The afternoon light had shifted by the time Izana moved.
It wasn't bright anymore.
Just warm.
Settled through the curtains in soft gold lines across the room.
Zarek was asleep.
Curled against Leah's chest.
Small.
Quiet.
Safe.
Leah leaned back against the pillows carefully, one arm supporting him while the other rested lightly over the blanket.
Izana stood at the edge of the bed for a moment longer than usual.
Watching.
Not speaking.
Just checking.
Leah noticed immediately.
"…You're thinking too much again."
Izana didn't respond right away.
Then—
"…No."
Leah gave him a look.
"…That was definitely a lie."
A pause.
Then Izana moved.
Not away.
Just toward her.
"…You haven't eaten."
Leah blinked.
"…Is that what this is about?"
"…Yes."
She exhaled softly.
"…I'm fine."
Izana didn't argue.
He rarely did when it came to food.
He simply turned toward the door.
"…I'll bring something."
Leah shifted slightly, careful not to wake Zarek.
"…Don't make it complicated."
"…It won't be."
"…That sounds suspicious."
Izana paused at the door.
"…I heard that."
Leah smiled faintly.
"…Good."
Then he left.
The room settled again instantly.
Zarek's small breaths filled the space instead of conversation.
Leah watched him for a moment.
Then leaned her head back slightly.
"…You've been sleeping a lot today."
A faint movement against her chest.
Not waking.
Just responding.
Leah's hand moved slowly over his back.
"…That's good."
Outside the room, Izana's footsteps were steady.
Down the stairs.
Through the hallway.
Past staff who straightened instinctively but didn't speak.
He didn't acknowledge them.
His focus was simple.
Kitchen.
Food.
Back upstairs.
That was the rhythm now.
Or it had been.
Until—
"…Izana."
Izana stopped.
Not immediately turning.
Just pausing.
Then looked.
Dante stood a few steps away.
Straight posture.
Controlled expression.
But something in his eyes said this wasn't casual.
"…What."
Dante stepped closer.
"…Do you have a moment."
Izana didn't answer immediately.
Just studied him.
Then—
"…Speak."
Dante exhaled slightly.
"…There's a problem."
Izana's expression didn't change.
But the air around him did.
"…What kind."
Dante didn't sugarcoat it.
"…Everything you've postponed this month has piled up."
A pause.
"…It's not just paperwork anymore."
Izana stayed silent.
Dante continued.
"…People are waiting on decisions you haven't made."
"…And?"
"…And they're starting to notice you've gone quiet."
That landed differently.
Not anger.
Not surprise.
Just weight.
Izana's gaze didn't move.
Dante added carefully—
"…They still follow you. But they're asking questions now."
A pause.
Then—
"…There's a weapons deal tomorrow."
Izana's eyes sharpened slightly.
Dante continued.
"…High ranking. Sensitive supply chain. If you're not there, it will be interpreted badly."
Izana finally spoke.
"…Interpreted how."
"…As absence of control."
Silence.
Dante didn't rush him.
He knew better.
Izana exhaled slowly.
A controlled breath.
Then—
"…Tomorrow."
Dante nodded once.
"…You'll attend?"
Another pause.
Izana's gaze shifted briefly upward.
Not toward Dante.
Toward the stairs.
"…Yes."
A single word.
Final.
Dante didn't smile.
But the tension eased slightly.
"…Understood."
Izana turned away again.
This time, Dante didn't stop him.
The kitchen was quiet.
Izana didn't ask anyone for food.
He made it himself.
Simple.
Efficient.
No wasted movement.
But slower than before.
Not rushed.
Measured.
Like he was thinking about something else entirely while his hands worked.
Upstairs still existed in his mind.
He placed the plate down carefully.
Then turned.
Left.
When he returned upstairs, the room was exactly as he left it.
Leah looked up immediately.
Not startled.
Just aware.
"…Something happened."
Not a question.
Izana closed the door behind him.
"…Yes."
He walked to the bed.
Set the plate down on the bedside table.
Then sat at the edge of the bed.
Leah shifted slightly, adjusting Zarek without waking him.
"…You have to go somewhere?"
Izana looked at her.
A pause.
Then—
"…Yes."
Leah nodded slowly.
No panic.
No resistance.
Just understanding.
"…For a deal?"
"…Yes."
Silence settled for a moment.
Then Leah spoke softly—
"…You've been avoiding that world for a while."
Izana didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
She studied him carefully.
"…And now you can't anymore."
Another pause.
"…Yes."
Leah exhaled.
Not frustrated.
Just accepting.
"…Okay."
That was all she said at first.
Then she shifted Zarek slightly into one arm.
And reached up with her free hand.
Cupped Izana's face gently.
Her thumb brushing his cheek slowly.
Izana didn't move away.
Didn't stiffen.
Just leaned into it slightly without thinking.
Leah noticed.
Her voice softened.
"…It's okay."
Izana's gaze lowered slightly.
"…It changes things."
"…It doesn't change us."
A pause.
Leah continued quietly—
"…You're still here now."
Her thumb moved again against his cheek.
Slow.
Grounding.
Izana exhaled lightly.
"…You're alone tomorrow."
Leah shook her head slightly.
"…No."
"…With him."
She glanced down at Zarek.
Then back at Izana.
"…We're not alone."
That made something in him settle slightly.
But not fully.
Izana's eyes shifted to Zarek.
Then back to her.
"…You'll be alright."
It wasn't a question.
Leah smiled faintly.
"…I will."
A pause.
Then softer—
"…You're not leaving me in a battlefield."
Izana's gaze held hers.
"…It is a battlefield."
Leah huffed quietly.
"…Not this one."
A faint silence.
Then Izana spoke lower.
"…If anything happens—."
Leah cut him off gently.
"…Nothing is going to happen."
She didn't say it like comfort.
She said it like fact.
That stopped him.
Leah adjusted Zarek slightly again.
Then leaned her head back against the pillows.
"…I can handle one day."
Izana didn't respond immediately.
Then—
"…You shouldn't have to."
Leah smiled softly.
"…But I can."
A pause.
Then she added—
"…And I want to."
That lingered.
Izana looked at her for a long moment.
Then finally—
he leaned forward.
Pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Slow.
Warm.
Then another.
To Zarek's head.
Even softer.
Zarek didn't wake.
Just shifted slightly.
Leah watched him.
Then looked back at Izana.
"…You're overthinking."
Izana didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
That earned a faint smile from her.
"…Good."
A quiet moment passed.
Leah's hand still resting on his cheek.
Izana didn't move away.
Then she spoke again softly—
"…Come back early."
Izana's gaze stayed on hers.
"…I will."
Leah nodded once.
Satisfied with that answer.
Zarek let out a small sound in his sleep.
Izana's hand instinctively moved closer.
Leah noticed immediately.
Her smile softened slightly.
"…He already misses you."
Izana didn't answer.
But his hand stayed where it was.
Long after he should've moved away.
And for the first time that day—
he didn't look at the door waiting for tomorrow.
He stayed exactly where he was.