The ramen shop was small but lively.
Warm light spilled from the windows onto the sidewalk, and the smell of savory broth drifted out every time the door opened. Lucien pushed the door with his shoulder, a bell chiming overhead.
"Perfect timing," he said.
Nox followed him inside. The shop was busy enough that no one paid them much attention; a few office workers occupied the tables while two students sat at the counter, watching the cook prepare noodles. Lucien slid into two empty seats near the end without even glancing at the menu.
"Two spicy miso," he told the cook.
Nox looked up at the menu board anyway. "You decided my order."
"You look like someone who eats spicy miso ramen."
"That statement has no logical basis."
Lucien shrugged. "I've known you for most of my life."
"That still doesn't make it logical."
The cook set two glasses of water in front of them. Lucien leaned back slightly in his chair. "You know Mira is absolutely watching the street right now."
"That seems likely."
"She's probably narrating the situation."
Nox took a sip of water. "She does enjoy narrating."
Lucien sighed. "I'm never hearing the end of this."
"You invited me."
"You say that like it's suspicious."
"It clearly is."
Lucien pointed at him. "You're enjoying this."
Nox took another sip of water. "I'm observing."
The ramen arrived a minute later. Two bowls slid onto the counter, steam rising from the broth in thick, fragrant clouds. Lucien grabbed his chopsticks immediately. "Eat before Mira somehow senses it from two blocks away."
"That would not surprise me."
They began eating. Lucien relaxed almost instantly. "This place never disappoints."
"You come here often?"
"Sometimes after training."
Nox tasted the broth. The spice hit immediately. Lucien noticed the pause. "Too strong?"
"It's manageable."
"That means yes."
Nox ignored him and continued eating. Lucien rested his elbow on the counter. "You know something funny."
"What?"
"We've known each other almost our entire lives."
"That is not new information."
Lucien smiled slightly. "I know."
They ate quietly for a moment, the sound of the shop humming around them. Then Lucien spoke again. "You used to wait outside the gym."
Nox blinked once. "You noticed?"
Lucien laughed softly. "Of course I noticed."
__
Five Years Ago
The high school gym echoed with noise. Basketballs slammed against the hardwood floor while sneakers squeaked across the court. Lucien Ardent was sixteen and already taller than most of the team. He caught a pass and drove toward the basket; two defenders tried to stop him, but Lucien jumped, the dunk rattling the backboard.
Cheers echoed across the gym.
Practice ended a few minutes later. Lucien grabbed his gym bag and stepped outside into the afternoon sun, which hung low over the courtyard. Under the large oak tree near the walkway—Nox sat reading.
Same bench. Same quiet posture.
Lucien walked over and dropped his bag beside the bench. "You're going to ruin your eyesight."
Nox didn't look up. "That is not how eyesight works."
Lucien sat beside him. "You didn't watch the game."
"I could hear it."
"That's not the same."
Nox finally glanced up. "You won."
Lucien blinked. "...How do you know?"
"You sound smug."
Lucien laughed. "That's fair."
The breeze shifted through the courtyard. Lucien leaned back on the bench while Nox returned to reading. Lucien watched him for a moment. "...Hey."
Nox hummed quietly. "What?"
"You wait here every day."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Nox turned a page calmly. "You walk home this way."
Lucien stared at him. "That's the reason?"
"Yes."
Lucien looked ahead again. "...You're weird."
Nox didn't argue. A minute passed. Lucien stood up. "You want food?"
Nox closed the book. "...You just finished practice."
"Yes."
"You always want food after practice."
"Yes."
"So you're asking if I want food?"
"Yes."
Nox stood. "Alright."
Lucien grabbed his bag. They walked toward the school gates together, Lucien glancing sideways at him. That strange, warm feeling in his chest had started around that time. He didn't understand it then; he just knew walking home felt different when Nox was there.
__
Present
Lucien exhaled softly. "You really waited every day."
Nox finished a bite of ramen. "You took a long time finishing practice."
"That's not the point."
"It was convenient."
Lucien laughed quietly. "You're unbelievable."
They finished eating a few minutes later. Lucien paid before Nox could reach for his wallet. "You can get it next time."
Nox raised an eyebrow. "Next time?"
Lucien stood. "Obviously."
They stepped outside. The evening air had cooled, and streetlights cast soft pools of light along the sidewalk. Lucien shoved his hands into his pockets as they started walking back toward headquarters. After a moment, he said casually, "You know... I always liked those walks home."
Nox glanced at him. "They were efficient."
Lucien stared at him, then laughed. "Yeah. Efficient."
They continued down the street together. Behind them, the ramen shop bell chimed again as another customer entered.
__
And somewhere several blocks away—Mira Solenne was absolutely still standing at the second-floor window of Aurora headquarters with a pair of borrowed binoculars. Seris pulled them out of her hands.
"Stop spying."
"I am invested."
Garrick sighed from the couch. Kaida didn't look up from her tablet. Kairos watched the street quietly. And down the block—Lucien and Nox walked through the city.