The room didn't stay quiet for long after Dante left.
The silence lingered—
but it wasn't the same.
Not soft.
Not steady.
It pressed in.
Waiting.
Leah didn't move at first.
Her hand still resting over Izana's.
Still keeping his hand against her stomach.
Like if she let go—
everything would shift again.
Then—
"…You're not leaving like this."
Her voice was quiet.
But firm.
Izana didn't respond.
Not immediately.
His gaze stayed forward.
Unmoved.
That silence told her everything.
Leah exhaled slowly.
"…Iz."
Nothing.
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…Don't ignore me."
His voice came calm.
Flat.
"…I'm not."
Leah pushed herself up slightly on the bed.
Careful not to put pressure on him.
Her eyes locked onto his.
"…Then answer me."
A pause.
"…You're not leaving like this."
Izana finally looked at her.
Steady.
Unshaken.
"…I am."
Leah's jaw tightened.
"…No."
That made him pause.
Just slightly.
Leah didn't look away.
Didn't soften it.
"…You're not."
Silence stretched between them.
Izana's expression didn't change.
But something in his gaze sharpened.
"…I don't have time to wait."
Leah shook her head immediately.
"…And I don't care."
A pause.
"…You can't even stand properly."
Izana's gaze flicked downward for a second.
Then back to her.
"…I can walk."
Leah let out a short breath.
Not amused.
"…No. You can't."
Silence.
Then—
Izana moved.
Slow.
Deliberate.
He shifted forward.
Ignoring the pull of pain in his body.
Leah saw it instantly.
"…Don't."
He didn't stop.
His feet touched the ground.
Carefully.
Slowly.
Then—
he pushed himself up.
For a moment—
he was standing.
Barely.
Unsteady.
But upright.
Leah moved immediately.
"…Iz."
Her hand reached him before he could steady himself.
He swayed—
just slightly.
But enough.
Her grip tightened on his arm.
"…You're not proving anything."
Izana's jaw tightened faintly.
"…I'm standing."
Leah didn't let go.
"…You're barely holding yourself up."
A pause.
Her voice dropped slightly.
"…And if you fall, you're going to make it worse."
Silence.
Izana didn't sit back down.
Didn't give in.
But he didn't move forward either.
That hesitation—
was enough.
The door opened.
A nurse stepped in, followed by a doctor.
They stopped immediately.
Taking in the scene.
"…You shouldn't be out of bed."
Izana didn't look at them.
"…Noted."
The doctor stepped forward slightly.
"…If you strain your injuries, you could reopen them."
Izana's voice didn't change.
"…Then don't let me."
Leah looked at him.
"…You're not serious right now."
He didn't answer.
The nurse stepped forward—
and brought something into view.
A wheelchair.
The room went still.
Izana's gaze shifted to it.
Then hardened.
"…No."
Flat.
Immediate.
Leah closed her eyes briefly.
Of course.
She stepped in front of him slightly.
Blocking his view.
"…Then don't go."
Silence.
Izana looked at her.
Really looked this time.
Leah didn't back down.
"…Because you're not walking out of here like that."
A pause.
Her voice softened—
but didn't lose its edge.
"…Not when you almost didn't come back to us."
That landed.
He didn't respond.
Didn't argue.
Leah's hand moved.
She took his hand—
and placed it against her stomach.
Carefully.
"…He needs you to come back."
A pause.
"…Not collapse halfway there."
Right on cue—
a small kick.
Light.
But there.
Izana's fingers twitched slightly.
His gaze dropped.
Then lifted again.
To Leah.
Silence stretched.
Longer this time.
Then—
"…Only until I recover."
Leah didn't hesitate.
"…I don't care why."
A pause.
"…Just sit."
Another moment of silence.
Then—
slowly—
Izana shifted his weight.
Leah guided him.
Careful.
Controlled.
He didn't fight her.
Didn't argue again.
That alone said enough.
The nurse moved the wheelchair closer.
Leah helped him lower himself into it.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Every movement measured.
When he finally sat—
his posture stayed straight.
Uncompromising.
Even now.
Leah exhaled quietly.
"…Don't move too fast."
Izana glanced at her.
"…I'm not fragile."
Leah gave him a look.
"…You got shot twice."
A pause.
Izana replied calmly.
"…I noticed."
The door opened again.
Dante stepped back in.
His gaze immediately landed on Izana.
In the wheelchair.
He stopped.
A pause.
Then—
"…This is new."
Izana's head turned slightly.
The glare was instant.
Sharp.
"…Say another word."
Dante raised his hands slightly.
Not backing down.
Just amused.
"…Noted."
Leah ignored them.
Her focus stayed on Izana.
She stepped closer.
Her hand moved again.
Guiding his hand back to her stomach.
Placing it there.
Holding it.
"…Say something to him."
Izana didn't hesitate this time.
His voice was quiet.
Low.
But steady.
"…Stay calm."
A pause.
His thumb moved slightly.
"…I'll be back."
Leah's fingers tightened over his.
Her voice dropped.
"…You better."
Izana didn't respond.
But his hand didn't move.
Didn't leave her.
Dante cleared his throat slightly.
"…We should move."
Izana's gaze lifted again.
Back to him.
The shift was immediate.
Softness gone.
Replaced.
By control.
"…Let's go."
Dante stepped behind the wheelchair.
His hands resting on it.
Ready.
Leah didn't move.
Didn't step back yet.
Her eyes stayed on Izana.
Searching.
Holding onto something unspoken.
"…Don't do something reckless."
Izana looked at her.
Calm.
Certain.
"…I won't."
A pause.
Then quieter—
"…Not anymore."
Those same words felt different this time.
More sincere.
Leah studied him for a moment longer.
Then slowly—
she stepped back.
Just enough.
Her hand lingering against his for a second longer before letting go.
Dante pushed the wheelchair forward.
Slow at first.
Then steady.
The door opened.
Guards were already waiting outside.
Prepared.
Silent.
Watching.
Izana didn't look back immediately.
Didn't hesitate.
But just before they crossed the doorway—
he stopped.
Just slightly.
His hand lifted.
Weak.
But deliberate.
Reaching back.
Leah stepped forward instantly.
Took it.
Without hesitation.
Held it.
Just for a second.
That was all.
Then he let go.
Dante pushed forward again.
The door closed behind them.
Leah stood there.
Still.
Her hand moved slowly back to her stomach.
Resting there.
Holding.
A small kick answered her.
Leah's breath caught slightly.
Then steadied.
Her voice barely a whisper.
"…Come back to us."
The room fell quiet again.
But now—
everything had already started moving.