Ava kept her hands steady as she tied her damp black hair into its usual ponytail, the parchment twine biting into her fingers as she made the knot snug. The usual red ribbon she used for such a purpose was now gone, tattered and lost by the miserable journey to Tarragona.

A spool of parchment twine from her bag, usually suited for the stack of ancient latin texts she was given to translate, would have to suffice.

A dry chuckle escaped her lips as she thought of what the high society patrons of The Leaping Lion would have to say about her improvised fashion choices. Or perhaps she was so lowbrow that her faux paus would go unnoticed. 

Ava certainly didn’t need another reason for “Master” Vaughn to rear his pompousness in her direction. She had even made sure she had taken her fill of the fresh water drawn for her bath into her drinking flask before cleaning herself, purely out of spite. Draught or not, the innkeeper was out of his mind if he thought she was going to pay a gold coin for a tankard of water.

She shrugged on a set of casual clothes, and adjusted the fit of her glove. Taking special precautions to make sure that particular item was secure. Finally, she was ready to join her companions downstairs. 

The three of them, Alessa, Hadrian, and herself, had now been in Tarragona’s gates for the last three days tracking the so-called “master” thief Rafael. So far they have had little to no luck. 

With that cheerful thought, Ava steps outside her room and into the hallway. She makes it but two steps out when the blur of a door opening out of the corner of her eyes makes her take pause.

It’s Hadrian.

The ex-templar takes a tentative step towards you, hands nervously twisting themselves as he places a hand on his chest. Ava assumes it is to clutch his cross, a habit she has not escaped her notice, he does it so often when speaking to her.

“I- “ A red tint creeps itself into his neck, “It was good that I was able to catch you. I had been meaning to see you alone since yesterday.”

Ava examines poor Hadrian’s flustered expression, a coy eyebrow raised, “Were you perhaps, waiting for me to open my door?”

He startles at how obvious he had been with his intentions, “No! Well- yes! I-” He looks at the ceiling with anguish, and Ava can’t help but let out a little laugh.

“God,” He mutters under his breath, “Am I bad at this.”

“You are,” She says straightening her face, “But it’s part of your charm.”

Hadrian shook his head.

“So you keep telling me.”

“Well, in any case, you have my attention now,” Ava says opening the door to her room, motioning for her companion to follow.

Hadrian walked in slowly, eyeing the room and her things with curiosity. Ava had never invited Hadrian, much less anybody, into her quarters back at the White Company. And here she was. Inviting him into her room twice in one week. 

The young archer had no doubt that Alessa would have some biting commentary if only she knew, and knowing Alessa? She already did.

“I was walking towards the cathedral the other day,” Hadrian starts off rubbing the back of his neck sheepfully, “And Ava… I saw something that I thought you would be um- interested in.”

She freezes. 

Her mind going a thousand miles per hour considering all the different possibilities. Could it be Raf? The Carrot Thief? Or maybe… more Eyes?

She squeezes her gloved hand into a fist.

Hadrian winces, “No! Nothing like that. Nothing bad!” 

He raises a hand toward his chest again, but it’s not his cross that he clutches for.

“It’s a red ribbon.” He says sliding the stripe of color from his breast pocket, “I saw it in the marketplace. I thought since you lost yours you might have wanted to replace it.”

She loosens her fist almost, letting out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.

A laugh escapes her lips again, but this time softer. 

“Thank you.” She says. Ava had not expected this, but if anyone were to notice something as slight as her ribbon being missing, it would be him. 

“Hadrian…” Ava said pinching the twine out of her ponytail, letting her black hair fall loose down her back, “Would you mind tying it in for me?”

“Me?” His eyes widen and his cheeks flush even more, “Stars… Truly? Are… Are you sure?”

“Yes,” She says taking his hand and closing his fingers around the satin, “I’m sure.”

He gives her a wide smile.