Sienna's gaze was still on me, her uncertainty hanging in the air like a tightrope. I noticed thanks to my skills that her fingers were gently grasping the edge of the blanket we shared and that she biting the inside of her cheek before she eventually spoke.
"Do you..." she trailed off, then took a breath. "Do you plan on getting other women?"
I blinked. That... was not what I expected.
A beat of silence passed before I sighed. "Is this about Camille and her teasing?"
She hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Yeah."
While I was thinking about my reply, I started reclining on the couch. Camille had always been devious with her words. The remark she made were always vague enough to cause a little bit of chaos. However, I didn't think that Sienna would ever take them to heart.
"Do you want me to tell her to stop?" I asked.
"No!" she replied, perhaps a bit too hastily. Then, as if acknowledging her own urgency, she coughed and turned her gaze. "I guess... it's okay. I'm not particularly bothered."
Something about the way she said it made my brows furrow.
"You don't mind?" I echoed.
She glanced at me, then shrugged. "Not really. I don't mind sharing you."
That, however, did catch me off guard.
Sienna wasn't flustered or embarrassed. She said it plainly, as if it was just a fact—just something she had already made peace with.
I observed her closely, looking for any indication that she was teasing. She was not.
Yet, before I had a chance to reply, she sighed and wrapped the blanket more closely around her. "I'm not saying that I believe you will forget me or anything. I'm aware you wouldn't act that way."
She paused, then lowered her gaze.
"But it's just... you have an SSS-rank job title. You've got multiple A-rank jobs stacked on top of that. Even Camille is an A-rank fashion designer, of all things." She let out a small laugh, but there was an edge to it. "And me? I'm just B-rank."
She wasn't insecure about me—she was insecure about herself.
"I know it's stupid," she muttered, fingers playing with the blanket. "I know you're not the type to just forget about someone because of ranks or status or whatever. It's just—"
I didn't let her finish.
My lips caught her breath and her body started tensing for a brief moment before she relaxed against me. Everything felt so natural-instinctive even-from her warmth to the way she leaned into me.
When I finally pulled back, I rested my forehead against hers. "You think I care about something like that?"
She swallowed, her eyes still half-lidded. "...No."
"Good," I murmured. "Then let me prove how much I care."
Before she could respond, I lifted her into my arms.
She let out a small gasp, but I didn't give her time to protest. I carried her to the bedroom, the weight of the night fading behind us.—
The gentle light of dawn seeped through the curtains, spreading a warm glow throughout the room. Sienna remained nestled next to me, her breath calm and rhythmic.
I gently ran my fingers through her hair, observing her slight movement, yet she remained asleep.
Last night had settled something between us. A silent reassurance, an unspoken promise.
But the day was already calling.
I gently slid out of bed to let her sleep and started preparing.
When I finally faced the mirror, the Dust mask was already on.
The case hadn't concluded.
Cipher. David. Logan.
I still had question that needed answers and it was time for me to get them.
The final thing I noticed before exiting was Sienna, still dozing, her fingers gently holding the blanket.
I let the door click softly behind me.—
The aroma of smoke and metal hung in the atmosphere as I neared the fire station.
As soon as I entered the premises, eyes were drawn to me. While engaged in conversation, the firefighters paused and turned to look at me.
A couple of them stood up, looking at each other.