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Super Hard [Time Keeps Slipping and Other Annoyances]
Act 2.45 (Chrysalis: A handful of Fluff)

Act 2.45 (Chrysalis: A handful of Fluff)

A handful of Fluff

The sight of the towering hotel in front of us made me pause for a moment. Alex hadn’t just called us to any old place—he’d invited us to a penthouse.

I let out a low whistle. “Okay, Alex. I see you.”

Jade raised a brow. “Are we sure this is the right place? Maybe he texted the wrong group chat.”

I chuckled as the realization hit me. Of course Alex was flexing his newfound wealth. Ever since we’d split the lottery winnings, it seemed like he was going all in, flaunting his share with style.

“Looks like someone’s been enjoying his payday,” I muttered, shaking my head as we approached the entrance.

The doorman greeted us with a polite nod, holding the glass doors open as we stepped inside. And immediately, the space smelled expensive.

“I didn’t know Alex was into this kind of thing,” I whispered to Jade.

“Neither did I,” Jade replied, her voice laced with mild amusement. “I thought he’d be more… low-key.”

“Where the hell did Alex get this kind of money?” Vinico spun in place, eyes scanning the opulence around us. “This feels like a basketball star’s midlife crisis meets ‘rich guy’ phase.”

And honestly, that description fit Alex too well. He’d always been the golden boy—the guy who could walk into any room and leave with ten new best friends. He had that effortless charm, the kind that made people want to like him. Confidence wrapped in an easygoing grin. Charismatic, annoyingly good-looking, and somehow always in the right place at the right time. You couldn’t even resent him for it because—well, he was Alex. The guy who won every girl’s attention without even trying. The kind of person you could count on, whether it was for a last-minute favor or an overpriced penthouse invitation.

And speaking of overpriced—this place? Ridiculous.

Soon, all six of us gathered in the sprawling living hall, sinking into chairs around a sleek glass table that probably cost more than Henry’s new car. Maybe even my entire year’s rent.

Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the city, stretching out in an endless sea of lights. The outside view was so breathtaking it made me pause, holding my breath for a moment. The chaos and imperfections of life on the ground faded away from up here. You didn’t see the good or bad, the struggle or strife; you saw the sheer magnitude of it all. The effort, the time, the ambition it took to bring a city to life and keep it moving.

“It’s something, isn’t it?”

Henry's voice broke through my thoughts. He leaned casually against the arm of an unbelievably comfortable-looking white sofa, his trademark grin firmly in place.

“‘Something’ doesn’t even cover it,” Vinico said, spinning lazily in one of the sleek swivel chairs near the glass wall. “I feel like I just stepped into a billionaire’s lair. If you tell me there’s a secret vault somewhere, I won’t even pretend to be surprised.”

Gina stood by one of the windows, her arms crossed as she stared out at the view. “It’s impressive,” she admitted. “But it’s not like Alex is moving in here permanently. Right?” She shot him a questioning glance.

Alex laughed, running a hand through his already-perfect hair. “Relax, I’m not going full Bond villain on you guys. This is just for the weekend. I figured, why not treat ourselves a little? We’ve been working hard, haven’t we?”

Jade leaned into my side, tilting her head up at me. “Do we work hard?”

I tapped my chin thoughtfully. “Well, you work hard at looking cute, and I work hard at making sure you stay happy.”

Jade giggled, nudging me again. “So silly. I like it.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “Alright, enough of you two being disgustingly adorable.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Jealous?”

“Absolutely not,” he shot back. “I like my peace and quiet.”

Gina snorted. “Says the guy who literally invited six people to a penthouse just to show off.”

Alex placed a hand over his chest, feigning offense. “Wow. No faith in me at all.”

Lore leaned back in her seat, studying him. “Alright, I’ll bite. What’s the real reason we’re here? You didn’t drag us to your luxury fortress just so we could sit here admiring the view.”

The group exchanged glances, and for a moment, the usual banter fell quiet as we all took in the view once more. From this height, it was hard not to feel small—but in a way that made you marvel at the sheer scale of the world around you.

His grin widened. “You’re right. I didn’t.”

Alex smirked, stepping away from the glass table, leaving us standing in the middle of the lavish living room. Without a word, he disappeared into an adjacent room. Moments later, he reappeared, dragging a massive, heavy box across the marble floor. The metallic scrape sent a wince through me, but the noise barely registered against the curiosity bubbling among us.

All six of us zeroed in on the box like a pack of predators, watching it with suspicion. It wasn’t just any box—this thing looked high-tech, sleek black with a mirrored green security panel embedded in the lid. Whatever was inside, Alex wasn’t messing around.

Gina shifted beside Henry. “If a tiny alien jumps out of that thing, I’m leaving.”

He grinned. “Nah, knowing Alex, it’s probably gold bars or a cryogenically frozen celebrity.”

“Guess,” Alex said, stepping back with his arms crossed, his grin widening.

Vinico leaned in slightly. “I swear, if this is some weird rich-guy collector’s item, I’m going to be so disappointed.”

But before any of us could voice our guesses, Alex leaned forward and pressed his thumb against the green security panel. There was a soft beep, followed by a faint hiss as the box unlocked. With a solid click, the lid popped open, and he stepped back to let us see the contents inside.

I blinked, momentarily stunned, as the interior of the box was revealed. Inside was an assortment of weapons—guns, blasters, knives, and swords, each one polished and gleaming as if brand new.

The room fell into silence as we all stared at the cache, processing what we were seeing.

“Seriously?” Vinico was the first to break the silence, stepping forward to get a closer look. “You brought us here to show off your arsenal?”

Alex shrugged, his grin never faltering. “Not just to show off. These are for tomorrow.”

I frowned, crossing my arms as I shot Alex a questioning look. “You’re planning to go all out at the auction, aren’t you?”

He met my gaze, his usual smirk absent. “If it comes to that, yeah. We can’t afford to go in unprepared, North. You saw that place. If things go sideways, we need to be ready to fight our way out—or through.”

Vinico whistled low, picking up a blaster and examining it closely. “These aren’t cheap,” he muttered, turning it over in his hands. “Where the hell did you get all this, Alex?”

Alex waved the question away like it was unimportant. “Connections.”

Gina scoffed. “That’s vague and concerning.”

Jade, who had been crouching beside the box, reached in and carefully wrapped her fingers around the hilt of a razor-edged sword. The blade was dark, almost obsidian, reflecting the liquid mercury of her eyes and mirroring its edge.

“I want the sword,” she said simply.

Of course, you want the sword.

I sighed under my breath and without hesitation, plucked it from her hands, shoving it back into the box. “Nope.”

Jade let out an exaggerated pout, crossing her arms like a kid who just had their favorite toy taken away. “Excuse you?”

“You’re not bringing a sword to an auction, Jade.”

She leaned into me, tilting her head up dramatically. “But what if I need to defend our honor?”

I gave her a flat look. “Defend our honor from who? The caterers?”

Vinico snorted. “Imagine Jade in an evening gown, heels, and a full-on sword strapped to her back.”

Jade perked up at the mental image. “Now that’s a look. So cool.”

Lore, who had been watching with mild amusement, rolled her eyes and leaned against the arm of the couch. “Can we focus? Or are we just dressing up for medieval cosplay at this point?”

I ignored the chaos and turned back to the rest of the group. They were all too caught up in the damn weapons. Vinico was still inspecting the blaster like he was thinking of naming it, Gina had a set of throwing knives fanned out in her hand, and even Lore—who claimed she wasn’t interested—lingered near the crate.

They were all living in their own delusions of heroics. Too reckless. Too caught up in the moment.

“Alright, listen up,” I said, raising my voice just enough to cut through the scattered murmurs. I waved a hand at Vinico, signaling him to put the blaster back in the crate. He let out a dramatic sigh but complied.

“We are not crashing the auction tomorrow.”

That got everyone’s attention.

Alex sat up straighter. “Come again?”

I crossed my arms. “You heard me. We’re not going in guns blazing like we’re starring in some underground action thriller. We’re keeping this low-key. No unnecessary risks. No weapons.”

Gina arched an eyebrow, her arms still crossed. “Then what’s the plan?”

I took a step closer to the table, my gaze sweeping over the group. “The plan is not to storm in there like we’re starring in some cheap action movie. We’ll observe, gather intel, and figure out what’s going on. But we’re not picking fights. We’re not drawing attention to ourselves. We don’t have the numbers, the firepower, or the backup to go head-to-head with a room full of powerful supervillains.”

Vinico scoffed, leaning back into the couch. “So what, we’re just gonna sit back and play spies? That doesn’t exactly sound thrilling.”

“It’s not about being thrilling,” I snapped, patience thinning. “It’s about not dying. You saw that place. It’ll be crawling with people who probably have superpowers, mercenaries, or enough money to hire people with both. Walking in there guns blazing is a death sentence—for all of us.”

Vinico raised a hand slightly, expression neutral but thoughtful. “So… recon only?”

I nodded firmly. “Exactly. We figure out what’s happening, who’s involved, and then we get out. We tail them, gather what we need, and catch them later—simple. There’s no need to mess with half the city’s supervillains all at once.”

I glanced at Lore, hoping she’d back me up. Her expression was calm, almost calculating, as if she’d been turning over the plan in her mind before I even said it. Finally, she gave a small nod, crossing her arms.

“He’s right,” Lore said, her voice steady and carrying the weight of experience. “If we try to pull something reckless tomorrow, we’ll be crushed before we even know what hit us. The villains at this auction? They aren’t the street-level types we can just intimidate or outsmart on the fly. These are the big players. We need to play this smart.”

Vinico scratched the back of his neck, still holding the blaster he’d been eyeing earlier. “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I’d rather not get roasted by some high-level pyro or something.”

Gina leaned back, tossing one of the knives she’d picked up into the air and catching it effortlessly. “Fine, fine. Recon it is. But if things go south, don’t expect me to sit there twiddling my thumbs.”

I shot her a look. “No one’s asking you to twiddle anything. Just stick to the plan, and we’ll be fine.”

Henry stood beside me, his eyes scanning the room before finally landing on me. “Then it’s settled. Recon, tailing, and no unnecessary risks. Let’s keep it that way.”

Much to my disappointment, the plan didn’t dampen the group’s excitement in the slightest. As soon as the seriousness of the conversation faded, they were back at the weapons box, diving into its contents like kids in a candy store. In their defense, the weapons were high-grade and absurdly expensive-looking, but it still gave me a headache to watch.

Jade, unsurprisingly, pulled out two swords—because one wasn’t dramatic enough, apparently.

She turned to me with a proud grin, holding them up for my inspection. “What do you think?” she asked, giving one a little shake for emphasis.

I clicked my tongue, feeling a headache brewing behind my eyes. “Do you even know how to use those?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

Jade giggled, a mischievous sparkle in her silver eyes. She shook her head unapologetically and started swinging them around, completely reckless in her movements. I flinched every time the blades came close to the others, half-expecting the sheaths to fly off and impale someone.

“I don’t need to know how,” she said cheerfully, spinning on her heel with the swords held wide like a child pretending to be a warrior. “I’ll just swing them wildly, and whoever’s unlucky enough to be in the way will probably get cut.”

I stared at her, utterly speechless. “That’s… not how swords work.”

Vinico, who had been casually inspecting a futuristic-looking blaster, snorted loudly. “Jade, that’s not a combat strategy.”

Jade shrugged, completely unfazed. “It’s a valid approach.”

Gina, now flipping a knife effortlessly between her fingers, raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, if you’re a maniac.”

I sighed deeply, rubbing my temples. “You’re gonna accidentally decapitate one of us before we even get to the underground site.”

Jade twirled both swords in her hands dramatically before striking a ridiculous pose. “Not if you all stay out of my impressive attack radius.”

Of course, she would think like that. Why bother learning technique or finesse when her meta nature could bend nature to her will? She could probably trip over her own feet and accidentally land the perfect strike. She could close her eyes, swing at random, and still somehow hit her target at the exact right moment. For anyone else, it would’ve been insane. For her? Just another Tuesday.

I sucked in a deep breath, pinching the bridge of my nose as I walked back to the sofas. “Great logic,” I muttered under my breath, though I knew the sarcasm was wasted on her.

Jade perked up, flipping one of the swords effortlessly before grinning at me. “I know, right?”

Henry leaned in from across. “I don’t think she got that you were being sarcastic.”

“Too smart for her own good.”

I ignored her after that—there was no point in arguing with a brick wall. Besides, I knew exactly what she was doing. Acting extra. Pushing buttons. Trying to get a reaction out of me, to make me snap and handle her aggressively later. She had too many screws loose, rattling around in that head of hers. I wondered where she picked up these habits. Yesterday, she told me her school years were so brutally competitive that she barely spoke, keeping her thoughts locked away.

As for these weapons, they weren't really my thing anyway. Sure, the blasters in the box were tempting, but I already had my own if it came to that.

As I sank into the plush cushions, the sound of Alex’s voice broke through the chaos.

“Alright, you weapon-obsessed maniacs, let’s take a break,” he called, grinning as he walked back into the room. “Pizza’s on the way. Three large ones. Beer’s already in the fridge.”

“Pizza, beer and alcohol,” Henry sighed dramatically, tossing a knife back into the box like he was relinquishing a deep emotional attachment. “Now we’re talking. You’re a decent host after all, Alex.”

“Only decent?” Alex shot back, grabbing a can of beer and cracking it open with a sharp hiss. “I’m phenomenal, and you know it.”

“Phenomenal is a stretch,” Lore quipped, still lazily flipping through her phone. “You only just remembered to feed us.”

Fifteen minutes later, the table was already a battlefield of open cans, pizza boxes, and Vinico still aggressively playing bartender for himself. He lifted his glass dramatically, eyeing his own mix like he had concocted a new elixir for the gods.

“You call this a party?” he challenged, grinning. “Give me an hour, and I’ll show you what a real party looks like.”

“Please don’t,” Gina muttered from her spot on the couch, her focus on her phone, but her tone sharp enough to slice through Vinico’s excitement. “The last time you said that, you ended up multiplying like bacteria while intoxicated, and we had to knock you out so the house didn’t collapse.”

The room erupted into laughter.

Vinico, however, was not laughing. He ducked his head, his cheeks flushing red as he mumbled something incomprehensible.

“It wasn’t that bad,” he muttered defensively, though his voice lacked conviction.

“Not that bad?” Henry raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Dude. You broke a coffee table and my favorite lamp. We had to explain to the landlord why half the furniture looked like it went through a blender.”

“It was artistic destruction,” Vinico tried, straightening up with a dignified air.

“Sure,” Lore said dryly, not even looking up from her phone. “If ‘artistic’ means a headache and an emergency cleanup.”

“Thank you,” Henry gestured wildly. “He literally fell off the couch twice, then tried to fight his own clone by the sliding glass door. I was baffled and horrified when his clones actually ganged up on him.”

Vinico groaned, sinking into his chair. “Okay, we don’t have to relive my low moments.”

As everybody bantered with each other, I saw Jade eying a bottle on the table with suspicion. It was strong, dark amber liquid sloshing inside a thick glass container with a label that practically screamed, Not for the Weak. Even from where I sat, I could smell the potency, the sharp sting in the air promising nothing good.

But, she went as far even using her meta so none would notice her actions.

I leaned back in his chair, watching her with amusement as she hesitated before pouring a small amount into her glass. The moment the scent hit her nose, she jerked her head back, gagging.

I chuckled to myself. “That bad already?”

Though the way she held the glass away from her face said otherwise.

She then cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. “It’s fine,” she lied to herself, gripping the glass like it had personally offended her.

“Sure it is,” I muttered to myself, resting my chin on my palm.

She inhaled deeply, steeling herself, then tilted the glass back and took a bold, reckless gulp.

The second the alcohol hit her tongue, her body jerked, her shoulders tightening, face twisting in pure betrayal. Her eyes widened in horror, her throat worked furiously to swallow, and her fingers clenched around the glass as if clinging to life itself. She shuddered violently, her face reddening as the burn clawed its way down. Her breath hitched, a soft cough escaping as she tried desperately to hold it together.

I just sat there, watching the entire disaster unfold.

She coughed, and then looked around, checking if nobody had seen her actions just now. I let out a laugh, unable to hold it back any longer. Her panicked grimace turned into embarrassment as she realized I had been staring at her the whole time.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she muttered, wiping her mouth and turning away. But in her flustered escape attempt, she lost her balance and slipped off the couch.

I barked out a louder laugh as she caught herself at the last second, sitting there on the floor, hands still gripping the glass like a wounded soldier.

Her silver eyes snapped to mine, glowing with irritation. “Shut up.”

I grinned. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You’re thinking it.”

...

“You okay down there?”

“No.”

She pushed herself back up, still clearly struggling with the aftertaste, and shoved the glass far, far away from her. “I don’t get it,” she muttered, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “How do people drink that? It’s like swallowing liquid punishment.”

I shook my head. “I thought you could handle it?”

She glared at me, voice raw from the burn. “That was before I knew it was satan’s piss.”

I smirked, watching her recover from the disaster of her life choices. “Have you never had alcohol before?”

“Fourth,” she grumbled, then let out a defeated sigh, rubbing her forehead. “Yeah. And it still makes me want to vomit.”

I tilted my head, curiosity piqued. “When was the first?”

She hesitated. Her fingers tapped against the glass—once, twice, three times. Something in her posture shifted, just slightly, but I caught it. The slight stiffening of her shoulders, the way her gaze dropped, as if she was watching something play out in the reflection of the liquid.

Then, finally, she spoke.

“I was fourteen.”

I stopped smirking. She didn’t look at me. Instead, she stared down at the glass, watching the amber swirl, her expression unreadable.

“I was under too much pressure at school,” she murmured. “Exams were coming up. If I failed, I’d get beaten at home and school…”

A chill crawled up my spine, but I didn’t say anything.

“Falling in rank wasn’t just about grades. It changed your whole life. If your rank dropped, you got thrown into solitary confinement—soundproof rooms, no food for a day or more. Less sleep. Physical endurance punishments. Holding painful positions for hours.”

She exhaled slowly, like she was forcing herself to keep talking. “And if you dropped too low, you became a servant to the higher-ranked students. No arguing. No complaining. You just... obeyed.”

Her fingers clenched around the glass, knuckles whitening. “I was at the top in my class… but until… something happened… she came out of nowhere... that girl….I just wanted to...She... She....wouldn't....”

She felt her throat involuntarily close at she fumbled with wordstopic, almost hyperventilating. Her body didn't wanted her to talk about it and she quickly shifted the topic.

“I heard my grandpa say once that it makes you forget things. I thought… maybe it’d help.”

She shrugged, but it was empty, like she was trying to make herself believe it wasn’t a big deal. I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into a fist against my thigh. Then, slowly, I reached out and rubbed her shoulder, my touch gentle, steady, quiet. She flinched at first—just a slight, involuntary movement—but then she relaxed into it.

None of my actions could change her past. Finally, I let out a breath and stood up.

“Alright,” I muttered, “That’s enough of this garbage.”

Jade blinked up at me, eyes slightly unfocused. “Huh?”

I rolled up my sleeves. “I’m making you something else.”

She frowned. “What?”

I shot her a glance over my shoulder. “My favorite drink.”

I picked up a few of the bottles sprawled across the table, glancing at the mini-bar mess we had somehow accumulated. Dozens of alcohol bottles, loose citrus peels, half-melted ice cubes, and a few questionable ingredient choices were spread across the countertop like the aftermath of an experiment gone wrong. Jade watched me, her silver eyes still a little distant from the weight of our earlier conversation. But I wasn’t about to let her sit in that darkness for long.

I focused on the task in front of me, choosing each bottle carefully.

A splash of vanilla liqueur.

A pour of condensed coconut milk.

A bit of white rum—just enough.

Mix.

I reached for fresh fruit, cutting, squeezing, sprinkling, layering the drink with precision. A little syrup to balance it. Ice, crushed just enough.

Jade didn’t say anything, but I could feel her watching. Her gaze followed every movement, her fingers tracing slow, absentminded circles against the side of her abandoned glass.

Soon, the drink was ready—a clear, milk-like mixture sitting elegantly in the glass, soft and inviting, a stark contrast to the burning hellfire she had just forced down earlier.

I slid it toward her.

She raised an eyebrow, staring at the drink like it had personally offended her. “What is this?”

I leaned against the bar, smirking. “Something better.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, skeptical. “Is it gonna melt my insides?”

“Not unless you have a deep-rooted fear of good things.”

She exhaled, still hesitant, but eventually wrapped her fingers around the glass. She eyed me as if trying to read some hidden trick in my expression before finally lifting the drink to her lips. The second the liquid hit her tongue, her entire expression twisted in shock. Her eyes flew wide, her posture straightened instantly, and she pulled the glass away as if she had been electrocuted.

“It’s… sweet?!”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Of course, it’s sweet. What, did you think I’d hand you poison?”

She blinked at me, still processing the betrayal her taste buds had just gone through. “But—but alcohol is supposed to taste like suffering!”

I snorted. “Says who?”

Jade pointed dramatically at the evil bottle she had previously tried to ingest. “Says everything I’ve ever tasted.”

“Well, congrats. Now you know not everything has to taste like a regret-filled bad decision.”

She took another sip, slower this time, letting the flavors settle. Her brows lifted slightly, her tongue darting out to lick the remnants from her lips as if testing to see if her taste buds were lying.

“…Okay, I hate to admit it, but this is actually really good.”

I smirked, crossing my arms. “See? Some things can actually be enjoyable.”

She huffed, looking at the glass like it had betrayed her entire worldview. “This feels illegal. Alcohol isn’t supposed to be fun.”

“Or maybe you’ve just been drinking all the wrong things.”

She took another sip, this time without hesitation. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, the tension that had been sitting in her muscles since her confession finally easing away. I didn’t say anything. I just watched her, satisfied that—she wasn’t drowning in the past when I was with her.

Then, without warning our small bubble was shattered and Gina suddenly perked up. She slid her phone into her pocket, her sharp gaze sweeping over everyone.

“Alright, you guys,” she said, grinning mischievously, “let’s play Truth or Dare.”

The room collectively groaned.

“No,” Lore said immediately.

“Absolutely not,” Henry added, shaking his head.

“Seriously, Gina?” Alex said, leaning back in his chair. “We’re not twelve.”

“You say that every time, and yet you always play,” Gina shot back with a smirk.

“Oh, come on,” Gina looked at everybody, almost pleading. “Besides, truth or dare is the perfect way to unwind. What else are we going to do while we wait for the pizza to get here?”

“She’s got a point,” Alex chimed in, lounging on the sofa with a can of beer in hand. “It’s either truth or dare, or we all sit here in awkward silence.”

“I vote awkward silence,” Henry said dryly.

Jade looked at me, whispering. “What do you think?”

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “Do I have a choice?”

By now, everyone had emptied at least four bottles, and the tipsiness was setting in. It showed in the way Henry slouched in his chair, the way Vinico kept giggling at everything, and the faint flush spreading across Jade’s cheeks. I secretly wondered what her tolerance level was. Thus, I wasn’t entirely sure if playing truth or dare was the smartest idea right now, but Gina had other plans.

“Are you all allergic to fun or something?” Gina groaned, sitting upright and glaring at the group. “You’re in college! You’re supposed to enjoy dumb stuff like this.”

Her dramatic complaint drew a series of reluctant nods, and after a moment of hesitation, everyone gave in. Gina, triumphant, grabbed an empty bottle and placed it in the middle of the glass table with a theatrical flourish.

“Alright,” she said, her grin returning as she gave the bottle a spin. “Let’s see who’s up first.”

The bottle wobbled and whirled around, catching the dim light as it spun. Everyone leaned in slightly, the anticipation cutting through their tipsiness like a knife. Finally, it slowed, the neck pointing directly at Lore.

Lore raised an eyebrow, her usual composed expression unbothered by the attention. “Guess I’m the lucky one,” she said dryly.

Gina clapped her hands together, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Alright, Lore. Truth or dare?”

Lore thought for a moment, her head tilting slightly as if weighing the pros and cons. “Truth,” she said finally, her voice calm but carrying a hint of challenge.

Gina didn’t miss a beat. “What’s the most illegal thing you’ve ever done?”

Lore didn’t flinch. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms and meeting Gina’s gaze with cool detachment. “I’m not answering that.”

“You have to!” Alex protested, leaning forward with an exaggerated pout.

Lore’s lips curved into a sweet smile. “No, I don’t. And if I did, I’d have to kill you all afterward.”

That earned a round of laughter, but Gina wasn’t about to let her off the hook. “Fine, but then something less illegal.” she said, narrowing her eyes.

Lore shrugged, and opened her mouth and closed, unable to decide; then a hint of embarrassment crept onto her cheeks. A rare sight indeed, “When I was fifteen and newly formed my meta I was actually running a very famous girl gang in our and surroundings school. And we operated a lot of illegal activities in our area.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

She shut her mouth immediately as if she had already said a lot under the effect of alcohol.

“More! More More!” Alex urged.

She shot him a glare before reaching out and giving the bottle a flick. It spun again.

“This is either going to end hilariously or terribly,” I muttered to no one in particular.

The bottle slowed, its wobbling spin coming to an abrupt stop, and the neck pointed directly at Vinico. The group erupted into laughter and cheers, the alcohol amplifying their enthusiasm as Vinico groaned and sank back into his seat.

“Of course, it’s me,” he muttered, his face a mixture of embarrassment and resignation.

Gina, now fully in her element, grinned like a cat that had caught a particularly amusing mouse. “Alright, Vinico,” she said, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hand. “Truth or dare?”

Vinico rubbed his chin theatrically, as if considering his options. “Truth,” he said finally, his tone suggesting he wasn’t quite brave enough for a dare yet.

Gina’s grin widened, and I knew immediately that she’d been waiting for this. “If you could swap meta natures with anyone at this table, who would it be and why?”

The room immediately erupted in oohs and laughter, with everyone leaning forward to hear his answer.

Vinico hesitated, his eyes darting around the group. “Seriously?”

“Come on, spill. And no cop-out answers like ‘no one’ or ‘myself.’” Gina pressed.

He sighed, scratching the back of his head. “Alright, fine,” he said, clearly regretting his choice of truth. “If I had to pick... I’d swap with Jade.”

“Why?” Gina pressed, leaning in closer.

“Well, duh,” Vinico said, gesturing at Jade. “She can literally shift odds to make things happen. Do you know how many times I’ve tripped over my own clones? If I had her powers, I’d never have to deal with that again. Plus, imagine playing the lottery with that kind of meta nature. I’d be rich in no time.”

“Practical,” Henry said with a laugh, clinking his beer against Vinico’s. “But also kinda lame. I thought you’d say something spicier.”

“Spicier?” Vinico repeated, looking genuinely confused. “What does that even mean?”

Gina rolled her eyes. “It means you missed an opportunity to make this fun. Like saying you’d pick North’s powers so you could sneak into places or Lore’s so you could boss people around.”

“Excuse me?” Lore interjected, her voice deadpan but her lips quirking into a slight smile.

Vinico threw up his hands. “Hey, don’t blame me! You asked a boring question, Gina.”

“Boring?” Gina gasped in mock offense. “Alright, fine. You’re spinning the bottle next, and I hope you get a dare.”

Vinico grumbled as he leaned forward and spun the bottle, the rest of us laughed .

The bottle spun and spun, eventually slowing until it came to a stop, pointing directly at Alex. The group let out a chorus of exaggerated gasps and cheers, with Gina clapping her hands like she’d just hit the jackpot.

“Well, well, well,” she said, leaning forward with her signature mischievous grin. “Look who’s up. Truth or dare, Mr. Golden Boy?”

Alex chuckled, leaning back casually in his chair, completely unbothered by the attention. “Dare,” he said without hesitation, his grin matching Gina’s energy.

The group let out a collective “ooooh,” clearly thrilled by his boldness.

Gina’s eyes sparkled with amusement as she took a moment to think. Then, her grin turned wicked. “Alright, Alex,” she said, tapping her chin theatrically. “I dare you to—” She paused, letting the suspense build, “—kiss someone at this table. Your choice.”

The room exploded with laughter and cheers, the alcohol fueling everyone’s over-the-top reactions.

Alex, however, didn’t flinch. He looked around the table, his confident grin never wavering as his eyes flicked from one person to the next.

“Make it count!” Henry yelled, already leaning forward in anticipation.

“Go for Gina!” Vinico added, smirking as he gestured toward her.

“Shut up, Vinico,” Gina said, swatting at him but clearly enjoying the chaos she’d unleashed.

Alex’s gaze lingered on each of us for a moment, but then, to everyone’s surprise, his attention settled on Lore.

A quiet hush fell over the group as we exchanged glances, trying to read the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Gina, however, didn’t look surprised—if anything, she seemed to be holding back a knowing smirk, her eyes flicking between Alex and Lore like she’d just confirmed a long-held suspicion. I wasn’t entirely shocked, either. I’d noticed the subtle tension between them before—the way Alex’s confidence seemed to falter slightly around Lore, or how Lore’s usually detached demeanor softened ever so slightly in his presence. It was like they were caught in some unspoken game, each too nervous or too proud to make the first move.

Lore arched an eyebrow, shocked. “What?”

Alex grinned, the kind of grin that betrayed both confidence and just a hint of nerves. “What do you think?” he asked, leaning forward slightly.

“Just get it over with,” Henry muttered, clearly impatient for the spectacle to unfold.

Alex didn’t say anything more. Instead, he leaned in and pressed a kiss to Lore’s cheek, lingering for the briefest moment before pulling back with a casual shrug. “There,” he said, sitting back and folding his arms like it was no big deal.

We all erupted into cheers, jeers, and exaggerated gasps. Even Jade couldn’t suppress a grin as she leaned closer to me and whispered, “Called it.”

Lore, however, face was beat red, unable to handle the intimacy. She adjusted her position in her seat, casually brushing her hair back as if the whole thing hadn’t fazed her. “That was… expected,” she said coolly, though the faintest curve of her lips suggested otherwise.

Gina finally broke the din with a loud laugh. “Oh, come on, Lore. That’s the most excitement we’ve seen out of you all night.”

Lore gave her a sidelong glance, her lips quirking slightly. “I’ll try to contain myself,” she replied dryly.

Meanwhile, Alex too happy, spun the bottle again, his grin still firmly in place, though I noticed the way he avoided meeting anyone’s eyes. It was subtle, but it said everything. Whatever was brewing between those two, it was far from resolved—but at least this game had managed to crack the surface.

The bottle slowed its spin once again, finally coming to a stop with the neck pointing directly at Henry. The group collectively erupted in cheers and laughter, with Vinico giving Henry an exaggerated pat on the back.

“Truth or dare?” Gina asked, leaning forward with a smug grin.

“Truth,” Henry yelled on top of lungs, intoxicated.

Gina’s grin widened. “Alright, then. You’ve been super private about your life—always deflecting questions and keeping things vague. So, how about you tell us something about yourself for once? Something real.”

The room quieted slightly, everyone’s attention now squarely on Henry. Even Jade, who had been half-focused on fiddling with the swords she’d claimed earlier, perked up to listen.

Henry sighed, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. “Alright, fine,” he said after a moment. “I’ll play along. But don’t expect anything dramatic.”

He paused, as if deciding where to start. “I come from a pretty normal background. My family’s not wealthy, but we’ve always been comfortable. My dad works in a government office, and my mom used to be a teacher before she shifted to consulting. Anyway, about my life… I have a younger sister.”

“You have a sister?” Gina asked with interest.

Henry nodded. “Yeah. She’s two years younger than me. We get along well enough, though she’s better at pushing my buttons than anyone else.”

“What’s her meta?” Vinoc asked.

“She has a power similar to my dad’s,” Henry replied. “She can create and manipulate electromagnetic fields around her. Pretty useful and cool, honestly. She could hear the signals in the telephone wires.”

“So, your whole family has good powers?” Lore said.

“Pretty much,” Henry said with a small shrug. “My dad’s ability is practical, my mom’s is subtle but effective, and my sister’s… well, she’s still learning, but it’s impressive.”

“Sounds like a nice setup,” Gina said, nodding.

“It is,” Henry replied. “We’ve always been financially stable, and I’ve been lucky that way. When it came time for the academy entrance exams, I was nervous, but I passed. Getting the invitation to study here was a turning point. And meeting you guys…” He trailed off for a moment before continuing. “Well, I didn’t expect to find a group like this. It’s been… different. Good different.”

“Aw, Henry,” Gina said, grinning. “You do have a heart.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

The bottle spun again, its momentum slowing until it came to rest, pointing once more at Alex. Before Gina could pounce with her usual mischief, Lore unexpectedly stood up, crossing her arms and fixing Alex with a pointed look.

“Alright, Alex,” she said, her voice sharp and direct. “Where did you get so much money to blow on a penthouse and this”—she gestured toward the open box of weapons—“arsenal?”

“Well…” he started, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. “You see, uh… it wasn’t exactly my money. It was… um, North and Jade’s idea.”

That got everyone’s attention. All eyes turned to Jade and me, their expressions ranging from curious to outright skeptical. Jade blinked, looking like she’d been caught off guard, while I sighed, already bracing for the inevitable fallout.

Alex hurried to explain, the words tumbling out in a rush. “They figured out they could pretty much win the lottery anytime they wanted by combining their powers—North with his ability to see luck and Jade with her probability manipulation. So, uh, yeah… that’s where the money came from.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Then, all at once, the group exploded.

“Are you kidding me?” Louvel said, his eyes wide. “You two can win the lottery and you didn’t think to include us?”

“Seriously?” Gina chimed in, looking equal parts impressed and outraged. “You’ve been sitting on a goldmine, and we’ve been scraping by on ramen and energy drinks?”

Even Vinico, who was usually more laid back, crossed his arms and frowned. “Yeah, what gives? I could’ve used a new gaming setup.”

“Alright, alright,” I said, holding up my hands in defense. “It’s not like we’re robbing banks here. We’ve only done it a couple of times, and we kept it low-key to avoid drawing attention.”

“Low-key?” Gina scoffed.

“Well, next time, include us,” Henry said, his tone a mix of frustration and envy. “I mean, come on. If you’re already breaking the system, why not share the love?”

“Fine,” I said with a sigh, glancing at Jade, who nodded. “Next time, we’ll bring you in. Just don’t blame us if we suddenly have the entire city’s financial watchdogs breathing down our necks.”

Vinico muttered something about “missed opportunities,” and Gina downed another swig of beer, muttering, “Can’t believe I missed out on a yacht.”

Alex, meanwhile, spun the bottle again, clearly relieved to pass the focus onto someone else. This time, it landed on Jade.

All eyes turned to her, the earlier tension quickly replaced with eager curiosity. “Well, Jade,” Gina said, her grin returning with full force. “Truth or dare?”

But the mood in the room shifted briefly when the penthouse doorbell rang. Alex stood up, his steps a little unsteady from the beer, and returned moments later with an armful of pizza boxes. The rich, cheesy aroma filled the air instantly, breaking through the lingering tension from our earlier discussions.

“Alright, everyone, dinner’s served!” Alex declared, setting the boxes on the glass table and flipping them open with a flourish.

We didn’t need any more encouragement. Like a pack of starving wolves, we dove in, grabbing slices and pairing them with our already open beers. The table’s conversation turned lively again, the earlier grumbles about lottery winnings forgotten, at least for the moment. Jade, sitting close to me, seemed quieter than usual. I wondered if it was her first time playing truth or dare, and she looked a little nervous—or maybe it was just the alcohol hitting her. She ducked closer to me, nibbling on a slice of pizza while keeping her eyes on the bottle like it might leap up and bite her. Once we sat back on our seats with pizza slices in our hands, the moment of truth—or dare—came. All eyes were fixed on Jade, her usual air of mystery amplified tenfold by the alcohol-fueled curiosity swirling in the room. She wasn’t just the most mysterious member of our group; she was also the only one not originally from Earth. It wasn’t exactly a secret, but it wasn’t something we talked about openly either. Everyone had questions, and I could see the gears turning in their heads. But before Gina could pounce with one of her trademark probing inquiries, Vinico, emboldened by his growing intoxication, raised his voice and cut her off.

“Wait, wait! It’s my question!” he declared, waving a pizza slice like a scepter to assert his authority. “Back off, everyone!”

A chorus of groans filled the room.

Gina rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, Vinico—”

Lore sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. “We were so close to having a decent conversation.”

But Vinico was undeterred. He pointed dramatically at Jade, swaying slightly, his eyes narrowing with exaggerated drunken seriousness.

“Alright, Jade, here’s the deal—” he paused for effect, wiggling his eyebrows in what he probably thought was a mysterious manner. “Who would you date if North wasn’t here?”

Gina let out a loud groan, dragging a hand down her face. “Jesus Christ, men always ask the stupidest questions.”

Lore shook her head, already done with this conversation before it even started. “We really let him speak.”

Henry and Alex, however—traitorous bastards that they were—leaned forward like this was suddenly the most interesting thing in the world.

“Oh-ho,” Alex grinned, his elbows resting on his knees. “This just got good.”

Henry smirked. “Yeah, I’m curious. Who’s runner-up?”

I exhaled sharply, already annoyed that this was happening. “That’s the dumbest question I’ve heard all night.”

Alex pointed at Vinico. “It’s still your turn to take a shot for asking something dumb.”

Vinico gasped dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “Rude. But fine. I accept my punishment.” He grabbed his drink, downed it like a warrior accepting his fate, then gestured wildly at Jade. “Now answer!”

Jade sighed dramatically, taking an exaggerated sip of her sweet drink. Then she glanced at me, her cheeks turning bright red. Her smile was soft, her gaze flickering between me and her almost empty cup, her asking for more.

“Hmm. If North wasn’t here…” she trailed off, her expression unreadable.

“I don’t think I’d ever be able to open up this much with another person in my life,” she said, without hesitation.

The room fell completely silent.

Vinico blinked. “Oh. Oh—shit.”

Alex whistled low. “Damn. That was… unexpected.”

Henry scratched his head. “Well. That’s… kinda hard to compete with.”

Lore gave a small, almost imperceptible smirk, her gaze flickering between Jade and me. “At least she’s honest.”

Vinico let out a slow exhale, looking down at his drink. “Well, shit. I just wanted to know if I had a shot.”

Jade snorted, shaking her head. “You don’t.”

The group broke into another laughter, the tension dissolving just a little.

Gina raised her can. “Alright. That’s enough emotional depth for one night. Someone dare Vinico to do something stupid so we can move on.”

Jade didn’t seem to notice or care about anything but her pizza, throwing me one last affectionate glance before reaching for another slice. The bottle spun again, the group’s attention shifting, the game slowly losing structure as alcohol dulled everyone’s competitive instincts.

The night stretched into the early hours, our so-called truth-or-dare game fizzling into nonsense, replaced by aimless banter, slurred jokes, and the occasional dramatic reenactment of Vinico’s worst life decisions. Laughter mixed with the clinking of bottles, and soon, the room was an absolute battlefield—empty pizza boxes, abandoned beer cans, and people sprawled out in various states of drunken catastrophe.

At some point, I realized Jade needed to go to bed before she was beginning to pass out on the floor, so I hauled her to her feet. Easier said than done. Her arm draped heavily around my neck, as if she had decided I was her new mode of transportation.

"Why are you a tree?" she slurred, squinting up at me.

"I'm not a tree, Jade," I muttered, adjusting her weight so she didn’t completely drag me down.

"You feel like a tree," she argued, gripping my shirt for stability.

"You feel like deadweight," I shot back.

She snorted, leaning even more into me. "That’s so rude. I thought you loved carrying me."

"That’s absolutely not true."

"Lies," she sing-songed, her words barely coherent.

With all the grace of two extremely inebriated people, we stumbled through the penthouse, my main objective being to dump her somewhere remotely resembling a bed. We didn’t get far. Somehow, in our drunken haze, we misjudged the layout of the room and—BAM. We collided straight into a pillar.

Jade let out a muffled, "Ouch," her voice soft and barely annoyed, as if she were more inconvenienced than actually hurt.

I groaned, my head and world spinning, as my forehead pressed against the cold marble. "Who the hell put this here?"

Jade blinked at the pillar. "It was always here.."

"That’s not the point."

She pulled back slightly, studying it as if it had personally betrayed us. "Maybe... maybe it's in our way on purpose."

I turned to her, exasperated. "You think Alex planted an obstacle course in his penthouse just to mess with us?"

Jade nodded solemnly. "He's rich. They do that."

I pried her off the pillar and steering us back in the right direction. We made it about three more steps before she suddenly stopped walking altogether, her grip on my shirt tightening.

“Wait,” she whispered. “I forgot how to walk.”

I stared at her, completely done. “You what?”

She looked down at her feet as if she had just realized they existed. “They’re too far away.”

I let out a sharp breath, fighting the urge to drop her right there. “You’re literally standing. Just move forward.”

She made a very serious attempt, lifting one foot off the ground, only to lose balance and nearly take me down with her.

“NOPE, NOPE—okay,” I grabbed her waist just in time, stabilizing us both before we collapsed into an expensive-looking sculpture.

Jade blinked up at me, completely unfazed. “Wow. That was almost disastrous.”

I exhaled sharply, dragging her forward before she could get any more philosophical about her inability to function.

“Alright, no more walking for you. You’re getting carried.”

Her eyes lit up like I just told her she won a lifetime supply of kittens. “Princess style?”

“More like sack-of-potatoes style.”

Jade gasped, dramatically clutching her chest. “You would disrespect me like this?”

Without answering, I lifted her effortlessly, throwing her over my shoulder in one swift movement. She squeaked, flailing for all of two seconds before accepting her fate. “This is fine,” she muttered. “I like the view.”

“All you’re looking at is the floor.”

We pushed forward, but my coordination—or complete lack thereof—got the better of us again. One misstep. That’s all it took. I tripped over the arm of the sofa, and suddenly, we were toppling like dominoes, crashing to the floor in a tangled heap. Jade landed unceremoniously on top of me, her hair falling into my face, muffling my immediate string of curses. She let out a tiny, sleepy groan, her body limp and warm against mine.

“Bad boyfriend,” she mumbled, her voice muffled against my chest. “Always making me fall. You don’t even care.”

Her mindless grumbling sent me into fits of uncontrollable laughter. “Oh my God, Jade,” I wheezed. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

I managed to press a quick, apologetic kiss to her cheek, but I was still laughing too hard to move properly. Jade squirmed slightly, but instead of trying to get up, she snuggled further into me, completely giving up on life.

“This is my home now,” she announced sleepily.

“No, it’s not,” I groaned, trying to push myself up—

And failing. I tumbled forward again, this time collapsing onto her like a useless sack of potatoes. Jade let out a dramatic sigh, her arms flopping to the sides like she was surrendering to the universe’s unfairness.

“See?” she mumbled, voice barely above a whisper. “So mean…”

I buried my face into her shoulder, my body shaking with laughter.

“Oh my God,” I muttered. “We are never going to make it to bed.”

Jade hummed sleepily, her fingers lazily poking my cheek. “We could just… stay here. Floor’s nice. Feels like… ground.”

I groaned, shifting so I could actually breathe again. “That’s because it is the ground..”

She nodded sagely, like I had just said something deeply profound. “…Smart,” she whispered.

I snorted, pushing myself up again—slowly this time. As I tried to lift her up too, she suddenly went completely limp, hanging off me like an oversized ragdoll. “Jade.” No response.

“Jade, you are NOT dead, I literally saw you move a second ago.” Still nothing. I narrowed my eyes. “Oh, so this is the game you’re playing?”

She let out a tiny snore. I wasn’t buying it for a second. With zero hesitation, I poked her sides mercilessly.

She jerked instantly, yelping as she tried to escape. “AH—NORTH—NO—”

“Magically alive now, huh?” I teased, grinning as I hoisted her up properly.

She glared at me, half-dazed, her expression somewhere between sleepy and betrayed. “You’re a demon.”

“You were faking your own death, I had to be sure.”

She huffed, narrowing her eyes. “I was resting artistically.”

“Oh, so you were just performing a sleep-based protest?”

“Yes.”

I chuckled, finally guiding her down the hall again. “Well, congratulations, your protest failed.”

The others were no better off. Gina was crawling toward her room, muttering something about how the ground was moving under her.

“It’s shifting, I swear,” she mumbled, dragging herself forward like a soldier in battle. “It’s alive. The floor is alive.”

Alex, to his credit, had the highest tolerance of all of us. He was helping Lore in much the same way I was helping Jade—except his steps were actually stable, and Lore, surprisingly, wasn’t even protesting. That was concerning. Vinico, meanwhile, was sprawled on the floor, surrounded by a sea of empty beer bottles, snoring loudly. At least he wasn’t cloning himself uncontrollably in his drunken state—a small mercy. But Henry? Henry won the prize for the night. He had somehow ended up with his head on the piano table. His fingers sloppily danced across the keys in what could almost be called music.

“See?” he slurred, his voice thick with intoxication.

His fingers hit another set of keys, way off-tune this time.

“I’m… amazing.”

Gina, who was still on the floor, peeked up just long enough to glare at him. “You sound like a dying rat.”

“No,” Lore muttered from Alex’s arms. “It’s a crime against sound.”

Henry pouted, completely unbothered. “Haters.”

Meanwhile, Jade was still muttering against my shoulder, her head leaning heavily against me.

“You’re so mean,” she grumbled, half-asleep.

I sighed, adjusting my hold on her. “I’m doing my best, okay!.”

She huffed, her breath warm against my neck. “Can’t even do it properly.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I’ve carried you three different ways tonight. How exactly am I failing?”

She poked my chest weakly. “Not princess style.”

“Oh my God.”

Alex, passing by with Lore still draped over him, smirked. “She’s got a point. Step it up, man.”

Jade wiggled weakly in my grip. “See? Even Alex knows.”

I groaned, lifting her slightly higher into my arms. “You are a princess. A very drunk one.”

Jade let out a soft, satisfied hum, finally relaxing again. “That’s more like it.”

Finally reaching the bed, I carefully lowered Jade onto it, doing my best to be gentle—but the moment I let go, she flopped backward like a boneless ragdoll, arms sprawling at weird angles. She let out a tiny groan, her face half-buried in the pillow.

Then, still half-asleep, she mumbled dramatically into the fabric, “I love you, so much.”

I let out a quiet chuckle, shaking my head. “I love you more,” I murmured.

However, Just as I thought I was done, I glanced down and realized Jade was wearing way too many layers of clothes. She’d complain if she woke up in the middle of night.

I let out a slow sigh. “Alright, sit up.”

Jade, half-asleep, groaned dramatically. “Nooooo.”

“Yes.” I hooked my arms under her, pulling her up into a half-sitting position. She squirmed like a lazy cat, her head lolling against my shoulder as she weakly resisted.

“You’re so mean,” she muttered, barely coherent.

“You’re wearing, like, five layers, Jade. Do you wanna sweat to death in your sleep?”

“Maybe. I'll happily die with your hand in mine.”

I gave her a flat look before reaching her woolen coat. She immediately clutched at it, holding on like a stubborn child. “It’s warm.”

I pried it off her anyway, struggling as she half-heartedly fought me.

“You’re being difficult on purpose.”

She pouted, not denying it. With some effort, I finally got the coat off, tossing it aside on hanger. She yawned, blinking up at me.

“You look like a nesting doll.”

She giggled sleepily, which only made my struggle worse. I reached for the zip-up jacket, only for her to cross her arms in protest. I raised an eyebrow. “Jade.”

She stubbornly shook her head. I sighed, then with zero hesitation, I tickled her ribs.

“AH—NORTH—WAIT—” She yelped, immediately uncrossing her arms, trying to escape.

I took full advantage of her moment of weakness and unzipped the jacket, yanking it off before she could resist again. Finally. Except—there was another, a sweater.

I let out a low groan. “How many clothes do you even own?”

Jade laughed, weakly attempting to slump back into the pillows. “You’ll never get through them all.”

“Oh, I absolutely will.”

She hummed, still drunk and sleepy, but playfully testing my patience.

“Alright,” I said, rolling up my sleeves. “Arms up.”

Jade blinked sluggishly at me. “Huh?”

“The sweater, Jade. Arms up.”

She squinted, as if debating whether to obey.

I narrowed my eyes. “Jade.”

She huffed. “Fiiiine.” With slow, exaggerated movements, she finally lifted her arms, her body swaying dangerously. I grabbed the hem of her thick sweater and pulled it up, only for it to get stuck halfway over her head. A muffled groan came from inside the fabric.

“North,” she whined, voice completely muffled. I bit back a laugh. “Stay still.”

“I can’t see!”

“Because it’s on your face, Jade.”

“This is traumatic.”

I finally yanked it off, leaving her in a sheer-white long-sleeved top that clung gently to her body. She flopped back instantly, shivering slightly now that she was free from her thousand-layer cocoon. I knelt at the foot of the bed, fumbling to remove her socks. My fingers felt clumsy, but I somehow managed to tug them off, leaving her legs dangling awkwardly over the edge. She twitched slightly at the sensation, kicking weakly at me in retaliation.

“Hey,” I protested. “I’m helping you, gremlin.”

“No,” she muttered into the pillow. “You’re being weird.”

“I’m taking off your socks, Jade.”

“Weirdly.”

I rolled my eyes, grabbing her legs and shifting her properly onto the bed before she managed to squirm off the edge. Then, I grabbed all her discarded layers and tossed them onto a hanger nearby, shaking my head at the absurdity of it all.

Jade peeked up at me sleepily.

“…I don’t forgive you.”

Her silver hair was a tangled mess, strands sticking to her cheek from the warmth of alcohol and exhaustion. I reached for the small pins holding it in place and gently removed them, one by one, letting her hair fall loosely around her shoulders. As soon as I finished, she stirred, blinking up at me with sleepy confusion.

“Why’re you messin’ with my hair?” she slurred.

“Because you’ll hate yourself in the morning if you sleep with all these pins digging into your skull.”

She considered this for a second, then gave the tiniest nod, her eyelids already drooping. “Too smart,” she whispered.

I smiled, brushing a few strands away from her face. “I try.”

Her eyes fluttered shut, and I thought she had finally passed out—but then, suddenly, her fingers snuck out from under the blanket, fumbling weakly for mine.

I blinked, watching as she clumsily caught my hand and gave it a tiny, barely-there squeeze.

“…Warm,” she mumbled.

I felt something inexplicably soft bloom in my chest.

“Go to sleep,” I murmured, intertwining our fingers briefly before gently pulling away.

She made a small noise of protest, but I tugged the blanket over her, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. As I stood up, about to step away, she shifted again, her voice barely a whisper.

“Don’t go too far.”

I exhaled softly, shaking my head with a smile. “I’m not going anywhere.”

I stood there for a moment, swaying slightly, staring at her like some kind of drunken artist admiring his masterpiece. She was nestled so comfortably, her breathing soft and even, her hair fanned out against the pillow, framing her face in a way that made her look peaceful. Untouchable.

Pride swelled in my chest. Mission accomplished.

I was about to step back—maybe even grab some water to sober up a little—when my legs gave up on me. I collapsed onto the bed beside her, the mattress dipping under my weight.

When I woke, it was late—somewhere past ten.

The penthouse was quiet, bathed in the golden sunlight filtering through the heavy curtains. The light pooled lazily on the floor, spilling over the furniture like a warm, sleepy embrace. Jade was still in my arms. Her body pressed against my chest, her warmth familiar and calming. She stirred slightly, tucking her head deeper into my shoulder, her breath a soft tickle against my collarbone. I knew she was awake. But her eyes stayed stubbornly shut. This was her weird little morning routine—one I had come to expect. She’d wake up, linger in that half-asleep state, and refuse to acknowledge the morning until she was good and ready.

Over the three cycles I’d lived, I hadn’t met anyone quite like her. She was bizarre. She was endearing. She was so completely Jade.

I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, murmuring, “Good morning.”

A muffled “Mmm.”

She buried her face further into my chest, pressing in like a grumpy cat trying to disappear into the covers.

“Too bright,” she grumbled.

I chuckled, running a hand soothingly down her back. “You say that every morning.”

“Because it’s true.”

It took nearly thirty minutes of coaxing, gentle nudges, and strategic shifting before she finally cracked her silver eyes open.

The moment she did, she groaned, immediately wincing as her hand flew to her temple. “My head is killing me,” she whined, her voice hoarse and heavy with regret.

I messaged her head,. “Well, no one forced you to drink twenty cans of beer last night.”

Her brows furrowed deeper, and she let out a dramatic sigh. “I didn’t think it would hit this hard. Stupid alcohol.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You got up five times during the night to use the bathroom. Honestly, I’m just grateful you didn’t vomit. That would’ve been a whole different disaster.”

She let out an incoherent grumble, scrunching her face as she attempted to sit up only to immediately flop back onto the pillows with another groan. “Why does my brain feel like it’s being squeezed by a vice?”

That got a laugh out of me. “Figures. You were too confident last night for someone who rarely handles alcohol.”

“Don’t rub it in,” she mumbled, throwing an arm over her eyes as if to block out both the light and my amusement. “I hate mornings.”

“Well, mornings love you,” I teased, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

She peeked out from under her arm, her silver eyes narrowing. “Not funny.”

“Alright, alright,” I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. “I’ll get you some water and painkillers. Maybe coffee if you’re lucky.”

"Wait! Don't move. Ugh, why is this stupid sun up so early?" Jade groaned dramatically, burying her face deeper into my chest like she could physically block out the entire existence of daylight.

I ran my fingers through her hair lazily. "It's almost eleven. The sun is not early. You are late."

She huffed, her voice muffled against my shirt. "No. The sun is rude. It should go back down."

I chuckled. "You want me to file a complaint with the universe?"

She peeked one eye open, blinking sleepily. "Please. And tell it to give me at least three more hours."

I shook my head, "I don't think it works like that."

She let out another exaggerated sigh, stretching just enough to reach for the blanket—only to pull it over both of us completely, cocooning us in darkness.

"There. Fixed it."

I snorted, my voice slightly muffled by the blanket now covering my face. "we cannot just live in a blanket fort forever."

"Why not?"

"Because we need to get up."

"Says who?"

"Me."

She sighed, stretching slightly, but instead of getting up, she just ended up more tangled in me.

"You're supposed to be getting up," I pointed out.

"I'm up. My eyes are open."

I raised an eyebrow. "Your eyes are literally closed right now."

She peeked one eye open again, then immediately shut it. "There. Now I'm up."

"That's not how it works."

She pouted, shifting until her head was resting under my chin, her arms still loosely around me. "If I stay like this, will you stay in bed, too?"

I sighed, knowing full well where this was going. "Jade."

She nuzzled closer, her voice soft and sweetly manipulative. "North."

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes at her fake innocence. “What are you doing?”

“Loving you.”

I snorted, shaking my head. “Oh, now you love me? Didn’t you just call me a terrible boyfriend last night?”

“Ahh! I wouldn't dare. Where would I find someone like you, who brings me my coffee to bed and loves me so much.”

I shrugged. "I dunno. You were kind of mean last night."

Her silver eyes widened dramatically, and then, with zero hesitation, she threw herself onto me, effectively pinning me to the bed.

“Wait, wait—”

“No take backs. I was adorable last night. You love me. You owe me kisses and so many cuddles.”

I laughed, helpless against her determination. “You are so spoiled.”

She grinned, completely unrepentant. “And whose fault is that?”

I groaned, running a hand down my face. “Mine. Definitely mine.”

She beamed, satisfied. I wrapped my arms around her squirming body.

"North, no!" she gasped, laughing as I pulled her closer.

"Yes."

I kissed her softly at first, just a brush of lips against hers, but she was already smirking, her hands pressing against my chest, trying to shove me away playfully.

"You are so annoying!" she grumbled, even as she tilted her head for another kiss.

“So why are you not letting go?”

"Shut up," she whispered, grinning as she grabbed my face and pulled me down for another kiss.

I smiled into it, shifting so I was half on top of her, pinning her down as she squirmed under me. Jade let out a soft gasp, her fingers threading through my hair, only to immediately change tactics and attempt to wriggle free.

I laughed, catching her wrist. "Oh no, you're not escaping."

She gasped in mock offense. "Oh, so now I'm trapped?"

"Completely."

She pretended to struggle, half-heartedly pushing against my shoulders before I ducked down and pressed teasing kisses along her jaw, her cheek, the corner of her lips.

"North!" she whined, giggling as she squirmed.

"Jade," I whispered against her skin, kissing a trail down her neck, making her let out a breathy laugh.

"Okay, okay, I surrender!" she gasped, laughing breathlessly as she weakly swatted at me.

I grinned, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips before pulling back just enough to see her face. Her silver eyes were soft, her cheeks flushed, her breath warm and unsteady.

“My head still hurts,” Jade sank deeper into the pillows, her silver eyes fluttering shut. I thought of something and pressed my thumbs lightly against her temples, moving in slow, soothing circles.

A soft, pleased hum escaped her lips.

"Mmm… that’s nice."

I chuckled, adjusting my position on the bed, my other hand resting lightly on her forehead as I continued the gentle massage. I pressed a little firmer, working through the tension behind her ears, down to the base of her skull.

She let out a breathy sigh, her body going limp against the mattress.

"Ah, yes, there, it feels so good," she muttered, melting under my touch.

I smiled, running my fingers through the strands of her silver hair, gently rubbing along the nape of her neck. She let out another small, satisfied noise, tilting her head slightly.

"That’s cheating," she mumbled, her voice soft and drowsy.

I raised an eyebrow, amused. "How is this cheating?"

"You’re making me too relaxed. Now I can’t even be mad at you for letting me drink last night."

Finally, after giving away ten minutes of free massage session, I pushed myself off the bed, hoping someone had already made coffee, saving me the effort.

The air outside our room was still and carried the faint tang of stale beer and cold pizza from last night. I stretched lazily as I stepped into the living area. The penthouse was in a state of half-recovery: chairs slightly out of place, pizza boxes stacked on the counter, and the odd can of beer lying forgotten in corners.

Fortunately, In the kitchen, Henry was already up and meticulously preparing coffee for everyone.

“Morning,” I greeted, grabbing a cup of coffee as Henry offered it with a small nod.

“Morning,” Henry replied, adjusting his glasses. “You survived, I see.”

Across the room, Alex was running on the treadmill, his feet pounding rhythmically against the belt at what could only be described as superhuman speed. His hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweaty, but his expression was as composed as ever.

“Barely,” I muttered, “Where’s Vinico?”

“Still sleeping,” Henry said, glancing toward the far corner of the living room.

Vinico, unsurprisingly, was still out of commission. He had somehow managed to drag himself off the floor and onto one of the oversized chairs, where he now lay sprawled like a cat, one leg dangling off the side. He was snoring softly. The empty bottles scattered around him told their own story.

“Impressive,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “That’s more effort than I expected.”

I turned toad Alex, “Alex, got any painkillers? Jade’s not exactly in top shape this morning.”

Alex didn’t stop running. He jerked his head toward the counter, where a small bottle of pills sat neatly beside a glass of water. “Over there,” he said, his tone annoyingly unaffected. “Figured someone would need them.”

I grabbed the pills and coffee. “Thoughtful.”

Alex smirked, still running. “I’m an angel.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s definitely not the word I’d use.”

Shaking my head, I headed back to the room. Opening the door, I found Jade still curled up in bed, her hands clutching her forehead like she was physically trying to hold her skull together. Her silver eyes peeked out from under the blanket as I entered, her expression a mix of pitiful and annoyed.

I sat down beside her, holding out the pill first. “Here. Take this.”

She let out a soft groan, but obediently took the pill, swallowing with difficulty before immediately clutching her head again.

Her face scrunched up in discomfort. “I hate this.”

“You should,” I said lightly, handing her the steaming cup of coffee next. “Here, wash it down.”

She took the coffee gratefully, sipping slowly, letting out a soft, content sigh.

Her grip on her forehead loosened slightly, and I could see the tension starting to fade from her shoulders. It took a few minutes, but eventually, her breathing steadied, and she leaned back into the pillows, her face looking less like she wanted to commit murder.

I watched her carefully. “Better?”

She nodded weakly, her lips curving into a small, sleepy smile. “A little. Thanks.”

“But it still feels like my brain is trying to leave my skull.”

“Well, that’s what you get for acting like you could outdrink Vinico.”

Her groan of regret was immediate. “Ugh. You should have stopped me?”

I arched an eyebrow. “I did. Twice.”

She pouted. “Why didn’t you stop me harder?”

I chuckled, setting the coffee aside. “Oh, I’m sorry, next time I’ll just physically restrain you.”

She nodded seriously. “Yes. Do that.”

I rolled my eyes, reaching out again to gently massage her temples, rubbing slow, soothing circles.

She let out a pleased hum, her eyes slipping shut. “Mmm. Okay, I forgive you.”

I snorted. “Wow, what a generous drunk princess you are.”

"I could fall asleep again like this," she murmured, her breath slowing.

The day had just begun, and it was supposed to be the longest—and potentially the most dangerous—of the third cycle so far. My thoughts started to race, sifting through the plans we’d made, the risks we were about to take, and the uncertainty of what we’d find. The underground auction wasn’t just a hunch anymore; it was a ticking clock, and by nightfall, we’d either have answers or a heap of new problems.

A soft murmur escaped Jade's lips as I kept massaging.

"You're overthinking."

I exhaled slowly. "I have a lot to think about."

I kept my voice low, not wanting to disturb her further. She tilted her head, glancing up at me, her silver eyes still sharp despite the lingering haze of sleep.

"Whatever happens," she said, her voice steady, "we’ve got this." She nudged my side. "You always make it work."

Then, with perfectly timed exasperation, she added, "Just… let me drink my coffee first before you drag me into any life-threatening schemes."

I chuckled, the weight on my mind lightening—just a little. The corner of my lips lifted as I tapped the side of her mug. "Fair enough."

She took a slow sip, sighing in contentment.

The coffee was great.