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Prompt #1: Check-in - She calls him to check in every day at 6AM and 8PM, and they pretend they're not sneaking glances at each other through their windows.

Words: 601

He's come to expect the early morning wakeup call.

As a former Delta Force operative, Gabriel Vaughn is no stranger to waking up at the crack of dawn. He's rolled out of canvas bags combat-ready with less sleep than the six hours he currently pulls.

So when he starts bitching to his bodyguard about losing beauty sleep, she knows that he's only trying to make her laugh.

Riley Neal. Protocol in a power suit. She saved the President's daughters and ended up getting stabbed. She shot her stepfather in self-defense.

But that's not everything about her. She's a woman who sees the world in every shade of black and white. She thinks herself bulletproof, but worries about saving everyone.

Gabriel knows her service record and the contents of her sealed file, but he wants to know more. More about the woman aside from what he learnt on the Web. So when the day draws to a close, he enjoys wheedling a woman as entertaining as she.

God knows she needs help winding down after what he puts her through.

She's come to enjoy the last-checks call.

As a former member of the Presidential Detail, Riley Neal is all about double-checking that her protectee is safe for the night. She's lost count of how many times she's forgone sleep to make sure those under her protection are safe and sound.

So when she stands on her balcony to call her charge, she knows that he sits on his kitchen counter next to the window just to give her some peace of mind.

Gabriel Vaughn. Risk-taker with a side of snark. He comes from a long line of Army heroes. He's lost his wife to terrorists not once, but twice.

But that's not all he is. He's a man who sees the world enhanced with code. He thinks himself invincible, but worries that he's become something not human.

Riley knows his service record and some of his life before the Clockwork project, but she wants to know more. More about the man she's been assigned to protect. So after a particularly stressful mission, she enjoys teasing a man as playful as he.

Gods knows he needs to talk things out after a long day of saving the world.

In the morning, he pretends that he just woke up. She smirks and calls him out every time. They chat for the few brief minutes it takes her to climb their apartment steps - down hers, up his - and knocks on his front door. They hang up in tandem and start their day together.

In the evening, she calls just after they locks their doors. They take up their respective positions - Gabriel on his kitchen counter, Riley on her balcony - and pretend not to be watching each other as they talk. He'll make a quip, she'll retort with something vaguely sexual, then one or both will breach whatever delicate subject was touched on during their recent mission. Just before a breakthrough is made, someone will retreat behind their walls and the call will end with more questions than answers.

The calls used to be routine. Another protocol to follow. Now they serve as a lifeline. A way to touch base and get the truth from a very secretive person away from their nosy but well-meaning coworkers.

God knows something will force this to change as well. But that change was not to come for a long time.

For now, this was enough for them.

And here we go again!

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