Smith Inc. Tower, Indianapolis

———Red———

The helicopter touches down on the roof with a smooth whir, the sound of its blades fading. Keegan nudges Dylan, who stirs with a groggy grumble before jolting awake, eyes wide with panic.

"AH! WHAT'S—"

Keegan bursts out laughing. "Relax, man, we're here!" He steps off the chopper and onto the roof, his grin as smug as ever.

Dylan groans, rubbing his eyes. "You're the worst, you know that?"

The rain has stopped, leaving the rooftop slick with puddles that shimmer under the moonlight. The air is cool and still, the chaos of the city below distant and muted. Together, the eight of us make our way toward the elevator, boots splashing softly on the wet surface.

As we cram into the elevator—far too many bodies for the tight space—Kylen reaches over and presses the button for floor 103, the penthouse. The faint hum of the machinery fills the awkward silence as we descend.

"Alright," Kylen says, turning to face the group, his voice slightly strained from the lack of breathing room. "The guest rooms are on floor 102. Once we get off, Claire will take you all down there and show you to your rooms."

"Ah, so penthouse for the VIPs while the rest of us get stuck with the grimy guest beds?" Dylan teases, his tone dripping with mock indignation.

"Grimy?" Alyse snorts. "Red and I stayed down there our first night. They're actually pretty nice."

I nod in agreement. "Better than you're giving them credit for."

"At least we have a roof over our heads," Keegan cuts in, his voice tinged with relief. "So... does this mean we live here now? Officially?" He turns to Kylen, eyebrows raised.

Kylen lets out a sigh. "Yes. You're all staying here from now on."

"Hell yeah!" Keegan shouts, pumping a fist in the air. "This beats the warehouse a million times over."

Hail, standing quietly in the corner, chuckles softly—a rare sound. It's the first time I've seen him relax since we met. "I'll take it. Anything beats those dusty old inns back in Celestria."

Claire laughs gently, leaning against the wall.

Kat smirks, glancing around at the eclectic mix of faces in the cramped elevator. "Well, guess this makes us family now. All under one roof."

I catch her eye and smile. "Yeah. It sure does."

The elevator dings as it reaches the penthouse floor. Kylen, Alyse, and I step out into a sleek, open living space. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame a breathtaking view of the city skyline, now calm and glittering under the moonlight. The faint hum of the elevator continues as it descends, carrying the others to their guest rooms below.

Kylen walks toward a large sectional sofa, tossing his jacket onto it before collapsing into the cushions with a groan. "Finally. Some quiet."

Alyse laughs softly, heading toward the kitchenette and pouring herself a glass of water. "It won't last long. You know they'll be back up here in no time, especially Dylan."

I linger by the window, looking out at the city. The view feels so alien compared to the rolling hills and dense forests of Naurus. The neon lights and endless streets seem cold, artificial.

"You good, Red?" Alyse asks, her voice gentle.

I nod, but my reflection in the glass betrays my unease. "Yeah, just... thinking. About everything. This place, the Court, Naurus... Domnik."

Kylen sits up, his face shadowed in the dim light. "We'll figure it out. One thing at a time. But we need to rest while we can."

"Rest," I echo with a dry laugh. "Feels like a luxury we can't afford."

Alyse joins me by the window, placing a hand on my shoulder. "It's not a luxury. It's a necessity. If we burn out, we're no good to anyone—not to Naurus, not to the people here, not to ourselves."

Before I can respond, the elevator dings again. The doors slide open, and Dylan and Keegan step out, grinning.

"Couldn't resist, huh?" Kylen says, smirking.

"Hey," Dylan shrugs, "I was curious what the rich-kid floor looked like."

Keegan whistles, taking in the penthouse. "Damn. You guys weren't kidding. This place is insane."

Kylen groans, rubbing his temples. "You two realize you have your own rooms, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, but they don't have this view." Keegan strides to the window, eyes wide. "Man, you can see the whole city from here."

Alyse shakes her head but smiles. "You guys are literally one floor down, it's the same damn view."

The elevator dings again, and the doors open to reveal Claire, Kat, and Hail stepping out.

"Really? A group hangout already?" Kylen mutters under his breath, though there's no malice in his tone.

Hail crosses his arms, his eyes scanning the room. "Figured we'd take a look at the nerve center. Plus, Kat got curious."

Kat smirks. "What can I say? I like to know where the boss lives."

Kylen raises an eyebrow. "Boss?"

"Your word, not mine," she says with a wink.

Alyse rolls her eyes and leans against the counter. "Well, now that we're all here, anyone have ideas on our next move? Or are we just ignoring the fact that someone out there is trying to use us as chess pieces?"

The room falls silent, tension thick in the air.

Keegan finally speaks up. "We've got the orb, we've got each other, and we've got this place. Seems like we have the start of a plan."

"Yeah," Dylan chimes in. "Now all we need is... well, an actual plan."

I sigh, turning back to the group. "One step at a time. Tonight, we rest. Tomorrow, we figure out what the hell we're up against."

Kylen nods, standing and clapping his hands together. "Alright, you heard him. Everyone, enjoy your rooms tonight. Because tomorrow, it's game on."

The group exchanges nods, and for a brief moment, there's a shared sense of solidarity—fragile but real. Keegan stretches and yawns dramatically.

"Alright, alright. Guess I'll actually go check out these 'luxury guest rooms' now," he says, heading toward the elevator.

Dylan claps him on the back. "Race you down, man."

Keegan smirks. "You're on." The two of them step into the elevator, already bickering about who will claim the room with the best view.

Hail stays by the doorway, his arms crossed as he observes the room in silence.

Claire moves to the kitchenette, her sharp eyes scanning the appliances. "Well, I guess this place beats the lab." She glances at Kylen with a teasing smile. "You've got a better coffee machine up here, too."

"I'll make sure to stock the guest floor with the good stuff," Kylen replies dryly, leaning against the couch.

Kat steps further into the penthouse, her gaze sweeping across the space with quiet curiosity. She pauses by a glass case displaying a collection of strange artifacts—relics Kylen must have picked up in his research. "You've been busy," she remarks, her tone unreadable.

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Kylen shrugs. "This isn't just my place. A lot of the tech here came from Claire's team."

Kat tilts her head, studying one particular object—a jagged, metallic shard with an eerie purple glow. "And this? Let me guess—Naurus tech?"

"Close," Kylen says. "It's Madium. It came through the portal years ago, one of the first things I found. It's been useful in more ways than I can count."

Hail steps forward, his eyes narrowing as he examines the shard. "Madium... I thought it was only found in Amerei."

Kylen nods. "It is. But it seems the bridges between universes are unpredictable. Things from Naurus end up here, and things from here... who knows where they go?"

Alyse shifts uncomfortably. "That's a scary thought."

"It is," I agree, my gaze lingering on the glowing shard. "If M.V. or anyone else figures out how to use these bridges to their advantage, it could mean trouble for more than just Naurus."

Kat crosses her arms, leaning against the glass case. "So, we can't just sit around. If tomorrow is 'game on,' what's the first play?"

"We figure out who M.V. is," Kylen says, his tone firm. "And we figure out why he needs the orb."

Claire nods as she takes a drink of wine.

"And tonight?" Alyse asks.

"You," Kylen says, pointing to me and Alyse, "need to rest. You've been through the most. The same goes for Hail."

Hail frowns but doesn't argue.

"And us?" Kat asks, gesturing between herself and Claire.

"You'll both help with the research," Kylen says. "Kat, your... unique methods might find something Claire's tech doesn't. Maybe something about the orb can lead us to where this meeting place is."

Kat smirks. "You know me too well already."

"What about Keegan and Dylan?" Alyse asks.

"They'll be on surveillance duty," Kylen replies. "The last thing we need is a surprise attack while we're figuring all this out."

"I'd argue they need training—or at least Dylan does," I say, glancing at him. "He's still figuring out his powers."

Hail nods, his arms crossed. "I can train them in the field near the lab. That way, nothing here in the tower gets... incinerated."

Kylen offers a grateful nod. "That would be perfect. Thanks, Hail. Now, all of you—off to bed. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."

The room quiets as the group begins to disperse. Hail, Claire, and Kat step into the elevator, Kat giving a subtle wave before the doors slide shut.

Kylen stretches, walking toward his room. "Good night, you two!" he calls over his shoulder.

"Good night," Alyse replies warmly.

As she turns to her door, she pauses, glancing back at me with a smirk. "Don't overthink, Red. If I wake up and find out you've spent all night staring into the void or something—"

I laugh softly. "You won't. I promise."

She smiles. "Good night, Red," she says, her voice softening before she steps inside and closes the door.

I exhale, the silence of the penthouse settling over me. Turning to my own door, I open it and step inside, ready for the solitude that comes with the night.

———Claire———

I walk up to Hail's door and pause, hesitating for a moment. Something about the way he acted back at the lab still weighs on me, and I can't shake the feeling that something's off. I want to leave him to rest, but I can't ignore the concern gnawing at me. I reach for the door to knock, but before my knuckles even make contact, the door swings open.

Hail stands there, a look of surprise on his face. I can't help but smile at the thought of having startled him.

"Claire? What—what are you doing?" he asks, his voice tinged with confusion.

I giggle, feeling a little lighter. "I was going to talk to you, but I thought you'd be asleep by now. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I should knock."

He shrugs nonchalantly. "I don't really sleep much. Probably just force of habit."

I raise an eyebrow, puzzled. What does he mean by force of habit? Is he referring to his past with Vermidia? The idea lingers, but I push it aside for now.

I stand there awkwardly for a beat before he speaks again.

"You can't sleep either?" he asks, glancing at me with a slight tilt of his head.

I shake my head. "Not exactly."

He nods knowingly, then a thought seems to strike him. "I was thinking about heading down to the city. Maybe come with me? Show me where the best taverns are?"

"Taverns?" I blink, then laugh softly. "Most people here just call them bars."

"Like, metal bars?" he asks, his expression so genuinely confused that I can't help but burst into laughter.

"Not quite," I say, wiping a tear from my eye. "Come on, I'll show you around."

We both step toward the elevator, the tension of the evening slowly melting away as we head into the city.

The elevator ride is quiet, the hum of the machinery filling the space between us. I can't help but notice the way Hail's eyes dart around, as if he's constantly on edge, scanning for something—or maybe someone.

"Relax," I say with a small smile, hoping to ease the tension. "You're safe here."

He glances at me, a hint of surprise in his eyes, as if he wasn't expecting me to notice. "I'm not worried," he replies, but his voice betrays a small flicker of doubt. "Just... habit, I guess."

I nod, understanding more than I want to admit. We both have our habits, scars from the past that make it hard to fully let go. The elevator reaches the ground floor, and the doors open with a soft chime.

We step out into the cool night air. The city around us is alive with movement, people spilling out of bars and clubs, laughter echoing down the street. The neon lights reflect off the wet pavement, casting vibrant colors across the sidewalks. I take in a breath, enjoying the buzz of the city—the kind of noise that feels comforting after the chaos of everything that's happened.

"This way," I say, leading him down the street. "There's a place a few blocks down that's pretty good. Not too flashy, but decent drinks."

Hail follows without question, and for a moment, we walk in silence, each of us wrapped in our own thoughts. After a few minutes, he speaks again.

"Do you miss it?" he asks, his voice low, as if the question has been sitting on his chest for a while. "Naurus, I mean."

I stop for a moment, caught off guard by the question. It's something I haven't really allowed myself to think about—not deeply. The truth is, I don't know if I miss Naurus. I miss what it used to be, the safety of home, the stability. But I don't miss the dangers, the wars, the way everything felt like it was constantly slipping through my fingers.

"I don't know," I finally say, my voice steady. "I think part of me will always miss it, but... I think it's gone now. There's no going back."

Hail nods, his gaze distant. "Yeah, I get that."

We reach the bar—a small, dimly lit place tucked away in an alley, the kind of spot that feels like it belongs to a different time. The door swings open with a creak, and the noise from inside washes over us: a mix of chatter, clinking glasses, and the soft hum of a jukebox.

"Welcome to the world of bars," I say, grinning as I step inside.

Hail follows, his eyes scanning the room, taking in the mix of people, the low hum of conversation, and the occasional burst of laughter. We make our way to the bar, and I gesture to the bartender.

"A couple of drinks, please," I say.

Hail glances around before focusing back on me. "You've been here before, haven't you?"

I nod, my eyes scanning the crowd. "Yeah. It's a good place to get away from everything. No one really cares who you are here."

"That's a relief," he says dryly, the corner of his mouth twitching as if amused by his own words.

The bartender slides two drinks over, and I take one, raising it toward Hail.

"To surviving," I say.

Hail clinks his glass against mine. "To surviving."

As we take our first sip, the tension from the lab and everything else that's been hanging over us starts to fade, just a little. In this moment, it's just the two of us in the noise of the bar, no missions, no secrets. Just a moment of peace.

And for the first time in a while, I feel like I'm actually breathing again.

We sip our drinks in comfortable silence, the warmth from the alcohol slowly spreading through my chest. The sounds of the bar—the low murmur of conversations, the clink of glasses, the faint notes of a song playing in the background—blend into the background, and for a moment, the weight of everything back at the lab, the tension with the Court, the uncertainty of what comes next, all fades away.

Hail seems a bit more relaxed too, his shoulders a little less stiff, his eyes not darting around the room every few seconds. It's a small change, but it's there. I can't help but notice how much he's always on edge, like a coiled spring ready to snap, even in moments like this.

He takes another sip, his gaze drifting over the crowd. "You know," he says, his voice low, "I never thought I'd be sitting in a place like this. It's... normal. Kind of strange, actually."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "You mean you never had time to just... be normal?"

He lets out a quiet laugh, the sound tinged with something heavier, almost like a bitter memory. "Normal's a luxury I've never really had," he admits, swirling his drink in his hand. "Life's always been about surviving, or fighting, or running. I don't think I ever really learned how to just... live."

His words hang in the air for a moment, and I feel a pang of empathy for him. It's something I know well, that sense of being stuck in constant survival mode, always looking over your shoulder, never sure if you're safe or if the next storm is going to hit.

"I get that," I say quietly. "But, you're here now. You've got a chance to figure out what 'normal' is. You just gotta take it one step at a time."

Hail doesn't answer right away. He just stares into his drink, the ice cubes clinking softly as he swirls it. I can see the gears turning in his head, like he's processing something, trying to make sense of it.

"I don't know," he says after a beat, his voice quieter. "Sometimes it feels like I've been running for so long, I don't even know where to stop. Like, if I stop, I'll just... crumble."

I can't help but feel the weight of his words. It's hard to stop when you're always looking over your shoulder, always expecting the next fight, the next battle. But I want to believe there's a way to step out of that cycle.

"You don't have to do it alone," I say gently, offering him a smile. "We've got each other. We can help you figure it out. All of us."

Hail looks at me then, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, his lips curl into a small, almost reluctant smile. "Yeah... maybe."

We sit in silence for a while longer, just drinking and watching the crowd, the world around us carrying on with its own rhythm. For once, I don't feel the pressure of time, the weight of everything we need to do. It's just a moment—quiet, simple, and fleeting.

"Thanks for this," Hail says suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice is steady, but I can hear the sincerity in it. "I didn't realize how much I needed... a break."

I nod, feeling a sense of camaraderie between us that I didn't expect to find tonight. "Anytime," I reply. "It's important to take a step back every now and then. We can't fight forever."

Hail gives me a small, thoughtful nod, and for the first time since I met him, I see something in his eyes that isn't just guarded or cautious. There's a flicker of hope, the kind of hope that maybe—just maybe—he's starting to believe there's more to life than just surviving.

We finish our drinks in quiet contentment, and for that one night, at least, the weight of the world doesn't seem so heavy.