Emilia was just wandering around at the market, not really paying close attention to what she was doing as she absently places things in her basket. She replayed the conversation with Cappie over in her mind as she’d done a dozen times since that day and it still hurt. The fact that he’d slept with someone else under the influence of Atlantis weirdness, she could live with, it was the fact that he was just ready to give up on them being together that was harder to deal with.
She looked up with a start as she almost bumped right into someone else, her eyes going wide as she realized it was her sisters boyfriend. “Oh, Sam, hi,” she said with forced cheerfulness, trying to act like everything was normal.
There was something in Emilia’s voice that made Sam pause before he answered her. He’d come to the market to pick a few things to make dinner for himself but he’d gotten distracted along the way a few times just talking to some of the traders. How full of life this place was still fascinated him. The laughter, the bartering, all of it so different than home.
But Emilia wasn’t her usual self. Not by any means.
“Hey.” he said by way of reply. He needed to hold her attention, he wasn’t about to barrell in and ask what was wrong. That wouldn’t work. He’d hate if someone did it to him and probably wouldn’t talk. But this was different.
“I’m cooking for one tonight and have been known to misjudge how much garlic is too much garlic for a bolognese. Do you mind helping me out for a few minutes. Garlic wasn’t an option back home.” he asked, meeting her gaze. He hoped she would take the chance to talk to him, tell him what was wrong, but there was no rush.
“Of course,” Emilia said, nodding. “Do you have a recipe you’re following already? If can give you one if you don’t...” Her speciality was baked goods, but Em could make a good main dish just as well as her big sister could and she could write a recipe for bolognese from memory, if he needed one.
“I do, it’s just it’s kind of a novelty, even having something like garlic. So I tend to overdo it and then it’s all I can taste. And she laughs and fixes it.” he said with a smile. “I’d offer to cook for you, with her on mission, but I like you too much to subject you to it.”
He was hoping to at least get her to smile and agree. Or at least to smile. He knew she wasn’t okay. And in the absence of her sister, maybe he could do something here.
Emilia nodded. She was impressed he knew how to make it, anyway, even with way too much garlic. “What if we made it together?” she offered. It sounded like a nice distraction and she really did need to spend more time with her sister’s boyfriend. Emilia could tell it was serious between them and she completely approved of anything that made Alicia happy, but she could stand to know the cause for that happiness better.
“That works. The less chance I have of accidently making it more garlic than tomato the better.” he joked.
He picked up the bag containing the various veg he’d bought and turned back to Emilia. “So, how’ve you been?” he asked casually. “We really don’t get to see each other too much.”
“I’ve been okay,” Emilia said. Even though it was probably obvious she’d been better, she didn’t like to drag other people into her messes or make them feel bad. She was bummed about the breakup, but she knew she’d get through it. She just didn't want to burden anyone else with it.
“I don’t want to intrude but, are you sure?” he said as calmly as he could as they started to walk back to the apartment he shared with Alicia. “Even if you just say, things suck right now that’s enough but if you want to talk I’m here.”
Emilia hesitated, not wanting to burden him with her problems, but she didn’t like lying when she could help it. “Cappie and I broke up,” she admitted after a long pause.
“I’m sorry.” he said simply. “It’s hard when a relationship ends, doesn’t matter why.” He knew well from his time with Kara that sometimes it just didn’t work. Or that there was someone else out there…
“If you want to talk about it, we can. I don’t ever want you to think you can’t talk to me. Besides you still have to save me from over garlic’d food.”
“That I do,” she agreed, nodding her head. She wasn’t sure how much she really did want to talk about it, but she thought helping Sam cook and getting to know him a bit better sounded like a brilliant way to spend the evening.
“Good. I need all the help I can get.” he told her with a grin as they walked. “We could watch a movie if you’re not in the mood for talking about it. I’ve discovered Sci Fi and it’s ridiculous.”