This time, there was no talk of walking. The exhaustion, both physical and emotional, had settled deep into their bones. 

Even Xu'er, with her usual boundless energy, looked like she was running on fumes.

"Alright, Missy," Xu Er said, true to her word about needing a drink, pulling out her comm-device, its sleek surface glowing faintly in the dim light of the medical camp's exit area. 

"Let's not tempt fate by strolling through the streets tonight."

"I'm calling a sky-cab. There's this place in the Jade Vine District, a bit more upscale, quieter, and the drinks are strong."

Su Mu nodded, relieved she didn't have to make any decisions. "Sounds good to me. Anywhere but here, right now."

The thought of a quiet place and a strong drink did sound appealing, a way to try and wash away the lingering taste of fear and dust.

The sky-cab, a sleek, automated pod, arrived within minutes, gliding silently to the curb. 

As they settled into the surprisingly comfortable seats, the city lights of Monster City spread out below them, a dazzling, complex tapestry. 

They ascended smoothly, leaving the immediate vicinity of the medical camp and the scarred district behind, merging into the complex network of aerial traffic lanes that crisscrossed between Monster City's many floating islands. 

The distant tremors from the B-rank battle had mostly subsided by now, replaced by a low, almost imperceptible hum that was the city's normal background noise.

They traveled through the skyways, past towering buildings filled with neon signs and holographic advertisements, through districts that pulsed with nightlife even at this hour. 

The Jade Vine District, when they passed near its designated entry portals, looked inviting with its lush, bioluminescent flora integrated into the architecture, giving off a soft, calming glow.

However, as the cab neared the intended entertainment sector, Su Mu noticed Xu'er fidgeting. 

The earlier forced cheerfulness had faded again, and she was staring out at the glittering cityscape with a thoughtful, almost melancholic expression.

"You know what, Missy?" Xu Er said finally, turning to Su Mu. 

Su Mu turned to her. "What's up?"

"As much as a strong drink sounds amazing right now…" She sighed, a hint of her weariness showing through. 

"I'm not sure I'm up for a crowd, even a quiet one. Today was… a lot." She ran a hand over her face. 

"And honestly, I think I'd rather just crash. Maybe a drink at my place? It's not fancy, but it's comfortable, and there's definitely no cultists."

Su Mu felt a wave of understanding and, if she was honest, relief. 

The thought of navigating a crowded, noisy bar, trying to make small talk, felt like climbing a mountain. 

The thought of a safe, private space was far more appealing. "Your place sounds perfect, Xu Er," she said softly. "I'm not really in a party mood either."

Xu Er gave her a grateful smile. 

"Good. I was hoping you'd say that." She leaned forward and spoke to the cab's navigation system, redirecting it to head towards a different, more residential floating district. 

This one was quieter, with smaller, more individual structures built amongst carefully cultivated sky-gardens.

The rest of the ride was mostly quiet. The adrenaline had long since worn off, leaving a hollow fatigue. 

Soon, the cab was descending towards a district filled with more modest, though still impressively high-tech, apartment towers. 

It navigated through a network of smaller skyways before gently docking at a designated platform connected to Xu'er's building.

"Here we are, home sweet home," Xu'er announced with a tired sigh as they stepped out of the cab and onto the well-lit landing. 

As they stepped inside Xu'er's apartment, Su Mu was greeted by a space that was surprisingly cozy and eclectic, a stark contrast to the sleek, sometimes intimidating modernity of Monster City. 

It wasn't very large like Uncle Ye's house, but it was filled with personality. 

Soft, warm lighting came from oddly shaped lamps, casting a gentle glow on walls with a mix of vibrant, abstract paintings and what looked like antique, rune-etched tapestries. 

Plush rugs in deep jewel tones were scattered across the polished wooden floor, and overflowing bookshelves crammed with an assortment of books, from serious-looking academic texts to well-worn, luridly covered romance novels, hinted at Xu'er's diverse interests. 

The air smelled faintly of incense, something sweet and spicy, and the ever-present, subtle musk that seemed to be Xu'er's signature scent.

"Make yourself at home, Missy," Xu Er said, kicking off her high-heeled boots with a sigh of relief and gesturing towards a comfortable-looking, slightly battered velvet sofa. 

"I'm just going to ditch my work dress and grab those drinks. Bathroom's just down that short hall if you want to freshen up first."

Su Mu nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Xu Er. I think I will."

She found the bathroom easily. 

It was large, immaculately clean, and surprisingly luxurious, with deep teal tiles and burnished copper fixtures. 

A large, claw-footed bathtub dominated one corner, and an assortment of fragrant soaps and oils were artfully arranged on a nearby shelf.

Deciding a quick wash was in order, Su Mu stripped off her own clothes, the white turtleneck and mint green pants feeling almost oppressively mundane after the day's drama and the daring outfits she'd worn. 

She caught her reflection in the steamy mirror, her silver hair was slightly dishevelled, her face pale beneath the lingering flush from Xu'er's earlier attentions and the day's adrenaline. 

Her body, though, this new, beautiful body, still held a quiet allure, even in its unkempt state.

She turned on the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her, washing away the physical and some of the emotional residue of the day. 

The steam filled the small room, blurring the edges of everything, creating a soft, private area. 

She lathered herself with a soap that smelled of night-blooming jasmine and sandalwood, the scent rich and comforting. 

As the water rinsed the soap away, she tilted her head back, letting the spray drum against her face and shoulders, a feeling of release washing over her.

She was just reaching for a towel, her body still damp and glowing, water droplets clinging to her skin and tracing paths down her curves, when the bathroom door, which she was almost certain she'd clicked shut, creaked open.

Su Mu gasped, spinning around, her heart leaping into her throat as she clutched the towel instinctively to her chest.

Leaning against the doorframe, a knowing, utterly wicked smirk playing on her lips, was Xu'er. 

She had changed out of her clothes and was now wearing a loose, dark silk robe that was only partially tied, offering tantalizing glimpses of the pale skin and generous curves beneath. 

Her dark hair was tousled, and her purplish eyes gleamed with a familiar, teasing light, making her look even more like the captivating half-Succubus she was.

"Well, well, Missy," Xu'er drawled, her voice a low, husky purr that vibrated in the steamy air. 

Her gaze swept languidly over Su Mu's exposed, glistening skin, lingering for a moment on the droplets of water clinging to her breasts before meeting Su Mu's wide, startled eyes. "Did you leave the door open on purpose?"

The steam from the shower swirled around Su Mu, clinging to her skin like a second layer, but it did nothing to hide the sudden, hot blush that spread from her neck all the way to her cheeks. 

Her heart was doing that familiar wild drumming against her ribs, a rhythm that seemed to sync with the mischievous glint in Xu'er's purplish eyes.

"Xu'er! I… I thought I closed it!" Su Mu stammered, her voice barely a squeak. 

She clutched the towel tighter, a flimsy barrier against Xu'er's intense, appraising gaze. 

The towel suddenly felt very small, very inadequate.

Xu'er's smirk widened, a slow, deliberate curve of her lips that sent a shiver of anticipation down Su Mu's spine. 

"Did you know?" she purred, pushing herself off the door frame with a languid, almost feline grace. 

She took a step into the bathroom, the silk of her robe whispering against her skin with the movement. 

The small space suddenly felt intimate and overwhelmingly filled with Xu'er's presence.

"Or maybe," Xu'er continued, her voice dropping to an even more seductive murmur as she took another slow step closer, "a little part of you was hoping for me to come in?"

Su Mu's mind went blank; a half-naked, incredibly alluring half-Succubus was advancing on her in a steamy bathroom and failing spectacularly. 

"I… uh… I just wanted to get cleaned up," Su Mu managed, her gaze darting from Xu'er's captivating eyes to the tantalizing glimpses of skin revealed by the open robe, then quickly back to her eyes.

Xu'er was now standing only inches away. 

Su Mu could feel the warmth radiating from her body, smell the intoxicating blend of her unique musk, incense, and the faint, lingering scent of the jasmine soap Su Mu had just used. 

It was a heady, confusing mix.

"Very good," Xu'er whispered, her eyes dropping to the towel Su Mu was still clutching. 

"But sometimes…" Her hand came up, slowly, deliberately, and her fingers, cool and slender, brushed against Su Mu's damp collarbone, just above the edge of the towel. "…a little help makes it even better."

The light touch was electric. 

Su Mu's breath hitched, and she found herself unable to move, transfixed by the intensity in Xu'er's gaze. 

The playful teasing was still there, but beneath it, there was a raw, undisguised familiar desire that made Su Mu's own pulse quicken in response.

"Xu'er, I…" Su Mu started, but her words trailed off as Xu'er's fingers began to trace a slow, deliberate path along the edge of the towel, her touch sending sparks across Su Mu's sensitive skin.