Her breath caught.
She didn't speak.
Couldn't.
Not at first.
Her body moved before her thoughts could—legs sprinting across the clearing as if her soul had leapt ahead of her.
Then she collided into him.
Hard.
Her arms locked around his torso like she'd never let go again, and her face buried into his chest, trembling.
Key staggered slightly from the force but caught himself—and her—with ease. A warm chuckle rumbled from his throat as his arms came around her without hesitation.
Speedy shook.
Not from fear.
But from the overwhelming, soul-deep relief of seeing him again.
"You're… alive…" she breathed. Her voice cracked, barely more than a whisper.
Key gave a half-grin, his tone light. "Of course. It's only been about a day. You're acting like I've been gone for years."
A muffled voice answered from his chest.
"Just… two months."
Key froze.
His eyes widened as her words hit him like a brick wall.
Two months?
For her, it had been weeks—sixty long, grueling days of doubt, fear, and hoping he was still alive. While for him, it had passed in a blink.
No wonder she looked like she'd seen a ghost.
He let her hold on for a few more seconds, her grip still fierce and unwilling to release, before gently easing her back. She groaned softly in protest, a sound that yanked at something buried deep in his chest.
"So you're telling me I've been gone for two months?" he asked, his voice low, trying to process.
And then he really looked at her.
Her hair was a touch longer, brushing past her shoulders now. Her outfit had changed—more durable, armored, molded for combat and survival. She carried herself with a sharper edge. Her aura crackled with refined Abyssal energy, more potent… and more weathered.
But it was her eyes that told the real story.
That wild spark she always carried? It was still there—but dulled, hidden behind walls built from sleepless nights and unspoken burdens.
And those walls were cracking.
Speedy didn't respond. She just stared at him, her eyes shimmering, lips parting as if she wanted to say a thousand things at once—but the weight of them held her still.
In that silence, her thoughts screamed:
'You dumbass… You're really here. You're actually here. I thought I was going to have to carry all of this alone. I thought I'd never feel safe again. But you… '
"Speedy," Key said, voice quieter now, almost reverent. "I didn't know. The Abyss… time moves differently there. For me, it was just a day."
She finally spoke, soft as a falling leaf. "Every day felt like a year."
Key didn't know how to answer that. So he didn't.
He just pulled her in again and held her tighter.
"I'm sorry.." he whispered.
She squeezed her eyes shut, burying herself in his warmth once more. For a few precious minutes, she allowed herself to feel safe—to breathe again.
Then she pulled back, just enough to look up at him, smirking through glassy eyes.
"You better make it up to me, Mr. Ascended."
Key grinned, brushing a thumb against her cheek. "Don't worry. I gotchu. You look beautiful, by the way."
Her cheeks flushed with color, the tension breaking as she smiled wide. "You think so?" she teased, her finger trailing slowly down his bare chest. "You're not too bad yourself, Ascended…"
A sudden voice interrupted the moment.
"Is he your boyfriend, Miss Speedy?"
They turned to see Sia, Han, and Adria approaching with knowing grins.
"I wonder as well," Adria chimed in, her eyes wide with curiosity. "I've never seen you smile like that before…"
Speedy let out an embarrassed squeak and pulled away quickly, her blush deepening.
"A-Alright! Back to the village, all of you! Move it!" she barked, trying to mask her flustered expression.
The trio groaned in unison but obeyed.
"Yes, Miss Speedy…" they muttered, giggling as they walked off.
Key chuckled, watching them disappear into the trees. "Funny kids. You train them?"
Speedy's embarrassment faded into pride. "Yeah. It's dangerous out here in Eldergloom. Their village gave me a place to stay in exchange for protecting and training them."
He nodded as they began walking side by side through the forest. "That was generous of them. So… what happened while I was gone?"
Speedy's smile faltered, the air around her tightening. "Mostly… I searched. For the others. For you. I knew you were in the Abyss, but I didn't know if you were alive—" her voice hitched, and Key gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his thumb brushing in calming circles.
She swallowed hard. "It's been a long two months."
"What about you?" she asked after a pause, her voice softer now.
"Me?" Key exhaled. "Shit… I was fighting a million Abyssal Beasts."
Her eyes widened. "A million?"
"Probably more. I stopped counting after that." he replied with a casual shrug.
She stared at him, stunned. "The fact that you're alive after all that…"
"Barely a warm-up." he said with a smirk. "Besides—I survived for all of you."
Her heart fluttered at that. "You're insane.." she muttered with a small smile.
"You're welcome." he replied, bumping her shoulder playfully.
"I guess you're hungry. And probably need rest…"
Key stretched his arms above his head. "More like food… and a steaming ass shower."
Speedy grinned. "Well, you're in luck. Dinner's almost ready. And you can use my shower."
Key's eyes gleamed. "Then what are we waiting for?"
He leaned forward, eyes playful.
"Race you back?"
Speedy raised an eyebrow… then smirked.
A sharp gust of wind answered him—she vanished in a blur.
Key blinked.
"…Damn."