Morning arrived without warning, soft and pale, like it did not want to disturb anything. Light slipped through the thin curtains and rested on the floor in long, quiet lines. The city outside sounded normal again, filled with distant voices, engines, and footsteps. That normal sound felt strange after everything Kai and Aria had survived. Peace always felt temporary to people who had lived through war.
Kai woke first, his body stiff and slow to respond. Pain greeted him the moment he moved, sharp in his ribs and dull in his legs. He stayed still for a few seconds, breathing carefully, letting his mind catch up to his body. He listened for danger out of habit, even though the room was quiet. Years of survival had trained him never to relax too fully.
Aria slept beside him, her breathing
