"What's your favorite color?" Billie asked, her voice cutting through the hum of traffic as she walked down the sidewalk. Cedric trailed behind her, his tall frame easily blending into the bustling city around them.

"I don't have one," Cedric replied without missing a beat. His tone was calm, clipped, and characteristically unbothered.

"Boring," Billie said, throwing a glance over her shoulder. She rolled her eyes playfully, though a grin tugged at her lips. "Did you know my friends call you Balaclava Daddy?"

Cedric stopped mid-step, and for a split second, Billie swore she saw his green eyes narrow in amusement behind the mask.

"They call me what?" he asked, his deep voice laced with equal parts confusion and something bordering on exasperation.

"Balaclava Daddy," Billie repeated, turning fully to face him now. She popped a piece of gum into her mouth, chewing with a smirk. "You know, because you're always rocking the mask and... i don't know how to explain the daddy part."

Cedric blinked, his gaze steady. "Should I be flattered?"

"Probably," Billie teased, spinning on her heel to continue walking. Shark, her pit bull, wagged his tail excitedly as he trotted alongside her.

Cedric followed, his long strides easily keeping up. "I'll admit, it's a first."

"I'll bet," Billie said, glancing at the neon sign ahead that marked the vegan ice cream shop. "Most people probably just call you scary."

"That's the point," Cedric replied.

"Well, congratulations," Billie said, reaching for the door handle. "You've officially entered the realm of inside jokes. Next stop: friendship."

Cedric raised a brow, though his expression was hidden. "I think we're skipping several steps."

Billie grinned, holding the door open for him and Shark. "Nope."

Inside the ice cream shop, the smell of waffle cones and dairy-free toppings filled the air. Billie scanned the menu above the counter, her eyes lighting up as she spotted her favorite flavors.

"What are you getting?" she asked, glancing back at Cedric.

"I'm not," Cedric replied simply, standing a few paces behind her with his arms crossed.

"Why not?" Billie asked, her tone incredulous.

"I'm on duty," he said, as if that explained everything.

"Okay, but can't you multitask?" she pressed. "Like, protect me and enjoy a scoop of vanilla or something?"

"Not how it works," Cedric said, his voice firm but not unkind.

Billie sighed dramatically. "You're missing out. Cedric."

As Billie placed her order, Cedric scanned the shop, his sharp eyes flickering from customer to customer. He wasn't taking any chances, even in a place as seemingly harmless as a vegan ice cream shop.

When Billie's order was ready—a towering cup of oat milk ice cream drizzled with chocolate syrup and sprinkled with cookie crumbs—she plopped down at one of the small tables near the window.

"Come on," she said, waving him over.

Cedric hesitated but eventually moved to stand beside her, his towering presence almost comically out of place in the cheerful, pastel-colored shop.

"You can sit, you know," Billie said, gesturing to the chair across from her.

"I'm fine standing," Cedric replied.

"You're so stiff," Billie teased, taking a bite of her ice cream.

Cedric didn't respond, but the faintest hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.

"Okay, if you won't eat or sit, at least answer some questions," Billie said, leaning forward.

Cedric raised a brow. "Questions?"

"Yeah," Billie said, her tone mischievous. "You're like this big, mysterious enigma. I feel like I know nothing about you."

"That's intentional," Cedric said.

"Well, too bad," Billie said, grinning. "Because I'm nosy, and I'm about to change that."

Cedric sighed, though it was more amused than exasperated. "Fine. One question."

Billie's eyes lit up. "Just one? That's no fun."

"One," Cedric repeated firmly.

"Okay, okay," Billie said, tapping her chin in mock thought. "What's your favorite movie?"

Cedric paused, and for a moment, Billie thought he might refuse to answer.

"Heat," he said finally.

"Like the crime movie?" Billie asked, surprised.

"Yes," Cedric replied.

"Solid choice," Billie said, nodding. "Al Pacino's kind of a legend."

Cedric didn't respond, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—approval, maybe.

"See? This isn't so bad," Billie said, taking another bite of her ice cream. "Now you ask me something."

Cedric shook his head. "This isn't a game."

"It could be," Billie said, smirking.

Cedric sighed again, his patience clearly being tested. But before he could respond, the shop's door opened, and a group of teenagers walked in, their excited chatter filling the room.

Cedric immediately straightened, his eyes scanning the newcomers.

Billie noticed his shift in posture and rolled her eyes. "Relax, it's just some kids."

Cedric didn't reply, his focus unwavering.

"You're impossible," Billie muttered, though there was no real annoyance in her voice.

As they left the shop, Billie's ice-cream now reduced to a sticky napkin in her hand, the sun was starting to set, casting a warm glow over the city streets.

"See? That wasn't so bad," Billie said as they walked. "A little ice cream, a little conversation. Good vibes all around."

Cedric didn't respond immediately, his eyes scanning their surroundings.

"I'm serious," Billie said, nudging him lightly. "You should try being a person every now and then. It's not as bad as you think."

"I'll take that under advisement," Cedric said dryly.

"Progress," Billie said, grinning.

As they approached the car, Cedric opened the door for her, his movements as precise and efficient as ever. Billie slid into the passenger seat, Shark hopping in after her, his tail wagging excitedly.

Cedric got into the driver's seat, his green eyes meeting hers briefly in the rearview mirror before he started the engine.

"You're kinda cool for a bodyguard." Billie said as they pulled into traffic.

"Why's that?" Cedric asked, his tone curious.

"Don't worry about it, though, you'd probably be the most boring person I know," Billie said, smirking.

Cedric chuckled—a low, quiet sound that caught Billie off guard.

"Did you just laugh?" she asked, her eyes widening.

"No," Cedric said, though the corner of his mouth twitched beneath the mask.

"You totally did!" Billie said, grinning. "Mr Pierre has a sense of humor. Who knew?"

Cedric shook his head, but he didn't deny it this time.

As they drove through the city, the tension that usually hung between them seemed to ease, if only slightly. And for the first time, Billie felt like she might actually be getting through to him.

Later that night, as Billie lay in bed scrolling through her phone, she couldn't stop thinking about Cedric's laugh—or the way his eyes softened just a little when he talked about his favorite movie.

Maybe he wasn't as much of an enigma as she thought. Maybe, underneath the mask and the stoic exterior, Cedric Pierre was just... human.