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Slightly cold. Emerging only in the dark. Often overlooked. It appeared small but held a might that rivaled the world.

She gazed at the celestial being with wide eyes. What further bewildered her were the white dots sparkling in the night sky. She had no idea what they were. If Winnie wasn’t fighting for her life, she’d ask her.

Khalani squeezed her eyes shut, her lips quivering.

“Stop thinking, Kanes.” Takeshi’s voice cut through her fractured thoughts, knowing exactly where her mind had wandered. “Stop feeding your pain. Just lie here and breathe with me.”

Her brows furrowed, and she tilted her head.

“Why are you being nice all of a sudden?”

“Figured I would try it out for the night. See what all the fuss is about.”

“And?”

“Overrated.”

Khalani wasn’t able to contain the laugh that burst out of her. Takeshi’s lips twitched, fighting a smile.

Despite the overwhelming pain, she was grateful for the moment.

Takeshi was one of the few people who kept her feet to the ground. Who reminded her to simplybe present.

He didn’t panic under pressure. He moved with the chaos as effortlessly as water. Where others faltered, he flowed, commanding the turmoil around him.

“Aren’t you worried my misery will rub off on you?” She glanced back up at the sky, a strange pressure hovering over her chest.

Takeshi was utterly still beside her. At first, he didn’t respond, and she was certain he’d stand up and walk away. But then, he spoke.

“What if I’d rather share your pain than have you bear it alone?”

The night sky swallowed her heavy breaths.

She didn’t know how to respond.

Didn’t know how to deal with the gentle parts of him.

There were moments when Takeshi gazed out at the horizon, his hair billowing in the wind, that fiery determination in his eyes, and it ignited something deep within her. A warmth that made her want to shove him against the ruined vehicles and smash her lips against his, if only to purge her longing once and for all.

The deafening silence stretched on, and her gaze wandered back to the sky. She couldn’t bring herself to directly respond, fearing that any attempt to voice her feelings would strip her completely bare.

“Winnie told me humans landed on the moon hundreds of years ago. Do you think that’s true?” she asked, desperately grasping for a new topic.

“Not sure how they would’ve jumped that high,” he responded, swallowing, as if he were grateful for the change, too.

She chuckled. “No, she said they built ships that could fly all the way up there.”

“Probably why they all died.”

“You wouldn’t do it?”

His gaze grew distant. “Some things are meant to only be looked at from afar.”

“Or maybe you’re just afraid of heights,” she teased.

“And if I were?” He tilted his head.

“I’d find the nearest cliff and dump you off it the next time you pissed me off.”