The rest of the day passed quietly.
Not in the heavy, watchful way it used to.
Not with tension lingering in every corner.
Just… calm.
Natural.
Leah and Izana stayed in the garden longer than they planned.
Talking.
Or sometimes not talking at all.
Just sitting there, letting the silence exist without needing to fill it.
Leah remained settled between his legs, her back resting comfortably against his chest while his arms stayed loosely wrapped around her.
Neither of them rushed to move.
There was no reason to.
For once—
Nothing was waiting.
Eventually, Leah shifted slightly, stretching her legs out in front of her.
"…Okay, if we stay here any longer, I might actually fall asleep again," she murmured.
Izana's arms tightened just a fraction.
"Then sleep."
Leah huffed softly.
"On the grass?"
"It's comfortable."
She tilted her head, glancing back at him.
"You're biased. You're not the one lying on it."
A brief pause.
Then his arms slipped from around her as he stood.
Leah blinked.
"…Where are you going?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he walked toward the edge of the garden, where a few folded blankets rested neatly on a nearby bench.
Leah watched him, a small smile already forming.
"…Oh."
A moment later, he returned, unfolding one of the blankets and laying it carefully over the grass beside her.
Then he looked at her.
"Better."
Leah smiled properly this time.
"…Thank you."
She shifted onto the blanket, settling comfortably before glancing up at him again.
"You could've just said that."
"I prefer showing it."
Her expression softened slightly.
"…I noticed."
Izana sat down behind her again, just as naturally as before.
Without thinking, Leah leaned back into him, her body fitting against his with ease.
Like it had already become familiar.
Like it belonged there.
The quiet returned.
But this time—
It felt lighter.
Easier.
Leah tilted her head slightly.
"…Iz?"
His response was immediate.
"Yes."
She smiled to herself.
"You answered that quickly."
"I like it."
Leah turned her head slightly, curiosity flickering across her face.
"The nickname?"
"Yes."
Simple.
Direct.
Leah's smile widened.
"…Good."
She shifted slightly, relaxing more fully against him.
"Then I guess I'll keep using it."
"Do that."
Leah laughed softly.
"You don't even try to hide it, do you?"
"No."
She shook her head, amused.
"…You're so unfair."
Izana didn't respond, but the subtle shift of his arms around her said enough.
—
A moment passed.
Then—
"…Do you have any?" Izana asked.
Leah blinked.
"Any what?"
"Nicknames."
She tilted her head.
"Like the ones I give you?"
"No."
A small pause.
"Ones you were given."
Leah stilled slightly.
Her fingers, which had been resting lightly over his arm, curled just a little.
"…You mean from when I was younger?"
"Yes."
There was no pressure in his voice.
Just quiet curiosity.
Leah hesitated for a moment.
Then—
"…My mom used to call me 'Li,'" she said softly.
Izana's arms shifted slightly around her.
"…Li," he repeated.
Leah smiled faintly.
"Yeah."
Her gaze dropped slightly, thoughtful.
"She only used it when it was just us."
A small pause settled between them.
Then—
"…Li."
This time, he said it more naturally.
Leah blinked, her cheeks warming slightly.
"…You're really going to use it, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Leah let out a quiet laugh.
"You're not even asking."
"I don't need to."
She shook her head, smiling despite herself.
"…You're impossible."
"And yet."
Leah leaned back into him again, resting more fully against his chest.
"…You can use it," she murmured.
A small pause.
"…Only you, though."
"Of course."
His answer came without hesitation.
—
A few moments passed in comfortable silence.
Then Leah's expression shifted slightly.
More thoughtful.
More playful.
"…You know," she said slowly, "if I'm giving you one nickname… I can give you more."
Izana's arms tightened just slightly.
"You can."
Leah smiled.
"…Oh, I like the confidence."
"I trust your judgment."
Leah let out a soft laugh.
"That might be dangerous."
"I'm aware."
She hummed thoughtfully, tapping her finger lightly against his arm as she thought.
"…Hmm."
A pause.
Then—
"What about… 'Zan'?"
Izana didn't respond immediately.
"…No."
Leah blinked.
"…No?"
"No."
Flat.
Certain.
Leah laughed softly.
"Okay, that was quick."
"It doesn't suit me."
She shook her head, still smiling.
"Alright, fair."
She thought again, tilting her head slightly.
"…What about 'Zana'?"
A brief pause.
Izana's grip around her shifted slightly.
Not rejection.
Not quite acceptance.
"…No."
But this time—
It wasn't as immediate.
Leah noticed.
Her smile grew a little.
"That took longer."
"It's still no."
Leah laughed quietly.
"Okay, okay."
She tapped her finger lightly again, clearly enjoying this.
"…Hmm…"
Then—
"What about… 'Zane?"
Silence.
Izana didn't answer right away.
Leah turned her head slightly, watching him.
"…You're thinking about it."
"I'm deciding."
Leah grinned.
"That's a good sign."
Another pause.
Then—
"…You can use that."
Leah blinked, surprised.
"…Really?"
"Yes."
Simple.
But certain.
Her smile softened instantly.
"…Okay. I like that one."
Izana didn't respond.
But his arms around her tightened just slightly.
Leah leaned back into him more comfortably, clearly pleased with herself.
"…So I've got 'Iz' and 'Zane' now."
"Yes."
She let out a small, satisfied hum.
"…I might still come up with more."
"You can try."
Leah laughed softly.
"That sounds like a challenge."
"It is."
She smiled, resting her head more fully against his shoulder.
"…Alright, Iz."
A small pause.
Then, softer—
"…Zane."
This time, Izana didn't correct her.
Didn't comment.
He just held her a little closer.
And that—
Was answer enough.
Leah was quiet for a moment after that, her fingers idly tracing against his hand.
Then she tilted her head slightly.
"…What about you?"
Izana's gaze shifted down to her.
"What about me?"
"Do I get a nickname?" she asked, a small smile in her voice.
A pause.
Izana didn't answer immediately.
Leah waited.
Curious.
Then—
His hand shifted, gently turning hers in his.
His thumb brushed lightly over her fingers.
And when he spoke—
His voice was quieter.
Softer.
"…My love."
Leah stilled.
Her breath catching just slightly.
She turned her head, looking up at him.
"…That's it?"
"Yes."
Simple.
Certain.
Leah's expression softened completely.
"…You're not even going to pretend to think about it?"
"I already did."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…And that's what you chose?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
None at all.
Her fingers curled slightly around his hand.
"…I like it."
Izana's gaze didn't leave her.
"Good."
Leah let out a small breath, leaning back into him again.
"…My love," she repeated quietly, testing it.
Something about it felt—
Different.
Warmer.
Deeper.
Not playful like hers.
Not teasing.
Just…
Real.
Izana's arms tightened slightly around her.
A silent response.
A quiet confirmation.
And as they sat there, wrapped in soft sunlight and even softer words—
The nicknames settled between them.
Not as something small.
But as something theirs.
Something personal.
Something that would stay.