Jiang Roulan leaned against me quietly, her shoulder warm against my upper arm.
Her weight was light, but firm—grounded. Like she belonged there, her fingers idly moved against the inside of my palm, thumb brushing the calluses with slow, absent-minded circles.
It wasn't seductive. Just... gentle. Trusting.
We stood just off to the side of the main door, behind the partitioned wall that blocked the civilian block from view.
The faint sounds of clattering bowls and soft laughter filtered through the reinforced panels, the kind of low, content noise that only came from people eating something warm for the first time in a long while.
I exhaled slowly.
My thoughts hadn't caught up to the peace we'd made or the weight that was slowly gathering on my shoulders.
But what was strange... I didn't hate it and felt more focused.
That's when I heard the boots.
Not stomping or running, just a measured and constant gait, growing louder with each step.
I didn't even have to look up.
