Pretend Like Nothing Happened

beep

"...adjust the ventilation mask..."

beep

"...get a sample of his blood for oxygen levels testing..."

beep

"...prepping the saline line..."

beep beep

"...log the time for mask and saline adjustments..."

beep beep

"...hold it, his heartrate is spiking..."

beep beep beep

A slight coldness is felt, not skin nor cloth.

"...Hey get Mr. Fenix in here asap..."

beep beep beep beep

"...what's happening in here..."

"...he's coming out of his slumber doctor..."

beep beep beep beep

"...adjust the bed and check the oxygen levels..."

"...sir he's coming to..."

beep beep beep

The slight coldness returns, this time with a voice closer than the rest,
"Can you hear me... Mr. Frostwalker?"

beep beep

"...he's waking up..."

A pressure-like feeling gave away, giving ease to some movements.

"...his eyes are twitching..."

Within a couple seconds, darkness was filled in with light.

Sounds of excitement mixed with footsteps were heard as the eyelids opened, leaving behind a blurry vision of a hospital room.

"Mr. Frostwalker, can you see and hear me?"

The man, adjusted upright in his bed moves his eyes around, trying to wrap his head around where he was and what's happening.

Small grunts are heard coming from the man as shapes began to form in his eyes.

"Dim down the lights slightly"

A cold feelings returns as a doctor in gloves presses their finger against his neck, "Your heartrate seems to be stabilizing..."

"Somebody call over Mr. Frostwalker's family and friends."

The doctor holds up their hand,
"Follow my hand with your eyes, don't feel forced to speak"

The doctor lifted a finger, moving it gently left and right in front of the man's eyes.

"That's it, you're doing good" the doctor praises the man, seeing the man's eyes follow the movements of their finger.

"Don't push yourself" the doctor says, dropping his hand down.

"Wh...t...Ha...p...d" The man struggles to say

"You passed out from stress, on both your body and mind"

The man blinks his eyes repeatedly while breathes heavily in and out as he lays back.

"Calm down Mr. Frostwalker, this isn't life threatening."

The man let's out one final breath before positioning himself forward.

"Where...-"

"BLAIDD!" A collection of voices yell, standing in the doorway.

"He's fresh out of his coma, please don't be rash with him" The doctor states.

But the doctor's advice didn't matter as 3 guys crowd over Blaidd, hugging him collectively.

"It... Hurts..." Blaidd says, making an uncomfortable face.

"AH" One of the guys says, motioning the others to back up.

"Thank you doctor for taking care of our buddy here."

"Don't worry it's my job, but we have to run some tests before it gets too late".

~~~ Hours Later ~~~

In the waiting room

"Hopefully nothing else is wrong and we can leave without a hitch..."

"Well, he was in a coma for a week..."

"If anything more happens, it's your fault Jin"

"BRO WHAT" Jin yells.

"Hahaha I like the sound of that"

"OF COURSE YOU WOULD SIN"

"Hey now, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Ladies Ladies you're both pretty"

"YOU STARTED-... Imma go get a drink." Jin says, storming down the hallway with his fists twitching at his sides.

Footsteps are heard beside them, "Are you Rikushi?" A voice asks.

"I am him, is there something the matter?"

"Not particularly... it's just our visitor hours are closing so we'd suggest you come pick up Blaidd unless you'd like him to stay over the night which would be an extra cost."

"How much would it be?"

"Combined with food, sleeping, and clothing... about 7500"

"FOR A NIGHT? SIN, I'LL GO GET THE CAR AND RECIEPT" Rikushi yells, speed-walking towards the front desk.

"I'll get Blaidd up" Sin says to the doctor, getting up and walking towards his room.

Blaidd, looking down towards the ground as his legs are hanging off the side of the bed, gazes at the cracks on the floor, feeling an eerie feeling.

A knock is heard from the door, "We're back to pick you up."

Blaidd quietly looks up, seeing Sin waltz in, grabbing onto Blaidd's belongings.

Blaidd then looks back down.

Sin gazes over before stopping what he's doing and sitting beside Blaidd.

"Doctors said you took on more stress than anyone could ever take..." he pauses, "So let's take the next couple weeks slow... okay?"

Blaidd let's out a deep breath.

Sin scoots closer and puts his arm around Blaidd. "We're here for you, through all of your ups and downs."

~~~ In the Car ~~~

"The airship will be here in a few days, we took off for a bit and got no way back home for a little." Rikushi says, steering the car through the neon-lighted street.

Blaidd looks out the window in the backseat, seeing skyscrapers go on for miles, basking in a bright glow and light fog.

Sin, sitting beside Blaidd in the backseats, rolls down his window to feel the cold night air flowing through the fingers of his outstretched hand.

"We're here" Rikushi says, pulling up to the front entrance of a tall building, "This is our hotel for the next few nights."

Rikushi and Jin go on ahead to check in as Sin grabs a cart to unpack their belongings, "We got enough clothing in here for about 3 days so don't dirty them all too quickly." Sin says, pulling a large suitcase out of trunk.

Blaidd opens his door and plants his foot on the ground.

"And that should be it," Sin cleans off his hands before looking around to Blaidd's side of the car.

"Wait!" Sin yells, reaching outwards as Blaidd falls forward.

"I GOTCHU" Sin states, grabbing onto Blaidd inches from the ground.

"I'm sorry... I thought I had enough strength..."

"Don't worry about it Blaidd, just take it easy, I gotchu"

Rikushi and Jin come back out, "We got the cards to the room but we could only get two rooms, which do you guys want"

"I don't care dawg, I just want to sleep" Jin says.

"I'll take mister sleepy over here if that's okay" Rikushi asks,

"That's fine" Sin answers, holding Blaidd up still.

Rikushi grabs the cart as they all head inside to the elevator.

"57...58...59...How many floors are we going up Riku?" Jin asks, staring at the number display in the elevator.

"I thought it would be nice to buy some nice rooms..."

"Were they also the only rooms that were open and able to take us in now..?" Sin asks, smirking.

Rikushi sighs, "Correct..."

"Doors opening... You're on Floor 129" The doors open, revealing a small hallway, with 2 doors on either side of the hallway.

Rikushi walks forward first, scanning the card into the first room. "This is y'alls Sin and B"

Rikushi opens the door and holds it open as Sin and Blaidd walk inside.

"Woah..." Sin says, looking towards a large line of windows showing off the cityscape.

Rikushi flicks on a nearby light-switch, which illuminates the large room, showing a metal spiral stair case leading to a loft.

Jin quickly grabs the other hotel keycard from Rikushi's other hand and quickly scans open the other room, to reveal a room with similar looks except the windows showed the side of a nearby building. "Aw man can we swap rooms" Jin says, walking up behind Rikushi.

"I thought you didn't care?" Rikushi asks, with a grin on his face.

"F#CK THIS, I'M GOING TO SLEEP" Jin yells, heading into the other room.

"There's a bed over there," Rikushi says, pointing towards the left side of the windows, "Sleep well... no rush to get up in the morning.

"THERE BETTER BE NO RUSH" Jin yells from the other room.

Rikushi places the keycard on a table near the entrance along with 2 suitcases before closing the door after.

"Well... shall we?" Sin asks, with Blaidd nodding.

They both walk steadily, with Blaidd's arm around Sin's shoulder.

"I think... I'm fine now" Blaidd says, quietly.

Sin slowly takes Blaidd's weight off of his shoulders, with Blaidd sliding his feet forward. "Good job..." Sin says quietly.

Blaidd falls forward onto the bed with Sin following soon after, "It feels nice to lay down after a long day of sitting..." Sin says, mumbling his voice into the bed sheets.

Blaidd turns his head to look at him, "I've been laying down all week..."

"That's true... sorry" Sin says, turning his head the other way.

"It's alright..." Blaidd says calmly, moving and pulling the covers over them.

"Good Night... Blaidd"

"You too... Sin"

With his back towards Blaidd and facing the windows, Sin stared out towards the cityscape, watching the lights, flying cars, and stars in the night sky.

Small ruffles were heard behind him as the blanket was slowly pulled off of him.

Sin quickly yanks the blanket back over himself.

"Still awake?" Blaidd asks, as to which Sin stays quiet.

"No sleeping soul puts that much strength into pulling a blanket."

"Hah... you got me" Sin replies.

"What's the matter?" Blaidd asks,

"Just... thinking... what about you?"

"Well... I did sleep for a week prior"

"That's true..."

"If you want to talk about it you can Sin..."

"I just... I'm worried about everyone... and still... thinking about the friends I lost..."

Warmth is felt pressed against Sin's back, "That's understandable... the weight we carry is a big one... but just as you said... we have each other..."

Sin feels one of Blaidd's hands wrap around his side.

"I think... I'm just carrying everyone's weight wrong... All of these losses... this pressure... this noise in my head... I don't think I can pretend that I'm okay anymore..." Sin says, clenching his fists. Sin mentions.

"I also feel that burden you speak of... Everyday the weight seems to get heavier... but just as you said... the people around me helps take the weight off my shoulders... even if it's just a little" Blaidd replies back.

"I want the better for everyone... so I often tell them to lean on me and that they're not alone... which in reality they're not... but I just want someone to say that to me..."

Blaidd traces Sin's arm with his fingers, "You don't have to be strong... You don't have to pretend... at least not with me right now..."

"I... I was scared you were going to leave us too... I don't know what I'd do if I lost another close friend... I don't want to be alone again" Sin says, sitting up with the blanket still wrapped around his shoulders, then he turns to the left, facing the windows.

Blaidd sits up and leans against him, "I'm right here... no one- I'm not leaving anytime soon... I just let my thoughts get the better of me... and I won't let that happen with you..."

"I'm exhausted of all of this... pretending to be happy... faking a smile... trying to be a pillar yet I'm crumbling on my own under the weight of my own emotions..."

Blaidd puts his arms around Sin's chest, "You may think you're an emotional wreck... but you're just someone looking for a little light in his life... you think you're useless unless you smile or help others... but what you need most is care..."

Sin grips onto Blaidd's hands as his voice grows softer, "I'm... I'm thankful for everyone... But I'm lonely... not just romantically... but I yearn to be praised... to be wanted... to be useful..."

"Then you don't have to be alone anymore... not now and not ever... unless you want to be after this talk" Blaidd replies, leaning his head against Sin's back.

"I... I don't want to be alone... I feel safe... with you."

Blaidd scoots over to his side, leaning his head out to look at Sin in the face, "You're perfect just the way you are...and whatever hurts you, hurts you... so you're allowed to vent how you feel, no matter how big or small... and no one can tell you otherwise."

Sin looks at Blaidd, with a tear running down his cheek, "You surely know what to say despite being in my position but worse the night before."

"I just feel like I can say whatever without making you uncomfortable... I feel safe with you..." Blaidd answers.

Sin dips his head down as towards Blaidd as he reaches his hand up, grabbing onto Sin's head.

"Even in this state, you're a beautiful catastrophe." Blaidd says softly, as he wipes the tear off Sin's cheek.

Sin grabs onto Blaidd's wrist, with Blaidd looking slightly shocked, and stares into his eyes with a calm yet serious expression.

"Was that the wrong words?" Blaidd asks.

Sin moves his arm to the side and leans in, kissing Blaidd on the forehead.

"Thank you... Blaidd" Sin says, pulling back.

Blaidd smirks then grabs onto Sin's neck before he could react, pulling him in and kissing him on the neck.

"Wha-"

"Your body is burning up... did you enjoy that?" Blaidd asks, giving another peck at Sin's neck.

Sin tries to push Blaidd away but he grabs Sin's arms, pulling them to the side as he pushes down Sin to the bed and pinning his arms under his knees.

"Seeing you not finish what you started seemed to have filled my body with strength..." Blaidd says, taking off his shirt.

Sin can't help but look at Blaidd, seeing the light from the cityscape bounce off the sweat from his ashy skin while the distant hues filling his bright-blue eyes. The sweat droplets sliding down his body, showcasing Blaidd's muscles and curves.

"It sounds like your heart is beating out of your chest... is this turning you on that much?"

Sin stutters without forming a word, but he doesn't close his eyes nor does he attempt to look away.

Blaidd leans forward, positioning himself right above Sin, "Look at you... so... vulnerable right now"

Sin gulps, "I didn't know... you'd be so... rough."

"Didn't you study in school about species... us dark elves take what we want..."

Sin stares up at Blaidd with watery eyes.

Blaidd runs his finger under Sin's chin, "Tilt your head to the side for me."

Blaidd leans down as Sin moves his head to the side, exposing his neck so Blaidd could kiss down it.

Sin twitches, "Does that tickle?" Blaidd asks, kissing down his shoulder.

"Yes... and it hurts a little..." Sin mutters, moving his body slightly, trying to remove the hold on his hands.

"You're shaking... are you trying to break free?" Blaidd says, sitting up to look down upon him.

Sin doesn't answer, instead he closes his eyes and grits his teeth.

"Maybe this will alleviate the shyness you still got left" Blaidd says, running his fingers up Sin's shirt.

Sin swallowed, "Your hands... they're... cold."

"I'll make sure to warm you up" Blaidd says, smiling softly as he slowly lifts Sin's shirt off him.

"Your arms are in the way... If I let you free, you won't run away will you."

Sin looks up at him and nods slowly.

"Good." Blaidd responds, releasing the weight off Sin's arms.

Sin takes off his shirt then throws it into Blaidd's face. Once Blaidd removes the shirt, Sin quickly pins Blaidd down, "My turn."

Sin attempts to pull Blaidd's arms over his head but he starts shaking, which allowed Blaidd to throw them over with Blaidd on top. "How cute of you to overtake me."

"You're lucky I hesitated" Sin says, heavily breathing.

Blaidd pushes Sin's arms to the side and pushes his weight against Sin, laying on top of him.

"Let me hold you down... just like this" Blaidd whispers.

Blaidd lessens the grip on Sin's arms, at which Sin frees his hands and wraps them around Blaidd. "I gotchu"

"Even after all these years... I didn't believe I could feel this type of way again... this is nice" Blaidd mutters, closing his eyes.

Sin places a hand on the back of Blaidd's head and looks up at the ceiling, "Finally tired eh? Get some rest, I won't leave... well I can't"

Blaidd grunts quietly.

"Sleep well" Sin says, closing his eyes soon after.

Their bodies basked in the darkness of the room and the lights of the cityscape, the dark and light hues mixing together.

~~~ Next Morning ~~~

knock knock
"Blaidd! Sin!"

knock knock

"guhhh-... one moment"

Sin opens his eyes, to see Blaidd rolled off him in the midst of their sleep, laying beside him on top his arm.

knock knock

Sin rocks Blaidd, "Wake up... wake up... I can't move... they'll know"

"I'm opening the door with the spare key... if you're naked it's not my fault"

Blaidd slowly opens his eyes as Sin pulls his arm from out under him.

Rikushi opens the door, "Heyyy- oh... you guys are still in bed?"

Sin, panting and sitting up, "I've been up for a little",

Blaidd rolls over, grunting and opening his eyes slightly, "I thought you said there's no rush to wake up..." he says, before rolling back over.

"It's uh... 4pm." Rikushi says, pointing at the clock above the door.

Blaidd's eyes open wide as Sin's jaw drops.

"WHAT!" Blaidd yells, sitting up quickly, with the blanket falling off his body.

"Oh? Had a rough night eh?" Rikushi says, with a sarcastic smile.

Jin walks in with a plate of beans, "Yo this some good bea- YO WERE YOU GUYS FUC-" Rikushi cuts him off by covering his mouth. "Let's not scream so early in the 'morning' Jin"

Rikushi looks down at the plate of beans "Are you eating... cold beans?"

Jin moves his head away from Rikushi's hand, "So what if I am?"

Rikushi facepalms, "Just... nevermind... Sin, Blaidd, we're heading out to dinner in 30 minutes, some others are joining us."

Before Rikushi could close the door, Sin yells "Wait who else is coming, I thought everyone was busy?"

"It's Val, Nepheres, and Copia.. Tobi had to call off last moment thought.. they're here to celebrate Blaidd's recovery... But I see you two already celebrated~" Rikushi answers, giving a small smirk as he turns around and closes the door.

Sin tucks his knees inward and wraps his arms around himself, "Welp..."

Blaidd grabs onto one of Sin's hands, "It's going to be alright, this is nothing compared to what they normally do" Blaidd says, gripping his hand then turning around and standing up.

"What?" Sin asks.

Blaidd stretches and yawns, "Don't worry about it... yawn~... You'll see soon enough what happens" he says, walking over to the bathroom, "Go get changed, we look like wrecks."

Sin walks up and leans against the giant glass windows looking out towards the cityscape that lit up his eventful night.

Sin looks around his room for the first time, finding three other bedrooms, another bathroom, two living rooms, and a large gaming room, then heads to the bathroom.

"Hey Blaidd, this place is kinda huge-... oh you're not in here".

After changing his clothes, fixing his hair, brushing his teeth, and washing his face, Sin leans over the sink, checking out a mark he has on his shoulder but sees a hand reach out towards him in the reflection of the mirror.

Before he could react, the hand grabs onto his throat, and a voice follows "Look at you all nice and fitted up," Blaidd says, with a luring voice in Sin's ear.

Blaidd takes his hand off Sin's throat and walks behind him to the other sink beside him.

"Hey... did you bite me here?" Sin asks, showing shallow bite marks on his shoulder.

"You only realized that now? Were you too lost in the pleasure Sinny?" Blaidd repllies.

"First off, don't call me that... publicly... Secondly, yes." Sin says back.

Blaidd smirks before walking past Sin and slapping him on the back.

"Ow..."

"Come on Sinny, let's go meet up with the others before the reservation"

"I'm right behind you... Blaiddy" Sin says, turning off the light as he walks out the bathroom.

Blaidd pauses before turning around with a stare, "Hm... just call me 'Daddy' at that point"

Sin looks with a disgusted face, "Ew no... that's... cringe and weird"

Blaidd chuckles before opening the door to the hallway, "I'll get you to call me that one day" and he steps out "YOOO BLAIDDDD WHAT'S UP" Jin yells from the hallway.

Sin shakes his head in disbelief before joining them in the hallway.

"Where's Rikushi?" Blaidd asks,

"He's in the lobby greeting the others I think... I don't know."

"If you don't know then why answer..." Sin asks.

"I don't know dawg I felt like I had to."

"Let's just go and find him then" Sin says, with an annoyed face.

As the three stepped into the elevator, a quiet anxiousness settled between them.

The doors slid shut with a soft chime as it started heading down the many floors.

Sin leaned back against the wall with his arms folded as he watched the numbers above the frame begin their descent.

Blaidd stood still beside him with a weakened stance. He outstretched his fingers then relaxed them as he took a deep breath.

"Nice weather we're having..." Blaidd mentions.

"Had a fun night?" Jin asks, standing in front of the door.

Nobody finished the sentence.

The elevator came to a pause on the 49th floor, sliding open the doors to reveal 4 chatty guests.

Jin scooted back in between Blaidd and Sin.

The elevator began its final descent towards the ground floor, as the air felt heavier with each passing level.

Sin shifted his weight and cleared his throat as he stared into the dark-wooded wall of the elevator.

"Rikushi Ari is downstairs signing autographs, I can't wait to meet him!" One of the other riders of the elevator said.

"I heard Valentine will be there too!" Another person adds.

Blaidd quietly turns around in which Sin realizes.

"I wonder if the Blaidd Frostwalker guy will be there too!?"

With the elevator coming to a slow stop, the two doors slide open to reveal a large group of people surrounding Rikushi and the others.

"OMG THERE HE IS!" The four fellow riders run and scream towards the group of people.

Rikushi turns around after signing someone's back "I hope it washes off" he says as his gaze meets with the elevator. "YO BLAIDD, JIN, SIN, COME OVER HERE"

The four from before stop in their tracks and turn around, "BLAIDD AND JIN WERE BEHIND US?!"

Sin waddles off as the four run up, with another group of people following behind.

Sin makes his way around the group, as he notices Copia standing towards the back and meets up with him, nudging him on the shoulder, "Since when were they famous?".

Copia flinches before looking at Sin, "GEEZ... you scared me... But I don't know, turns out the Arena Games made them quite popular." he answers, catching his breath.

Copia looks at a clock on a nearby wall and gasps, "OUR DINNER RESERVATION!" before grabbing onto Sin's arm and dragging him through the group of people.

"I can walk by myself Y'know," Sin says.

"I don't care, you're slow" Copia responds, shoving people aside as he walks through.

Sin raises an eyebrow but lets Copia pull him along.

"RIKUSHI OUR RESERVATION!" Copia yells, as he made his way through the large group of people.

Rikushi's eyes open wide before he taps on the others' shoulders. "WE GOT TO GO NOW, I PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS!"

The boys sprint out hotel's doors, "WHICH WAY" Valentine asks loudly.

Rikushi looks around in confusion, "To the left" a voice comes from beside the doors.

The group turns around to see Nepheres leaned up against the Hotel's outer walls. "Too many people for me"

In a heartbeat, Rikushi grabs onto Nephers' arm and sprints down the street, "WE HAVE 3 MINUTES!"

"To the right"

"Down this street then to the left"

"Go to the right and it'll be at the large building in front."

Nephers, giving directions whilst being pulled like a dog on a leash.

Valentine checks his watch as he opens the door, "we have 37 seconds to reach the top floor"

Rikushi stops at the door, "what floor?" he asks.

"104" Nepheres answers.

"WHAT'S WITH THESE HIGH NUMBERS OF FLOORS MAN" Jin yells, catching his breath.

"One of us has to atleast catch the table" Rikushi states.

"90 seconds!" Valentine adds.

Without any second thoughts, the group sprints towards the elevator but reads the interface to see all the elevators are taken. "GO TO THE STAIRS GO GO GO" Rikushi commands.

The group heads for the stairs, as Rikushi takes off his shoes. "Get up there by any means." Rikushi says, holding his shoes in one hand, grabbing onto the guardrail with the other and looking up. "There's a big enough gap here."

"One hundred and four flights." Sin says, rolling up his sleeves and taking deep breaths.

Rikushi stared up into the hollow center of the structure, a vertical tunnel of metal rails and stairs.

"I did NOT want to do this today, but oh well." Rikushi adds.

Valentine checked the time on his wrist and went pale. "WE'VE GOT A MINUTE FOLKS!"

Copia blinked, "We can't make that..."

"Go, Now." Blaidd said, stepping up on the stairwell's railing in the middle.

"Don't push yourself too hard, you're still recovering." Rikushi says, standing on the rail beside him.

Rikushi stepped forward first, planting one foot against the inner wall, and launched himself straight into the open center. Fire sparked from his feet, propelling himself upward for a few moments, before hitting off the next floor's walls, pushing himself upward.

Blaidd followed immediately after, using his strength to close the gap of accelerant.

They vanished upward in a blur of motion.

Nepheres sprinted first, with Jin and Valentine following.

Sin and Copia took off after, with Copia already losing his breath, "I CAN'T DO THIS!"

Sin grabs onto Copia and picks up him, before kicking off the ground and going into a full-sprint up the stairs, rounding corners with immense speed.

Nepheres sprints up each flight of stairs but loses his speed when banking the corners, allowing Valentine to catch up.

Valentine overtakes Nepheres with Jin passing up Nepheres on the corners, with both the overtakers running into the walls on the corner, pushing off the wall horizontally, allowing for them to quickly round the corners.

Above them, Rikushi and Blaidd vaulted past floor after floor, feet grazing walls, coats and robes snapping behind them. Each of them ricocheting up the walls with speed.

Their feet hit the stairway's inner walls for half a heartbeat before rocketing themselves upward.

They were halfway up before the others cleared ten floors.

Nepheres caught onto Valentine and Jin's technique, but still stumbled slightly on each corner, being unable to keep up.

By floor 80, Jin's face had gone pale as his movements became sloppy, not sprinting up the stairs as fast and not using his method to bank corners as fast. "This is... too... much- for me...".

Nepheres catches up but he caught himself getting distracted by looking at Jin to which he hit the wall wrong and slipped, hitting the ground wrongly. "OW SHI- THAT HURT".

Jin stops beside him catches his breath, "We should've just taken... the elevator".

Nepheres stands back up and treads the stairs normally "No reason to stop now" as he steadily gets back into a full sprint up the stairs.

"I envy you people and your crazy stamina" Jin says, heavily breathing as he runs up the stairs with all the strength he has left."

About 15 floors below, Sin, holding Copia, starts to slow, "You can put me down now... I'll run for a bit.." Copia says, patting Sin's shoulder.

Sin quickly drops Copia's feet, then tightening his jaw as he grabs onto the handrail, running his hand along it and using his grip to turn the stairs' corners quickly.

Copia, running behind him and already losing his breath, "On second thought-... I might just walk..."

A distant voice is heard from many floors above, "25 SECONDS!"

"We have to go faster Copia, NOW!" Sin yells, running up two steps at a time.

"I am... not- built for... vertical travel..!" Copia says, panting heavily.

"You're built for complaining though." Sin adds, widening the gap between them.

Copia pauses, "Hey wait-" in which Sin stops himself and meets back up with Copia, pointing at the door to the 37th floor, "Let's go see if there's an elevator..."

Sin shrugs in agreement.

At the 104th floor, Rikushi quickly lands on the railing before stepping down onto the stairs beside him.

Blaidd dropped beside him seconds later, out of breath more than usual.

"Let's go catch the table while the others make their way."

They open the door and head down a hallway before finding themselves at the Braeth of Fresh Aeir Restaurant. Rikushi, putting on his shoes at the front counter, "Table for 7 please... under Ari"

"That took me longer than I expected," Valentine says, catching his breath as he walks up behind Blaidd and looking at the restaurant's name, "What a funny joke...".

"Ah Rikushi Ari, yes your table is ready but we need your whole party here before you can be seated." The host says.

"If they aren't here within the next 10 seconds, we'll have to cancel your spot." the host adds.

Rikushi's eyes tense before the elevator beside them dings, opening its doors to a tired Copia and Sin, with Nepheres and Jin coming up behind Valentine, with sweat dripping down their face, "...we're here..." Jin adds, before sitting himself down against the wall.

"Good. Right this way Ari, party of 7". The host motions for them to follow their waitor.

Nepheres pulls up Jin as they walks towards their seat, with a few struggling to walk straight.

They find themselves at a circular booth in the corner of the restaurant, facing towards the large windows.

"Best view in the restaurant, here's your seats." The waiter says, pointing towards the booth.

"What can I get you all started with to drink?"

Rikushi points at himself, "Sweet Tea", the waiter then looks at Nepheres, "I'll take water."

Rikushi and Nepheres scoot in towards the middle of the booth while the waiter writes down their order.

"Next order please," Valentine points at himself while sitting down with Sin following in, "Your house beer"

Sin quickly adds after, "I'll take lemonade."

"We don't have that sir" The waiter responds.

Sin flinches as Valentine lets out a small chuckle, "I'll take sweet tea..." Sin says, flinching slightly in annoyance.

Jin shakily says, "I'll take water... with lemon"

The waiter then points with his pen towards Copia whom is sitting down on the other end of the booth with Blaidd and Jin right after, "I'll take sweet tea as well"

"Can I have a list of wines?" Blaidd asks.

The waiter nods before sliding their pen into their pocket, "I'll grab you the list and everyone's drinks." before he quickly walks off.

"What a few Riku" Valentine says, looking out the windows towards the mountains and city outskirts.

"I can see our... hotel I think..." Jin adds, still catching his breath

The waiter brings over a platter and a list, he first gives the list to Blaidd, "Here is our Wines, all premium and the best Eagle City has to offer. The waiter then lowers the platter, dishing out everyone's drinks.

"I think I'll take a glass of your Highwind Rosé wine" Blaidd says, handing the list back to the waiter.

"So what's the sleeping arrangements tonight?" Jin asks.

"We talked about it before y'all came to the lobby, but it'll be me, Val, and you in one room, with Nepheres, Copia, Blaidd, and Sin in the other."

Rikushi glances over at Sin, "Don't be too loud tonight though"

Sin fires back, "We just talked all night bro"

The waiter brings Blaidd's wine,

"I guess no snoring tonight huh" Blaidd says.

The group all grab their drinks, "And to Blaidd's recovery"

clink

Everyone starts downing their drinks as Blaidd swirls his wine around in his glass.

"I guess I have to hold back with others there... and Pretend Like Nothing Happened"

The afternoon ran into nightfall, with laughter, enjoyment of food, glasses clinking, chats, and good memories.

Under all the noise, Blaidd held his silence like a secret only the city at night could hear, or at least that's what he thought.