"I told you I found the solution to our little privacy issue. Here it is."

Braxiatel presented her with a small, round device with a few buttons, with what appeared to be several cameras and projectors on it. Black and shiny, about the size of a tennis ball, there was a mischievous glint in his eyes when he held it out by the tips of his fingers. But Bernice seemed... confused.

"The solution to our privacy problem is a... portable holocorder. One of the things that are ruining our bloody privacy?" she snarked.

He placed it in her hands and waved the issue off, "No, no. It's nothing like that, though I used the shell of one so it would be more discreet," blinking a couple of times and the corner of his lip quivering upwards, he pressed one of the buttons on it and the very air around them seemed to warp and go hazy like they were suddenly in the middle of a heat fog.

Curious, Benny walked around Braxiatel to inspect it, trying to gather exactly what was going on. "Well, what is it then?"

She went one step too far, and the air was back to normal, but Brax was gone. "It's a proximity-based personal shimmer. With the added benefit of a perception filter as well," his voice seemed to echo from nowhere before the device turned off and the cloak around him fell away once more.

Benny scrunched up her nose, not entirely sure what to think about it. "We'll need to use this every time we go out in public together? Literally turn invisible?" It just sounded ludicrous.

Braxiatel sighed and adjusted his tie awkwardly, "It's far from an elegant solution, but it could at least draw attention away from us until there are more- pressing matters. If there's no news, there's nothing to report on." His point of view was tired, but convincing, and for Bernice that didn't help matters.

She pinched the bridge of her nose and just drooped, resigned to it. "Guess you're right. Sort of. We'll need to get it over with eventually Brax, we can't keep ignoring our problems. But maybe... when we're less tired." There was so much going on, this was hardly in the top ten concerns. Even if they had to ignore things to get a chance alone, a break was a break.

He nodded sagely, "I know, it will need to be properly sorted soon, but some time outdoors to ourselves before then would hardly go unappreciated." Brax cheerily took something else from behind the desk, a large wicker basket. "We've been together thirty days now, and I'm told that's a minor milestone, so I thought you might enjoy a bit of a date. Something simple- a picnic." His suggestion was tantalizing, and he clearly knew it, judging from the tone.

Bernice smiled- he did consider it to be today, so she supposed the croissants yesterday were just him being thoughtful. Or anxious. Or both. Her frown turned into a faint, tired smile, and she nodded. "I'd like that, yes." She'd planned to give him what she'd bought off-world sometime today as well- but she'd have to go get that later.

Benny took the basket in one hand and the shimmer in the other. "Think this'll actually work?" Her voice shuddered a little nervously. Just this once there had to be privacy, or she might not be able to take this.

Braxiatel sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "If you don't think it will, we can stay in..."

Bernice shook her head. It was still worth a shot. "No. We're going. Come on!"

Benny smiled and grabbed his arm forcefully, dragging him along. He yelped in surprise, but was soon excitedly running along with her through the halls of the mansionhouse. Provided there wasn't danger, she knew he secretly liked being dragged along.

When the pair finally reached the front doors, they both inhaled deeply as Brax activated the cloaking device. It was swift, and the air distorted again, just as it had before.

"The effect should wear off soon. Our eyes will simply adjust to it," he explained.

She let out a breath of relief. "Was hoping you'd say something like that. If this stayed the whole time I'd probably get a migraine."

"I wouldn't do that to you, Benny."

She chuckled to herself softly. Of all the things, he said it like accidentally giving her a headache was the worst form of torture he could inflict. She'd gotten far worse just being in his presence at points, but that was hardly something to think about now.

When they emerged, Bernice took a whiff of the breeze and felt the sun on her face. The air smelled pleasantly floral, and it was pretty warm for autumn. The gardens were just as beautiful as they always were, and the wispy clouds made feathery patterns in the bluest sky she'd ever seen here.

"Nice day out, isn't it?"

"Yes, I programmed it myself directly this time. We'd hardly want rain, would we?" he asked, a thin smirk apparent on his features.

Benny squinted, staring up towards the sun, "Yes, I thought we were supposed to get some today. Changing the weather for me? That's a bit much though, isn't it? I know it's simple enough here, but the principle of the thing-"

He huffed and shook his head, waving it off, "Oh, here it's so trivial, given my permissions I didn't even need to lift a finger. And with the budget, anywhere else it would be a bit more dull and take a while longer, but in the end still a piece of cake," he paused for a second, just the perfectly measured dramatic sort he'd sometimes make, "-Speaking of which, I did bring some cake."

That granted Benny conflicted feelings of both assurance and unease. He wasn't overdoing it or bending over backwards in efforts to woo her because of his frequent need to compete, which she was glad of. But one thing she also frequently forgot nowadays already- was that by many people's standards of power, Bernice was practically dating a god. Staying on his level usually was easy enough, but times when that got factored in made her out to be an insignificant speck.

As always, she didn't say a thing, and just peeked into the basket to see what was inside. The food was indeed the promised cake- angel food by the looks of things, a thermos of what was most likely tea, a bottle of wine, sandwiches, cheese, and possibly more. There were also the typical supplies necessary for one, nothing particularly interesting there. It was the environment more than the meal that mattered here.

They continued walking, a lovely stroll at a pleasant pace. Irving subtly took the basket from her and took her hand in his own, guiding their direction slightly, but for the most part letting the two of them wander in silence.

They saw passers-by. But nobody saw them back. There was a certain melancholy to being invisible, to not being greeted, and simply looked through or away from. But it was better than unwanted attention. Everyone around was more like window dressing than actual people right now, and if thought about that way it wasn't so bad. They'd be normal again eventually. Things would align soon, Benny was sure of it.

Brax stopped at a picturesque and familiar location they particularly liked and held her hand more tightly as a gesture for her to stop too.

She smiled, faint but noticeable, "Garden of Whispers? Not a bad choice. Bit sappy. But still nice."

"I'd bring you in the night to see the stars and sunrise like then, but there isn't very much to do at that time. Not too overly sentimental, I hope?" He looked to her for approval.

She shook her head, "Of course not. It's just a place where something happened. A good thing, but just something."

"So we're sure it's a good thing now?" Braxiatel remarked as he laid the basket on the ground and kneeled to start rummaging for the blanket.

She nodded thoughtfully, "Yeah. It's a good thing, I think."

"I could tell you were concerned about that. I can't deny that I felt the same, for a time," he gave a long, relieved exhale.

Benny was understanding, "Well, it was something to get used to. We've been so many things to each other. It wasn't easy to parse, was it?"

He finally pulled the blanket out, shaking it in the air before resting it in the soft grass. Bernice gladly collapsed down onto it, and he sat down more carefully.

"It would never be so simple, no." He paused for several seconds, looking inside the basket again and removing something from within, after a pair of marmalade sandwiches. "...Wine?"

Benny gratefully accepted a glass from him and a golden liquid trickled into it, a lovely and familiar aroma wafting towards her nose.

"...Chardonnay?"

"Indeed. 2297, the same year as the one you picked that night."

Well, that was... nice. She really couldn't think of a better word. Thoughtful, she supposed, but that hardly gave it justice. It was hard to be nostalgic for something only a month ago, so that wasn't it either. All that buildup to a slow, appreciative release. Imperfect, but nothing ever was.

How could she forget? How could she be so stupid?

Love.

This was what love was supposed to be like, wasn't it? In the romantic sense, anyway. Benny never really got the chance to know anything solid. Every time she thought she had something actually healthy, it got edited away or snuffed out. Every. Single. Time.

"I... love you," she finally admitted. Properly.

He raised an eyebrow and paused from slicing the cheese. It was a bit out of nowhere. He knew that much, obviously, but it was quite the non-sequitur. He took his wine and gulped at it slightly nervously, but aside from the puzzlement was able to relax again.

"I... love you too?"

"I'm not saying it in the casual sense, Brax. I actually realized again just there, like it was the first time I ever figured it out. Like- I'm sure of it, that there's reasons why now. It's not just some feeling with nothing to stand on," she explained.

He fiddled with his cufflinks, "Well, thank you? That's pleasant to hear. Bernice, I admit, I wasn't sure that I was doing a very good job."

"Oh, it's not all about that. But you have been. It's... right." It was all like that cheesy speech Benny tried to make at his wedding. Except it was true.

"Again, I'm still not entirely sure of that part either. It wouldn't be your fau-" but Brax was stopped before he could finish.

He yelped and nearly dropped his wine glass as she pulled him into a tight embrace. Bernice couldn't find the right words now, but she would show him the very best she could. He offered to kiss her, and she obliged- cradling his neck and keeping them from falling apart. But they wouldn't. They couldn't. A whole that was greater than the sum of its parts, everything was better when they could feel the thump of each other's heartbeats.

When the kiss broke, she still rested her head on his shoulder, taking in his scent.

Braxiatel finally surrendered, "Perhaps you're right."

"I know I'm right."

"You would be," he playfully rolled his eyes. "You're far too stubborn not to."

"Oi! Just gave you a heartfelt speech and everything," she jokingly complained.

Despite picking up on her sarcasm, Brax elaborated anyway, "...In the right sort of way. Confidence, feistiness, flame, stubbornness. Holding your ground here is reassuring."

Braxiatel looked deep into her eyes as she stared back up at him. For just a second, they turned sharp and a spark shot through. It was a sort of wicked grin, but then it was gone and she completely softened again, fond and loving, like dark pools sparkling and shifting colour in the light. He felt like a fool. For struggling so much to believe it. All little white lies, he'd said to himself, so many times before now when they'd been apart for long enough, or she was frustrated with him. Even if they were, Brax supposed there were too many for that to make any sense.

Logic never did work here.

But she seemed almost concerned. Or maybe frustrated, or awed- or perhaps all three, "Is it weird that this is happening? It being like that?"

"I'm afraid I wouldn't know. You've been in far more romantic entanglements than I have," he shrugged, raising an eyebrow. "Have you not felt it before?"

Benny faltered with her words, biting into her sandwich for once. The sticky fruit was strong and tart on her palette, and that only made it more difficult to concentrate. "Not... much. Not- things coming back like this. Not when you haven't been gone for whatever reason. That's always how it was then. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I guess."

"And we've hardly been apart for more than a workday for nearly five weeks?" he suggested.

Stuttering more, but agreeing, Bernice gave up and said one word only, "Precisely."

"I can't say anything for certain. But if you think it's a good thing, I'm inclined to believe you. Now, at the very least."

"Now?"

"You had your anxieties, I had my attempts at logic while trying to work at this sort of thing. Putting how we are into a box, but it's been something that simply doesn't fit," he murmured.

She elbowed him slightly, "Who needs a box, anyway?"

"My brother, typically," He rolled his eyes and offered a thin smile.

"Very funny." Bernice chortled quietly, then sat up farther and felt the cool breeze on her face, coming off the lake. She heard the whispering, a faint sing-song through the willows and over the rippling water. Rare these days, the wind needed to be blowing in just the right direction for it to be so distinct all the way over here.

Benny gazed upon all the statues she could see and across the shimmering pool, the summer house seeming so far in the distance. The occasional bird chirped merrily. It was scenic and picturesque, practically a storybook fairytale.

She appreciated the wine some more, and when she finished her sandwich and cheese, he opened a sealed container with half a cleaned pomegranate shell full of seeds. She took one, two, three, four, five, then six pips of the fruit, and stopped. Irving counted, noting the number.

"Stopping at six? Afraid I'll ask you to stay all year, Professor Bernice Surprise Summer field?" Brax smugly grinned.

She sighed, "Laws aren't what's keeping me here. Arbitrary mythical ones or no," and having made her point, had a proper handful.

He shrugged, taking a few himself. "An arbitrary mythical law couldn't keep you anywhere if they tried. But the comparison isn't lost on me."

Benny just laughed and smiled knowingly, and before long their hands met inside the near-empty husk of the fruit. That part was most definitely his plan. He wouldn't bring something that could be so messy and staining if there wasn't a motive there.

And the motive, despite them both being sticky, was appreciated and responded to in kind. Pushing the peel away, she squeezed his hand gently and glanced between him and the lake. Everything around them seemed to slow. A perfect calm, save for the butterflies in Bernice's stomach.

The bliss seemed like it would've lasted forever... if it weren't for Irving leaning back and passing her a slice of cake on a tiny dessert plate. Angel food. Light, fluffy, sweet.

"I would have offered brioche... though that may have been too heavy for a picnic."

"Evaluating every single factor, eh?" Benny playfully nudged him on the shoulder.

He huffed fondly in response, "Only the best for us- and it's much simpler to enjoy making something you anticipate everyone being hungry enough to eat."

She took a fork and the cloudy sweetness fell across her tongue. Benny's only sound was an 'mmmf' as it melted in her mouth. Braxiatel took an experimental bite himself and nodded in approval at his handiwork.

"You like it?"

"Mhmm..."

"I think I'm rather starting to like cooking again. I haven't made much for others for a few centuries now. Though, angel food is one that I've always appreciated," he gladly explained. Brax cooked for himself plenty- the porters in the mansionhouse were excellent personal chefs, but there was an art to it that was lost whenever a computer made something- never deviating from a recipe to experiment, always exactly the same. Routine and dull. And the culinary, as much as the visual, the written, the performing, the mathematical, and the musical, was a type of creation he had a penchant for in equal measure.

After swallowing it, she finally got the chance to speak. "Haven't lost your touch either way. This stuff's not usually my thing. But damn if it's not all set the mood."

Braxiatel raised a curious eyebrow, "The mood for what?"

Benny offered a sharp stare, before she smirked and her eyes dilated with true affection when they met properly.

"For everything."

'Let them eat cake!' Marie Antoinette allegedly once said. And so they did, along with the tea he'd brought. Sitting in silence save for the whispers, enjoying the company. Invisible to all but each other. This was a good idea after all. The great outdoors without a word of interruptions.

When they finally finished, Bernice fell onto him to where he was sat, crooking her head between his neck and shoulder, leaning up and kissing him on the cheek.

"You might just be sweeter than that cake, Brax."

He rolled his eyes and blushed at the compliment, glancing away, "All lies and slander, I assure you, Benny."

"Do you have a case to fight that?" she grinned, mischievously amused.

Irving surrendered, Benny would call him as sweet as she damn well pleased and he knew it. But only her. "It depends, though if you put in the effort I doubt I'd win."

"Admitting you won't win for once, hmm?" she winked, pulling him closer.

He chuckled and stroked her hair, placing a kiss on the top of Bernice's head. "Perhaps you can attempt a proper rematch later," he added, "But now..."

"Yes."

They wrapped their arms around each other and fell onto the blanket beneath them, just lying there, and waiting. To see what would happen next. Because neither was quite sure. Not yet. Whatever did, it would be something nice. There wasn't a single drop of doubt about it.