After the events at the clothing shop, it was decided that 'D' obviously wasn't going to make a move while Tio was present, since she was quite physically intimidating. The question of why anyone who would be intimidated by Tio would think they could handle Caboose was quickly discarded, as Zombina insisted it was now her turn to 'date' Caboose.
Zombina decided to take Caboose to see a zombie movie. She thought it would be a great way to have fun and enjoy a thrill without either of them being in any danger. ...she wondered if her ears would ever stop ringing from the screaming.
"Miss, could you please take your ba-oh, sorry Ambassador."
And that was the fifth usher to start to ask her to take her 'baby' out of an 'adult' horror film, only to realize the screams of terror were coming from an adult, and an important one at that. Admittedly, she wasn't going to complain about the way Caboose clung tightly to her each time he screamed. The closeness was nice even through the armor...as long as she was able to hear when they got back out.
When they finally left the theater, Zombina turned to a now completely calm Caboose. "With everything you've faced, how can a zombie flick still scare you?" she demanded, her tone warring between the shock of the revelation and the worry that it was specifically zombies that scared him.
"Most of what I fought was in armor," Caboose responded readily. "Armor's pretty much all the same from the outside, so it's not that scary. The scary part is not knowing what's inside. If the zombies were wearing armor, they wouldn't have been as scary. But if they aren't wearing armor, then they don't need it...and that's scary."
Zombina turned that over in her mind as she moved to scratch her chin thoughtfully, only to see her hand was missing. "Uh...have you seen-"
"I've got it," Caboose responded immediately as he placed her hand on the stump and immediately started sewing it back on as though he did so every day. "You should invest in stronger thread. I'm using some of Rach-nee's silk just now, so it should hold better. I can give you some if you like."
"T-that would be helpful," Zombina allowed, trying not to think about how it felt to have him so close and so calm. "Is that the gift you got for me?" she joked to distract herself.
"Nope!" Caboose countered as he finished sewing her hand back on. "This is!" With that, he pulled out a small lidded jar filled with an off-pink substance. "I made it for you!"
Zombina picked up the jar as she examined it. She noticed the label read, The Inner You. "Is this...makeup?" she asked in surprise.
"Yup!" Caboose confirmed happily. "Made just for you!"
Zombina shook her head ruefully as she lifted the top. "Caboose, I'm not exactly the sort to wear makeup-" Her words failed as she got a closer look. "...mortuary putty?"
"Chemically altered to not melt and match your skin tone!" Caboose declared happily.
"And...what am I supposed to do with it?" Zombina asked in confusion.
"I'll show you!" Caboose responded eagerly, gently tugging her into a salon. "Can I borrow a mirror?" he asked the beauty specialists eagerly, and was quickly directed to a free seat. He promptly pushed Zombina into the chair as he dipped two fingers into the bottle.
"Wait a minute-" Zombina started to demand, only to freeze as Caboose started to gently apply it to her face.
"Makeup isn't about hiding who or what you are," Caboose spoke as he worked, working first on the slightly decayed portion of flesh around Zombina's eyes. "It's about bringing out the you inside, so you and the world can see. That's what my big sis always said when she made me help my little sis with makeup." He smoothed it over the suture scar on Zombina's face. "So do you remember this you?" he asked as he shifted to spread it over her wrist.
Zombina stared into the mirror...and found Bina staring back. It was still her face, but it wasn't the undead face she had grown so used to until she'd forgotten she'd once resented it. Here was the face of the human girl she'd once been, the face she thought she would never see again. "Caboose...I…" she managed to whisper in awe.
"Do you like it?" Caboose asked hopefully.
"It...it's...amazing…" Bina managed to say. "But...but it's not real-"
"It's as real as you want it to be," Caboose told her warmly. "It's why I asked to call you Bina when we first met. Because this is who I saw when I looked at you, the you inside. I made this for you because I wanted to show you what I saw."
If Bina's tear ducts were still functional, she would have been weeping in pleasure and ancient sorrow just now. As it was, she clung to Caboose with choked sobs as the other beauty technicians marveled at the 'transformative restoration' Caboose had worked so expertly.
When Bina managed to get control of herself, one of the ladies turned to Caboose. "I don't suppose you're looking for extra work on the side?" she asked wonderingly. "Are you a trained beauty technician?"
"I'm plenty good with machines," Caboose responded happily.
The lady sighed. "I suppose that's no on both counts...but how did you get so skilled with makeup?"
"17 sisters," Caboose and Bina chorused together, getting giggles from the technicians and laughter from the customers.
"And you still like women?" one of the customers called out in joking amazement, getting more laughter from those present.
As Caboose led Bina out of the salon, she turned to him. "Caboose...can you do something for me?" she asked hopefully.
"Sure!" Caboose responded eagerly. "Name it!"
Bina futzed nervously with the hem of her shirt. "J...just for today, I want to be Bina...all the way Bina. So...could you put that on...all my suture scars?"
"Sure!" Caboose agreed happily. He moved to open the jar again.
"Not here," Bina cautioned urgently. "Some I...can't show in public."
"We could use a love hotel," Caboose offered. "They rent rooms by the hour, and they're private."
Bina looked down, knowing she would be blushing brightly if she still could. "And...there's something else we could do there…"
"Huh?" Caboose asked in confusion.
"As...as a former human...I have an Interspecies Visa…" she explained, hoping she wouldn't have to explain further. She wasn't sure she could get the words out without going back to being Zombina.
Caboose gently cupped her cheek in one hand. "This date is for you," he offered warmly. "We'll do what you want…"
Bina smiled widely, not letting her teeth show.
In her office, Agent Smith wondered what her Freckle meant when it informed her that Zombina had been promoted to Second Lieutenant.