SWEETHEART

Liora leaned against the railing, the cool metal grounding her as she stared out over the Outer Districts. The neon glow of distant signs flickered like stars, illuminating the broken cityscape below.

Even in the dead of night, the streets are alive with movement—figures slipping through alleys, the faint hum of engines echoing through the ruins.

"Not exactly the best view in the city, but it's got its charm."

Liora turned as Echo stepped up beside her, two metal cups in hand. He offered one with a lazy smirk. "Figured you could use something stronger than recycled air."

She took the cup cautiously, eyeing the liquid inside. "What is it?"

"Not poison, if that's what you're worried about." He leaned against the ledge, taking a slow sip of his own drink.

"It's a secret Clan mix. Strong enough to make you forget you live in a crumbling city for a few minutes."

Liora hesitated before taking a sip. A sharp burn spread across her tongue, but the warmth that followed was almost pleasant. She exhaled, letting herself ease into the moment.

Echo studied her for a moment before speaking again. "You always look like you're waiting for something bad to happen."

She frowned, almost murmuring, "That's because something bad usually does."

He chuckled. "Fair point. But you're here now. In one piece. That counts for something."

Liora traced the rim of the cup with her finger. "And what about you? What keeps you here?"

Echo tilted his head, considering the question. "Well, someone's gotta make sure Cipher doesn't forget to eat, and Blaze doesn't burn the place down." He shot her a grin.

"Besides, I like a good story, and you? You're shaping up to be an interesting one."

Liora huffed a quiet laugh. "Not sure if that's a compliment or a silly insult."

"Bit of both," he admitted. Then, as if sensing the moment was getting too serious, he knocked his cup against hers. "Drink up, Blue Rose. You're stuck with us now."

She rolled her eyes at the new nickname before her gaze drifted back to the view.

"By the way," Echo added casually, tilting his cup toward her. "That jacket? It's Flux's."

Before she could respond, he turned and strolled away, leaving her alone with that thought.

Liora blinked, glancing down at the worn leather wrapped around her shoulders. She scrunched her nose, already making a mental note to return it—preferably without making it a whole thing.

As the corridors of the Bastion quieted at this hour, the usual hum of activity faded into something softer. Making her way back inside, she caught sight of Flux in a dimly lit corner, hunched over a small workstation.

He didn't acknowledge her at first, his fingers working skillfully to adjust a worn-out device, the tip of his cigarette glowing faintly in the dark.

Liora sighed internally. He really needs to quit smoking.

"Couldn't sleep?"

Flux exhaled a thin stream of smoke before finally glancing at her. "Could say the same for you."

Liora stepped closer, eyeing the scattered tools and half-disassembled tech in front of him. "What are you working on?"

"Nothing important." He leaned back, stretching his arms. "Just keeping my hands busy."

She studied him for a moment, the quiet between them is not uncomfortable, but cozy. Flux never filled silences the way Echo did, never spoke just to hear his own voice.

"Ah—here, your jacket—"

"That thing with the drone earlier..."

Their words clashed, cutting each other off. Liora exhaled sharply, pressing her lips together, while Flux tilted his head slightly, his gaze flicking over her—finally noticing what she was still wearing.

His tongue darted out to wet his lips, a subtle motion. "I'm not cold," he murmured, low voice laced with muse.

Liora swallowed, fingers brushing the worn fabric before hesitating. Something about the way he was looking at her made her pulse quicken—steady, observant, as if waiting to see what she'd do next.

Instead of shrugging it off, she pulled the jacket back around her shoulders. Flux didn't say anything else, but the ghost of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

She wasn't sure why that made it harder to breathe.

A beat passed before Flux shifted, pulling a spare chair closer and nudging it with his foot. "Sit. If you're gonna pace all night, might as well do it here."

Liora hesitated. The weight of his gaze, the jacket still on her shoulders, the unspoken things suddenly lingering between them—it was a bit too much. She exhaled, forcing a small shake of her head.

"I'm...tired," she murmured instead. A small smile on her lips. "I'll go first."

Flux didn't press, only watching as she turned and left. But as she reached the doorway, he spoke—low, almost unreadable.

"You can keep it. The jacket."

She faltered for half a step before continuing down the hall.

When she reached her room, the door slid shut behind her with a quiet hiss. She let out a breath, pressing her back against the cold metal for a moment before shrugging off the jacket.

It smelled faintly of something undeniably his, and that made her chest tremble in a way she wasn't ready to name.

She dropped it onto the chair beside her mattress and lay down, staring at the ceiling. But even as exhaustion tugged at her limbs, sleep refused to come.

Her mind wouldn't stop turning—over the drone, over the weight of Flux's words, over the strange warmth that lingered on her skin.