After a long journey, they finally found a place to stay for the night. The abandoned wooden house on the mountainside temporarily became a place to recover, while they needed to find more data and somewhere safe enough. Outside, the wind blew through the forest, carrying the dampness of the night rain, making everything around them feel colder and the time like slower.
Inside, the fire flickered in the fireplace, a faint glow warming them, illuminating the house with its light and the three exhausting but still surviving. Each sat on one corner, a moment later, Noir took out some first-aid supplies she carried.
Orion sat against the wall, his arm covered in dried blood and several open wounds from the fight. Noir walked over, silently carrying bandages and a bottle of alcohol. She sat down.
"Give me your hand." *Noir pointed*
She gently turned his hand and decisively applied the liquid. Orion grimaced as the alcohol touched his wounds, but the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.
"Shhhh..."
"Yoo, sister...You're really rough."
"If you want to live, shut up. Noir replied.
Her voice remained steady, but her hands were careful, wrapping the bandage neatly. Orion teases her.
"You're definitely a pro. I wonder how many times you wrapped bandages back while you were still with that trash."
Noir glanced at him, deliberately tightening the last bandage so hard it made him scream.
"Ouch..."
"Watch your mouth." Noir said.
Orion wasn't one to back down, sticking out his tongue like a child.
Specter sat nearby, watching silently. When Noir turned to bandage him, his heart suddenly began to race. She had just sat down.
"Shirt." Noir said simply.
Specter paused for a moment, embarrassed, but seeing that Noir had no reaction and was just sitting and waiting, he had no choice but to do so. He removed his gilet and then his white shirt, revealing his toned physique.
On his shoulder, the long scratch was still bleeding. Noir wiped it clean, her hand touching his skin gently. Specter clenched his teeth, not because of the pain, but the distance was too close, which made his heart flutter. He glanced over, his eyes meeting Noir's gaze. For a moment, he felt like the world had become just the two of them. But Noir thought nothing of it, continuing like a working machine, continuing to bandage, extinguishing that vague moment. Orion on the other side saw it all, his lips moving but saying nothing.
"Done." her voice was decisive.
"Ohh, Thank you..."
Specter put his shirt back on, his hands clenching the fabric to hide the emotion in his heart.
/Come on, don't fantasize./
The long night continued to pass. Orion hugged his sword and fell asleep on the chair, breathing heavily. Noir sat by the window, the moonlight shining on her stunning face, her eyes distant. Specter watched her from across the room. In his heart, he knew Noir didn't open up easily. But the more he was around her, the more he couldn't stop his desire to protect her, as if something was pulling him in.
That night, in the little house, they didn't talk about plans, enemies. There was only fire, wounds, and a rare moment before the storm came again. Outside, insects hummed, and the wind rustled the leaves, making the night a little less dull. Peaceful but Dangerous.
The faint morning sunlight slipped through the dusty window frame, falling upon Noir's face. She had fallen asleep at some time, her head resting against the wooden chair, her breath steady and tired.
Noir crossed her arms, her black leather jacket and shoes dusty after a long, chaotic night. The warm light made her seem even more fragile, like a precious flower that the heavy weight of the world could not touch.
Specter had already woken up, processing some new data. His hands rested on the files, but his eyes never left Noir. Every slight movement she made made him afraid that he was waking Noir from her rare sleep.
Orion stepped out of the small kitchen, his hair tousled after a fitful sleep. He glanced at Specter, then looked at Noir sleeping peacefully, a smile on his lips.
"Well?" *Orion said quietly*
Specter turned, confused.
"You look at her as if she's the only one left in the world." Orion's voice was deep, sarcastic and meaningful.
Specter flinched, but didn't respond. His eyes looked at another space.
Orion folded his arms, leaning against the wall, his voice hoarse but serious.
"Listen. I can see it clearly. You care about her. And I don't want to be the third person to come between your budding romance."
"That's crazy, bro."
Specter looked up, his eyes flashing with surprise.
"Don't you... see how pointless it is? Noir... she's a person no one can touch."
"I'll be like a superfluous person when... next to her..."
Orion smiled faintly, reaching out to grip the sword strapped to his hip. He sat down beside Specter.
"Superfluous? Hey, if that were the case, you wouldn't have any chance to sit here, support her, and look at her like this."
"Women are very easygoing and sensitive, don't make them sad, don't disappoint them. All they need is sharing, understanding. OK bro? Understanding is understanding."
"You just need to be by Noir's side, little by little."
Specter froze. For a moment, the wind outside, the light in the room, everything seemed to stop. He looked at Noir one more time, her usually cold face now peaceful in sleep.
Orion gently patted his shoulder, his voice low.
"If you really want to, don't just look. Show her, before it's too late."
"Come on, buddy."
By the window, Noir turned slightly, his leather jacket rustling against the back of the chair. Specter felt determination gradually forming in his heart.
That morning, the gentle sunlight bathed the fragile moment they all knew would never come again. However, this place was still within the patrol range of the organizations, and they would soon be back. There was no time to stop.