"I'm hungry," Leia murmured, gently pushing Lucien away with a soft hand against his chest. She turned toward the sink and rinsed her hands under cool water, trying to steady both her breath and her heart.
Lucien stepped back, silently watching her.
'How am I supposed to convince her… that being with me isn't wrong?' he wondered. With a sigh, he moved to the counter chair, letting her take the lead.
"How was your first day at work?" he asked, trying to shift the air between them.
Leia turned the flame under the pan to medium. "It was interesting. I got to learn a lot about the hierarchy, how ranks work." She stirred the contents gently before adding, "Lucien, I really think you should consider giving equal rights to everyone. It's important."
Lucien leaned forward, resting his elbows on the counter. "Leia, we're not humans."
She raised a brow and smiled. "So, what are we then, animals?"
