Just after four, I drifted out to the common area for a snack and some water. Tabitha had disappeared to the roof with Lennon for their afternoon tea ritual, and the space felt expectant, like it was holding its breath.
The crying closet door remained closed, no sound from within. But it felt as if a storm had passed and left stillness in its wake.
I knocked softly. “Finn? You up?”
A rustling sound, then his voice, rough but clearer than it had been hours ago. “Yeah. Come in.”
He was sitting up in the chair, blanket pooled around his waist, earplugs resting on the small table beside the now empty water bottle. His eyes tracked properly when I entered, focused and present in a way they hadn’t been when I’d left him.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a truck, but a smaller truck than usual,” the corner of his mouth hitched. “Better. Embarrassed, but better.”
I sat on the ottoman in front of him and rested my hand on his knee. “Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“I lasted less than a day in your workplace before fallin’ apart.”
“You lasted more than four hours in an unfamiliar environment with multiple new people while managing a neurological condition. It’s just how things go sometimes.”
He considered this, fingers finding mine and turning my hand over to examine the fading ink stain. My cheeks warmed and I wasn’t sure if it was from his touch or the exposure of my pen-snapping tendency.
“Did you strangle a baby squid earlier?”
A laugh escaped my throat and he smiled, looking more like himself. “I should probably find less messy things to fidget with.”
He turned my hand back over and covered it with his own, fingers curling around mine. “Your assistant might be more intimidating than you.”
“Tabitha was a behavioral therapist in a past life and is good at reading people. She knew you were crashing before you did.”
“And you,” his eyes met mine, something shifting in his expression. “You got me out of there before I could make it worse.”
My chest tightened at his words. “Partners look out for each other.”
“Is that what we are?”
The question hung between us, and my mind drifted to his easy affection in front of my team, the way he’d leaned into me when I’d helped him to this room, the relief I’d felt when his eyes focused properly just now.
“I think so,” I smiled softly. “Yeah.”
We sat there quietly until there was a small knock at the door and Tabitha poked her head in.
“Crash Bandicoot,” she nodded at Finn. “How’s the head?”
“Much better thanks to you and Alex,” his lips hitched to the side, eyes sparkling. “Remind me to never be on the wrong side of you two.”
“Eh, Alex is a pussycat once you learn all her secret cheat codes,” she winked before turning to me. “I forwarded my research from this afternoon to your and Oliver’s secure folders. I think you’ll like it.”
“Thanks, T,” I smiled, grateful all over again that she’d decided to stick around after graduating. “See you in the morning?”
“You need any help getting to your car?”
“We should be okay.”
“Then I’ll see you in the morning,” she made a small salute and left, leaving the door slightly cracked.
I turned back to Finn and stood, taking the blanket from his lap and folding it before setting it in a basket in the corner. “Ready to go home?”
“That sounds great,” he smiled, standing up. He wavered a moment before steadying. “I’m good.”
