(Keifer's POV)
The night stayed quiet around us for a while longer.
No one called us.
No noise came from inside.
Just the soft wind and the faint city lights stretching in front of us.
She was still sitting beside me, wrapped in that light blanket, her shoulder slightly brushing mine now.
After some time, I looked at her. "You should sleep."
She didn't argue.
Didn't say anything back.
Just gave a small nod.
I stood up first, then held my hand out to her.
"Careful," I said.
She took it.
Slowly.
Letting me help her up without resisting.
We walked back inside at her pace.
Step by step.
No rush.
When we reached the bed, I helped her sit first, then adjusted the pillows behind her before easing her down carefully.
"Tell me if it hurts," I said quietly.
"…okay," she murmured.
I moved to the other side and lay down beside her.
Not close.
Not touching.
Just there.
Because I didn't want to risk hurting her.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Just silence.
Then—
she shifted slightly.
Slow.
Careful.
Her arm moved, like she was trying to reach for me.
Trying to pull herself closer.
I caught her wrist gently before she could.
"Don't," I said softly. "You'll hurt yourself."
She stopped.
Looked at me for a second.
Didn't argue.
So I moved instead.
Closer.
Just enough.
Her head rested lightly against my chest.
No effort from her this time.
No strain.
I stayed still.
One hand hovering near her shoulder, not pulling her in, just there.
Her breathing slowly softened.
Evened out.
Within minutes—
she was asleep.
I didn't move.
Didn't shift.
Didn't even close my eyes right away.
Because right now—
this was enough.
She was here.
Close.
Safe.
And not in pain.
Morning came softer this time.
Not heavy.
Not quiet in that suffocating way.
Just… normal.
I woke up to the sound of movement.
Small.
Careful.
I looked down—
and she wasn't where I left her.
My head snapped up instantly.
"Jay?"
She was already a few steps away from the bed.
Walking.
Slowly.
Carefully.
But on her own.
"What are you doing?" I got up immediately, moving toward her.
She looked back at me, calm as ever. "…walking."
"That's not funny," I said, reaching her side.
"I'm not joking."
She wasn't.
Her steps were steady—
but I could see it.
The slight imbalance.
The way her body still held back.
Like it could give in any second.
"Sit," I said.
"No."
Of course.
Old Jay.
Right there.
Before I could argue again, the door opened.
Percy walked in first, followed by Aries.
They both stopped.
Looked at her.
Then at me.
"…she's walking?" Percy said.
"I can walk," Jay replied before I could.
Aries stepped closer immediately, his eyes scanning her like he didn't fully trust what he was seeing. "Since when?"
"Now," she said simply.
Percy folded his arms. "Wow. Two days ago she couldn't even breathe properly and now she's acting independent."
"I am independent," she muttered.
I exhaled quietly, staying close enough in case she slipped.
"She's still weak," I said.
Aries nodded instantly. "Exactly."
Percy pointed at me. "See? He agrees with me."
"I'm not agreeing with you," I said flatly.
Jay rolled her eyes slightly.
"…all of you are annoying."
"That means she's fine," Percy said.
She tried to move past us.
One step.
Then another.
Perfect—
until it wasn't.
Her balance shifted slightly.
Just enough.
I caught her immediately, my hand steadying her before she could fall.
"Careful," I said quietly.
She didn't argue this time.
Just stood there for a second, letting herself steady.
"…I'm fine," she repeated.
Softer now.
Aries crossed his arms. "Yeah, we saw that."
Percy added, "Very convincing performance."
She looked at them both.
"…shut up."
I almost smiled.
Angelo walked in just then, stopping at the scene in front of him.
"She's up already?" he asked.
"She's walking," Percy corrected dramatically.
Angelo looked at her, then at me.
I gave a small nod.
"She's trying," I said.
Jay sighed lightly, like she was already tired of all of us.
"…I don't need four people watching me walk."
"You do," Aries said immediately.
"You really do," Percy added.
I looked at her.
She looked back.
And for a second—
there it was.
That spark.
That familiar stubborn look.
"She's getting better," Angelo said calmly.
"She's always been like this," Percy said. "Just dramatic about it sometimes."
"I am not—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Because she knew.
I leaned slightly closer to her.
"Still can't walk properly," I murmured low enough that only she heard.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I can."
"Sure," I said.
She looked away.
But there was something there.
Something lighter.
Between all of us—
the bickering didn't stop.
Didn't slow down.
And somehow—
that made it feel normal again.
Because even if they argued about who knew her better—
even if they kept proving each other wrong—
we all knew one thing.
She was coming back.
Slowly.
But surely.
And this time—
we weren't letting her fall.
She was upstairs.
Finally taking a proper bath after days.
Which meant—
for the first time—
she wasn't in front of us every second.
Angelo picked up his keys from the table, glancing once toward the stairs before looking at us.
"I have a meeting," he said. "Don't let her move around too much."
"We won't," Aries replied instantly.
"Yeah, we got it," I added.
Percy leaned back slightly and, instead of answering normally, sang, "Okaaayyy~"
All three of us turned to look at him.
At the same time.
He blinked once.
"…what?"
"Stop," Aries said flatly.
"That was unnecessary," Angelo added.
I just shook my head slightly.
Percy rolled his eyes. "You all have no personality."
Angelo ignored him, already moving toward the door. "I'll be back later."
Then he paused slightly, looking at me for a second.
"Keep an eye on her."
"I am," I said.
He nodded once and left.
The door closed quietly behind him.
Silence.
For exactly two seconds.
Then Percy clapped his hands once. "Breakfast."
Aries exhaled. "You're not cooking."
"I can cook."
"You can't."
"I made toast once."
"You burned it."
"It was crispy."
"It was black."
I walked past both of them toward the kitchen.
"Move," I said.
They followed anyway.
Of course they did.
Within minutes, the kitchen was a mess of small arguments, cabinets opening, Percy trying to do something he clearly didn't know how to, Aries correcting him every five seconds.
And somehow—
between all that—
we still started making breakfast.
Upstairs—
she was resting.
And down here—
we were trying not to burn the house down.