Evening settled quietly.
The fight was over.
Artavius sat on the edge of the bed.
Blood at his lip. A cut near his eyebrow.
Untouched.
Valentine stood for a moment.
Watching him.
"…sit properly," she said.
"…I am sitting."
She walked closer anyway.
"Don't move."
"…why?"
No answer.
She reached up—paused—then gently wiped the blood from his lip.
He froze.
"…you're terrible at fighting four people at once."
"…I won."
"…barely."
She leaned in slightly, fingers brushing near his eyebrow as she cleaned the cut.
Careful.
Too careful.
"…does it hurt?"
"…no."
"Liar."
Silence.
He was looking at her now.
Not the room.
Not the door.
Her.
"…you shouldn't have come out."
"…you were losing."
"…I wasn't."
She gave him a look.
"…you were."
A faint shift in his expression.
Almost something softer.
Before either of them could say more—
A knock.
Not hesitant.
Controlled.
Artavius's expression hardened instantly.
"Stay here."
He stood and walked to the door.
Opened it slightly.
Two men stood outside.
Not the same as before.
Different.
Sharper.
One of them looked at him, then past him briefly.
"…good job, Artavius."
A pause.
"You handled four. You're growing, kid."
Artavius didn't respond.
The second man spoke, tone lower.
"Cassian will hear about this."
Silence.
"…we'll take care of the rest."
Artavius didn't respond.
One of the men glanced briefly at the bodies, then back at him.
"Others are on their way," he added.
A short pause.
"Clean-up."
The second man adjusted his sleeve, tone casual but precise.
"You shouldn't stay outside when they arrive."
A look passed between them—quick, unreadable.
They left.
The door closed.
Inside again.
Quiet.
Valentine was still there.
Watching him.
"…your people?" she asked.
"…no."
A pause.
"…I don't have people."
That answer stayed in the air.
She stepped closer again.
"…you said 'get away from her.'"
He looked at her.
"…I meant it."
Silence.
"…good."
A small pause.
"…don't lose next time."
"…stay inside next time."
"…no."
Their eyes held.
Closer than before.
Not strangers.
Not anything defined either.
She finally stepped back—
but not far.