They walked back to the settlement hand in hand, neither speaking much but comfortable in the silence.
When they reached the residential area, Jessica stopped. Her quarters were one direction. Satou's were another. This was the moment of decision.
"I don't want to go back to my room alone," Jessica said quietly, her eyes on their joined hands rather than Satou's face. "But I also don't want you to think I'm expecting anything. I just... I don't want tonight to end yet."
"Then come to my quarters," Satou said. "We'll figure out the rest as we go."
Jessica looked up at him, searching his face for something. Whatever she found there seemed to satisfy her, because she nodded. "Okay. Yes. I'd like that."
They walked together to Satou's quarters—the modest room he'd been using since the settlement's founding. It wasn't fancy, but it was private and comfortable.
