Julian woke slowly, but this time he did not keep his eyes closed and pretend he was still asleep.
He opened them and found Lucian exactly where memory said he would be.
Still there.
Still awake.
For a moment Julian just looked at him, not speaking, not moving yet, letting the quiet settle around what had already happened. Nothing in Lucian's expression gave much away, but the fact that he had stayed was enough on its own.
Julian pushed himself up on one arm and glanced at him properly. "You're still here."
Lucian's voice was calm. "Yes."
Julian let out a quiet breath and sat up fully, the sheet slipping lower as he moved. He caught it absently, pulling it back into place before looking at Lucian again.
"You don't usually stay," he said.
Lucian held his gaze. "No."
Julian nodded once, as if that alone confirmed the difference he had already noticed. He was quiet for a few seconds, then said, "So this is different."
