with some considerations

Hecate had to resist from throwing her hands up when Zach had agreed to go with her. She didn't even know why she would do that — she shouldn't do that in the first place. She settled with nodding in approval, since it was a more comfortable reaction for her.

"Pick one. Somewhere in the forest or somewhere here downtown. There's a shop who has a very particular owner. Doesn't care much unless people make a fuss in the shop. So your pick."

She was honest when she said she didn't plan on trying to pick a fight today but heck if she was passing off the chance to keep him in her watch while she could spend the next spare hour she had to not be a sneaky spy.

Hecate didn't expect him to want to go back the the forest; she also did not expect him to extend his hand to her. She froze up on her spot at the little gesture, like she was suddenly unsure of how to respond. After a moment, she managed to smile a little — somewhat shy, and a little teasing. She reached for his hand, tentative, resisting the urge to entwine her fingers with his. Where did that idea even come from!? "Lead the way?"

The smile Zach showed her gave her a start. She wasn't used to that smile — it was so kind and very much unlike the wild ones she'd seen before. Did her heartrate pick up or was she imagining all that? No, no, no, don't think about, she chanted in her thoughts. She was still distracted the entire time he'd led them to the forest, the only time her attention snapped back to reality was when their steps had slowed.

She had a moment to take in the surroundings; Hecate would agree this was a nice, peaceful place to get away from people. Not that she didn't really know about it. She did, but she always had to keep her distance. She was here once but she didn't get any close. Now she was and she was even in the clearing."I like it," she spoke after a moment of silence. Her voice seemed quiet until she spoke again, without turning back to him. "Aren't you going to ask me anything?"

"That's nice. All I really have is the place I'm staying at. And I guess probably that one bookstore I always go to when I feel like being outdoors," she told him. She didn't really have to tell him but it must have been the fact that he was telling her about his own sanctuary. And "only we can touch" he said. Hecate almost didn't like how that made her feel bubbly, Just almost, but she would never tell him that. She won't be able to live that down if anyone else knew. Besides, she should be more concerned about Eden, not Zach. Sheesh. The nerve of her. Hecate turned to him with a wistful smile, "I don't know. I thought you'd have questions. Especially since now we wouldn't have prying ears to worry about."

Hecate followed after him, hesitating for a moment before she sat next to Zach. A part of her wondered why he suddenly caved in allowed himself to lower his guard around her, the other part just said oh just leave him be and roll with it!

What am I? were the words that he uttered first. The question he asked her wasn't the one she expected, her eyes widened with her surprise. She expected him to ask about herself, or about Eden. Her eyes remained on him as he continued to speak. She'd been wondering the same herself, but she couldn't really tell him that. He caught the look he gave her and she had to tear her eyes away.

"I think... you're no different from any of them," she said quietly. There was a beat that passed, and before Zach had the chance to speak again, she cut him off, "...is what I would say if I didn't know any better." Hecate turned to her palm which rested on her knees, tracing the outline of the electrode's pod. She always knew that it shouldn't have been possible for them to embed such a thing in her body so seamlessly. "I don't have the answer to that question."