A fest hourter, Saphica polled on a fitted ck long deese top, the fabric soft against her skin,fortably eng

her phone and the fapon’s genistone into her pocket befoer grabbing her ware leather parker from the chair, li intelled Kajarily of p irmander of the ces she had been, the battles she had fought.

Just as the adusted the cor, a knock sounded at her door.

She exhaled, stradging herself, then opened it

bNiks /bstood on the other side, looking refreshed–brighter. He had dearly rested, though she could still softension in fes should wright that hadn’t fully left.

His outfit was simple but unmistakably him–dark jeans, a fitted charcoal T shirt that did nothing to hide the sharp definition of his frame, and a bach leather jacket that suited him far too well.

Saphira eyed him for a second, scanning him openly, mulle to mop herself.

“Looking good,” she said, clearly checking him out.

Nikon let out augh, his golden eyes gleaming bas /bbhe /bmissed her action, scanning her just as choiusly. “Why thank you,” he mused,

Saphira rolled her eyes but smirked nheless.

*Ready to go? Niks asked, adjusting his jacket.

She nodded, “Yeah, Let’s go see your sister.”

As they stepped into the hallway, Niks reached for her bhand/b, intertwining their fingers effortlessly, his thumb brushing apinst her skin in ba /bslow, bet

It grounded her.

He exhaled softly, his voice dipping lower. “Thank you for doing this with me.”

Saphira squeezed his hand lightly. “Of course. bShe’s /bfamily.”

She hesitated before adding, “I just hope she wakes up soon.”

bNiks/b‘ grip tightened bslightly/b, a quiet tension flickering through him. “Me too,” bhe /badmitted. Then, with a small smirk, he nudged her lightly with his shoulder. “I want her to meet you.”

Saphira bshook /bher head, smiling bbut /bknowing his focus wasn’t on her–it was on

“I think she’ll just be happy to see byou/b,” she murmured. “And to know she’s home.”

Niks was silent for a moment, ha gaze flickering, thoughtful.

“Maybe,” he marmnuned.

But Saphira knew better.

He was waiting. For her to bwake /bbup /b

For the moment he could finally btalk /bto her again. And then–she would stay by his bside/b.

They reached the hospital after a short was, the crap night air fading as bthe /bartificial brightness inside swallowed them whole.

1/98

The familiar sterile sunt hit Saph

moment they stepped through the dom (sharp, cüival, and ?n. A quiet was of unease settled in her chest, but the forend herself to exchate, grounding bererif in?

As they walked through the reerides, staff members greeted them with nods of respect,

Saphita rade uite to retum the gestures, most. Even though tension sijl ling

offering quiet he?era de frikotas

poline smile carling her lips at the passed. These people had been here, helping, when they needed je

the war grateful for their presence

When they finally shed Zafira and Ather’s mother’s, per stood waiting, amma cromed, ble expression umeradable, bat faphira kone bbetter /b

There was winy in bhis /bstance.

Niks wasted no tinte. “Any opdate?”

Imper nced toward Zafina’s bed before reqponding. “Nothing on Zafinn, F’m afraid,” he admitted, kus mice holding the amight

his focus, he badded/b, “Asher’s mother’s vitals are improving, though. They think she’ll wika soon

Relief flickered through Saphics, but it was dampened by the sight of Zafira–still unming, still trapped in this state of emery

“That’s som

some good news, then,” bNiks /bmurmured, nodding slowly. “Thanks, Jas. I’ll see youter.”.

Niks responded with a short nod, and as Jasper passed Saphira, he met her gaze brieflyb, /backnowledging her price with ba /bsilent nod down the hall

Once Jasper had left, the room felt quieter.

Heavier

Saphira band /bNikssat between the two beds, their presence settling into the space.

Niks instinctively reached bfor /bbZafira’s /bhand, bholding /bit gently, his thumb brushing faintly over her skin.

Saphira observed her carefully–the faint colour returning to her face, the way her bathing was steady, controlled

“She looks better than yesterday,” she bsaid /bsoftly, watching Niks” reaction.

He tilted his bhead/b, studying his sister with that same quiet intensity as though he could will her to wake up with inst his presence alone.

“She does,” he murmuredb. /b

Niks at rigidly beside bZafira’s /bbed, his fingers loosely curled around hers, tracing faint patterns against her shin, Saphira knew he wasn’t really seeing anything—his mind was elsewhere, stuck in the waiting.

Then, unexpectedly, he turned to her.

“I know about your past,” he murmured, valce low but sincere. “that what about you? What do you like bto /bbdo/b!”

bSaphira /bblinkedb, /bmomentarily caught off gaand.

She hesitatedb, /bconsidering, tilting her head slightly “What, like hobbiesb?/b”

bNiks /bsmirked faintly. “Sure. You must do something just for yourself.”

Saphira exhaled; leaning back against her chale, crossing her arms bshe /bthought about it, tapping her fingers lightly bagainst /bher arm

“I like the stam,” she said finally, “Not in ban /bastronomer way–just watching them. Being under them. She shrugged slightly, “pra calming ”

ples stuified her for a moment, then nodded. “I get that.”

potter beneath

Before he could say m

-door opened, and the doctor stepped in

ed slightly, watching at the older woman entered and inspected both patients, i

in hand, her presente calm and

chúng ber every move, the moment the was finished he asked. “How are they?”

The doctor smiled gently “Better than expected, actually.” She shifted her gaze inward Zafira, then Asher’s mother. “Zafira’s mery has been progressing quicker than we anticipated. If the continues at this rate, she should wake soon, the same with Asher’s mother ”

Belief flickered through Niks, barely noticeable except for the way his shoulders eased ever in slightly.

Saphira felt it too–1 that quiet shift in the air, the hope.

“he murmured, voice steadier than before

kikotas exhaled slowly. “Thank you,” |

The doctor nodded, giving them both an approving look. “They’re strong. And so are the people looking after them.”

With that, the checked the vital once more, then left the room, giving them space

Saphira stole a nce at Niks, the tension in him not gone, but lighter.

“She’sing back,” she said softly, watching the way his fingers tightened ever so slightly around Zara’s hand.

Niks nodded, his gaze locked on his sister.

“bet,” he murmured.

And this time he believed it.

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