Damien woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains and the distinct feeling that something was off.
... different.
He opened his eyes to find Seria already awake, sitting cross-legged at the foot of the bed with a tactical map spread across her lap. Her hair was still mussed from sleep, and she wore one of his shirts that fell to mid-thigh.
"Morning," she said without looking up. "You snore differently now. More... rhythmic. It's actually less annoying."
"The Second Core improved my snoring?"
"Apparently." She made a notation on the map. "Also, you radiate cold now. It's not uncomfortable, but noticeable. Elara had to add an extra blanket around three in the morning."
Damien sat up, registering what she meant. The shadows that normally coiled beneath his skin were closer to the surface now, cooling the air around him by a few degrees.
"Sorry."
"Don't be. It's kind of nice. Like sleeping next to a very attractive ice pack." Seria finally looked at him. "How do you feel?"
