The change from deadly, searing heat and sunlight to something that was a little more pleasant was ... sudden. Riley didn't trust it just as she didn't trust anything else on the planet they'd all been haphazardly shipped to. She'd come to view the plant itself as a living creature that knew there were humans on it and was actively trying to kill them -- as ridiculous as that whole concept was. Still, she wouldn't be surprised if they were lulled into a false sense of security only for the searing heat to return and cook them all to a crisp.

So she waited and she watched as the colonists all began to leave, one by one. They all seemed so happy, so excited that they could return home. The very idea made Riley snort because there was no place on Petra Exterior that any of them could call home. They weren't meant to be there and yet there they were. Eventually her resolve broke and she ventured out into the sunlight and immediately hated how good it felt because she still didn't trust it.

A heavy sigh slipped past Riley's lips and she looked around, at everyone packing up their shit and hauling it down the mountains back toward Exurbia and Nemus. It was stupid, they were all going back to absolutely nothing. The sun had burnt everything to a crisp and had even melted down the metal hulls of the ships they'd arrived on. It was like the planet was trying to kill them and erase any trace of them ever being there. The animals were leaving too, though. She could see the little squirrel-like creatures all scurrying over the rocks back down toward the forest.

So maybe the scorch ha truly ended? Animals seemed to have a sixth sense about certain things. Still, Riley wasn't ready to pack everything and haul it back down to the colony.

"Let's go, Sam." She said, instead, because it had been a while since she'd been able to take the dog on a proper walk. The pair headed down from their cave and Riley picked a random direction and began walking. She would stop every now and again, pick up a stick, albeit a scorched one, and throw it for the dog to run after and bring back. Hours seemed to pass but she kept walking because, even though she didn't trust it, it felt so good to be out in the sunlight and stretch her legs.

It wasn't until she reached a huge body of water -- an ocean, maybe? -- that she finally stopped walking. It was a full five minutes before she realized that she wasn't the only one there staring at the water and when she finally noticed the man there her eyes narrowed. Even from a distance -- and only really seeing him by firelight -- she remembered the infuriating man. She crossed her arms against her chest and walked toward him. "How's your nose?"

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"Right." Riley said, one eyebrow raising at his beautiful as always comment. The smug grin that crossed his face gave her the distinct urge to slap it right off, but she held her ground because she wasn't in the mood to fight with him. She definitely hadn't forgotten just how hard he hit and she remembered that he liked to keep a knife hidden somewhere on his well muscled body. She bit the inside of her cheek and looked down at the dog who was sitting obdeiantly beside her.

It wasn't until she could hear water splashing that she looked back up and she watched as he walked toward her. Just as she began to wonder just how close he planned on getting to her he stopped -- thank god. "Do you always wade into water fully clothed?" She asked, her head tilting. "You'd put on a better show if you were undressed." Wait, was that a joke? The smirk on her face seemed to suggest so.

So that is what you look like.

The matter-of-fact statement made Riley hold her arms out to her sides and she turned in a slow circle. "Are you disappointed?" She asked and, if Logan knew better, he would say that he wasn't because it wasn't that smart to piss off one of the only medics on Petra Exterior. The smile on his face, however, seemed to suggest that he was not disappointed.

Her arms dropped and she crossed them again. "Why are you out here?" She found herself asking even though it didn't really matter. "Most of the colonists have already left for Exurbia and Nemus."

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It was ... surprising that he actually seemed to take what she'd joked about seriously. Or, at least, it seemed that he was taking it seriously with the way he tossed the bag and the blade onto the ground behind her. The rifle followed, though he seemed to be far more careful with that than he had the knife. The shirt came off next and Riley couldn't help but look appreciatively at the muscles that obviously came from years of hard work. But then she snorted and rolled her eyes. "Show off."

Thankfully he'd commented on the colonists neediness, which gave her something to focus on. "Their neediness is good for business." She answered. "I don't always set broken bones and stitch wounds for free." But she'd definitely owed him that much since she'd kind of broken his nose... and because he'd saved her from being eaten by a vesper.

Whatever.

Riley was a stubborn woman, so when Logan began to approach her again she stood her ground with her arms crossed. "What do you think you're doing?" She questioned, unamused by just how close he'd gotten. Had it not been for Sam's keen eyesight she wouldn't have even known that he'd picked her pockets, but the dog's growl and bared teeth was enough for her to know that he'd been up to no good.

And then she was in the water.

She coughed and gasped for a breath as she resurfaced. "You bastard!" She spluttered as she finally got her bearings back and stood. The water was waist deep and surprisingly cool considering the intense heat of the Scorch. Instinctively she reached into her pocket, expecting to find her totally soaked cigarettes and lighter, but there was nothing. "...what?" And then it hit her. That was why Sam had started growling. Her gaze found Logan and she stared at him. "Well are you just going to stand there like an idiot?"



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"That's what I said." Riley huffed as Logan repeated her question -- like an idiot. She raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms and seemed to lean back as he looked at her. If anything it made her all the more aware of how her soaking wet clothes were sticking to her in a way that left little to the imagination -- lucky him. If she were a self conscious woman she would have tried to hide, but she was not so she stood there defiantly. Logan could stare all he wanted for all she cared, it didn't bother her the least little bit.

"Getting a little demanding, are we?" She questioned when he motioned for her to spin around again. Part of her wanted to refused, but there was another part of her that was definitely a show off. She walked several steps closer then stopped and held her arms out as she spun in a circle like Logan had demanded requested. "Still like what you see?" Psh, of course he did. What was there not to like?

Once her little spin was complete she stood facing Logan. "Your turn." Riley said, her head tilting. "Do a little twirl for me." She mimicked the same motion that he'd given to her when he'd told her to twirl. Honestly, she didn't expect him to do what she'd said and twirl, so when he did she was momentarily shocked into just staring.

But then his back was turned to her and she had her opportunity.

Riley hurriedly moved closer and jumped onto Logan's back to shove him down into the water because there was no way she'd be able to pick him up and throw him like he'd done to her.



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"You're assuming my tongue is actually hanging out of my mouth." Riley snorted, though she had to admit to herself she liked what she saw. Let's just say if they'd been in a strip club she'd be throwing a few dollars his way. But they weren't and he was putting on his little show for free.

It was disappointing when he didn't fall when she jumped onto his back. "Son of a bitch." She cursed, surprised, when she felt his arms hook around her legs to keep her where she was... on his back. The risk of slipping and falling backwards was pretty high, so she wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from doing so. Just to rub it in her face he had to point out just how miserably her plan failed, which did made her deflate a little bit.

Riley knew that clinging to Logan's back was a very bad place to be and that was only proven when he suddenly jumped backwards and dunked them both into the water. She let go of him and swam for the surface. She coughed as she resurfaced and pushed her hair back out of her face. "Ass." She muttered, but the grin on her face was proof enough that she was having fun ... and it had been a long time since she could say that she'd actually enjoyed herself.

Instinctively, Riley grabbed for Logan's arm partly because she needed a little bit of security, but mostly because she'd already concocted a plan in her head. "Okay, okay. You got me. Truce?" Her eyebrows raised and she waited expectantly for Logan to agree -- though she wouldn't have been a bit surprised if he said no. When he finally did answer her she took the opportunity to pull him close and kiss him, but not because she found him attractive in an arrogant and annoying way. That totally wasn't it. The sole purpose was to catch him by surprise. Her hands moved to his shoulders and she shoved him down under the surface of the water, laughing.



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Riley couldn't help but laugh when Logan accused her of cheating. "Was not." She defended even though it really had been an underhanded move on her part. "That was..." What was the word that Chuck had liked to throw around? Tactical something? Whatever, she assessed the situation and came up with a plan to accomplish her goal and that was all that had mattered in the end. "You're just sore because I tricked you..."

But her voice trailed off when he pulled her so close that she was pressed against him. Her eyes narrowed as he seemed to lean a little closer to her -- close enough that she could feel his breath fan across her face. "What...?" He couldn't really be thinking about doing the same thing to her that she had just done to him. Seriously dude, come up with your own material. Stop dillydallying and kiss me. And then he splashed her with water after suggesting that she needed it. "I think you're the one that needs the cold shower." She huffed. There was a mix of emotions when he released her and backed away -- it was stupid how being isolated could make someone seek out and crave attention -- but she didn't dwell on it long when he referred to himself as Prince Charming.

Really? Really?

"Who lied to you and told you that you were Prince Charming?" She asked, rolling her eyes as he claimed to save her cigarettes -- which he had. If he had thrown her in with them and ruined them she would have tried to drown him. She swam for the shore then walked the rest of the way once her feet were finally able to touch the ground again.

Wait. Share a cigarette with him? Since when did she share.

Riley stepped onto the solid ground and looked at Logan. "Seriously?" She bunched her shirt up to try and wring some of the water out of it. "Convince me to share with you."



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Once Riley was satisfied that she was able to wring as much water out of her shirt as possible without taking it off she smoothed the material back down. She started wringing the water from her hair and turned to look at Logan as he made himself comfortable while he tried to come up with reasons to convince her that she should share her cigarettes with him. Back in the cave she'd offered him one, though it had annoyed her to do so.

The grin that spread across his face was enough for her to know that he'd come up with a reason that she should share, but that reason made her snort. "Taking advantage of you?" Really? "I didn't feel you pushing me away, buddy." She pointed out, her head tilting to the side. "Oh, just admit it. You liked it." She rolled her eyes at his claim that she couldn't help herself. "Oh yeah, let me tell ya." Sarcasm laced every word. "I really couldn't help myself being that close to you."

She turned and walked to where Logan had tossed her cigarettes and lighter and picked them up then turned back to him when he made the jumping his bones comment. Wow. Riley walked back to where Logan was stretched out on the ground and she stood over him with one foot on either side of his hips. It would take a whole hell of a lot more to make her feel awkward than what he was dishing out -- if that was even what he was trying. Whatever, it didn't matter.

"Again, I didn't feel you pushing me away." She plucked a cigarette from the pack and brought it to her lips, and at the same time she knelt down so that she was straddling Logan's hips. Riley acted as if it were the most common and comfortable thing to do, and honestly it didn't bother her. She tossed the pack aside and cupped her hands around the end if the cigarette while she flicked the lighter. It produced a little flame and she took a drag before tossing the ligher with the pack of cigarettes.

He still hadn't convinced her, but she took the cigarette and turned it toward him so that he could lean up take it ... if she decided to let him have it. Right at that moment she was more interested in teasing him because it was fun.



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