They ducked out of the alley and into a quieter square, where lanterns hung from wooden posts and a fountain gurgled softly. The sounds of the market drifted faintly in the distance, but here it was calm enough to breathe.
JP slumped onto the fountain's edge, resin still sticking in patches across his tunic. "Well, that went better than expected."
Lyra crossed her arms. "You glued yourself to a wall."
"Exactly," JP said, raising a finger like a professor making a point. "That was a strategic decision. Makes me look less threatening. Throw them off balance. Next thing they know—bam! Lightning stake to the ribs."
Lyra tilted her head, unimpressed. "So your plan was to look incompetent on purpose?"
JP's grin faltered. "I mean… maybe not on purpose, exactly. But, hey, it worked." He tugged at the resin, which clung stubbornly. "Okay, mostly worked. Ugh, this stuff is worse than chewing gum on a hot sidewalk."
Lyra, after a long pause, shook her head. A faint sound escaped her—half sigh, half laugh. She quickly turned away, but JP caught it.
"Wait," he said, eyes wide. "Did you just laugh?"
"I did not," she said flatly, tugging her hood back up.
"You totally did. I heard it. That was a laugh." JP leaned forward, grinning. "It was a little laugh, but still. Progress! First time I've made you laugh without almost dying."
Lyra gave him a withering look, but there was no real bite to it. "Don't get used to it."
JP leaned back, smug despite the resin making squelchy noises when he moved. "One day, you'll be laughing at all my jokes. It's inevitable. Like taxes."
"Taxes?" she repeated, confused.
"Never mind," JP said quickly, waving it off. "Long story."
The fountain's gentle burble filled the silence. For a moment, the city felt less threatening, less sharp-edged. Just two adventurers, catching their breath under the lantern light.
Then JP's stomach growled loudly. He winced. "Okay, so… next mission: food. Before I end up glueing myself to the floor from hunger."
Lyra rolled her eyes, but her lips curved the tiniest bit. "Come on. I know a place."