After Abbie's little staring incident, Ichabod insisted on sitting at least a foot away from her on the couch as they watched a movie. Abbie just rolled her eyes, unashamed. Who would of thought such a fine specimen of man had been hiding under that ratty coat this whole time? Maybe she should have been bothered by her staring, but she wasn't. She found nothing wrong with appreciating Ichabod's looks, considering there were no feelings attached.
Ichabod, on the other hand, was trying desperately to erase the chagrin he'd felt during the incident. At the time, he'd hoped desperately that the Leftenant had retired for the night, seeing how she had not responded to his shouts from the bathroom. His horror was so great at being caught half naked in front of his colleague that he hadn't even noticed her staring. He had yet to forgive himself for the incident.
"Leftenant, I-"
"Save it Crane. This is probably the sixteenth time you've tried to apologize in the last half hour. I get it, you're embarrassed, but you need to chill out. Times are way different, and trust me I could have seen worse."
Ichabod scrunches his eyebrows at that, unsure of how to respond to her comment.
"Besides, with us living together now, I'm sure you'll catch me in the same situation."
Ichabod sits silently, trying to decipher the strange leap in his stomach in reaction to her words. He clears his throat.
"Yes, well, I will endeavor to make sure that this incident does not reoccur."
"Okay Crane, whatever, just watch the movie."
He rolls his eyes at her brusqueness but bites his tongue. Somehow he finds her demeanor charming. Had she acted the same during his era she most definitely would have been an outcast. Then again, during his era she would have been a slave. He frowns at the thought. Had she been a slave, she wouldn't have lasted long. Her pride and strength would have ensured her quick punishment, and most likely death. His jaw clenched with distaste. The thought of her demise, or even injury, made his stomach churn.
"Hey, are you alright? You look sick," Abbie says from across the couch.
"Yes, yes Leftenant I'm fine. Just a bit distracted."
"Alright well, stop thinking so hard and just relax," she says, then turns back to the movie.
Ichabod tries to take her advice, but is ultimately lost in thought, trying to decipher when and how the Leftenant had become so important to him so quickly.