He looked down at her.
Aurora continued staring at the stars.
Neither said anything.
For once, Corvin didn't have a clever remark.
He simply remained there.
His shoulder was sore.
His back ached.
And he was fairly certain he'd regret sitting outside for this long.
But he didn't move.
After a while, his hand shifted across the blanket.
Slowly.
Until his fingers touched hers.
Aurora looked down.
Then towards him.
Corvin stared straight ahead.
Trying very hard to look as though nothing unusual had happened.
Aurora smiled.
And gently took his hand.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Then Corvin cleared his throat.
"...Hey."
Aurora looked up.
"Hm?"
"About today..."
She tilted her head.
"What about it?"
He scratched his cheek with his free hand.
"...The tree."
Aurora blinked.
"The tree?"
"Near Barkley's."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh."
Corvin looked towards the stars.
"We were supposed to meet there, weren't we?"
Aurora nodded.
"...Yes."
He sighed.
"Sorry about that."
She watched him.
Corvin offered a sheepish grin.
"I was kinda busy."
Aurora stared.
Then laughed.
"Busy?"
"Very busy."
"Corvin, you were unconscious!"
"Exactly!"
He nodded solemnly.
"Extremely demanding schedule."
Aurora laughed harder.
"You're unbelievable."
"Had a meeting with a legendary hero, nearly got killed, fell off a wall, and spent half the day sleeping."
He shook his head.
"Honestly, I barely had time for anything."
Aurora continued laughing.
Then her expression softened.
"...You remembered."
Corvin looked at her.
"Hm?"
"Our meeting."
He blinked.
"...Of course I remembered."
Aurora lowered her gaze.
"...Oh."
Corvin frowned.
"What?"
"Nothing."
She smiled.
"I'm just glad."
He looked at her for a moment.
Then smiled back.
"...Yeah."
The night grew quieter.
The distant sounds of the city had almost completely disappeared.
Aurora remained resting against his shoulder.
Their hands stayed together.
For once, Corvin wasn't thinking about money.
Or Jorken.
Or the stolen safe.
Or the strange Crest now embedded in his back.
He was simply sitting beneath the stars with someone he'd known for years.
And somehow, that felt like enough.
Aurora slowly lifted her head.
Corvin turned towards her.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Aurora's cheeks were faintly pink.
Corvin looked unusually uncertain.
"...Aurora?"
"Hm?"
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
She smiled.
"What?"
"...Nothing."
"Corvin."
He laughed quietly.
"Sorry."
Aurora shook her head.
"Idiot."
But she didn't look away.
The distance between them slowly narrowed.
Corvin leaned forward.
Aurora did the same.
Their foreheads touched gently.
Both paused.
For once, there were no jokes.
No teasing.
No ridiculous arguments.
Only the quiet night around them.
Aurora closed her eyes.
Corvin leaned a little closer.
And just as their lips were about to meet...
THUD!
Both froze.
A heavy impact echoed from inside the house.
Corvin's eyes flew open.
"...What the hell?"
Aurora immediately turned towards the building.
"...Father?"
For a moment, silence followed.
Then...
"AAAAAH!"
A scream.
From inside.
Aurora's face went pale.
"...FATHER?!"
She scrambled to her feet.
Corvin immediately tried following.
"OW!"
His ribs protested.
But he forced himself upright.
Aurora was already running towards the back door.
"FATHER!"
Corvin hurried after her.
The two rushed into the house.
Through the hallway.
Towards the staircase.
Then...
Another crash.
Something heavy struck the floor downstairs.
Aurora stopped.
Corvin nearly collided with her.
They looked towards the source of the noise.
The house that had been so peaceful only moments earlier was no longer quiet.
Something was terribly wrong.
Aurora swallowed.
"...Dad?"
No answer.
Corvin's expression changed.
The familiar grin disappeared.
He moved beside her.
And together, they hurried.
---
Fin