.” Psyis cut Izime off, feeling his discomfort building even as he tried to hide it through their bond. Psyis chased him through it emotionally as she verbally made things clear, “I’m not that horny Izime, or just horny. I want you, even if you're very excited I’m a big girl who can throw Radiation Lad around. You won’t hurt me I promise, I just want you to feel comfortable too so I’ll let it go until you are.”

  “I can go jogging, fly a few laps of the planet, workout with Jack, or just have a few more and not worry about it,” Psyis said as she reached out and held Izime’s hand comforting him as she tossed aside the insecurity she’d felt in him. Motioning towards the drinks they had on the table to make things clear even as she finally flushed her own mind clean of the intoxicating effects.

  “Thanks, I just don’t think we’re there or I am yet, otherwise it needs to be verifiable that it was detrimental to you otherwise. Thankfully I have medication to handle my cycles, so I’m not flooding our bond.” Izime patted the inhaler he’d yet to actually use that night only with half a mind on his own state.

  “I like it.” Psyis rubbed at Izime’s hand letting the flutter she felt pass through the connection fully. Sending the butterflies she felt at his touch and presence to him, the sensation a little ball they could roll back and forth that slowly grew and accrued with their deepening connection. Their emotions passing back and forth further shaping the mental line, and making the passage easier each time.

  “Me too, its just a lot stronger for me because I’m not as experienced,” Izime said letting out a slow exhale as the emotional package flowed through to him once more. The sensations it brought bringing the world around the woman who’d sent it into clearer focus, sharpening the contrast and depth of her colors only making her even more stunning as she sat in her simple clothes.

  “It's your connection though?” Psyis asked, wondering why Izime was saying he was unfamiliar with the feelings. He’d already had a bond far longer than she ever had even if his was based on her species' techniques, she was still the novice here.

  The thessian licked her lips as she playfully gripped Izime’s pointer finger giving it a squeeze to remind him, “You meant with what we were doing earlier?”

  Releasing him with a bit of a giggle as he immediately had to adjust himself, that little reminder apparently causing some big issues with how he was sitting.

  “I’m still new to having a body and when that's involved, I didn’t realize how much that would change things.” Izime tried to explain the difficulty he was having, the interplay of multiple things and emotions that made the entire process a jumble he couldn’t sort through.

  “What was different?” Psyis asked genuinely curious what Izime found so jarring outside of simulating the experience, which by the sounds of it was something he’d done before.

  “More limbs for one, and a uh, a lot stronger emotions that I was ready for.” Izime lowered his head a bit as he recalled just how complicated the thoughts in his head had gotten the closer they got. All while his lower brain had only demanded such simple things as shoving it in regardless of how comfortable his partner was or complicit.

  That lack of empathy marked everything that’d come after with a big red check, flagging his desires as system errors. The AI blushed as he admitted that Psyis was slowly taking possession of his data like a virus, “Like is said, I’ve never had a partner so I’m still adjusting to the loss of control over what I’m feeling and when. Someone else controlling the data my body is sending me and kicking off all kinds of impulses.”

  “How you felt… I had more power when you had me by the throat than by with your hand on that. Maybe the loss in power dynamic is what's making me aggressive?” Izime mentioned the way he’d felt off-handedly but Psyis next words certainly highlighted the fact that the struggle extended to other facets of their relationship beforehand or possibly from them instead.

  “What are we going to do if Constantinople was right and we need to bang one out before we feel like we can get along.” Psyis had only mentioned it as a joke but with each word, she felt that bit of tension pull tighter.

  By the end, she had to pull her hand from Izime’s the bond soaking in that sexual tension even as their faces remained playful. “Each of us feels like the other is too in charge and needs bent over or ridden down because of it?”

  “Well, my first time will be memorable then.” With a shrug Izime took one of the remaining pieces of sushi he had left, tilting his head back just so Psyis could see the bite she’d left from their last attempt at settling the tension she’d just welcomed into the room.

  “Maybe there is a reason for those consent forms,” Psyis sat up a bit straighter, giving a look towards the door as she did so. The thessian was able to feel that brief moment in Izime’s imagination, not having the willpower to play into such a risky thing that was only a thought to him.

  Psyis reached out tilting her still-cold glass of tea, the ice tumbling a bit as her words chilled both her and the tension in the room. “There is more room here than my counter, and the rooms is private but I think they’d hear it.”

  “We’ve got safer things to discuss than our growing fetishes anyway.” With an appreciative smile Izime let Psyis chill the connection, the thessian naturally able to cool their feelings. Looking over towards the platter that was still warm the AI gave a bit of a sad chuckle, “A lot of food to work on too.”

  The sushi was already gone, some parts of the platter Lux had ordered they sent as an appetizer slowly disappeared instead as the conversations carried on. The way Izime was leaning into her certainly made it clear he felt comfortable but the flush on his face screamed that he’d drunk too quickly.

  The alcohol vanishing much faster than the food, though Psyis wasn’t sure where her tea had gone too by the end of it.

  The thessian suspected he’d managed to down a good portion of her glass when she’d been distracted by the food or the raven; she suspected the latter. Though she wasn’t upset as making headway with Cradle was just like making progress with her relationship with Izime.

  Now they were headed towards the exit of the SkyCafe arm in arm if you could call it that. Psyis watched as Cradle’s head kept stead even as its bond wobbled a bit into her, his suit jacket having come un-buttoned. The thessian smiled a bit as she wondered if Izime had a similar if slower way to manage alcohol as he didn’t really smell drunk even if he looked it.

  “I’m glad we gave that food away, I hate waste.” Izime looked over at the woman who’d helped him hand out the entrees they hadn’t nibbled on to the point it was offensive. Several of the patrons nodded with thanks as the more expensive offering from the menu showed up on their table unannounced and already paid for.

  The AI’s eyes drifted away from the subtle blue lines under her eyes, following them as they moved. Tracing the bends in the thessian’s mottling until he reached the hollow of her neck. Feeling something fog his mind beyond the high-dollar sake and tea he’d stolen a few sips of he quickly looked back toward the two etched and frosted glass doors.

  “There should be some paparazzi by now,” Izime said, gripping Psyis’ waist a bit closer. Twisting his hand in the comforting soft of her hoodie, hoping he’d made the right decision in letting Lux in on his new relationship.

  The flash of cameras and microphones shoved towards the thessian made it clear someone had leaked her whereabouts though the AI was still a bit more concerned about when and if Lux would move.

  The heroine should be able to handle a bit of the press right?

  “Miss Psyis could we get a statement on the recent allegations by Jamestone?” One of the reporters stepped forward shoving a mic in Psyis face just as another shoved their camera forward to snap a picture. Making the most of the opportune moment, they’d learned that crowding the psychic and blitzkrieging her provided a more visceral response.

  The thessian cracked far easier than her cousin who almost seemed media trained sometimes.

  “Cradle her camera please.” Izime suddenly changed his mind waving for his bond to act. Psyis stumbling back into him, her mottling swapping to mostly blue making the slightly tipsy but very hormone-drunk AI’s anger flare; they’d scared his girlfriend. The AI not realizing he’d forgotten to take a single dose of his inhaler, was now in full protective mode as the female he was interested in only had the most minor of shocks.

  “Sir tha-” The reporters started to complain, right until Lux’s premium security came out and created a barrier protecting both the strange man and the stolen camera.

  “Now let us see, that is a terrible shot, the marks on the other side of my neck you can even see it...” Tapping the screen Izime pointed out the flaws to the reporter before drawing out the conclusion for Psyis.

  The thessian pressed against Izime trying to calm him down, the attitude he was coping clearly not that of a drunk there was something off about his anger. The AI knew who she was and should have expected this response from her, even if it was a bit ashamed to be scared of the loud crowds and cameras.

  They’d even discussed her dislike of the paparazzi before and now it seemed this one reporter had just earned the ire of the lazy salesman.

  “Here’s a statement for your article, I’m older than your whole backwater little planet, not ten and if Steven Caulder is upset I’m dating his ex he should say something directly instead of spending the afternoon with Bellany York after paying for a front-page slot on Jamestones pre-colored litter-liner.” Izime felt Psyis take a step back after he’d shown her the photos he was having Cradle upload onto the camera instead. The thessian's brows furrowed further as she gave him a slight nod, to which the AI smiled proceeding to continue his data pilfering.

  The network of devices in Centropolis not nearly as interconnected as her easter seaboard sisters Izime complained as he sorted the different street CCTV out, “Cameras are easy but why is your city's systems so shit Pi… there we go. Just in case you're worried about printing libel. This Earth’s concept of news is god awful so here's some real newsworthy photography with absolute live leaks energy.”

  “Questions?” Izime held the camera out, several other reports crowding the woman who’d caused the issue in the first place. Those vying for a flash-less shot of the scene on its display quickly swallowed the woman up in their throng.

  “Who are you?” This time a mic came forward much more slowly reaching between Lux’s security, cautious of losing their own device to the man though willing to risk it for a bit of whatever might be leaked next.

  “Izime, I currently run an off-world retail-focused business. I happened to run into Miss Psyis while being held up in League Orbital as everyone already knows,” Izime let his frown fall on the group, those who’d shown up specifically to feed into the rumors standing a bit abashedly at his tone.

  The AI clarified things for the crowd as he reached back to help Psyis down the few steps, “We’ve met before then, even had noodles together in Voltham. Though it now seems our relationship will be a bit more public.”

  “Are the Jamestone articles true, not the age but the other information such as that you’re an alien?” A man stepped forward this time holding his hand up towards the security placatingly as he only had a notepad.

  The newspaper writer wanted to clarify and build on the alternative narrative the man was handing them. Dollar signs and exclusive interviews were already imagined in the man's head, wanting to instill his channel as the mouthpiece for this new voice on earth.

  “In a fashion yes, the one thing the article did get right is I am artificial and not a human not from Earth; alien suffices for both those,” Izime nodded watching as the man scribbled furiously. The notepad was filled with information and details about the two’s dress and assumptions about the evening along with his words.

  The AI glad that he had started baiting out the mid-range media on earth, extended an invitation to something a bit more personal about them as he brought the questions to a close. Holding out his hands as he gave Lux’s security a nod, the broad-shouldered wall of black suits clearing a path for them.

  Izime turned back, throwing a bone toward the reporters who expected them to be getting inside of one of the waiting limos “But I think that is enough time wasted on this little interview. If you want to actually have a sit-down talk with us over those allegations I’m sure you can contact Miss Psyis’ PR team.”

  “Our date really isn’t the time to bring up any of that, I apologize but we’ll be leaving. Do you want to go anywhere else while we’re out or just head back to your apartment so I can unpack?” The AI intentionally ended the conversation with the reporters, picking up one with Psyis all in the same breath and volume.

  Only leaning in and pretending to be a bit conspiratorial as he loud-whispered for the reaching mics, “Your moms kind of tired of having me out on the farm, and officially gave me the OK after all.”

  “Miss Psyis any com-” One of the reporters broke at that, rushing forward to only find a mottled hand held up. Several cameras took a shot of the empty ring finger, the flashes doubling as the raven that had been on the man's shoulder landed on her extended limb. Clearly marking the woman as taken in another fashion, Cradle nesting down comfortably as Psyis smiled at the crowd.

  “No, I’m sorry, like my boyfriend said this really isn’t the time. We do have to get some his stuff unpacked so if you’ll excuse us we’ll be going to head back to Centropolis.” Psyis shook her head refusing to comment directly, instead pulling the same trick her date had. Spilling a few details intentionally while providing ample photo-worthy scenes as she leaned into him intimately wrapping an arm around his middle.

  Leaning in to pointedly saying for the crowd's sake alone, “Izime I don’t think we had a car?”

  Psyis words felt like an agreement to bring their little play to a close, the AI took his cue saying. “Right you are, I’ll take us back then.”

  Pulling Psyis closer even though he only needed to be barely touching her for the spell to work. Izime held her by the small of her back as she adjusted how she was holding the raven. Grinning mischievously at the scene they’d stirred up even as Psyis played into it further. Carefully cupping Cradle between them while she coyly clutched onto his waist.

  Their posture looking more like a family photo than any preparations for travel driving the photographers present into a frenzy. Those with video cameras fought against the flashes trying to get a better angle of the new couple's departure each wanting to ensure they’d captured the most intimate angle for the late-night broadcast.

  With a snap, the crowd was left looking at the lined-up limos, some of the onlookers more than a bit confused wondering just who had snatched away the Centropolis Angel. Those few reporters who’d heard Izime’s invitation already pulling out smartphones to contact the couple’s PR agent to schedule an interview.