"Josie, wait-" his voice was low and cracked with sleep, and she didn't hear. So he shook himself awake, ran his hand through his hair, and shuffled after her to the courtyard. It had the best view, she'd explained, looking out over the water.

Josephine picked up his presence by the end of the hall and turned with a smile. "Joining me for this one, caro?" she whispered.

Levyn nodded, fighting both a yawn and the urge to finger-comb his hair again. Even freshly rolled out of bed, she was more put-together than he could dream of being. Her thick black hair was done back in a braid, a deep blue dressing gown wrapped over her nightgown. His own hair hung disheveled and likely tangled around his shoulders, the shirt and pants he'd slept in rumpled. But Josephine didn't seem to notice or care, so he tamped down the temptation to compare.

"We should be just in time," she whispered delightedly and slipped her hand in his to tug him along. "This bench, here."

Levyn followed where she led, sat where she said, and looked out toward where the horizon was just beginning to crack with gold. Josephine sat next to him, hands still joined. They watched in silence as the golden light spread, brightened, turned to a soft pink and brilliant orange as it climbed the sky.

More of the surroundings became visible with the increasing light; the courtyard arches, the artfully guided climbing vines that decorated them, the paving stones just beginning to warm under their bare feet.

And Josephine... the sunbeams played along her cheekbones, shone in her hair until she looked far more the holy icon than he ever had. Beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking. He couldn't stop staring.

"Do you see what I mean?" Josephine asked, tilting her head up to follow the sun's warmth.

"Truly magnificent," Levyn found the air to murmur.

After another moment's enjoyment, she opened her eyes and caught him. "You are not watching the sunrise, love."

"I was," he said softly. "I promise. But you are just... I can't help myself."

"You are too good to me, Levyn," she demurred, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

Impossible, his thoughts protested, knowing full well no one could ever be good enough for her. But he didn't want even light-hearted debate, he wanted to enjoy a beautiful sunrise with the even more beautiful woman he loved. So he whispered, "I do my best," and kissed her, which made her blush even as she reciprocated.

His hair slid in his face with the motion, and Josephine was reaching to tuck it back for him before he could grumble about having to let go of her hand to fix it.

"Thank you," Levyn mumbled.

"Of course." Her hand lingered on his cheek a moment before she let it fall. "Do you want me to fix it back for you?"

"It's still tangled," he said, "I need to-"

She produced a small dark wood comb from the pocket of her dressing gown and grinned as she waggled it at him. "I'm very gentle."

This he knew, and it figured she was prepared, but, "I wouldn't want you to miss the sunrise for helping."

Josephine clicked her tongue. "Easily accommodated." She slid her hand free of his and stood, moving behind the bench so she could see the sunrise while she combed his hair. Gentle as promised, and soothing enough Levyn worried he'd doze off.

They were both silent as she worked, enjoying the remainder of the sunrise and the time together. Once done, Josephine ran her fingers through his hair to check for additional knots. Levyn groaned and leaned his head back against her stomach.

Josephine hummed. "Feels good?"

"Mmhm. You're gonna put me to sleep..."

"Well, we don't want that so early in the day," she said playfully. She made one final pass to gather his hair in the low ponytail he preferred.

"I don't have anything to tie it with." A belated realization.

Josephine pulled the cord free of her braid, shushing his protests at the 'sacrifice'. "I'll need to style it shortly anyway. It is no great loss." She secured the tie around his hair. "And I like you having something to think of me, no?"

As if I'll ever stop. "Thank you," he said instead as she circled to rejoin him on the bench. Her braid was already unravelling, he could see it.

"You are very welcome." She traced her fingers along his forehead and down his jaw. "And quite dashing."

Levyn fought down a snort. He doubted that, especially in his sleep-rumpled attire. "I'll take your word for it."

"You should," Josephine said lightly, a twinkle in her eye. "I am known for my honesty."

He leaned forward into her touch. "I love you, Josephine Montilyet." It was, perhaps, the most honest thing he'd said in his life.

She bit her lip, rested her forehead to his. "And I love you," she murmured as they both leaned in for the kiss.

A squeal, a giggle, and flashed glimpse of Josephine's sister as they jerked apart at the sound was a sharp reminder this was a public courtyard in the Montilyet household.

"Yvette-!" Josephine hissed, starting to push to her feet.

"Don't worry about her," Levyn said, tugging her back.

"She should not be spying-!"

"This is the manor's main courtyard, I doubt that was her intention, love." It was hard not to laugh at the adorable affronted scowl Josephine was directing after her sister. "Even if it was, why let it be an interruption to something we enjoy...?"

"Hm, very wise," Josephine laughed softly as she turned back, her thumb stroking arcs against his cheek. "Are you quite certain you need me?"

"Always," Levyn said emphatically, and kissed her under the sunrise to further drive it home.

Neve wouldn't normally take a case like this, she worked for the people of Dock Town, not the Minrathous elite. But Dorian, now Archon Pavus, called in a personal favour. This particular unfortunate official was, in Dorian's words, "one of the good ones".

Neve examined the body for the fourth time in the past hour, scribbled in her notebook, lit a cigarette and paced the courtyard, brow furrowed in consternation.

"Still nothing?" Alana asked, idly leaning against one of the carved columns, enjoying the shade offered by the collonade on this hot summer's day. How Neve could wear her trademark coat in such weather, they never knew.

"I can't crack this one, Rook", Neve replied in exasperation. "I should be able to. I have the body. I have the cause of death — blunt force trauma to the back of the head. What I don't have is a half-decent suspect".

Neve stopped pacing to look Alana in the eyes. "What if this is it? What if this is the one that breaks me? I may as well close the Dock Town Detective Agency. Even the Threads won't take me seriously if I can't solve a simple murder".

Alana's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. They hated seeing Neve like this, but it was true that this case was proving more challenging than most for her. What could they do to help, though? Dammit, I'm an assassin, not a detective, Alana thought.

"Well", Alana began hasitatingly, "when I kissed you at the docks that time, it helped you solve the case". Alana tilted their head in a way they hoped read as flirty rather than confused. "Just saying".

Neve's mouth creased into a half-smile, but she wasn't about to let Alana have it easy. "There's a dead body right there, Rook. You do see that, right?"

Alana glanced at the murder victim's corpse and shrugged. "Doesn't bother me, I'm a Crow, my first kiss was right after a contract. Still had the target's blood on my face...is it weird that that made it hotter?"

Neve raised an eyebrow. "We'll...unpack that later, but I'm out of ideas, so, fine, it's worth a try at least".

Their lips touched, softly at first, uncertainly, then the familiarity of sensation, memory and love took over and they kissed more passionately, Alana's hands around Neve's waist, Neve's on Alana's cheek.

Neve let out a soft, low moan, then a gasp, then stepped back, hands now at her head.

"It was the butler, with the candlestick!" Neve exclaimed triumphantly. "He was a former mercenary, remember him slipping, when spoke about being in Par Vollen once? He's probably on the Venatori payroll and carried out the murder as a hit-job".

"I knew you had it in you, Detective", Alana said with a smirk.

"Couldn't have done it without you, Trouble", Neve winked.