Her eyes open slowly, she blinks several times, she turns her head quickly, searching for you with something close to urgency, and there you are, standing by that little stove, brewing your damn coffee—like always.

—"Not a damn day goes by without your disgusting coffee, huh?."—She burrows deeper under the blankets, only her head peeking out from the futon.—"But I want hot chocolate, please… oh almighty chef, make me some hot chocolate."

She watches you from beneath her fortress of blankets like some queen on her throne. The cold is punishment enough. Sector 14 is a freezer year-round, and worse during this season. Isaac didn’t like that she skipped yet another meeting. So here she is—banished, basically, far from the city, far from everything, only you volunteered to come along.

—"You didn’t have to come."—she mutters with her eyes still closed.—"Even if you like this goddamn weather..."

Then she smells it. The chocolate. A smile creeps back onto her face, one she keeps to herself.

—"If you came hoping to do what I think you wanna do…"—she teases, still not looking at you.—"it’s not happening. We’re on duty. Mission. Objective. Discipline."

Yeah right, who is she kidding? These days are going to be pretty hectic.