The night was quiet.

The floodwaters still lapped at the ruins outside. The air was cold, thick with dampness, but Lilith’s coat was warm where it covered both of us.

I could feel her close—closer than before. Not just because of the cold.

“You awake?” she murmured.

I huffed. “Am now.”

Lilith let out a soft chuckle. I felt the movement more than I heard it.

Neither of us spoke, but the atmosphere wasn’t uncomfortable. Just… a strange kind of quiet. One I wasn’t  really used to.

Then, softer, she said, “Do you always do this alone?”

“Often.” Staring up at the broken ceiling, the cracks barely visible in the dark. 

Lilith was quiet for a long moment. Then—“You don’t have to do it alone.”

I felt something unspoken underneath her words. 

I turned my head, searching for her face. “You offering?”

She didn’t answer right away. Just held my gaze, something unreadable in her expression.

Then, quietly, “Maybe.”

The space between us felt smaller. Or maybe it was just the way she was looking at me.

I swallowed. Looked away. “Get some sleep, city girl.”

Lilith didn’t move for a second. Then she huffed a small laugh. “Yeah. You too.”

She didn’t pull away.

Neither did I.

—

The morning came slow.

The air was still damp, the floodwaters lower but not gone. Light filtered through the cracks in the walls, casting uneven shadows across the ruined floor.

I stirred, shifting slightly—and realized I wasn’t cold.

Warmth pressed against me. A steady rise and fall beneath my cheek.

Lilith.

I blinked, my brain catching up to the fact that at some point in the night, I had ended up leaning against her. Or maybe she’d pulled me closer. Hard to tell.

Her coat was draped over both of us, heavier than I expected, carrying the faintest trace of something—smoke, leather, something distinctly her.

I didn’t move. Not yet.

Lilith was still asleep. Her breathing was slow, even. The sharp edges of her face softer in the quiet light.

She looked… different like this.

Like she wasn’t just some officer from the cities. Wasn’t just another job.

I swallowed, my fingers tightening slightly around the fabric of her coat.

Too long. I’d let this go on too long.

I forced myself to shift, to sit up properly. The movement was enough. Lilith stirred, eyes flickering open.

For a second, she just looked at me, still caught in the haze of sleep.

Then she seemed to realize where we were, how close we’d been.

Her brow lifted slightly. “Morning.”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. Morning.”

She smirked, the corner of her mouth twitching up. “Didn’t take you for a cuddler.”

Heat crawled up my neck. “I wasn’t—”

She chuckled, but didn’t push it. Just stretched slightly, rolling her shoulders before shifting to sit up properly.

And then—

“Here,” she said, reaching for my bag.

I tensed.

Not just a little. Full-body stiff, sharp and immediate, like every muscle in me had locked up at once.

Lilith noticed.

Her fingers had barely brushed the strap before she stilled, her eyes flicking up to mine.

I knew how I looked—on edge, guarded, ready to snatch it back. My heart thumped, my breath felt too shallow.

“Relax,” Lilith said, her voice softer than I expected. She didn’t move, didn’t grab it. Just held my gaze. “I was just handing it to you.”

I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering in my ears.

I should’ve grabbed it right then. Yanked it from her hands, clutched it to my chest like I always did.

But…

She wasn’t pushing. Wasn’t demanding answers.

She was waiting.

Giving me time.

Slowly, I let out a breath. I forced myself to reach out, not snatch. Just take.

My hand brushed hers as I pulled the bag toward me. Lilith didn’t react, didn’t comment on it. Just sat back, letting me have it.

Like she was letting me make the choice.

I swallowed again. Felt the weight of the bag in my hands, familiar and grounding. My heartbeat slowed.

I met her eyes.

“Thanks,” I said, softer this time.

Lilith watched me for a moment, then nodded toward the bag. “You want me to carry it?”

My grip tightened instinctively. “No.”

Lilith raised an eyebrow. “You sure? You look exhausted.”

“I said no.” It came out sharper than I meant, too fast. My fingers dug into the strap, pulling it closer.

Lilith didn’t move, didn’t try again. Just studied me with that unreadable expression of hers. Not accusing, not prying. Just… watching.

“Alright,” she said simply. “Suit yourself.”

That was it.

No pressing. No questions.

I felt ridiculous.

Slowly, I exhaled, forcing myself to ease my grip. It wasn’t like she meant anything by it. She wasn’t trying to take it. Just… offering.

I swallowed hard, shifting the bag against me. The weight was grounding. Familiar. But…

I looked at Lilith.

I didn’t look away from her eyes. “I… I can let you carry it.”

Lilith didn’t say anything for a moment. She simply reached over, taking the bag gently from my hands, her touch light. Her fingers brushed mine for the briefest moment, and something in me went still.

She didn’t act like it was a big deal. She didn’t make a joke, didn’t poke fun. She just adjusted the strap, slinging it over her shoulder like it was nothing.

“Thank you,” I said quietly. It wasn’t just for the bag. It was for the fact that she hadn’t pushed. She hadn’t tried to break through the walls I kept so carefully built up.

Lilith glanced over at me, offering a small smile. “You’re welcome.” And for the first time, it felt like she wasn’t just saying it to be polite. It felt like she meant it.