The night had found me in Azure's room and hadn't let go until morning.
She was still beside me when I woke, curled against my side, breathing slow and deep. The red stripes along her ribs and hips pulsed faintly with each inhale, glowing soft rose in the early light slipping through the curtains. Her pink hair spilled across the pillow and over my chest like silk threads.
"Azure," I said quietly.
She forced herself up with obvious reluctance, eyes fluttering open, the specific heavy-lidded resistance of a body that hadn't finished what it started. She yawned, jaw cracking softly, pink hair falling messily across her face as she rubbed one eye with the back of her hand.
"You're going?" she murmured, voice thick with sleep.
"Yeah," I said. I leaned down and kissed her forehead, lips lingering against warm blue skin. "We'll stay in touch."
"Kayy…" She was already sinking back into the sheets, eyes closing again, one arm reaching out lazily to brush my thigh before falling limp.
