Reached the narrow bed. I bent from my knees, taking the strain in my legs instead of my destroyed shoulder, lowering her carefully onto the thin mattress.
Her head found the pillow. Body relaxed into the mattress. Arm fell to the side, fingers curling.
She made a sound. Not quite a word. Just exhaustion given voice.
Straightened. Released her reluctantly.
Reached for the duvet folded at the foot of the bed. Spread it over her, tucking it around her shoulders. She curled toward warmth instinctively, peaceful.
Wanted to smooth the hair from her face. Touch her one more time.
Didn’t do it.
Just stood there, watching her sleep.
The curve of her cheek. The way her lashes cast shadows. The vulnerability of sleep.
Beautiful. Dangerous thought. Couldn’t afford thoughts like that.
Stepped back. My shoulder screaming again, fever building, exhaustion catching up.
The wall met my back.
Sat down against the wall near the bed. Let gravity pull me down. Close enough to watch her, watch the door, watch the window showing dark rooftops and distant basilica lights.
She was safe. For now.
The manhunt outside. The chip inside. The questions without answers. All of it still there, still pressing.
But underneath all that weight: something else. Something newer.
The feeling of her head finding that curve against my neck. Her fingers wrapped around my wrist. Her body trusting mine completely even in sleep.
Her saying: You’re a person, Xavier.
Person. Not just weapon.
Maybe both. Weapon pointed in the right direction. Protecting her.
Would kill anyone who tried to hurt her. And that felt right. Purposeful.
Maybe that was enough.
Watch. Keep her safe. Keep her breathing.
The radiator hissed its familiar rhythm. Somewhere below, a door slammed. Voices in Arabic, someone arguing, then laughing. Normal sounds. The building alive around us.
The distant basilica lights reminded me there was a whole world beyond these four walls. A world hunting us.
But in this room: warmth. Safety. Her.
I watched her.
My vision grew heavy. Fought it. Needed to stay awake. Needed to watch.
But exhaustion pulled at me too. Days of pain and running and fear finally demanding their price.
Just for a few minutes. Just rest my sight for a few minutes.
