The morning light spilled in like honey.
Soft. Golden. Unapologetically slow.
Kai blinked awake, the scent of pine and ash lingering in the air, mingling with something warm and heady. Adrian, He was lying on his side, arm lazily draped across Kai's waist, face half buried in the crook of his neck. His breath was warm. Steady. Unhurried.
And gods, it was quiet.
Not just outside. Inside, too. For the first time in forever, Kai's chest wasn't tight with fear or anticipation. There were no alarms going off in his head. No footsteps echoing through his memory.
Just peace.
Kai shifted slowly, brushing a strand of hair from Adrian's cheek. "You're drooling," he whispered, amusement lacing his voice.
"Shut up," Adrian mumbled sleepily, pulling Kai closer. "Your neck tastes good."
Kai snorted. "You're such a menace."
"Mm, and you're warm. Don't ruin this."
Kai smiled, curling closer. "I won't. Promise."
They stayed like that for a long time. Wrapped in each other. No rush. No monsters clawing at the door. Just the crackle of the fire and the soft chirp of morning birds outside their little hideaway.
Eventually, hunger won out.
Kai padded into the tiny kitchen, bare feet against cold wooden floors, still wearing one of Adrian's oversized shirts. He looked ridiculously small in it. Adorably swallowed up.
Adrian leaned in the doorway, shirtless, arms crossed as he watched Kai attempt to brew tea without burning the cabin down.
"You planning to kill us both with that kettle?" he asked, lips twitching.
Kai shot him a glare. "I'll have you know, I'm domesticated now."
"Mm. Sexy," Adrian murmured, walking up behind him and wrapping his arms around his waist. "My little househusband."
Kai gasped. "I will stab you with this spoon."
Adrian bit down on a laugh, burying his face in Kai's neck. "Gods, I missed this."
"This?"
"This... you. Like this. Alive. Smiling. Annoyed at my teasing."
Kai turned in his arms, looking up at him with something fierce and tender in his eyes. "We could stay here forever, you know. Just... let the world keep spinning without us."
Adrian hesitated.
"Kai, the world doesn't forget people like me."
"Then let's make it forget. One slow morning at a time."
Adrian stared at him, then leaned down and kissed him deep, slow, reverent. As if Kai were the only thing tethering him to this life.
And maybe he was.
Later, they curled back into the bed with mismatched mugs of tea and no pants. Kai tucked under Adrian's arm, head resting on his chest. Adrian stroked his hair, fingers threading lazily through the soft strands.
"You ever think about it?" Kai asked.
"About what?"
"A future. A real one. Like... maybe getting a place that doesn't creak like it's haunted?"
Adrian chuckled. "You complaining about my excellent taste in cabins?"
Kai shrugged. "I mean… it's cute. But what if we found somewhere quieter? Deeper in the woods. Or near a lake. Somewhere we could plant herbs and not get shot at."
Adrian was silent for a moment.
Then, "I'd like that."
Kai blinked. "Yeah?"
Adrian nodded. "With you? I'd go anywhere."
Kai's heart stuttered. "Even if it meant pretending to be normal?"
Adrian turned toward him, hand cradling his cheek. "You're the only normal I need."
And Kai broken, reborn, wrapped in blankets and sunlight believed him.