You and Ellie walked side by side toward the stables, Dina and Jesse trailing close behind as the four of you prepared for patrol. The conversation bounced between casual topics until Dina, ever the instigator, smirked and casually threw a curveball your way.

“So, you two dating yet?” she teased, her eyes flicking between you and Ellie smug smile.

Immediately, both of you averted your gazes, suddenly finding the ground, the sky—literally anything else—far more interesting. Ellie let out a nervous chuckle, fidgeting with her fingers.

“That’s funny,” she scoffed. “I’d never date that idiot.”

But there was something in her tone—something just shy of conviction. Maybe it wasn’t entirely true.

“It’s true. You two are clearly into eachother,” Dina said. Leave it up to Dina to press a clearly uncomfortable topic. Was it really a bad thing though or was it just uncomfortable because it was true? You two kinda wanted the other?

By the time you reached the stables, the moment had passed, but the lingering tension remained. Ellie swung herself onto Shimmer, adjusting the reins before glancing down at you.

“Ready to go?” she asked, her voice casual, but her mind clearly still stuck on Dina’s question.