"What exactly is it that you two are up to again?" Maeve purred at the bikini clad Cassie and the less than comfortable looking Lex in boarding shorts.
"We are having Spring Break baby!" Cassie exclaimed with a twirl while feeding Zigs a treat. "Back home, my brothers would always tell me wild stories about their adventure when they went to the beach with friends. I never got to go, so I decided it was time for my own adventure."
"And why is Lex going?" Evie taunted with a teasing glance toward the stony-faced man.
"I decided it was high time that Lex and I had a bonding trip." Cassie responded cheerfully. "After all, Fernando is with Ying at the festival in Crosswind Hold, and Viktor and Kinessa are training with Ash every day this week."
Maeve sent Evie a knowing look. Everyone knew that the redhead was crazy about Fernando, but the self-proclaimed knight had been paying a lot of attention to Ying ever since she saved his life during a battle. Him inviting Ying to his festival had obviously challenged Cassie to do something besides pine over him.
It was odd, though, how she convinced the stoic Lex to go to the beach of all places. He had been solely focused on work ever since they met him. His insatiable quest to serve justice had rivaled the intense focus of Androxus, and he's a robot.
Despite the oddness of the sight, Cassie and Lex left the breakroom headed for the nearest beach.
"So, Evie, you are the Gossip Queen, fill me in, how did Cassie convince Lex to go to the beach with her?"
Evie smirked, "Why Maeve darling, I'm surprised you don't already know. Now, now, no need to get your claws out, I was only teasing. It just so happens that when Fernando asked Ying to his festival that who should overhear but our heartbroken Cassie in the next room over. She was sharpening her arrows and Lex was polishing his guns. One thing led to another, and soon our Cassie was sobbing her tale out to the man. He reacted as any man would and tried to solve it by offering to do whatever would help with her woes, and she talked him into taking her to the beach. It is as simple as that."
Maeve rolled her eyes at the ice queen, before leaving the room to find Sky.
Two weeks later, a tanned and smiling Cassie came bouncing into the breakroom with an equally tanned and slightly less enthusiastic Lex behind her.
Fernando was visually stunned at the sight of the damage dealer next to the flank. Maeve and Evie both gave a taunting look towards him as he stammered out, "Cassie, where have you been?"
She seemed not to notice his reaction as she shared the adventure at the oceanside.
After that day, Fernando spent more time with his redheaded companion, and Lex seemed to avoid her altogether. Though if you happened to be in the weapons room on some rare evening when everyone had flooded out to their homes after a long day of battle, you might see the redhead share a fond smile with her stoic companion.
The details she shared from that day were vague, but no one managed to root the full story out of them.
If you asked Cassie she would reply, "We had a great bonding time, and that's all I'm saying."
And if you asked Lex he would respond, "If you want to know, ask Cassie."
Perhaps no one will ever know what bonded the two very different fighters, from strangers to friends, and the only trace that the two ever went on their vacation together is a pair of sunglasses with palm trees on them in Cassie's room, and a mermaid pendant hanging on Lex's wall.
Authors Note: Hope you enjoy my take on the new chest in Paladins. I added a reference to Stardew Valley at the end.