Let's be *Naughty*

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

"Thank you," Koda said, the words surprising even her. She didn't say them very often. "I guess it's time for me to be going. I have duties that still need to be fulfilled. I'll see you again soon."

[echolight4eva]

Ava dipped her head and went back to her mortar and pestle.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Just for good measure, Koda walked over to Noah and smacked him on the back of his head. "Don't get any bright ideas before I get back, you hear me?"

[echolight4eva]

Noah rubbed the back of his head and grinned sheepishly at her. "I don't think I'll be going anywhere with this ankle," he replied with a laugh.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Nikoda gave an approving nod. "Good. Because there's a prison cell with your name on it." It was strange, talking to him like this. It wasn't quite flirting, which aside from formal conversations was the only thing she'd ever done. This was more... just playful banter. Between two people who should hate each other based on one principle or another, but couldn't quite do it.

[echolight4eva]

Noah laughed and lay down, putting a pillow under his ankle.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Koda gazed a him a moment longer before turning and leaving the shop. She broke into a run as soon as she was outside, knowing that she was going to be very late to deliver her message. Her superiors wouldn't be happy. For some reason, she didn't care.

[echolight4eva]

Timeskip

A few days later, Noah was sitting at a counter and helping Ava mix herbs while he rested his ankle.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

A knock sounded on the door. Without waiting for an answer, Nikoda opened the door and slipped inside. She didn't wear her uniform that day, wearing a simple skaa dress instead. Far nicer and more comfortable than most skaa women had, but it was by no means an elegant noblewoman dress. She immediately searched for Noah in the room, giving a nod of satisfaction when she spotted him.

[echolight4eva]

Noah looked up and smiled brightly at her. "Ah, Nikoda. Nice to see you," he said with a playful grin.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

"Hmm," Nikoda said unenthusiastically, but she was smiling. "I hope you haven't been any trouble," she said, casting a glance at Ava.

[echolight4eva]

Ava shook her head. "Nope, he hasn't. I've made sure of it." Noah grinned sheepishly.

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

Koda snorted in laughter. She wondered if Noah had actually tried something and she had put him in his place. It would have been very amusing to watch a slim thing like her handle a rascal like him.

[echolight4eva]

Ava walked off to leave them alone. Noah looked at Nikoda. "She thinks I'll be healed up in a few days."

[Cʀʏsᴛᴀʟ]

"Well, that's good," Nikoda said casually. The unspoken hung between them: once he was healed, he'd get to sit in a prison cell until his sentence was assigned. A simple thief like him would probably just lose his hand. For the first time ever, Koda cringed a bit at that thought. Noah didn't seem like such a bad person, if annoying. Did he really deserve to lose a body part for merely trying to survive? That was, after all, what the rest of them were doing.