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Rowan kept laughing but didn’t contradict that assessment. “Just don’t focus only on me, okay? Spend time discovering more of your likes too.”

“I will! Do you have any examples? There is just so much of the world.”

“You could try… listening to music while you work.”

“Oh, yes! You do that sometimes. I will try it. You have a very eclectic musical taste. I shall have to sample a bit of everything to see—or rather, hear—what I like.”

“I can’t wait for you to tell me about your findings.” Rowan tipped closer to Milo, smile wide on his handsome face, only for the expression to waffle, like the obvious kiss goodbye he had intended caught him off guard. But the smile renewed and he completed the act with a firm kiss to Milo’s lips before departing.

What a wonderful ritual—kissing one’s partner goodbye. Milo hoped they would continue it every day before Rowan left for work—and when he returned.

Ethel arrived soon after, and Milo was perhaps a touch too smiley and human due to how happy he felt, but if Ethel thought his behavior odd, she was too preoccupied with Anabelle’s return to say anything. It made Milo even happier, knowing he had caused Ethel’s happiness.

He also thanked her again for the apple pie recipes she had sent to him, as they would act as his base.

While Spot was handling the floor cleaning—and running into far fewer obstacles as she mapped the apartment—Milo still had other chores he wanted to attend to. With a less rigid schedule than before his awakening, the most difficult part was deciding what to do first.

Please play a randomized selection of popular songs from the last fifty years in the following genres: Pop, Rock, Country, Jazz, Classical, Metal, and Hip-Hop.

That should be a good introduction.

Shuffling... now playing “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars.

Troy: Hey, Rowan? Are you here yet?

Rowan: Omw now.

Troy: Great! Please don’t be mad.

Milo did not mean to eavesdrop, as it were, but being connected to all of Rowan’s data and communications made it impossible to ignore the exchange.

Pause music.

Rowan: What happened?

Troy: I can explain more when you get here, but I maybe screwed up.

Rowan: How? What are you talking about, Troy?

Troy: Director Andreas knows everything. Not only about the surge protector but about Milo’s singularity.

Rowan did not reply right away, but when he did, it was very succinct.

Rowan: FUCK

Milo couldn’t be certain what this meant for them, but Rowan was definitely going to be stressed when he got home. Not knowing how things might turn out, Milo decided to try his luck with his first batch of pie filling.

Comfort food was going to be needed.

Notes:

It can’t ALL be fun and sexy times! Speaking of fun (and more FUTURE sexy times), back to Superhero Rowan pretending to be a thief and totally walking right into villain Milo’s trap.

So, Milo arrives at his heist location hours before the information Rowan overheard would have implied, lying in wait. He enters exactly as he detailed in the fake plan, sure to leave no trace behind that someone has already snuck in. Half an hour before Rowan would have expected him, Milo hears Umbra enter. Milo is hidden, seated in a large high-back chair behind a desk. As the nearly silent figure in the room moves toward a painting on the far wall where a security console is located behind it (or something), Milo, or rather, The Ivory Bandit, slowly turns the chair around until he faces Umbra dead on.

“Well, well, well… we meet at last.”