The very next morning (Y/n) and Thace woke up like usual, only they got to sleep in; Thace was the one who awoke first and he was a little confused when he saw sunlight coming through gaps in the curtains, then he remembered that he was in charge of a brand new Marmoran base. He hadn't woken up to sunlight since his last day in his home village several deca-phoebs prior, although it was refreshing to wake up to sunlight again. (Y/n) was the next thing Thace noticed because she shifted a little in her sleep; the bedroom was dim, but he could see her and she looked gorgeous in the little bit of sunlight that peeked through the thick curtains. The young woman began to wake up after she heard her friend quietly wish her a good morning; as she slowly became conscious she remembered what happened the previous day and that they didn't live in an asteroid anymore. She didn't wake up right away, deciding that it felt nice to be snuggled up against Thace while they laid in bed together.

Thace purred deeply and began gently grooming the top of (Y/n's) head, not minding that she wouldn't be able to reciprocate. The last time she tried grooming him the galra way she got a mouthful of purple fur, so they both decided that it was for the best that she never tried grooming him again. (Y/n) didn't mind Thace basically licking the top of her head, she was used to it by that point, and understood that it was something all galra who were close with each other did, whether they were good friends or a couple. No alarms had gone off and there was no need to rush in getting ready for the day, nevertheless they couldn't stay in bed all day because they wanted to check out some of the stores. Thace's face was so close and his lips were so incredibly tempting, it was hard for (Y/n) to resist kissing him.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?” Thace whispered once he knew (Y/n) was awake enough to be aware of what was going on.

“Yeah, I slept well. It's kind of weird being on an actual planet again, but it's nice. Did you sleep well?” (Y/n) replied with a slight yawn; she had a really good night's sleep, although she couldn't help but wonder if he did as well.

“With you by my side, I'll always sleep well. Since we're alone, we don't have to get dressed right away.” Thace answered lazily.

“It's nice getting to walk around the base in our pajamas, but we really should make breakfast since we have to go see what's in some of the stores.” (Y/n) responded with a smile before she sat up and stretched.

As much as Thace would have enjoyed staying in bed for a while longer, he was curious about the local businesses and what kinds of jobs were available. (Y/n) was the first one to get out of bed; thankfully the previous night she put a step-stool next to the bed on her side so that she could get in and out easily, and then once she stood on the floor she watched Thace sit up and get off of the bed. She thought the base was kind of eerie due to how quiet and empty it was considering that she and Thace were currently the only two people living there, so she decided to grab her holopad and turn on some music both of them enjoyed listening to. During her time in space she'd come to like music from different parts of the universe, and with the programming on her holopad she could listen to music from nearly every planet in the universe. Thace appreciated the music because even he thought the base was too empty without some additional noise besides him and (Y/n) doing their usual morning thing.

Thace remembered that he was in charge of the base, so to help him out (Y/n) offered to cook breakfast for both of them while he checked the computer systems and the monitor to make sure there was no danger lurking around. He graciously thanked her before they went their separate ways, and on the way to the kitchen (Y/n) thought about what they were going to eat for breakfast. Making breakfast was easy enough, all she had to do was move her kitchen step-stool around when she needed to mix or cook something. Muffins were easy to bake and they had all of the ingredients needed to bake them, so that's what (Y/n) decided to make for breakfast; just as she finished buttering the muffins, Thace walked into the kitchen, ready to help set a place for them to eat. (Y/n) was happy to have been able to make a delicious breakfast for her and Thace to eat, especially since it was just the two of them there and they had to help each other make things go smoothly.

“Are we safe?” (Y/n) asked Thace when she turned around, holding onto the platter of muffins after she got off of her step-stool.

“Yes, we're safe; aside from the other Blades and the paladins, no one else knows this base exists. Thank you for making breakfast, they look and smell delicious.” Thace answered; it would be completely safe for them to go out later, but in the meantime he thanked (Y/n) for making breakfast for both of them.

“That's great! I can't wait to go out with you later. But first, we need to eat breakfast.” (Y/n) replied with a smile before she went to the cafeteria where she would pick a table for them to sit at.

Thace stood out of the way, then he went to go get a couple of plates out of one of the cupboards, a knife and the butter Lance brought them that Hunk made. If they were going to go out later, they would need to eat a delicious, nutritious breakfast that also tasted good. (Y/n) thanked Thace for setting the table, then she went to go get something for them to drink. Sitting alone together at a table while eating breakfast felt strange because they were used to being surrounded by the other operatives, nevertheless in time they would get used to it. The muffins were delicious and Thace thanked the young woman for making them for breakfast, although he was a little anxious about telling her that he wanted to get a job, or if she wanted a job then he would support her decision.

“I was thinking… Now that we're here and I'm running a little low on gac, I was thinking of getting a part-time job so we can afford food and basic necessities, or if you ever want to start working I'll support you in that decision.” Thace mentioned when he was about halfway finished with his first muffin, deciding to bring up the subject of work, whether it be him or her getting a job.

“A job? I guess that makes sense. I've never even considered having a job before because of our situation, but if you want a part-time job then you should go for it. I'm not sure if I want to work part-time yet, it depends on if there's anything I'm good at or not.” (Y/n) responded, a little surprised that he brought up the topic of getting a job; she definitely wasn't opposed to getting one at some point, but she wasn't confident enough to work yet, but she would definitely support Thace if he were to get a part-time job at some point and even go on monitor duty at the base if he needed her to.

“That's understandable. While we're in town today, we can have a look to see if there's a job for either of us. I don't want to pressure you into getting a job if you're not ready or don't want one, let's just take our time to get settled and see how things turn out.” Thace replied, understanding that getting a job for the first time could be stressful, which was why he offered to search for one of his own since he didn't want (Y/n) to feel pressured into doing something she wasn't ready for.

(Y/n) appreciated Thace for not pressuring her to get a job while simultaneously being supportive of her if she were to ever get one. They ate breakfast together like normal and chatted about what they hoped to find in the marketplace; of course, (Y/n) had heard that the people on Vlexla were among the most beautiful in the entire universe and it worried her that Thace might fall in love with one if someone got a little too close for comfort, and since she was just a human she couldn't compare to a Vlexlain. She began to doubt that she and Thace would even be a couple because there were men and women out there who were far more beautiful than her, and she worried that he might discard her if he were to fancy someone else. However, if they were only meant to be just friends then she would accept that and see if the paladins could take her back to Earth. (Y/n) quickly focused on something else so that Thace wouldn't notice her unease, because she didn't want him to know that she was concerned about her silly thoughts.

__________

Before they could go anywhere (Y/n) and Thace had to put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and do their morning routines like usual. Thace was a gentleman and let (Y/n) go first, allowing her to get dressed and do her thing in the bathroom while he put on a casual outfit in their bedroom, then after she finished brushing her hair, teeth and doing any other business she exited the bathroom and let Thace go in. (Y/n) was both excited and nervous to go to town, mainly because she wasn't sure what to expect; on one hand she couldn't wait to see what kinds of stores and businesses were around, but on the other hand she was afraid that someone might try to steal Thace away from her. The forest was absolutely stunning and on their way to town the locals didn't even stop to stare at their shuttle which was designed to look normal, which (Y/n) was very thankful for. As soon as they arrived Thace found a parking space and took it, then once they were out of the shuttle Thace locked the door and they were on their way to see what all the town had to offer; it was really more like a small city than a small town, although it looked like a nice place to live.

The sidewalks weren't too busy as people walked from one place to another; (Y/n) felt a little uncomfortable when she saw a few locals glance in their direction because she feared that they would make a fuss about Thace, luckily everyone else seemed to go about their business as though they weren't there. (Y/n) had to admit that the Vlexlains were very beautiful with their skin tones ranging from the lightest shade of pastel pink to ebony black, and their long sparkly hair was something she could only dream about having. Thace noticed how anxious his friend seemed as they walked on the sidewalk and he let her hold his right hand, smiling slightly when she held it tightly; it was understandable for (Y/n) to feel scared because she hadn't been to a city since she was young, and he took it upon himself to help her feel less nervous. He didn't miss how a young Vlexlain man from across the street eyed him with desire, but he ignored him because he was out with his crush. They passed a few stores and cafés, then when (Y/n) stopped in front of a boutique display window Thace stopped walking, too.

“Look at that shawl, it's beautiful.” (Y/n) whispered while she gazed longingly at a shimmery (F/c) shawl with (S/f/c) trim in the window, admiring just how gorgeous it looked.

“Come on, let's go in.” Thace spoke quietly after about a minute, lightly tugging on (Y/n's) hand so she would follow him; according to the price tag the shawl was on sale, and he could afford it.

“Are you sure? I don't-” (Y/n) questioned hesitantly when she heard what Thace said and felt him lightly tug on her hand, not wanting him to feel obligated to spend money on her when his funds were running low.

“I'm sure; I want to get that shawl for you. Besides, it's on sale.” Thace assured her; it was only natural for him to want to give (Y/n) such a lovely gift, especially if he got to see her wear it often.

(Y/n) felt incredibly awkward about Thace buying a gift for her so suddenly, although she didn't argue with him and let go of his hand so he could hold the door open for her. She thanked him just like she always did when he held a door open for her, then after (Y/n) entered the boutique Thace followed her in and carefully shut the door behind him. Soft alien music played in the background and judging by the floral scent the shopkeeper was particularly fond of incense or something, the whole place felt peaceful. The young woman tending the front counter looked up from her holopad when she saw Thace and (Y/n) walk in, happy to have some customers visit her little boutique; she definitely noticed how handsome Thace was, but she didn't want to frighten him away if she flirted with him too soon.

“Welcome to my boutique, is there anything I can help you with today?” Arcane, the owner of the boutique and the designer of most of the clothes, asked Thace and (Y/n) with a sweet tone when she practically floated over to them.

“Yes; my friend really likes the shawl in the window and we would like to purchase it.” Thace answered with a friendly smile, even though he could tell that the shopkeeper was barely keeping herself from throwing herself at him.

“Ah, your friend has good taste. That shawl is one of my latest designs, she should look quite lovely in it.” Arcane responded, looking at (Y/n) and sending her a genuine smile.

(Y/n) thought that the lovely shopkeeper was simply being friendly since she couldn't smell her pheromones like Thace could, and at the time she didn't think much of the encounter. Arcane thought that (Y/n) really was just a friend of the galran man and thought she had a chance with him, so she went to retrieve the shawl while her two customers waited by the front counter. Thace's aura was pure, unlike the galra from the empire who used to keep Vlexla under Zarkon's control, so naturally she didn't mind helping him. While they waited (Y/n) had a look around the boutique to see what kinds of clothes were available, and she saw many cute outfits; there was even a section for lingerie, although she didn't look at any of it for very long. All Vlexlains could view people's auras and knew if someone was single or not, and Arcane knew that Thace was still very much single; if he wasn't, then she wouldn't bother flirting with him, and after Arcane grabbed the shawl she returned to the front counter, carefully folded the article of clothing and put it in a bag, then she pushed it towards (Y/n) when Thace paid her with the exact amount of gac.

“You know, this year my shop is going to be featured in the galactic fashion show. I could really use a big, strong, sexy man like you to be one of my lingerie models. What do you say, Handsome?” Arcane hinted sensually when she made eye contact with Thace, fluttering her eyes at him as she mentioned how sexy she thought he was; (Y/n) was ready for an all-out brawl when the other woman flirted with her crush, but she kept quiet to see what Thace would do.

“I'm sorry, but I'm a very busy man and my heart already belongs to someone special. Thank you for the shawl, but my friend and I have a busy day ahead of us.” Thace declined as politely as he could without hurting Arcane's feelings, then he promptly led (Y/n) out of the boutique after she grabbed the bag off of the counter.

Arcane was disappointed that Thace didn't want to be her model and eventually her boyfriend, but she didn't say anything when he and (Y/n) left. Once they were outside, Thace and (Y/n) began walking down the sidewalk again, looking in each window they passed. For a moment (Y/n) thought that Thace would jump at the opportunity to model for the beautiful Vlexlain woman, but as soon as he declined her offer her heart leapt with joy; however, he'd mentioned that his heart already belonged to someone and she was scared that he liked someone else, nevertheless she didn't ask him about it. Thace loved (Y/n) and he refused to be seduced by other people, and before the next year came he wanted to be her lover if she reciprocated his feelings. (Y/n) appreciated the thoughtful gift and she wanted to repay Thace's kindness somehow, she just wasn't sure how yet.

“Well… That was awkward.” (Y/n) finally spoke after a few minutes, deciding to break the silence between them.

“I wasn't expecting her to flirt with me like that; it was uncomfortable for me, as well.” Thace acknowledged, still surprised that the shopkeeper implied that she wanted him to be a lingerie model for her, then he mentioned how it'd made him uncomfortable.

“We definitely won't be going there for a long time.” (Y/n) said while she walked alongside Thace, not wanting to be in such a position again, even though it made her happy that he resisted the other woman's charms.

Thace hummed in agreement, and kept walking alongside the young woman so she could keep up with him. Eventually they both came across a bridge that was built over the street, one specifically made for people to walk on, and they walked across it so they could get to the other side. Once they stepped off of the bridge they saw a cute little grocery store that they would definitely check out that afternoon, but what caught Thace's attention was the help wanted sign in the shop to the right next to the grocery store. It was a little toy shop where some of the toys appeared to be handmade, and by the looks of it they were currently in need of an employee. Thace wanted to get a job, although it had to be a part-time job and he wasn't sure if he should apply for the position or not. Ultimately Kolivan wasn't against Thace having a job, as long as it didn't interfere with his mission and he didn't reveal himself as a Marmoran operative.

“Do you want to go in and see what all it entails?” (Y/n) inquired while they both stood in front of the toy store, noticing how her friend looked a little hesitant to go in.

“It's the only job opening I've seen today. I'm nervous to, however, because no one can find out about our organization under any circumstances, but I'm- we're in need of gac.” Thace responded quietly; it was the perfect opportunity for him to get a job and he knew that he should take it, the only problem was that the sign didn't specify if it was a part-time position or not.

“You'll never know if you don't try. We should at least go in to see what they have, it looks pretty cute.” (Y/n) replied encouragingly, hoping to boost Thace's confidence.

Thace took a deep breath and nodded curtly, agreeing that they should at least check it out; he held the door open for (Y/n) who thanked him, then once again he followed her inside. There were various kinds of toys for children of all ages, but the thing that caught (Y/n's) attention were the custom-made dollhouses and dolls; the doll houses were modeled after the different kinds of houses on Vlexla, and she couldn't help but take a look around the store. While the young woman took her time to browse, Thace asked the man at the counter, who just so happened to be the store's owner, about the job that needed to be filled. The owner had to temporarily put the closed sign up before he led Thace to the back room so he could interview him. Luckily the job was part-time and the hours were flexible, and by the end of the day Thace had a part-time job where he could earn some gac.