Chapter 13: Glint

The small bathroom was dimly lit, the soft glow of the overhead fixture casting warm shadows on the tiled walls. The sound of water sloshing softly filled the space as Crystal sank deeper into the tub. Steam curled lazily into the air, clinging to the mirror and the edges of the room. Her muscles, still sore from the week's turmoil, slowly unwound under the comforting heat.

Crystal tilted her head back against the edge of the tub, her eyes half-closed. The events of the day replayed in her mind—the crisp air, the sparkling river, the quiet moments with Asus on the bench. A faint smile tugged at her lips, but it quickly faded as a tightness crept into her chest. She let out a soft, unsteady breath, her brow furrowing.

Why does this keep happening around him?

She closed her eyes, trying to sort through the knot of feelings that had been building over the past week. At first, she thought it was just the stress—surviving the crash, pushing herself through roles she wasn't trained for, and constantly being reminded of how much she didn't know. Asus had been her anchor through all of it, his calm determination keeping her steady when everything else felt like it was falling apart.

But today had been different. It wasn't the battlefield or the chaos of survival. It was peaceful. Quiet. And yet, being around him had made her chest feel tight, her heart thudding faster than it should.

Crystal brought a hand to her chest, her fingers pressing lightly against her sternum as if she could physically unravel the tension there. "What is wrong with me?" she murmured to herself, the words barely audible over the soft ripples of water.

Her mind drifted back to the way he had looked at her earlier—calm, steady, his dark eyes warm despite his usual stoic demeanor. The way he'd noticed she needed a break before she even realized it herself. The way he'd stood silently beside her at the river, not saying much but somehow making her feel understood.

Her face warmed, though she wasn't sure if it was from the heat of the bath or something else entirely. She bit her lip, frustrated with the way her thoughts seemed to spiral when it came to him. He was her superior, her team lead—someone who was practically bred for war, for leadership. He was strong, composed, untouchable in a way she felt she could never be.

And yet...

Crystal let out a soft groan, sinking deeper into the water until it lapped at her chin. Her chest tightened again, a pang of something unnameable squeezing at her ribs. She didn't want to acknowledge it, didn't want to face the truth that was slowly forming in the back of her mind.

But it was there, no matter how much she tried to push it away.

You feel safe with him.

The thought was both comforting and terrifying. Safe. That wasn't a word she associated with this life. With war. But somehow, when she was around Asus, the weight of it all felt just a little lighter. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit.

Crystal opened her eyes, staring at the rippling surface of the water. "Get it together," she whispered, her voice firm but unconvincing. She ran a hand through her damp hair, the strands sticking to her fingers. "It's just... gratitude. Respect. That's all this is."

But deep down, she knew she was lying to herself.

The water had started to cool, but she didn't move. She stayed in the tub a little longer, letting the quiet soak into her as she tried—and failed—to untangle the complicated feelings that had taken root in her chest.

Crystal stepped out of the tub, water dripping down her skin as she grabbed a towel from the nearby rack. She patted herself dry, her movements slow and deliberate as her mind continued to churn. The steam-laden air clung to her like the thoughts she couldn't shake. Wrapping herself in a soft robe, she cinched it at her waist and let her damp hair fall loosely over her shoulders.

The cold tile of the bathroom floor sent a small shiver up her spine as she padded out into the dimly lit hall leading to the living quarters. She hadn't planned on leaving the bathroom just yet, but the stillness of the space made her restless. Maybe a glass of water or something to eat would help distract her from the tangled mess in her chest.

As she stepped into the living quarters, the faint clinking of utensils and the soft hum of the ventilation fan caught her attention. Her gaze shifted to the small kitchen area—and there he was.

Asus stood by the counter, his back partially to her as he sliced something on a small cutting board. The low light of the room highlighted the sharp lines of his jaw and the relaxed set of his shoulders. His dark hair was slightly tousled, as if he'd run a hand through it one too many times. The simple, fitted shirt he wore rolled up at the sleeves, revealing the lean metallic muscle of his forearms.

Crystal froze in the doorway, her breath hitching as that all-too-familiar pang shot through her chest. Her fingers tightened instinctively around the edges of her robe. Why does this keep happening? she thought, frustration and confusion mingling as her pulse quickened.

As if sensing her presence, Asus glanced over his shoulder. His eyes met hers, warm and steady, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. "Hey," he greeted casually. "Didn't think you'd be out of the tub this soon."

Crystal swallowed, willing her voice to stay steady. "Yeah, I, uh... felt like getting some air." She stepped further into the room, her bare feet silent against the floor.

He set the knife down and leaned slightly against the counter, crossing his arms loosely as he studied her. "I was just making something to eat. You hungry?"

Crystal hesitated, her heart still hammering in her chest. The way he looked at her—calm, attentive, with that faint trace of a smile—it made the tightness in her chest worse. "I... sure, I could eat," she said finally, stepping closer to the small table in the center of the room.

Asus nodded, turning back to the cutting board. "Nothing fancy. Just some rations and whatever I could throw together. The mess hall is open, but I figured you wouldn't want to deal with all the noise."

Crystal sat down, pulling her robe tighter around herself as she watched him work. "You figured right," she said softly. "It's been nice having some quiet for a change."

He glanced at her again, his expression softening. "You've had a rough week. You're holding up better than most would in your position."

Her cheeks warmed, and she quickly looked down, her fingers fiddling with the edge of the table. "I'm just... trying to get through it. Like everyone else."

Asus set a plate down in front of her, sitting across from her with his own. "You're doing more than just 'getting through it,' Crystal. You've been thrown into situations you weren't trained for, and you've handled them. Not perfectly, sure, but no one does."

Crystal looked up at him, her chest tightening again at the sincerity in his voice. She wanted to say something, to brush it off with a joke or downplay her efforts, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she just nodded, her fingers curling around the edge of the plate.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, the quiet punctuated by the faint clink of forks against the plates. Crystal stole a glance at him, watching the way he leaned back slightly in his chair, completely at ease despite everything they'd been through. Her mind raced, the tightness in her chest refusing to relent.

Finally, Asus broke the silence. "If there's something on your mind, you can say it," he said, his tone casual but curious. "You've been... quieter than usual tonight."

Crystal blinked, caught off guard by his perceptiveness. "I'm just tired," she said quickly, though the words felt hollow even as she spoke them.

Asus studied her for a moment, his gaze searching but not pressing. Then he gave a small nod, leaning forward slightly. "Fair enough. But if you ever need to talk... you know where to find me."

The tightness in her chest flared again, and she managed a small smile, though her heart felt like it was about to beat out of her ribcage. "Thanks, Asus. I'll keep that in mind."

He returned her smile, a faint glimmer of warmth in his eyes that made her breath catch. For a moment, the chaos of the world outside their little quarters seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them in the quiet. Crystal wasn't sure what to make of the feelings swirling inside her, but for now, she let herself enjoy the moment, even if it left her chest feeling tighter than ever.