The lights of the city flickered outside as Billie and Mars strolled down a quieter street, far removed from the glitz of the Grammy's after-party. The night had taken a turn neither had expected, but it felt right—effortless even. The noise of the party had been overwhelming, too much for Billie's senses, and when Mars had suggested leaving, the idea was more than welcome.

Now they found themselves in a small, nearly empty diner. It was one of those places that had probably seen its heyday a decade ago, but the charm was still there: the checkered floors, worn leather booths, and the smell of fried food wafting through the air. It was far from glamorous, but that was exactly why Billie liked it.

Mars slid into the booth across from her, her tall frame somehow still graceful as she settled in. The leather squeaked slightly as she leaned back, stretching her arms along the top of the seat. Billie's eyes wandered to Mars's arms again, admiring the intricate tattoos that snaked along her muscular biceps, dipping into the fabric of her sleeveless suit vest. Even now, casually sitting in a diner, Mars had a presence that was hard to ignore.

The waitress came over, looking a little star-struck when she recognized Billie, but thankfully didn't make a fuss. They ordered, Billie going for something simple—a veggie burger and fries. Mars, looking at the limited menu, glanced down at Billie before making her decision.

"What do you recommend I get, ma?" Mars asked, her voice low and smooth as her hazel eyes locked onto Billie's. The nickname "ma" slipped out so casually, but the effect it had on Billie was anything but.

Normally, she hated pet names. They felt forced, too intimate too quickly. But when Mars said it, with that accent—a mix Billie still couldn't quite place—it did something to her. There was an unspoken confidence in Mars's tone, a warmth that wrapped around the word and made it sound... natural. Billie could feel her cheeks heating up again, and she cursed herself for blushing so easily.

She bit her lip, trying to play it cool. "Uh, the fries here are solid. You should get some. Just don't be surprised if I steal them."

Mars raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile curling at the edges of her lips. "That's dangerous."

Billie chuckled, rolling her eyes as the waitress took Mars's order—a burger with fries—and left them alone again. The air between them felt lighter now, less charged with the initial nervous energy from when they first locked eyes at the party. It was easy, talking to Mars. They slipped into conversation effortlessly, with Mars asking Billie about her favorite songs and Billie turning the questions back on Mars, curious about her life, her influences, and how she got started in music.

Billie listened intently as Mars spoke, noticing the way her accent shifted slightly with certain words. It was subtle, not enough to be jarring, but enough to make Billie curious.

"You've got an accent," Billie remarked, her brow furrowed slightly as she tried to pinpoint it. "But I can't quite place it. It's like... American, but not fully? And then there's this hint of something else—Italian maybe? And something from the UK too?"

Mars smirked, a hint of amusement in her eyes as she leaned forward on the table, her fingers absently playing with the edge of her glass. "You've got a good ear. I'm kind of a mix. My mom's Brazilian, my dad's Italian, but I grew up in South London before moving to the States."

Billie blinked, her interest piqued. "South London? I didn't expect that."

Mars shrugged, her smirk widening. "Yeah, I spent my teenage years there. You pick up a bit of everything living in a place like that."

Billie leaned back in her seat, smiling softly. "Well, it's sexy. The accent, I mean."

Mars's smirk turned into a full grin, and she chuckled, a deep sound that sent a pleasant shiver down Billie's spine. "Thanks, ma. I'll take that."

The food arrived not long after, and true to her word, Billie began stealing fries from Mars's plate almost immediately. She did it with a mischievous grin, her hand darting across the table while Mars pretended not to notice at first, then swatted her hand away playfully.

"I knew you were trouble," Mars said, shaking her head in mock disapproval. "I don't even know why I ordered these. I should've just let you have the whole plate."

Billie laughed, popping another fry into her mouth. "You could've, but where's the fun in that?"

As the night went on, the conversation flowed easily. They talked about everything from music to tattoos, to their shared dislike of large crowds. Billie felt herself relaxing more and more with every passing minute. Mars had a way of making her feel at ease, like they were the only two people in the world, despite the occasional clatter of dishes or the murmur of conversation from the other side of the diner. She liked Mars's sense of humor—dry but playful, with just the right amount of sarcasm—and the way her eyes would light up when she talked about something she was passionate about.

Eventually, they finished their meals, and Billie leaned back in the booth, feeling more content than she had in weeks. She glanced at her phone briefly, noticing the time.

"Your bodyguards probably think you've been kidnapped," Mars joked, nodding toward the door where Billie's security team had discreetly stationed themselves outside.

Billie grinned, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "They'll survive. Besides, they probably wouldn't mind if I did get kidnapped by you."

Mars's expression shifted, a flicker of something softer passing through her eyes. "Careful what you wish for, ma," she teased, though her tone had a hint of sincerity behind it.

The diner's fluorescent lights buzzed faintly overhead as they sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the night winding down but neither of them seeming in a rush to leave. Billie found herself staring at Mars again, her mind buzzing with thoughts she couldn't quite articulate. She had been to plenty of after-parties, met countless people, but none of them had made her feel like this. Mars had a way of commanding her attention without even trying, of making her laugh, making her think, and making her feel... seen.

Billie swallowed hard, suddenly feeling shy under Mars's steady gaze. She knew she was being ridiculous—she was Billie Eilish, for god's sake—but something about Mars disarmed her completely.

"I had fun tonight," Billie said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't usually stay out this late."

Mars tilted her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I'm glad you did. I wasn't sure if you'd want to leave the party with me."

Billie smirked, her confidence returning just a little. "I don't regret it."

Mars's eyes darkened slightly, her smile turning into something more intimate, more private. "Neither do I."

They lingered in the moment, the world outside the diner feeling far away, as if it didn't exist. Billie could feel her heart racing again, the same nervous energy from earlier returning. But this time, it wasn't nerves. It was anticipation.

Eventually, Mars glanced at her watch, a low sigh escaping her lips. "It's getting late. I should probably get you back before they put out a search warrant."

Billie chuckled, reluctantly pushing herself up from the booth. "Yeah, wouldn't want that."

Mars stood as well, towering over Billie as she shrugged on the blazer that had been hanging over her chair all night. The suit looked even better on her now, the sharp lines of the jacket accentuating her broad shoulders and muscular build. Billie bit her lip, unable to tear her eyes away.

Mars caught her staring and smirked again, offering her arm in a playful, old-fashioned gesture. "Shall we?"

Billie laughed, looping her arm through Mars's without hesitation. "Lead the way."

As they walked out into the cool night air, Billie couldn't help but feel like something had shifted—something important. The world felt a little less heavy, a little more exciting, and all because of the woman walking beside her. She didn't know where the night would go from here, or what tomorrow might bring, but for now, she was content to simply enjoy the moment.