"You okay?" Simon murmured.
"Yeah." Charlie squeezed back. "Really okay."
The conversation flowed around them. Connor explained his puzzle system in exhaustive detail, Maya described her plans for disturbing but totally healing art installations, Thomas discussed the possibility of woodworking classes. Viktor pretended not to care while carefully noting everything in a small notebook.
It was nice.
Finally, an hour before dawn, everyone began making leaving noises.
"Same time next month?" Maya asked, pulling on her paint-stained jacket.
"You want to make this regular?" Viktor asked.
"Why not? We're all trying not to be monsters. Might as well not be monsters together."
Connor nodded. "I would like that"
"Plus, Viktor's blood supplier is excellent," Thomas added.
Viktor rolled his eyes, but Charlie caught the pleased set of his shoulders.
They said their goodbyes, Maya hugging everyone whether they wanted it or not, Connor shaking hands formally, Thomas nodding with quiet warmth. Viktor saw them to the door, extracting promises to text when they got home safely.
"As if we're not vampires who could bench press a car," Maya muttered, but she promised anyway.
Finally, it was just Charlie and Simon in the hallway.
"That was good," Charlie said as they walked toward the stairs.
"Yeah."
"You think they'll really help? With the sanctuary?"
Simon considered. "Maya will hit us up with paint samples tomorrow. Connor will send a detailed organizational system within the week. Thomas will start sketching furniture designs on the way home."
"And Viktor?"
"Viktor will pretend he's not checking on us while definitely checking on us."
Charlie smiled. "It's almost like we got ourselves a coven."
Simon scoffed, but he didn't disagree.
They stepped out into the night air. The city hummed around them—alive and dangerous and full of possibilities, and Charliecouldn't stop marveling at how much his life had changed, had improved in ways he never could have imagined.
"Simon?"
"Mm?"
"Thanks for not killing me that first night."
Simon's mouth quirked. "Thanks for being too pathetic to kill."
"I wasn't pathetic. I was doing laundry very sadly."
"You were trying to wash cherry syrup out of your hoodie at 2 AM."
"Maybe I was just luring you into a false sense of security."
