TNT was a large fashion store located on 14th Street, which Liam knew Renee frequently visited. The store was huge and took up two floors to fit women's, men's and kids' apparel and shoes – everything from comfortable pyjamas to glittering evening dresses. The young hybrid was no fashion expert, but he did know the basics, and optimistically calculated the whole affair was not supposed to take longer than half an hour. Although shopping with an overinquisitive alien did not bode well, it shouldn't be harder than what he had already encountered. No trash cans. No banana peels. Nothing that could pull him into more trouble than he had already faced, right? The security staff looked at him suspiciously when he entered the store with a black eye and a swollen nose, but he was determined to ignore their snooping gazes.

'I am truly sorry for your predicament, Liam,' Da'an said softly. 'I must admit I have not anticipated my experiment would…'

Her Protector's eyes narrowed. Turn my life into a progressing nightmare?

'… cause you so much discomfort.'

'Well, it's not like you did it on purpose,' he sighed. 'Look, the entire store is full of clothes, I'm sure you can pick something just perfect for..' Liam grew silent, noticing that the diplomat had just picked a sombrero from a mannequin's head. 'No – no – no!' he instantly snatched it right from Da'an's hand and received a look of mild annoyance in response. 'We definitely don't need that for Christmas.'

The Companion tilted her head inquisitively before turning her attention to an embarrassingly transparent bikini set. Feeling his temperature rise, Liam began to look around in growing panic.

'There's the winter wear section!' he exclaimed upon seeing the sign hung on the ceiling and before Da'an could inquire about the bikini, she was forcefully pulled into a row of fuzzy sweaters and cardigans. Her Protector visibly relaxed, glad that the immediate danger of being drawn into a downright embarrassing situation had been averted. The Taelon in a woman's body, however, appeared somewhat perplexed by the young hybrid's reaction.

'Is everything alright, Liam?'

'Yes, why wouldn't it be?' Liam felt his cheeks warm and suddenly became very aware of the heat spreading through his body. Stop it! – he kicked himself mentally. – For God's sake, this is your BOSS!

'So, um, anything here that suits your taste?' he asked, desperately trying to change the topic.

Da'an took a moment to consider her answer before she hesitantly picked a V-neck, purple sweater.

'That's definitely your colour,' the man did his best to sound enthusiastically. 'Let's see if it's your size, too.' He carefully placed the sweater in front of the confused Companion. 'That definitely should do. Let's use that winning streak and get you a nice pair of jeans.'

This time he slowly guided her to the trousers section and within ten minutes picked three potential candidates.

'You know what to do now, right?' he asked. 'The changing room's over there.'

Da'an looked in the direction her Protector had indicated, but to Liam's utter dismay, still did not look particularly convinced.

'You go in there and try the clothes on,' Liam clarified. 'I'll be right behind the curtain.'

Assured by the statement, the diplomat walked in. Liam let out a relieved sigh before a recurring, bothersome thought began nagging at his peace of mind. Da'an knew how to dress, right? He… she was dressed when he had had first seen her in a human form at the Embassy. It's not like that bunch of human scientists helping her with the experiment was responsible for putting the clothes on her, too.

Still, the very possibility…

With a pained expression, Liam ran a hand across his face. God, please…

'How's it going?' he asked after five minutes of ominous silence. 'Do they fit?'

'I am uncertain,' sounded the answer from behind the curtain.

'What do you mean, uncertain?' somehow Liam felt it in his bones that another disaster was on its way, especially that Da'an's voice sounded rather awkward. 'Do they fit or not?'

The silence in the changing room said more than words would. The man moaned. 'Okay, I'm coming in.'

Having taken a deep breath, he swiftly slipped behind the curtain. Da'an was standing in front of the mirror with only one leg slid into her jeans and head visibly stuck in one of the sweater sleeves. Liam rolled his eyes, concluding that evolution on Earth was probably more deadly for a Taelon than an open conflict with the Resistance; a fashion store which had just outtricked a several-thousand-year-old member of an intellectually superior species surely deserved an applause.

'Don't move, I'll try to get you unstuck,' he offered and carefully began to pull the unfortunate sleeve. 'What has tempted you to put your head in there?'

'I do not believe this is working, Liam,' the diplomat whined.

'I'll try a little harder…' he warned, and gave the sleeve a final, strong pull. Finally freed, Da'an took a large gulp of air, instantly noticing his Protector's flushed cheeks.

'Liam?' she asked, baffled.

As if awoken from a trance, the young hybrid immediately turned away from her in what looked like utter panic. If not for his obligations as a Companion Protector, he would probably sprint away from the store that very second.

'Why aren't you wearing a bra?!' he wailed instead.

'A bra?' Da'an sounded confused. 'I do not believe you are wearing one either.'

Liam cursed under his breath. 'It's strictly female lingerie! I swear I'm not going to get anywhere near you until you get one.'

The Companion looked even more flabbergasted than his Protector. 'In that case, would you get one for me, please?'

The young hybrid felt he was on the verge of ripping the hair from his head. Still, if there was really no other way of ensuring he would never ever again see Da'an in some half-naked woman's body… he would strive to vanquish his weaknesses.

'Stay right here,' he commanded before heading straight for the lingerie section. As a three-year-old human-Kimera hybrid who had never even been anywhere near women's underwear, nor had really planned to be, Liam felt like he was drowning. Seriously, how did women even know which size was right? He gazed at rows of rows of bras labelled as full-cups, balconettes and demi-cups, and begged Universe for some miraculous illumination.

'Can I help you?' as if to answer his prayers, a young shop assistant smiled at him from behind the shelf.

Liam's uneasiness rocketed to the ceiling. 'A-actually, I'm lo-looking for…'

'A bra for your girlfriend?' she offered helpfully.

'She's not really my girlfriend... but it's not like I want one for myself, right?' he strove for a humorous comment, but the woman began to eye him suspiciously.

You're a genius, Kincaid. Keep on plunging yourself deeper in that quagmire.

'What size do you need?' she continued professionally. His only answer was a blank expression, which – having worked in the industry for quite a few years now – she recognized instantly. 'So you haven't got a clue. We'll try a few different sizes then. You're looking for a classic or erotic model?'

'Pardon?' he mumbled.

'The lingerie. A standard bra or something extra for a romantic evening.'

Please, please, let it just end right here.

'Standard, totally simple and… you know what? This one looks good!' without thinking much, he grabbed the first one in the row and sprinted away, heading for the changing room.

Da'an nearly shrieked when her Protector technically rammed into the small compartment. With wide eyes she gazed at him as he leaned on the wall, trying to catch his breath.

'This is killing me, Da'an,' he panted. 'Is there any possible way of dealing with it in the next five minutes? The saleslady thinks I'm wearing bras, and since she's just seen me run into a changing room with it…' he paused as he realized the enormity of the disaster. 'I'm socially finished in this city.'

An expression of guilt crossed Da'an's face. 'Have I caused you discomfort?'

'No, not at all,' Liam ironized. 'Turn around and let's get done with it.'

The Companion was far from arguing and with the reluctant help of her Protector managed to clip the bra, and put on the sweater and the jeans. She was about to collect her previously procured clothes, but Liam instantly blocked her way.

'No, your reindeer set stays here,' he instructed. 'If you want to breach the law, you should learn to get rid of the evidence.'

Da'an inclined her head in curious regard.

'It's not exactly what I should be teaching you… but we both know it works,' he said, leading her towards the cash desk. Once their shopping was paid for, he quickly headed out of the store, making sure she followed close behind.

'Liam, may I ask you a personal question?' she inquired when they had already left the building.

Uh-huh. There she goes again. 'I guess I'm going to regret it, but yeah… go on.'

'Do you find my new form… repulsive?'

The young hybrid raised an eyebrow. 'No, of course not. Why would you think I do?'

Da'an opened her mouth only to close it again. Clearly describing the situation was a challenge even for a renowned Taelon diplomat.

'Oh… you mean that…' Liam realized. 'No, I was just a bit… embarrassed. You see, you're a woman… I mean, not you, you're an androgynous alien, but this woman… is a woman…'

Quagmire, Kincaid. You're drowning. He took a mental note to himself, which only seemed to make things worse.

'Listen, Da'an, I'm technically three years old. Ha'gel passed the knowledge of the Kimera onto me, but my experience in the human world… is limited. Which probably makes me the worst teacher you could choose, alright?'

The diplomat smiled. 'The fact that you did not get stuck in a piece of human clothing is still promising.'

Probably because Augur helped me dress the first time. Liam grinned in response.

Da'an's smile faded away as she gazed into distance. In the wan light of festive decorations, the snow glimmered around her, mimicking the tiny particles of alien energy which occasionally danced in her irides. As the wind gently whipped her blond hair back, her eyelids drifted closed. Somewhat bothered, Liam realized she had grown unnaturally pale for a human.

'Are you okay?' he asked.

Da'an opened her eyes, but Liam saw her lean on the wall for support.

'When did you last eat?' he continued, and – reading the blank expression on her face – quickly got his answer. 'Did you eat anything at all?'

'I do not believe so,' the diplomat confessed.

'Humans need to eat, Da'an. So now it's exactly what we're going to do,' he decided. 'I know a good restaurant nearby, but be warned: Taelon core energy is not on the menu,' he added with a smile, and protectively took her by the elbow to ensure she would not lose her balance. Da'an seemed a little surprised by the gesture, but without any objections allowed her Protector to lead her across the street.