As the movie began, Grace found her attention wandering away from the screen. She was unable to help sneaking glances at Davian from the corner of her eye. He looked more relaxed now, and his usual tension was now replaced by a quiet calm. His posture was no longer rigid, it had softened as the minutes had passed. Though he wasn’t smiling, there was a stillness to him, a peace that she hadn’t seen since morning.
She smiled to herself, feeling relieved that he was finally able to let go, even if it was only for a little while. The chaos of the morning seemed far away in this moment, it was now replaced by the soft glow of the television and the sound of lighthearted laughter from the movie.
About halfway through, Davian reached over and, without any hesitation, grabbed a handful of popcorn from her bowl instead of his own. Surprised, she blinked and then raised an eyebrow at him.
"You have your own," she stated while shifting her gaze from his face to his bowl of popcorn as if to make her point. But despite her words, her voice was playful.
He shrugged and his lips twitched into a barely-there smile. "Yours tastes better."
Grace just smiled in response. If this small act was able to help him feel better, she wasn’t going to complain. Still, she made a mental note of how much she appreciated seeing this side of him - lighter and less burdened.
As the movie continued, their hands occasionally brushed when reaching for popcorn, and each time, Grace felt a spark of something she had finally started to recognize. It was comforting and yet exhilarating, it was the simplicity of being close to someone who mattered to her.
By the time the credits rolled, she realized how much she needed this too. The laughter, the warmth, the normalcy - it was a fleeting reminder of a world they were slowly leavjng behind.
"You were right," Davian said softly as the credits faded from the screen. "This was exactly what I needed."
She turned to face him as she responded, "Me too."
For a moment, neither of them moved. The quiet between them wasn’t awkward, but a shared understanding. It was a connection that didn’t need words.
"What now?" Davian asked, breaking the silence in his low and calm voice.
Grace thought for a moment. "We could watch another movie or talk. It’s still early."
He leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Talk," he decided. "I think I need that."
Grace nodded and adjusting herself on the couch so she could face him fully. "Alright. What’s on your mind?"
He hesitated and fixed his gaze on the now darkened TV screen. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a weight that made her chest tighten. "Marcus and Julian," he admitted. "I can’t stop thinking about them."
Grace felt her heart ache at the mention of the teammates. She had avoided bringing it up earlier as she knew just how heavily it weighed on him, but now that he had opened up, she couldn’t hold back.
"It’s not your fault," she said gently, her tone was firm but kind. "You did everything you could to keep them safe."
Davian shook his head and his jaw tightened. "It doesn’t feel like enough. They trusted me, Grace. And now…" His voice broke slightly, and he looked down, his hands clenched into fists.
Without thinking, Grace reached out and placed her hand on his arm. The warmth of her touch seemed to ground him, and he glanced up at her, his deep blue eyes filled with turmoil.
"They are alive, Davian," she said softly. "And 2025 will keep monitoring them. If there is any chance they can recover or develop powers like the rest of us, they will get it. We have ensured that."
Davian’s gaze searched hers, as if looking for reassurance. "What if they don’t recover? What if I have to make the decision to…" He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
Grace tightened her grip on his arm. Her voice was steady. "If it comes to that, you won’t face it alone. We are a team, Davian. We will make the decision together."
For a moment, he said nothing. Then, slowly, his tense expression softened, and he nodded. "Thank you, Grace."
They sat in silence after that while the gravity of their conversation lingered in the air. Still, Grace didn’t let go of his arm, neither did he pull away. The warmth between them felt like a quiet promise.
Eventually, Grace broke the silence. "We will face whatever comes next, Davian. One step at a time."
He looked at her, and for the first time that evening, a genuine smile touched his lips. It was small, almost hesitant, but it was real. "One step at a time," he agreed.
As the snow fell steadily outside, they stayed on the couch, talking about lighter things. At some point, Grace started feeling sleepy and leaned her head against Davian’s shoulder, and he didn’t pull away. Instead, he shifted slightly to make her more comfortable. As a result, his arm brushed against hers in a way that felt deliberate.
Before she knew it, she was already fast asleep. It wasn’t until the clock struck midnight, that Grace finally stirred out of her sleep. "We should get some sleep," she said softly, though she made no move to leave the couch.
Davian nodded, but his gaze lingered on her. "I’ll stay here," he said quietly, as if afraid she might send him away.
Grace smiled and stood up, before grabbing a blanket from the closet. She draped it over him and then hesitated, her hand lingered on his shoulder. "Goodnight, Davian."
He caught her hand before she could pull away. "Goodnight, Grace," he said, his voice was low but full of something she couldn’t quite name.
As she turned and headed toward her bedroom, Grace felt a warmth spreading through her chest. For the first time in a long while, she didn’t feel alone. And somehow, she knew Davian didn’t feel alone either.