The warehouse was silent, save for the faint hum of the city in the distance. The glow from Theo's laptop had long since dimmed, casting the space into deep shadows. Outside, the wind howled, rattling the rusted metal panels of the building, but inside, there was only stillness.
Evelyn shifted against the worn-out couch, her body aching from exhaustion and the dull throb of her wound. Sleep hovered at the edges of her consciousness, but the storm in her mind kept her tethered to wakefulness.
Across from her, Theo sat on the floor, leaning against the couch, his elbows resting on his knees as he watched her. His expression was unreadable, but the concern in his gaze was undeniable.
"You should sleep," he murmured.
Evelyn let out a breathy chuckle. "Easier said than done."
Theo didn't argue. Instead, he reached for the thin blanket from his bag and carefully draped it over her shoulders. His fingers brushed against her arm, warm and steady, lingering for just a second too long.
She blinked up at him. "What are you doing?"
Theo exhaled, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Making sure you don't freeze."
Evelyn opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Theo shifted closer, settling beside her on the couch. His warmth seeped into her, steady and grounding.
"Lean on me," he said softly.
Her breath caught. "Theo—"
"Just for tonight," he cut in, his voice gentle but firm. "You need rest."
She hesitated, searching his face for any trace of amusement, but there was none. Just quiet determination.
After a moment, she relented. With a tired sigh, she allowed herself to lean into him, her head resting against his shoulder. The tension in her muscles eased almost immediately, lulled by the steady rhythm of his breathing.
Theo shifted slightly, wrapping an arm around her, his fingers grazing the fabric of her shirt near her injury.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked.
Evelyn shook her head lightly. "Not as much."
He didn't seem convinced. His thumb traced idle circles against her uninjured arm, a small, subconscious gesture that made her heart stumble.
Silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable but heavy with something neither of them dared to name.
"Why do you always do this?" Evelyn murmured after a long pause.
Theo tilted his head slightly. "Do what?"
"Look after me like this."
His fingers stilled. Then, after a beat, he said, "Because someone has to."
The answer was simple, but something in his tone made her chest tighten.
Evelyn swallowed, her fingers curling slightly against his shirt. "Thank you."
Theo's arm tightened slightly around her. "Get some sleep, Evelyn."
And for the first time in what felt like forever, she actually did.
---
The Morning After
Evelyn woke to the sensation of warmth enveloping her.
Her eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she forgot where she was. The feeling of security, of safety, was so foreign that she almost mistook it for a dream.
Then she felt the steady rise and fall of Theo's chest beneath her cheek.
Reality crashed back into her.
She was still curled against him, his arm wrapped protectively around her, his body shielding her from the cold.
Her heart stammered as she realized just how close they were.
She barely had time to process it before Theo stirred.
His grip on her tightened briefly before his eyes blinked open. Dark, groggy, yet sharp in an instant. His gaze met hers, and for a second, neither of them moved.
Then realization dawned on him.
Evelyn braced herself for an awkward retreat, but Theo didn't pull away. Instead, his fingers grazed her arm, his touch slow, careful.
"Did you sleep well?" His voice was husky with sleep, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine.
Evelyn swallowed. "Yeah."
His lips quirked slightly. "Good."
Neither of them moved. The world outside the warehouse was waking up, but for a fleeting moment, it felt like time had stopped.
Then, as if snapping out of it, Theo finally loosened his grip. He shifted, his warmth disappearing as he sat up.
Evelyn exhaled, pushing herself up as well, doing her best to ignore the lingering heat where his arm had been.
"We should get going," Theo said, standing and stretching his sore muscles. "We have a lead to follow."
Evelyn nodded, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. "Right."
Whatever had passed between them last night was over now. They had more pressing matters at hand.
---
A Dangerous Path
After gathering their supplies, Theo and Evelyn set out toward their next destination: Dr. Marcus Vance's last known location.
According to the files they had recovered, Vance had vanished years ago. But there were whispers—rumors of an underground facility, a hidden research center where he continued his work.
If they found him, they would find answers.
The journey was long, their route carefully planned to avoid any unwanted attention. They moved through side streets, abandoned alleys, staying hidden within the city's shadows.
Evelyn's wound throbbed with every step, but she refused to slow down.
Theo, however, wasn't oblivious.
After an hour of walking, he suddenly stopped and turned to her. "You need to rest."
Evelyn shook her head. "We don't have time—"
Theo's eyes darkened. "We'll make time."
Before she could protest, he reached out and grasped her hand, his grip firm yet gentle.
"Come on," he said, leading her toward an empty café at the corner of the street. The place was long abandoned, its windows shattered, but it offered cover.
Once inside, Theo gestured for her to sit on one of the old, dust-covered chairs.
Evelyn crossed her arms. "You're being dramatic."
Theo arched a brow. "And you're being stubborn."
She opened her mouth to argue, but then Theo crouched before her, reaching for her arm.
She stiffened as his fingers brushed her bandage, his touch unbearably tender.
"Let me check it," he murmured.
Evelyn hesitated but eventually relented, allowing him to peel back the edge of the bandage.
His brows furrowed. "It's still bleeding a little."
Evelyn sighed. "It's not that bad."
Theo ignored her, pulling out a fresh bandage from his bag. His movements were precise, gentle—far too soft for someone who had spent years surviving in the darkest corners of the world.
As he wrapped the bandage around her arm, Evelyn found herself watching him, taking in the quiet focus in his expression.
He was always like this. Fierce but careful. Cold to the world but warm in moments like this.
She didn't know how to handle it.
"There," Theo said, finishing the wrap. His fingers lingered against her skin for a fraction of a second longer before he pulled away.
Evelyn swallowed, forcing herself to look away. "Thanks."
Theo simply nodded.
A beat of silence passed. Then, as if the moment had never happened, he stood and checked the street through the broken window.
"We should keep moving," he said.
Evelyn exhaled and pushed herself up. "Right."
As they stepped back onto the road, Evelyn couldn't help but steal one last glance at him.
He had saved her more times than she could count. And yet, somehow, it always felt like he was the one keeping her from breaking apart.
For the first time in years, Evelyn felt something she had long forgotten.
She felt safe.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
---
End of Chapter 10