John wasn't sure what to make of this. He had never run across a situation like it, not once, and especially not in training. The UNSC didn't account for unexpected human behavior.

Like a civilian not being slightly put off by the facelessness of an armored Spartan, and instead preferring that he kept his helmet on. Not that that was usually an issue for him. He was much more comfortable in full armor. But this mission was… slightly different. No fighting at all. Not even the tiniest bit of verbal sparring to keep things interesting. John would have said it was a milk run if not for the civvie woman who insisted on trying to press her nose against his faceplate.

The hell was he supposed to do with that?! He didn't have much in the way of personal space, but nobody got this close. Ever.

Distinctly uncomfortable, he nevertheless held his ground, holding the woman at arm's length with one hand on her shoulder. His orders were to 'get used to' civilians, whatever the hell that meant, and then once he was comfortable with their ways, report back for updated orders.

John doubted he would ever be comfortable around civilians. They were too strange. Too hard to predict. Other soldiers were simple enough. He knew where he stood. The Covenant, the Flood and the Forerunners were enemies which he now understood well enough to be able to react to their every move on the battlefield before they even made it. But civilians? It was so long since he'd fought the Insurrection that even they seemed strange to him. Civs who didn't know which end of a rifle was the end the bullet came out of were just… weird.

"What's the matter, Spartan? Can't handle a woman getting a little friendly?"

Err, what? His instinctive control of his face slipped and once again he was glad he was wearing his helmet. Surprise registered in his mind, as did an unfamiliar feeling. Not fear, but something related to it. And was that a little disgust in the back of his mind? Yes, definitely disgust. Enough to tell him that he wanted that woman out of his face. Now. He squared his shoulders and drew himself up to his full seven-foot-seven, trying to do that thing Kelly had described that seemed to work for her - putting out an 'offputting vibe'.

He didn't think he did it right because the civ was completely nonplussed. Finally, he fought back an irritated sigh and, keeping his voice carefully level, allowed himself to react. "I would appreciate it if you would back off." What was the thing that Kelly said to get Marines to leave her alone when they were getting a little too friendly? "I'm not interested." No, that wasn't it, but it seemed to work anyway.

Civilians… the hell was he supposed to do with them?

Let your discipline slip, John. Be human.

He wondered if he was going crazy. If he was, it had been going on for a long time. Cortana was gone. But he still regularly heard her voice. This time it made absolutely no sense. He was on a mission. Let his discipline slip? Absolutely not!

Have you forgotten already? It didn't take you long. Remember the last thing you learnt from me. You're not a machine. You are human, John! So allow yourself to be what you are.

Definitely going crazy. He sighed and continued on his way, wondering what was next. Maybe he should take the armor off. He would draw much less attention that way.

"But," he muttered to himself, "why would Command have allowed it in the first place if I was supposed to get used to not wearing it?"

Something told him the moment he spoke the words that he was exactly right and the purpose of this 'mission' was in fact to wean him off military life.

They were retiring him? HIM?! After all these years! He was still in his prime, more than capable of anything that the younger Four-series Spartans could do and then some.

Good, righteous indignation, so you do remember.

"Shut up, Cortana." Shouldn't have said that. Should not have said that.

I'm proud of you.

John had no idea why, but he wanted to throw something. Or put his fist through a tree or a wall. Or drop his self-control altogether and scream and break things. He wasn't angry… this feeling wasn't something he could even identify… but he knew what it made him want to do. If he was meant to assimilate into civilian society, was he meant to allow himself to give in to his feelings? He didn't know. With an irritated, slightly confused grunt, he strode down an empty street, not sure where he was going. It really didn't matter. With a sense of direction like his, it was nearly impossible for him to lose his bearings. North was behind him, and as long as he knew where north was, he could keep track of where he was going without even trying.

"John?!"

He froze. That voice was familiar. Too familiar. He didn't want to believe his ears but she knew his name and had recognized him despite the fact that she couldn't see his face. "Kelly?"

"You have got to be kidding me. It is you." Something moved in the shadows. John took a moment to realize that 'something' was Kelly. By the time his mind had processed that fact, she was halfway to him, and by the time he had time to react, she was a foot away. What was she doing-?

"Uhhh… Kelly?"

"Sorry." Kelly released his waist and stepped back. "You're still active, obviously. What're you doing here, though? There's nothing important here. Nothing that warrants a Spartan deployment."

John looked down. "I think they want to retire me…"

Kelly bumped his shoulder. Not a gesture he wanted right then. "It's rough for the first few weeks, but once you get used to it, it's not so bad. Although for you… well, you might take a bit longer than I did. I assume they gave you a place to stay."

John nodded. "But I don't like it. There's too much… softness."

"You get used to that, if you want to. I didn't want to, so I bought this place with my payout." Kelly jabbed a thumb at the small house behind her. "It's great for just me, but a little cramped now that Linda's moved in. It'll be great to have the team back together again. I guess you don't know yet but Fred lives two blocks farther south."

Linda… Fred… what?! "Kelly…"

"Right, sorry, all a lot to take in at once, and I'm talking too much again, so I'll shut up now. I do have another bedroom in my house if you want to get out of the hotel, but it'll be super cramped, just so you know, and-"

"Kelly!"

"What? Oh. Right." Kelly shot John an apologetic glance, let go of his hand - which, oddly, he hadn't even realized she had been holding - and turned her eyes back to her house for a moment. "Want to come in? Linda went to get some coffee because we ran out, but she'll be back soon and then-"

"Kelly!" John took off his helmet and then, in a gesture that he enjoyed a lot more than he should have, put a finger on Kelly's lips to shut her up. There was a twinkle in his eyes and a smile graced his face as he tried not to laugh. "It's good to see you, too. Yes, I would love to come in. On one condition."

"Anything!"

"Try to tone it down just a little. I can barely get a word in edgewise." Amusement colored his tone and he smiled again. "You always were talkative, but never this bad. I almost feel like you've taken the 'rabbit' thing too seriously."

Kelly looked at him then with an expression on her face that John had never seen before. "God, you've changed. You should keep up this smiling thing. It looks good on you." She put a hand on his chestplate and then got in very close. As close as the civilian woman before, except John didn't mind this time. Having Kelly this close made him nervous, but in a different way. It was… pleasant.

Be human, John…

His eyes slid closed of their own accord and his hands came up to carefully, gently cradle Kelly's face. Slowly, tentatively, he brought his face towards hers. His pulse thundered in his ears and he could have sworn his heart was trying to leap out of his body via his mouth. His lips brushed hers ever so lightly… and then he did something he had never done before. He chickened out.