Undercover Werewolf

After The Conference

When the conference wrapped up - with an announcement of Palmer's role in The Sygrid Chronicles - Bailey followed Rosa and Palmer back inside, making sure Palmer was safe with Rosa before excusing himself to change out of his suit and put his shirt and pants back on before stepping back out into Rosa's office.

Palmer had changed as well, wearing a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up over his forearms.

Bailey averted his gaze, looking over at Rosa.

"How do you think you did?" She asked, looking back at him. "It was your first press conference as Palmer's bodyguard after all."

"First press conference as anything actually." He admitted, sitting down next to Palmer. "I think I did pretty well, though it was a surprise seeing Mr. Piper."

"What do you mean it was your first press conference?" Palmer turned in his chair, looking at him.

"It was my first conference. Maci's father didn't care about introducing me to the public. He just wanted me to keep Maci safe."

"Everyone has their own methods." Rosa replied. "It's not difficult to imagine that someone as... influential as Mason Piper would want someone who'd protect his daughter first, not someone who'd cater to the media. Unfortunately, since Palmer is so popular, you'll also be in the spotlight. It's why we had to do the conference."

"I know, Rosa. I'm grateful that you did this." Bailey told her with a quick smile. "Even if I don't like publicity on myself, I'd prefer being known as Palmer's bodyguard, not his lover."

"Why couldn't you be both?" Palmer asked.

They both ignored him.

Rosa smiled, looking at them both. "Why don't you two get out of here and find something to do. Get to know each other again before the real work starts."

Bailey looked over at Palmer who just smiled. "Sounds good to me, Rosy. Bailey... Don't take this the wrong way but can I get a bit of privacy? I need to talk to Rosy real quick."

Bailey arched one eyebrow, wondering what he could want to know before he shrugged and walked out into the hallway.

Rosa glanced at Palmer, tilting her head. "What did you have to talk to me about?"

Palmer bit his lip before leaning forward, resting his hands on the edge of her desk. "How common is it for humans to be colorblind?"

Her eyebrows rose when she heard him. "Well, colorblindness runs in families, just like it does with shifters."

"That doesn't tell me anything. How likely would it be for a human to be colorblind?"

She sighed, resting her arms on the desk. "Well... It's less likely for humans to be colorblind. Usually a human who's colorblind either has a shifter ancestor or..."

"Or?"

"Or they aren't human. Why are you asking me this?"

Palmer bit his lip, thinking about Bailey and what he'd said at the shop. "No reason. Thanks for telling me, Rosy." He replied, pushing himself away from the desk and walking to the door. His hand was on the handle before she spoke again, stopping him.

"If this is about Bailey, I'd advise you to leave it alone. Let him tell you on his own terms."

Palmer nodded his head. "Don't worry, I wasn't going to push it."

"Yes, you were. I know you, Palmer. Don't tell him what you're thinking. Take him to the carnival in Yedina."

Palmer perked up at that idea. "The carnival? Are you certain? I could get recognized there."

Rosa hummed, wiggling her fingers at him. "No, you won't. Look in the mirror."

Palmer glanced over at the mirror above her desk, catching a glimpse of a pale-skinned man with curly black hair and green eyes. "An illusion? Nice. Thanks, Rosy."

"You're welcome. Now go have fun."

Palmer paced along the hallway, glancing at the door to Rosa's office as he passed by. He was tempted to go inside but knew he probably didn't want to know what they were talking about. What if he was the subject though? His conversation with Palmer at the shop was prominent in his mind. What if Palmer had figured it out? It wouldn't have been that hard with all the slip-ups he'd had. Maybe he should just come clean... But what if Palmer rejected him?

He won't reject you, a voice that sounded suspiciously like his mom spoke up in his thoughts. He's been flirting with you after all. That has to mean something.

Bailey groaned, resisting the urge to hit his head on the wall. He knew it was serious when his thoughts started to sound like his family members.

"Bailey? Are you alright?"

He jerked at the sound of Palmer's voice, spinning around to see him standing in front of the office, a bemused look on his face.

"Oh, um, yeah, I'm alright. Just bored."

"I see. Well, let's go. Rosa told me to take you to the carnival in Yedina."

"Why? You could get recognized there." He didn't understand the wide grin that Palmer was sporting.

"Come here." Palmer reached out to grab his hand and pull him towards the bathroom.

"You're not going to do anything, are you?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Like... kiss me or something."

Palmer looked amused as he pushed the door open and pulled Bailey in with him. "Trust me, Bay, when I kiss you, it won't be in a public restroom."

"Oh, good." Bailey replied before the rest of the sentence caught his attention. "Wait, when? You are planning to kiss me then!"

"Hush. Just look." He pointed at a mirror in front of them.

Bailey glanced at it. "Why? It's just-" He cut himself off as he realized one of the reflections had looked very different and looked in the mirror again. He saw himself reflected in the glass, standing next to a young man who definitely wasn't Palmer. He had curly black hair, pale skin and almond-shaped green eyes though he wore the same blue shirt and jeans that Palmer was wearing. "What the heck?"

"Rosy is a witch. She cast an illusion spell on me so I won't be recognized."

Bailey looked over at him. "Yeah? So what does that make you?"

"Human."

"Except if your cousin is a witch that means-"

"She's my cousin through marriage. My uncle married a witch who already had a daughter."

"Rosa."

"Yes." Palmer smiled at him. "So? Are we going?"

"...Yeah, let's go." Bailey turned to walk out of the bathroom, looking back at Palmer as he opened the door. "So, when you do your acting, does that mean it's an illusion?"

"Well, in a way it is." Palmer replied, following him out. "Just not the way you're thinking. It's not a spell that helps me look the way I do in my movies, just makeup and special effects. Cameras don't record illusions. Even if they did, any supernatural that watches my movies would be able to see through the illusion. They'd see me, not my character."

Bailey stiffened at the reminder, remembering that he hadn't seen the illusion. Whatever Palmer may have suspected before, he'd basically confirmed it now. He knew it was too late to go back though, he couldn't pretend to have seen the illusion after this.