The room was quiet.
Soft.
Dim.
Machines hummed low in the background.
Steady.
Controlled.
Leah stood just outside the door.
Her hand resting lightly against it.
She didn't push it open yet.
Just stood there.
Breathing slowly.
Letting everything settle.
He was inside.
Safe.
Alive.
That thought alone made her chest loosen.
"…You can go in," the doctor said gently behind her.
Leah nodded once.
"…Thank you."
Then she opened the door.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Izana was awake.
Resting against the pillows.
Still.
Composed.
Like nothing could shake him.
But the cast on his arm said otherwise.
White.
Firm.
Holding everything in place.
Leah stopped just inside the room.
Her eyes taking him in.
Every detail.
The way he sat.
The way he held himself.
The faint tension he didn't show anyone else.
Her chest tightened—then eased again.
He was here.
That was enough.
Izana turned his head slightly.
Saw her immediately.
"…You waited."
Her lips curved faintly.
"…Was that ever a question?"
She stepped closer.
Slow.
Measured.
Like she didn't want to disturb the quiet.
She reached the bed and sat beside him.
Close.
Her hand lifted.
Gently brushing his hair back into place.
A simple touch.
But careful.
"…You look tired," she murmured.
"A little."
"That's new."
A faint pause.
"…Temporary."
She studied his face.
Making sure.
"…You're really alright?"
He met her gaze.
"…I will be."
Not the same answer as before.
And she noticed.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly.
"…That's better," she said quietly.
Her eyes dropped to his arm.
The cast.
Still unfamiliar.
Her fingers hovered near it.
Not touching yet.
"…Does it feel heavy?"
"More than it should."
"…That sounds uncomfortable."
"It is."
A small pause.
"…You're not complaining though."
"I rarely do."
She gave him a look.
"…That's because you ignore things until you can't."
"…That's efficient."
"…That's frustrating," she corrected softly.
A faint shift in his expression.
"…I'll keep that in mind."
She leaned back slightly in her chair.
Still close.
Always close.
"…You should," she said.
A doctor stepped in briefly.
Checking monitors.
Glancing at Izana's arm.
"…Everything looks stable."
Leah nodded.
"…How long until he can move it?"
"A few weeks before proper use. Full recovery will take longer."
Leah absorbed that.
Quiet.
"…He'll follow instructions," she said.
The doctor looked at Izana.
Then back at her.
"…I hope so."
Leah's gaze didn't shift.
"He will."
A small silence.
Then the doctor nodded.
"…He needs rest."
"I won't disturb him."
The doctor left.
The door closing softly.
Izana looked at her again.
"…You're staying."
She didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
A pause.
"…That wasn't a request."
"I know."
Her tone was calm.
Certain.
He studied her for a moment.
Then—
"…You're not leaving this room, are you?"
"No."
A small silence followed.
Then the faintest shift in his expression.
Not resistance.
Something else.
"…Alright."
That was enough for her.
Leah adjusted the blanket slightly.
Careful not to disturb his arm.
Her movements quiet.
Precise.
"…You need to actually rest," she said.
"I am resting."
"You're sitting up."
"I prefer it."
"…You don't get to prefer anything right now."
A faint pause.
"…That sounds strict."
"It is."
Her eyes met his again.
"…You're not getting up. You're not working. And you're not pretending this didn't happen."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
"…Understood."
She watched him for a second.
"…You're agreeing too easily."
"I'm choosing my battles."
That made her exhale softly.
Almost a laugh.
"…Good choice."
A knock sounded at the door.
Then it opened.
Dante stepped in.
Hands in his pockets.
His gaze moved straight to Izana.
"…You look terrible."
Leah didn't even look at him.
"…And you still came in here."
Dante smirked faintly.
"…Had to make sure he didn't disappear again."
Izana exhaled quietly.
"…Report."
The shift was immediate.
Dante straightened slightly.
His tone dropping.
"…The two men from the hallway."
A pause.
"…They were at the meeting."
Izana's gaze sharpened.
"…Confirmed?"
"Yeah."
Leah stayed quiet.
Listening.
Taking everything in.
Dante continued.
"…They weren't acting alone."
Silence settled.
Heavier now.
"…Someone gave them the information," he added.
Leah's fingers tightened slightly against the chair.
"…From inside," she said quietly.
Dante nodded once.
"…Exactly."
Izana's eyes shifted toward her.
A silent check.
She met it calmly.
No hesitation.
"…I'm not leaving," she said.
A pause.
"…You don't have to keep things from me."
Another pause.
Then—
"I'm not."
Simple.
Direct.
She nodded slightly.
That was enough.
Dante leaned lightly against the wall.
"…We'll start narrowing it down."
"Do it."
"Already started."
A pause.
"…I'll update you when we have something solid."
Izana gave a slight nod.
"…Good."
Dante glanced at Leah.
"…Try to keep him in bed."
Leah didn't even blink.
"I will."
Dante smirked.
"…That sounded like a threat."
"…It is," she replied calmly.
That made him huff quietly.
"…Alright. I'm leaving before I get involved."
Izana didn't look at him.
"…Leave."
Dante raised a hand slightly in mock surrender.
"…Rest, boss."
Then he stepped out.
The door closing behind him.
The room settled again.
Quiet.
Soft.
Leah shifted closer.
Her hand reaching for his.
The one not in the cast.
Her fingers wrapped around it.
Warm.
Steady.
"…You don't have to carry everything alone," she said quietly.
Izana looked at her.
"…I know."
"…Do you?"
A pause.
"…I do."
She studied his face for a moment.
Then nodded slightly.
"…Good."
Her thumb brushed lightly over his hand.
A small, absent movement.
Comforting.
Grounding.
Leah leaned slightly closer.
Careful of his arm.
Her voice softer now.
"…You really worried me."
He didn't answer immediately.
Just watched her.
Then—
"…I could tell."
She exhaled slowly.
"…I don't like seeing you like that."
"…Like what?"
"…Not in control."
A faint pause.
Then—
"…Neither do I."
That answer stayed between them.
Honest.
Unfiltered.
She adjusted the edge of the blanket again.
Small movement.
Then looked back at him.
"…You need to recover properly."
"I will."
"…No shortcuts."
"No shortcuts."
"…And no disappearing again."
A faint pause.
Then—
"I'll try to avoid explosions."
That caught her off guard.
Her lips curved slightly.
"…You should."
Leah's hand tightened gently around his.
Not out of fear this time.
Just closeness.
"…You came back," she said softly.
Izana looked at her.
"…I always do."
She held his gaze.
Longer this time.
"…And I'll be here," she added.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
A quiet pause followed.
Then—
"…I know," he said.
But softer now.
Warmer.
Leah leaned back slightly in her chair.
Still holding his hand.
Still close.
Her posture relaxed just a little.
The tension easing.
Slowly.
"…Get some rest," she murmured.
"…Stay?"
The word was quiet.
But clear.
Her expression softened immediately.
"…I'm not going anywhere."
That was enough.
Izana's eyes closed slowly.
Not fully asleep yet.
But resting.
Finally.
Leah stayed exactly where she was.
Her hand still in his.
Her presence steady.
Unmoving.
Because she meant it.
She wasn't going anywhere.