Author's POV
By evening, the base had settled down again.
The chaos from breakfast had somehow returned at dinner.
Everyone was gathered around the dining table, talking over one another while plates moved from one side to the other.
Percy was complaining about Denila stealing his food.
Denila denied it despite having Percy's entire piece of bread in his hand.
Aries was laughing.
Cora and Luna were discussing something quietly.
And Jay sat beside Keifer, looking noticeably more relaxed than she had in days.
She had even stolen another piece of food from Keifer's plate.
Keifer simply moved the plate closer.
Percy noticed.
"Again?"
Jay looked innocent.
"What?"
"You've officially stopped pretending you have your own food."
Jay shrugged.
"His tastes better."
Keifer sighed.
"Apparently."
Everyone laughed.
Dinner continued like that for a while.
Nothing serious.
Nothing frightening.
Just noise.
People teasing each other.
Jay laughing occasionally.
And for once, she wasn't watching every doorway or listening for danger.
She was simply there.
After dinner, everyone slowly scattered around the common area.
Since the entire team was still on the fourth floor, Jay waited until the others had finished talking before heading toward the elevator. The guest rooms were located on the fourth floor, while Jay's room and the rest of her team's rooms were on the fifth.
Keifer noticed her leaving and followed.
Jay pressed the button, and the elevator doors opened a moment later.
"You always follow me," she said as they stepped inside.
"Someone has to."
"I'm capable of walking by myself."
"I know."
She glanced at him.
"Then?"
"Still following."
Jay laughed softly.
The elevator began moving upward.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
The quiet hum of the elevator filled the small space between them.
When the doors opened on the fifth floor, Jay stepped out first. Keifer followed her down the hallway toward the balcony.
The Balcony
The night air was cool.
New York glittered below them, thousands of lights stretching between the buildings.
Jay rested her hands against the railing.
She breathed slowly.
Keifer eventually stepped beside her.
He didn't say anything at first.
He simply stood there.
Jay smiled faintly.
"You always follow me."
"Someone has to."
"I'm capable of walking by myself."
"I know."
She glanced at him.
"Then?"
"Still following."
Jay laughed softly.
They stood there for several minutes.
The city continued moving below them.
But up there, everything felt still.
Jay finally spoke.
"Today was nice."
Keifer looked at her.
"Yeah."
"I forgot what normal felt like."
His expression softened.
"You don't have to forget it again."
Jay looked back toward the city.
"I'll try."
"That's enough."
She smiled.
The silence returned.
This time, it wasn't uncomfortable.
It was peaceful.
Eventually, Jay's eyes began getting heavy again.
Keifer noticed.
"Tired?"
She immediately shook her head.
"No."
He laughed quietly.
"You said that this morning."
"I wasn't tired then either."
"You nearly fell asleep standing up."
Jay smiled.
"Maybe I just like balconies."
"Maybe."
He glanced toward the door.
"Come on. Get some sleep."
Jay nodded.
Later That Night
The room was dark and quiet.
Jay lay beneath the blanket, finally feeling the exhaustion she had been ignoring all day.
Keifer settled beside her.
Neither of them spoke much.
The entire day had taken more energy from Jay than she realized.
When Jay reached the bed, she expected Keifer to lie down beside her as he usually did.
Instead, the moment he settled against the pillows, he opened his arms without saying anything.
The gesture was quiet and familiar.
An invitation.
Jay paused for only a second before moving closer.
She curled against him, fitting herself comfortably against his chest as though they had done it a hundred times before.
Keifer's arms settled around her, one resting securely across her back while the other remained beneath her head.
Jay tucked one arm between them and rested her hand lightly against his shirt.
Her knees drew up slightly, and she nestled into the warmth of him.
They fit together perfectly—not tightly or awkwardly, but comfortably, like neither of them had to search for a place to rest.
Jay buried her face against his chest.
Keifer lowered his chin gently over the top of her head.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Jay mumbled against him.
"Percy is going to accuse me of stealing your food tomorrow."
Keifer's chest moved with a quiet laugh.
"You did steal my food."
"I prefer the word sharing."
"You took the entire piece."
"He wasn't there to defend it."
"That doesn't make it sharing."
Jay shifted slightly, still hiding her face against his chest.
"Percy has survived worse things than losing one piece of bread."
Keifer smiled.
"He'll probably give a speech about it at breakfast."
Jay's voice became sleepier.
"He should be grateful. I'm helping him build character."
Keifer laughed again, the sound vibrating softly beneath her cheek.
"By stealing his food?"
"Exactly."
"That's not how character works."
"It is in my system."
"What system?"
Jay yawned.
"The Percy-is-annoying system."
Keifer shook his head, though she couldn't see it.
"You're impossible."
"And yet you opened your arms."
His expression softened.
"Yeah."
Jay smiled faintly against his chest.
After a few minutes, she shifted even closer, her forehead resting beneath his chin.
Keifer carefully pulled the blanket over both of them, making sure it covered her shoulders.
His hand moved slowly along her back in a steady, comforting rhythm.
Jay's breathing gradually became slower.
"Keif…"
"Hm?"
"Don't go."
He paused.
"I'm not going anywhere."
That seemed to be enough.
Jay relaxed completely in his arms.
Her fingers loosened against his shirt, and her face remained tucked safely against his chest.
Keifer rested his cheek lightly against her hair.
The room became completely quiet except for their breathing.
Eventually, both of them fell asleep in the same position.
Jay curled comfortably against him, and Keifer held her close without disturbing her.
For the first time in a long while, Jay didn't fall asleep surrounded by fear, memories, or guilt.
She simply slept.
Safe.
Warm.
Comfortable in the space between his arms.
And finally able to let her mind rest.
Outside, New York continued glowing through the windows.
But inside the room—
everything was peaceful.