Night hadn't fully settled.
It lingered.
Soft.
Wrapped around the villa like a quiet secret.
Inside—
The bathroom was dimly lit, warm light reflecting off the surface of the water. Steam curled gently in the air, blurring the edges of everything, turning the world into something slower.
Quieter.
Leah sat in the bath.
Resting back against Izana.
Her body sank into the warmth, her shoulders just above the water, her head tilted slightly as she exhaled a soft breath.
"…This is nice," she murmured.
Behind her—
Izana didn't respond immediately.
His arms rested loosely around her, one draped across her waist beneath the water, the other along the edge of the tub.
Holding her.
Not tightly.
Just… there.
"I agree," he said after a moment.
Leah smiled faintly.
"You sound surprised."
"I'm not."
"You are."
A pause.
Then—
"I didn't expect this to be preferable to the ocean."
Leah let out a quiet laugh.
"Well, the ocean doesn't have me in it."
"That's why this is preferable."
She tilted her head slightly at that.
"…You're getting better at this."
"At what?"
"Talking like that."
A small pause.
Then—
"I'm learning."
Leah's expression softened.
She leaned back a little more into him.
Relaxing.
Completely.
Her fingers drifted through the water lazily, tracing small, absent patterns.
For a while—
Neither of them spoke.
They didn't need to.
The water shifted gently around them, the sound soft and steady. Izana's breathing was slow behind her, even, grounding.
Leah closed her eyes for a moment.
Letting it all settle.
The night.
The quiet.
Him.
Then—
She felt it.
His hand moved.
Slow.
Careful.
Fingers brushing lightly along her arm beneath the water.
Not wandering.
Not searching.
Just… checking.
Leah opened her eyes slightly.
"You're being careful again," she said softly.
A pause behind her.
"Yes."
She turned her head just enough to glance back at him.
"You don't have to be."
"I do."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…You always say that."
"And I'm always right."
She huffed a quiet laugh.
"Of course you are."
His hand stilled for a moment.
Then resumed its slow movement, brushing gently along her arm, up toward her shoulder.
His touch was lighter now.
More aware.
More deliberate.
And then—
His voice came again.
Lower this time.
Quieter.
"…Does it hurt?"
Leah blinked.
The question settled between them.
Not rushed.
Not forced.
Just… there.
She didn't answer right away.
Instead, she let her fingers drift through the water again, thoughtful.
Then she shook her head slightly.
"No."
A small pause.
"…Not like before."
Izana went still behind her.
Completely.
Leah felt it.
The shift.
Subtle.
But real.
She turned her head a little more this time, enough to see part of his expression.
"It's okay," she added softly.
"I'm okay."
His gaze met hers.
Careful.
Searching.
As if confirming every word she said.
"…Are you sure?"
Leah smiled gently.
"I promise."
A longer pause.
Then she added, a little lighter—
"You're worrying again."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm being precise."
Leah laughed quietly.
"That's what I said."
Izana didn't argue.
But his arm around her shifted.
Tightened just slightly.
Pulling her a fraction closer.
"…Tell me if it does," he said.
Leah's expression softened.
"I will."
Silence returned again.
But it felt different now.
Warmer.
Closer.
Leah leaned back fully against him this time, resting her head lightly against his shoulder.
Her hand found his beneath the water.
Their fingers intertwined slowly.
Naturally.
She traced her thumb along his knuckles.
"You're still thinking about earlier," she murmured.
A pause.
"…Yes."
Leah didn't look back this time.
Just stayed where she was.
Comfortable.
"He didn't matter," she said.
"I know."
"You believed me, right?"
A slight shift.
Then—
"Yes."
Leah smiled.
"Good."
Another quiet moment passed.
Then she tilted her head slightly, glancing at him again.
"…You're still a little jealous though."
Izana didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
Leah's lips curved.
"You're honest tonight."
"I'm always honest."
"No, you're usually quiet."
A pause.
"…You talk more."
He didn't respond to that.
But his hand moved again.
This time higher—
Brushing gently against her shoulder.
Then her collarbone.
Leah's breath softened slightly.
"You're still being careful," she said again.
"Yes."
"You don't have to treat me like I'll break."
"I don't."
"You kind of do."
A small pause.
Then—
"You're important."
Leah's chest tightened.
Just a little.
She turned more this time, shifting carefully in the water until she could face him properly.
Close.
Their knees brushing beneath the surface.
The water rippling softly around them.
"Izana…"
Her hand lifted.
Resting against his cheek.
Her thumb brushing lightly over his skin.
"…You don't have to worry so much."
His gaze didn't leave hers.
"I do."
Leah smiled faintly.
"You're impossible."
"Yes."
She laughed softly.
Then leaned forward—
Pressing a small, gentle kiss to his lips.
It wasn't rushed.
Wasn't deep.
Just soft.
Warm.
When she pulled back, her forehead rested lightly against his.
"I'm here," she whispered.
Izana's hand moved to her waist.
Resting there.
Steady.
Grounding.
"I know."
A pause.
Then—
"I will keep you that way."
Leah's lips curved slightly.
"…You don't have to."
"I want to."
Silence settled again.
But it wasn't empty.
It was full.
Leah shifted slightly, turning back around, settling once more against his chest.
This time closer.
Her back fully against him.
Her head resting beneath his chin.
His arms wrapped around her again.
More secure now.
But still gentle.
Her fingers traced small patterns along his arm beneath the water.
Absent.
Comfortable.
Then—
She spoke again.
"…You know I shaved your stubble for a reason."
A pause.
"I'm aware."
"It was a weapon."
"It was effective."
Leah laughed quietly.
"I knew it."
"I will grow it back."
She tilted her head slightly.
"…You wouldn't."
"I would."
Leah smiled.
"Then I'll shave it again."
A small pause.
Then—
"We will see."
Leah laughed again.
Soft.
Easy.
The tension from earlier—
Gone.
Completely.
Replaced with something quieter.
Something steadier.
Time passed without them noticing.
The water cooled slightly.
The steam began to thin.
But neither of them moved.
Not yet.
Because for once—
There was nothing waiting for them.
No interruptions.
No expectations.
Just this moment.
Just each other.
Leah's eyes drifted closed again.
Her body relaxing further into him.
Her breathing slowing.
Izana felt it.
The shift.
The quiet.
His chin rested lightly against the top of her head.
His arms holding her just a little closer.
Not tight.
Just… certain.
Leah's voice came one last time.
Soft.
Sleepy.
"…Don't go anywhere."
A pause.
Then—
"I won't."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just truth.
Leah smiled faintly against him.
And let herself drift.
The water moved gently around them.
The night stayed quiet.
And for once—
There was nothing else in the world that mattered.
Only this.
Only them.
Exactly where they were meant to be.