It was both surprising and predictable just how easily the two of them slipped into a routine. It wasn't the same as before, where everything was hidden behind the veil of secrecy Europe provided them. Long nights in Parisian attics or Serbian safe houses were no where in sight. It was better this was, she decided. They were far from a couple kids the first time, but this felt more adult than it did then.
Waking up in his bed, or vice versa, was still new to her though. They hadn't had the chance to have conventional moments in the past. They were always on the job; always looking over their shoulders hoping they wouldn't be caught by their team or jeopardize their mission.
It was still secret, but for better reasons.
She wakes up before him almost every morning; slipping silently out from under the covers and to her bathroom. He wasn't there every night - they still valued their own personal space - but she was extra mindful when he did sleep over. Getting ready with another person in the home was a bit foreign to her.
That morning she heads to the bathroom, doing her best to remain as quiet as possible. He was a light sleeper. Once a Marine, always a Marine she supposes. So she makes an effort not to wake him.
She doesn't notice it at first; too busy fighting to wake up fully as she runs the hair brush through her knotted locks. But it jumps out at her the moment she can think clearly.
A blue toothbrush sits in the holder beside her own, one that certainly wasn't there the morning before.
She wonders when he had the time to sneak it in her bathroom.
"You used to be quieter."
She looks up, startled, and sees him standing behind her in the mirror.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack first thing in the morning?" She asks with a glare. It was far too early to be prepared for someone sneaking up on her.
"It used to be harder to sneak up on you," He says, "Should have stayed in the field."
Her glare doesn't falter as she stares down his reflection, "Watch yourself Jethro, I'm still an excellent shot.
The smirk he gives her amuses her and irritates her at the same time. Leave it to him to get on her nerves the first ten minutes into her day.
"You walk heavy in the mornings." He comments, glancing down at her bare feet, "It's loud."
She discards the brush and gathers her hair into one hand, securing it with a tie in the other. It was finally long enough that she could wear it back again, though she would be lying if she said she didn't miss the easiness her pixie cut provided.
"It's hardly my fault you're the worlds lightest sleeper," She says with a huff, "And I hate to be the one to break this to you Jethro, but you're not as spry as you once were either. You think I don't hear you sneaking out some mornings?"
He grumbles something she can't quite make out under his breath. Probably for the best, she decides. He had a habit of knowing just what to say to get under her skin, and the last thing she wanted was to start a war of sarcastic comments before the sun came up.
She begins pinning back the last few loose strands of hair when he comes to stand directly behind her. It was a bit of an odd sensation, getting ready beside someone else in the morning. Not that she was complaining. As much as he gets on her nerves there wasn't much on this earth she would trade him for.
His hands settle on her shoulders, thumbs digging into the muscles above her shoulder blades. The day hadn't even truly began and yet she was already tense. Ever since she became director she could feel the stress in her shoulders. A side effect of the territory, she supposed.
The toothbrush catches her attention again just as he presses down on a particularly tense spot on her shoulder.
"You left a toothbrush here." She comments, glancing up at his reflection.
The pressure from his fingers falters for a fraction of a second before he continues his impromptu shoulder rub.
"I did."
A ghost of a grin pulls at the corners of her mouth. She wasn't one to act overly giddy in regards to their relationship. They were both far to old to be in that phase, but something inside of her bubbles with delight all the same.
"I'm starting to think you might stick around here for a while."
He meets her gaze in the mirror, a lighthearted smirk playing at his lips and she wonders if it was always supposed to be this easy.
"I just might."
