The streets of Athelun bustled around them, layered with the noise of clattering storefronts and the vibrant hum of city life as Rex and Tamsin moved in sync through the crowd. The towering buildings, carved into the city's mountainous landscape, loomed above, their neon signs flickering against the overcast sky. The scent of the ocean mixed with the aromas of street food, a sensory clash that Rex barely noticed anymore.

  His ears twitched at the ever-present background noise of the city, his eyes scanning the shifting bodies around them with the practiced ease of someone who could never truly turn off his instincts. The movement of a fox flicking his tail behind a food stall, the way a broad-shouldered bison shoved through the crowd—all of it filtered into the back of his mind. He wasn’t just walking with Tamsin. He was watching, calculating, and listening.

  To any onlookers, they looked like an ordinary couple. Just a tall, broad-shouldered timber wolf and a lively husky, engaged in a casual afternoon stroll. Tamsin had insisted on it, dragging Rex along with a feigned insistence on keeping their “cover” authentic, though Rex suspected there was more to it.

  He always did.

  The wafting smell of grilled skewers and savory spices drifted over them, and Tamsin’s nose twitched in anticipation. “If we’re really going to sell this ‘date,’ you’d better be willing to buy a girl dinner.” She tugged him toward a food stall as her voice became tinged with amusement, “Afterall, can’t be too careful.”

  Rex raised a brow, his expression deadpan as he pulled his hands from his coat pockets. “Pretty sure a city salary doesn’t cover ‘dating expenses,’ Voss.”

  “Oh, please. Last I recall, you were sidelined, and this is not official duty,” she shot back, laughing, her tail flicking behind her. “You can’t expect me to believe the great ‘Steel’ is stingy. Just buy me a skewer, or I’ll tell everyone how cheap you are.”

  Rex exhaled through his nose, muttering something under his breath as he handed a few bills to the vendor. The otter behind the cart made quick work of the transaction, handing him a skewer stacked with spiced meat and roasted vegetables. Rex passed it to her with a resigned sigh. “Fine. Don’t say I never did anything nice for you.”

  Tamsin beamed, her ears perking as she took a bite, and spoke with her mouth full. “See? Was that so hard?” She made a satisfied noise deep in her throat, tail wagging slightly. “Oh stars above, this is good.”

  She always had that way about her, like she could force enjoyment into a moment whether he wanted it or not. He stuffed his hands back in his pockets, his tail still and controlled behind him.

  “You know, Rex,” Tamsin mused between bites, “it’s nice, isn’t it? Just taking a moment, no mission pressure, no files. Just two folks, having a good time.” She kept her tone light, gauging his reaction from the corner of her eye.

  Rex stiffened, his thumb instinctively brushing against the worn gold of his wedding band. A familiar weight settled in his chest, the kind he’d learned to carry like an extra layer of armor. He said nothing, but his ears flicked backward, a tell she’d come to recognize.

  “If you planned this stunt just to talk to me about my wife,” he said, voice even, “then I’m taking you home.”

  Tamsin raised a brow, feigning innocence. “Stunt? Talking? Eating food on a city sidewalk?” She smirked, tilting her head. “Come on, Rex. I know there’s more under that serious exterior. A couple of hours of pretending to have fun won’t kill you.”

  “Wouldn’t bet on that,” he muttered.

  “What’s she like these days, anyway?” Tamsin asked, her tone casual, though her ears tipped forward with interest. “I always wondered how much she changed since school. She always had a... presence. Least she did back then.” She took another bite, watching him from the corner of her eye.

  Rex turned his attention to the crowd instead, scanning faces. It was easier than answering. He was certain she trapped him with a prospective lead, so she could help Maybel’s “Plan Help-A-Wolf” back at the office. He didn’t want to be rude, but he was certain she was going to keep digging regardless of what he had to say.

  “I imagine she’s still got that same fire?” Tamsin added, her voice taking on a more thoughtful edge. She let the words settle for a moment before continuing, her gaze shifting toward the glint of a polished trinket on a vendor’s table. “She always carried herself like she was untouchable. Back in school, I remember animals constantly attempting to be in her orbit. World just seems to revolve around dragons, doesn't it?”

  She turned the small thought over in her mind before letting her eyes flick back to Rex. “She picked you, of all people. Not some appropriate suitor, not one of those high-blooded heirs trying to impress her. You, a common animal of all things.” Her tail swayed slightly as she spoke, watching for any reaction. “I've never understood why. That sort of thing doesn’t happen, let alone a Drakenhart heiress.”

  Rex’s ears flicked backward, but his expression remained unreadable. He exhaled through his nose, his thumb running idly over his wedding band. “I don't know either,” he said, his voice quieter, the weight in it unmistakable.

  Rex exhaled slowly. He could dodge. He could redirect. But Tamsin always found a way to loop back. “She’s… doing well,” he said, voice measured. “Kid’s gonna be four soon.”

  Tamsin hummed thoughtfully as they moved past another street vendor, her eyes moving across the various trinkets displayed on the table. “You know, back in school, she was such a narcissist.” Tamsin mused, tilting her head slightly. "How did you, of all animals, manage to convince her to choose you."

  Rex continued to keep his attention to their surroundings, intentionally appearing to ignore the question.

  She turned the thought over in her mind, as if studying it from all angles. “I guess I can see it. That whole case where Professor Caius framed her was pretty exciting. Maybe that’s what got to her. You were convinced she was innocent. Wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

  Rex scoffed, his ears angling back slightly. “Maybe.”

  Tamsin let the silence stretch for a beat before tilting her head, her expression softer. Her words were more curious than probing. “You know, I’ve never actually heard your side of it.” She let the words settle, watching his reaction. “Why her, Rex?”

  Her voice lowered slightly, not teasing, just searching. “You could’ve had an easier life. No scandals, no impossible expectations. None of that luddite society bearing down on you.”

  Rex’s expression grew distant. His voice, when he finally spoke, was quiet. “It was never about ‘easy’, Tamsin. I got to do my job. She was scared, she was alone, and for some reason, I was convinced she was innocent. I got a good look at her when she was vulnerable, and it painted a different picture of her.”

  The words stirred something in him, something old. For a fleeting moment, he wasn’t walking through the crowded streets, he was back in the halls of the Athelun Mysterium University. He could almost hear Duke’s voice beside him. The investigation had been one of his more convoluted ones with high society, politics, and the kind of corruption that had deep roots. Katarina had been a complication then. The last person either Rex nor Duke had wanted to deal with, as nothing was ever easy when dealing with dragons. She was young, belligerent, arrogant, and she was caught in the middle of something far larger than herself. She was a victim of Professor Caius, who had planned to take advantage of her family name.

  She was scared.

  Despite the vast wealth and power her family commanded, there had been a moment—a single moment—where she had looked at him not as a nuisance, not as a commoner out of place in her world, but as someone she needed.

  He had answered that call.

  It was the one time he legitimately felt like a hero, standing against the tide of pressure that would have condemned her and seen Caius escape.

  That was what had drawn her to him, wasn’t it? Not power, not status. It had been that despite her facade, he had seen through it. It was the way he had pushed when no one else would. Maybe he had been reckless, but the effort he had put in to help her, made her see him. Afterward, when the case had closed, she had sought him out.

  It hadn’t been in some grand setting, no lavish ball or high society function—just an evening when he had been buried in work, another late night at the precinct with nothing but the hum of overhead lights and the scratching of his pen against reports. Duke had already left, throwing some parting comment about how Rex would either be married to his job or dead at his desk if he continued to sink all his time into his work.

  And then she was there.

  It was not by accident or coincidence. She hadn't belonged there, as dragons like her didn’t generally spend time with "lesser beings", unless they were making demands. She came with a cup of coffee. An invitation, though her presentation was that of a princess demanding attention, whether she had meant it that way or not.

  She just wanted an hour of his time, and he had almost refused. He had almost dismissed it outright, as the last thing he wanted to do that evening was be entertainment for a dragon. They play enough games with animals, and the case was enough of an experience for the week. But something in her gaze had stopped him, and he indulged her.

  That first cup of coffee had turned into a second. From there, a conversation that had lasted longer than either of them had planned. Before long, she had made herself an exception to the rule that stated all dragons were the same. She had pulled him away from his work, made him see that there was something beyond it, beyond the constant cycle of duty he generally escaped into to avoid his thoughts.

  He had been too surprised to refuse, too caught off guard by the simple act of her forcing him to pause, to breathe, to be something other than a cop.

  She was his first real taste of happiness.

  That had been the moment. The first crack in the wall he had built around himself. She had seen something in him worth pursuing. She had reminded him, if just for a moment, that there was more to life than the next case.

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  Years later, Tamsin was doing the same thing. She was trying to get him to see there was more to the life he was living.

  Rex blinked, the memory fading as the present pressed back in. Tamsin was still watching him, waiting. She clearly saw it. In his reverie, Rex had relived the better times from years before, and she caught him in that moment where he couldn't keep the pain of those memories hidden.

  The moment passed, and he had already turned his attention back to the crowd, retreating behind that familiar wall he found himself constantly refortifying.

  Tamsin had asked him a question, but he didn’t answer right away. He had spent years attempting to avoid reflection on the question as the answers never resulted in something positive in his favor. Katarina had effectively thrown away her family name to be with him. She objectively sacrificed so much more to be with him. Despite all that, he couldn’t help himself but to indulge old vices and he had thrown it all away.

  The conversation with Tamsin, or anyone for that matter, would ultimately lead to one conclusion no matter how many deviations it took together. The final answer to why he was in the position he was in was very simple. He was just a coward.

  Tamsin studied him in the quiet. She could push further, but something in the tension of his shoulders told her she had gone far enough for the moment. Instead, she reached for another distraction.

  She fell into step beside him, tilting her head as she gave him a slow, exaggerated once-over. "You know, Rex, you really do lean into that whole brooding detective aesthetic."

  Rex shot her a flat look. "Do I?"

  "Oh, absolutely," she continued, her tail swishing with mischief. "The coat, the grim expression, the ‘I’m too haunted for joy’ posture. You're a classic noir protagonist. All you need now is some smudged-out cigarette smoke trailing behind you." She grinned, nudging his arm. "That or we get you something to break the look up a bit. A real date needs souvenirs."

  Rex exhaled sharply, something close to a reluctant chuckle buried within it. "I don’t smoke, so I suppose you already have ideas."

  Tamsin gave a toothy grin, "Naturally."

  Rex let out a short exhale in resignation. She had a way of leading him into things before he even realized it. He had already come this far along, so he may well just commit to the bit to keep her happy. He followed her to a small street stall packed with little charms, cheap jewelry, and polished stones, the kind of place meant for tourists rather than locals.

  Tamsin picked up a carved wooden pendant shaped like a dragon with wings and held it up to him, her tail flicking with mischief. “Now this would be perfect. Keeps the ‘dragon wife’ theme going strong.”

  Rex huffed, crossing his arms. “Pass.”

  She smirked and set it back down, instead rummaging through a small collection of pocket trinkets. “What about this?” She held up a coin with an old Athelun crest stamped into it. “For luck.”

  Rex turned it over in his fingers before shaking his head. “Never had much use for luck.”

  Tamsin sighed dramatically, her ears flicking forward as she placed a hand on her hip. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

  “I get that a lot.” Rex reflected as he pressed his mouth into a line.

  She rolled her eyes and grabbed a simple, rough-cut sapphire stone and tossed a few bills to the vendor. “Fine, I’ll pick for you. This one. Matches my eye, and I think you could use something with a little bit of color.”

  Rex eyed the stone in her palm for a moment before she forced him to take it. He gave her a quiet grunt of acknowledgment, slipping it into his coat pocket. The corners of Tamsin’s mouth quirked up.

  "You see? Fun. Everyone needs a break sometime, Rex." Tamsin spoke as an aside as she continued to peruse the counter.

  "Yeah..." he muttered, his eyes softening just slightly as he glanced at her, a reluctant smile tugging at his mouth. "Not sure you know what ‘fun’ means, dragging me into this. We’ve got a ‘purpose’, remember?”

  “Oh, I remember,” she said, her eyes gleaming. “But you can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy even a little bit of this ‘date.’ You just don’t know how to loosen up. Maybe Katarina would appreciate you more if she saw someone else had interest? You know…"

  Rex's expression grew cold, his ears flattening slightly as he leaned in close to Tamsin, placing a firm but measured hand on her shoulder. His grip wasn’t tight, but there was weight behind it, a silent warning.

  "That is enough."

  The humor in Tamsin’s expression faltered. She had pushed too far, and she knew it. He didn’t raise his voice, didn’t lash out, but the quiet, controlled intensity of his words delivered his message clearly.

  Rex didn’t give her the chance to respond. He stepped away from the trinket stand. Without another word, he veered toward the quieter side of the street, away from the market’s vibrant noise. The shift was deliberate, a need to regain control of his emotions without an audience. Tamsin followed, her usual confidence tempered by a quieter and more careful concern.

  For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was heavier, charged with tension that neither acknowledged aloud. Rex just walked, eyes ahead as he focused on the purpose of this trip. An escape into his work, like he usually did to avoid dealing with his problems.

  Tamsin exhaled, tilting her head slightly toward him as she caught up to and walked beside him.

  “You know I’m just looking out for you, right?” she said, her tone softer now, more like an olive branch to mend a fence she may have damaged. “Not everything has to be about the badge, Rex. Sometimes it’s okay to talk about things that matter.”

  Rex didn’t answer immediately. His eyes stayed forward, scanning the thinning crowd. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, the edge from before dulled but not gone.

  “I know, Voss.” His voice had a somber tone.

  Tamsin sighed, rubbing the back of her neck before glancing at him, her expression far less playful. "I shouldn’t have said that. That was out of line." Her ears flicked back, the admission of fault slipping out more sincerely than she intended. "It is very difficult to get you away from your work. Rex we care about you at the station, and it is obvious something is wrong.”

  Rex didn’t look at her immediately, but the tightness in his shoulders seemed to ease. "I get it." He let the words sit for a moment before finally giving her a sidelong glance. “I am not going to be a burden on anyone else, Tamsin. I appreciate the concern, but I will figure it out,” he replied dryly.

  Tamsin placed her hand on his shoulder, and he gave a wry smile barely visible as he turned to look at her. “Just so we’re clear, this ‘date’ idea? It’s just for cover, moving forward.”

  “Yes, just for cover,” she replied with mock innocence, flashing him a grin”

  She looped her arm through his before he could protest, steering them toward a small boutique tucked between larger storefronts. Unlike the open-air stalls, this shop had a more refined selection, its interior warm and softly lit by overhead lanterns. The scent of aged wood and parchment lingered in the air, mixing with something faintly floral. It was quieter, offering a brief reprieve from the lively chaos of the market outside.

  Rex allowed himself to be led inside, though he shot her a skeptical glance. “You planning to dress me up now?”

  Tamsin smirked, her tail swinging behind her as she scanned the displays. “Wouldn’t dream of it. But since we’re on a ‘date,’ we should at least pretend you have an eye for style.” She gestured toward a section lined with pocket watches, elegant cufflinks, and small decorative pins. “C’mon, let’s see if we can make ‘Steel’ a little more presentable.”

  Rex sighed, but a reluctant smirk tugged at his muzzle as she perused the items, picking up pieces and holding them against his coat, clearly assessing how each would suit him.

  “I think you’d look good in this,” she teased, picking up a cheap pair of sunglasses and placing them on him before he could protest. “Much more stylish than your usual look. You know, if you’re going to drag around all those fancy resonants, you might as well look the part.”

  Rex gave her a flat look over the rims before slipping them off with a quiet scoff. Tamsin caught it and grinned, triumphant. They didn’t linger long. The moment passed, and with a brief exchange of glances, they made their way to the door.

  As they stepped out of the boutique and back onto the streets, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. The hum of the city wrapped around them once more. Rex adjusted his coat, instinctively scanning the crowd.

  She walked beside him, letting the silence settle before nudging him lightly with her elbow. "Can you at least act like you are not on the job?"

  Rex huffed, keeping his eyes forward. "I have plenty of time to myself when I am off duty."

  "Mm-hmm. You are off duty, and we are not at the subway yet." She sidestepped a rushing passerby, her tail flicking. "I’m just saying, you overwork yourself. You always make it sound like you have to earn your place back. Like if you just work hard enough, fight hard enough, you’ll fix everything. That’s not how this works."

  His ears dropped in agitation. "And what would you suggest, then? That I just stop trying? I get enough of that from Duke."

  Tamsin shook her head, her tone softer now. "I am sure Duke has his version, so take some advice from a woman then. Trying shouldn’t mean bleeding yourself." She paused before adding, "You ever think about stepping back? Giving her some space? Have you thought that she may need time to see you have changed? You both may need time to process things. Maybe some distance will be good for you. Give you something else to do rather than obsess over her, and give her some time to realize she misses your little… visits."

  Rex let out a slow breath, "And do what, exactly? Pick up gardening? Open a bookstore?"

  She snorted. "I dunno, I could see you running a quiet little café. Scaring off customers with your magnetic personality."

  "Sounds like a dream," he said dryly, but there was no real bite behind it. Just weariness.

  Tamsin let the joke fade before speaking again, her voice quieter. "Seriously, though, you and Katarina. You keep trying to meet her halfway. No matter what you did to her, no one deserves to be tortured like this. You are hurting yourself, Rex. You shouldn’t be throwing yourself at work like it’s the only thing keeping you upright. That is how you got here in the first place, you need a change of pace."

  His tail flicked, betraying a hint of irritation. He exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. "It’s not that simple."

  "Sure it is. You just need to open up and let someone help you," she said, voice softer now. "You’re not going to fix things by running yourself into the ground."

  He slowed slightly, as if the weight of the conversation had finally begun to settle on him. His ears twitched at the distant honk of a car, but he wasn’t listening to the city anymore. He was listening to her.

  "I’ve tried to make things right, Voss," he said finally, rubbing a hand over his muzzle. "I really have. And for a while, I keep thinking I am making progress."

  He stopped walking. Just for a moment. The street noise pressed in around them, but he barely heard it. "Some days, it feels like she sees me again. She is taking the gifts, and she doesn’t sound remotely as hostile as she used to be. But then something happens. A word, a look, a-"

  "The surveillance equipment?" Tamsin interrupted.

  Rex glared at her, "Maybel has a loud mouth..."

  "We all care about you, Rex. Your behavior is concerning. I would argue that you have quite the obsessive love disorder, and it is hurting you." Tamsin's voice was laced with concern.

  Rex sighed and resumed his vigil as they walked, " Look it is like I fall back to zero, every time and the older Max gets the more and more I am getting left behind." Rex’s ears dropped and his gaze went vacant. “I don’t know how to catch up…”

  Tamsin watched him carefully, reading the way his posture had stiffened, the way his ears angled slightly back. She could push, but she didn’t. Instead, she just nodded, falling into step beside him once more.

  "That’s rough," she murmured. "But for what it’s worth… I have never seen a man chase a woman as hard as you." She hesitated, then offered the smallest of smiles. "I think she’s lucky to have you, even if she doesn’t realize it."

  Rex looked down at her, his expression unreadable. “I hurt her, Voss. She isn’t lucky,” he said after a moment, his voice low and steady.

  As they rounded a corner, Tamsin paused, her expression softening. “Alright, Rex,” she said quietly, brushing off an invisible speck from his shoulder with a light touch. “I won’t push. I know you are probably tired of hearing this, but please consider taking some time off. We care about you, Rex.”

  They continued walking in silence for a bit, the marketplace thinning as the streets turned quieter. The warmth of the lively city center gave way to something cooler, a transition to the inevitable end of their ‘date.’ The subway entrance loomed ahead, and Rex felt the familiar shift as he straightened, rolling his shoulders back. Tamsin’s playful smirk faded as well, replaced with a determined set to her jaw. They exchanged a glance, the unspoken understanding of their shared purpose settling heavily between them.

  The date was over.

  This was familiar territory, a reminder of the dangerous line they walked every day—and the lives they risked in the process.

  “Ready?” Tamsin asked, her voice low with all traces of flirtation gone.

  Rex nodded, “Let’s go find our guy.”