## Chapter One — Same Road, Different Damage Ace knew the road before the lake appeared. Not because she had been watching the nav. She had stopped watching anything electronic half an hour ago. The city had peeled away behind them by layers—tower glow, industrial haze, service roads, concrete, then finally the long dark run of forest where the only lights came from their own convoy and the occasional isolated building set far back among the trees. Mai drove. Nyx sat behind them. Ace had spent most of the trip talking. Not continuously. Nothing that merciful. But enough. She had insulted Panam’s parking at the fuel stop, offered three increasingly obscene explanations for why Kiro had packed enough electronics for a week-long siege despite promising this was a weekend off, and informed Marco over comms that if he tried to make a meal schedule she would personally eat outside with her hands. Marco had told her to grow up. Brenda had asked whether he had met Ace. Iris had laughed. Then the road had narrowed. Ace had gone quiet. Mai noticed first. Nyx noticed second. Neither said anything. That was better. Ace sat low in the passenger seat, one leg folded beneath her, forehead resting briefly against the cool side window as the trees slid past. The silence inside the vehicle stopped feeling empty. Nyx leaned back and watched the road over Ace’s shoulder. She remembered it too. The last bend before the first glimpse of water. The way the ground dropped slightly beyond the pines. The ridiculous little rise that made the cabin roof appear, disappear, then return. It was not a new place to any of them. That mattered. Mai took the bend. The lake flashed through the trees. Ace’s head lifted. Nyx smiled. “There.” Ace did not turn around. “Don’t.” “I only said one word.” “I know what it meant.” Mai’s hand shifted on the steering wheel. Ace looked sideways at her. Mai’s mouth had betrayed her by perhaps a millimeter. “You’re both cunts.” Nyx laughed. Mai remained calm. “Good morning to you too.” “It’s evening.” “Then you have no excuse.” Ace turned farther in her seat and looked back at Nyx. “You remember the exact spot, don’t you?” “Yes.” “Of course you do.” Nyx’s smile softened. “So do you.” Ace looked forward again. The lake disappeared behind the trees. For a few seconds, she said nothing. Then: “I’m not getting thrown in before dinner.” Mai glanced at her. “That sounds negotiable.” Ace stared. “Excuse me?” Nyx laughed harder. Ace pointed at Mai. “No. You don’t get to side with Reyes before we even park.” “I did not side with anyone.” “You implied acceptable timing.” “I implied nothing.” “You’ve built your whole life around plausible deniability.” Mai’s expression finally broke. Not much. Enough. Ace saw it. She leaned back in the seat and smiled despite herself. That was the first real thing the road pulled out of her. Not laughter. Not yet. Something underneath it. Recognition. The cabin meant no briefing room. No staged fights. No pretending not to touch the wrong person because someone might be watching from the corner of the Afterlife. No voices in her ear telling her who was safe to look at and when. No having to remember which visible attachment was part of the cover and which one had to disappear for the cover to hold. Five days. That was all. Five days with people who already knew too much. People she did not have to lie to. Ace looked down at her hands. Mai noticed. Again, she said nothing. She simply moved her right hand off the wheel for a moment and set it on Ace’s thigh. Ace looked at it. Then at Mai. Mai kept driving. No question. Ace put her hand over Mai’s. Held it there. Nyx watched from behind them and did not feel outside the exchange. That was another thing the cabin had already taught them. Closeness did not need to be rationed. Neither did affection. Eventually Mai needed both hands again. Ace let her go. Nyx reached forward and rested her fingers against Ace’s shoulder. Ace leaned back into them. “Fucking hell,” Ace murmured. Nyx tilted her head. “What?” Ace looked toward the trees. “Nothing.” Nyx squeezed once. “Liar.” Ace smiled. “Probably.” The comms channel came alive. Panam. “Who the fuck is crawling up my ass?” Marco answered immediately. “You slowed down.” “Because the road narrows.” “You slowed down before it narrowed.” “Were you measuring?” Kiro’s voice cut in from another vehicle. “Approximately nine kilometers per hour.” Silence. Then Panam: “Kiro.” “Yes?” “Shut up.” Rhea laughed over the same mic. Sol said something too quiet to carry. Ace reached for comms. Mai slapped her hand away. Ace looked offended. “I was going to help.” “No.” “You don’t know that.” “Yes.” Nyx leaned forward between the seats. “What were you going to say?” Ace grinned. “That Panam clearly likes things riding close behind her.” Mai closed her eyes briefly. Nyx covered her mouth. Over comms, Brenda said: “Please tell me Ace is muted.” Mai answered without touching the channel. “She is.” Ace stared. “You didn’t transmit.” “I know.” Nyx was already laughing. Ace looked around the vehicle. “Hostile fucking transport.” The road opened. The cabin roof appeared through the trees. This time Ace stopped talking because she actually wanted to look. Dark timber. Low evening light. The familiar side building farther back. The broad terrace barely visible past the trunks. Then the trees parted again and the lake showed itself properly. The dock was there. Of course it was. Reyes’s voice came over comms. “Dock survived.” Ace hit the channel before Mai could stop her. “Fuck you.” A pause. Reyes answered: “Missed you too.” That one landed differently. Ace’s hand stayed on the control. Nobody else spoke for a second. Reyes did not add a joke. Ace looked out through the windshield. The dock slipped behind the trees as Mai took the final turn. Ace’s mouth curved. Small. Real. “Yeah,” she said quietly. Then released the channel. Mai heard. Nyx heard. Neither touched it. Good. --- The convoy entered the clearing in loose order. Nobody needed directions. That became obvious immediately. Panam took the space nearest the unloading side of the main cabin. Rhea and Sol angled toward the side building without asking anyone where they should park. Reyes put her vehicle where she had a clean path to the front steps and the lake trail. Marco arrived last because Marco had apparently decided spacing between vehicles mattered even in the forest. Mai parked near the same section of the cabin they had used before. Engine off. Silence. Not complete. Cooling metal. Wind in the pines. A distant bird. Somewhere beyond the trees, the water against the dock. Ace stayed in the seat for a moment longer. Nyx did too. Mai released her belt. Nobody said _we’re here_. That would have been ridiculous. Ace looked through the windshield. Same porch. Same windows. Same stupid lake. Different people inside the same bodies. She hated how much that thought tried to become sentimental. So she opened the door. “Right. Before Marco starts fucking labeling shelves.” She climbed out. Nyx smiled and followed. Mai shook her head once and got out behind them. The air hit differently than the city. Pine. Dry soil. Wood warmed all day by sun. Actual water. No burnt electronics. No traffic exhaust. No recycled interior air. Ace stood still long enough to notice. Then Panam opened the rear of her vehicle and immediately ruined the quiet. “Nobody touches the wine until everything else is inside.” Marco was already approaching. “I know.” Panam looked at him. “You say that like it’s your wine.” “I say it because you put the cold crates behind two boxes of produce.” “You watched me do it.” “I objected then too.” “And somehow the steaks are still alive.” “They were never alive in the vehicle.” Panam stared. Ace walked past them. “Good start.” Marco pointed at her without looking away from Panam. “Stay out of this.” Ace stopped. “What? I’m supporting coexistence.” “You’ve never supported coexistence in your life.” “That is deeply unfair.” Panam pulled one of the chilled containers forward. “You want to be useful, short stack?” Ace looked down at herself. Then at Panam. “Do I look built for livestock?” “It’s a handle.” “So is Marco.” Marco turned. Lena laughed from behind him. That ended his ability to answer for several seconds. Panam grinned. Ace took the other handle anyway. The crate came out between them. Panam looked at her. Ace looked back. “Don’t say anything about leverage.” “I wasn’t going to.” “You were thinking it.” “Still not saying it.” “Good.” They carried the crate toward the cabin. Shammy came around the vehicle with a smaller box against her hip. Panam saw her. Something in Panam’s whole face changed. Not dramatically. Just enough. Ace saw. Shammy walked beside them. Panam adjusted course by half a step so their shoulders touched. Shammy leaned into it. Ace looked ahead. Did not comment. She did, however, smile. Panam caught that. “Say it.” Ace looked innocent. “Say what?” “Whatever filthy little thing is crawling around in your head.” Ace considered. Then glanced at Shammy. Shammy looked curious. Ace smiled. “Nah.” Panam raised an eyebrow. Ace continued: “You two look disgustingly happy. I’ll let it live.” Panam’s expression softened. “Fuck you.” Ace nodded. “Better.” Shammy laughed. They reached the steps. Marco appeared behind them. “Cold crate to the kitchen counter. Left side.” Panam looked over her shoulder. “You watched the Safehouse loading.” “Yes.” “You made the fucking list.” “Yes.” “You told us the unloading order twice before we left.” “Yes.” “Then why are you narrating it?” Marco frowned. “Because you’re putting it on the wrong counter.” Panam stopped. Ace looked through the open doorway. Then at Marco. Then Panam. Panam stared for a second. “Which side?” “Right.” Panam closed her eyes. Ace started laughing. Panam opened them. “You shut the fuck up.” “I was technically silent.” “You’re laughing.” “That’s not speech.” Shammy moved past them. “Technically true.” Panam looked betrayed. Ace laughed harder. --- The rest arrived around them in waves. Brenda climbed out carrying a bag that could have supplied a small military unit with underwear. Iris came after her with two sensible bags and the expression of someone who had already accepted that arguing with Brenda’s luggage was beneath her. Marco saw the large bag. His face changed. Brenda saw that. “Oh, don’t you fucking start.” “I made no comment.” “You made a face.” “It’s five days.” “I like options.” “You packed options for a regime change.” Brenda put a hand to her chest. “Fashion is morale.” Iris passed behind her. “Half of that is lingerie.” The clearing went quiet for one perfect second. Brenda turned. Iris kept walking. Ace’s head snapped up. Panam made a choking sound. Reyes, halfway around her vehicle, stopped. Kiro froze with a bag in hand. Marco looked at Brenda. Then the bag. Then Iris. Iris did not slow. Brenda pointed after her. “See? This is why I’m marrying her.” Iris called back: “You were already marrying me.” “Now I’m doing it harder.” Ace folded over the crate laughing. Mai came up behind her and put one hand on her back. “Breathe.” Ace looked up. “She’s finally fucking funny.” Iris turned at the steps. Her face remained composed. “Finally?” Brenda shouted: “Do not answer that.” Iris’s smile appeared. Tiny. Deadly. “Noted.” Ace stared at her. Then at Mai. “Oh, we are going to have a problem this weekend.” Mai looked at Iris. Then Ace. “Yes.” Brenda’s eyes lit. Iris looked toward her. “No.” Brenda grinned. “You don’t even know what I’m thinking.” “I do.” “That is why I love you.” No embarrassment. No coy laughter. Just adults who knew exactly what the joke was and had no need to pretend otherwise. Much better. Ace felt something inside her unclench another degree. --- Rhea and Sol were already unloading from their vehicle when Kiro stepped out. Kiro had one compact overnight bag. Ace spotted it immediately. She walked over. Looked at the bag. Then at Kiro. “That all?” “Yes.” Ace looked into the rear compartment. Two equipment cases. A smaller locked case. A cable bag. Ace slowly turned back. Kiro folded her arms. “You said bag.” “I said _that all?_” “For clothes.” Ace stared. Rhea leaned against the vehicle. Sol closed the rear hatch halfway. Mai approached. Kiro saw her. Something subtle happened. The angle of Kiro’s shoulders. The direction of her attention. Ace saw that too. “Oh, fuck off.” Kiro looked at her. “What?” “You’ve been here thirty seconds.” Mai stopped beside Ace. “Leave her alone.” Ace turned. “You’re encouraging theft.” “Of what?” “My side.” Kiro’s expression became almost smug. Mai looked between them. Then calmly said: “I have two.” Sol laughed. Rhea looked away. Kiro’s face warmed despite herself. Ace stared at Mai. “Do not start that shit already.” Mai’s eyes were innocent. “I stated a fact.” Ace looked at Nyx, who had just reached them carrying her own bag. “Did you hear that?” “Yes.” “Support me.” Nyx looked at Mai. Then Ace. “No.” Ace’s jaw dropped. Nyx stepped closer and kissed Ace’s temple. “Not on this.” Ace looked mortally wounded. Kiro picked up her clothes bag. Rhea’s hand found the back of her waist almost casually. Sol took one of the equipment cases. Kiro looked toward the side building. Not the main cabin. Ace saw. Her eyes narrowed. Kiro caught it. No one said anything yet. Not yet. But the choice had already happened in Kiro’s body. Nyx saw it too. She shifted her bag higher on her shoulder. “Some things really don’t need discussion.” Ace looked at her. Nyx met the gaze. Shared history. Not exposition. Ace’s expression softened. “No.” Nyx smiled. “No.” --- Reyes had finished unloading before almost anyone else. Of course she had. One duffel. Weapon case. Done. She stood beside her vehicle while everyone else fought luggage, food crates, and Marco’s increasingly irrelevant system. Ace saw her. Reyes saw Ace seeing her. For a moment neither moved. Then Reyes looked toward the dock. Ace followed the glance. Reyes looked back. Ace pointed at her. “No.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “I haven’t touched you.” “Your face is already planning a felony.” “You agreed last time.” “After the fact.” “That’s not how agreement works.” “Exactly.” Reyes laughed. Ace walked closer. Not all the way. Enough. “Not before I’ve eaten.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace realized what she had just said. Reyes’s smile became slower. “Oh?” Ace narrowed her eyes. “Do not make that dirty.” Reyes looked toward Brenda. Then Iris. Then Panam. Then back at Ace. “You’re asking the wrong group.” Ace snorted. “Fair.” Reyes picked up her duffel. Started toward the cabin. As she passed, her free hand touched Ace’s shoulder. One squeeze. Nothing more. Ace stopped. The touch lasted less than a second. It went through her anyway. Reyes kept walking. Ace watched her back. Mai saw from across the clearing. So did Nyx. Neither woman smiled this time. They understood too well. Ace turned toward them. Mai held out a hand. Ace went. No hesitation. She took it. Nyx came alongside. For a few steps, Ace walked between them. No tactical reason not to. That fact was almost enough to hurt. --- Inside, the cabin absorbed them quickly. Shoes appeared by the door. Bags accumulated at the base of the stairs. Marco started issuing kitchen instructions that no one followed exactly. Lena helped him just enough to keep him from becoming unbearable. Panam put the wine somewhere Marco disliked. Marco moved it. Panam moved it back. Shammy quietly relocated both bottles to a third place while they argued. Neither noticed. Brenda tried to claim a section of the coat hooks. Iris took half of Brenda’s jackets off them and hung her own coat there. Brenda stared. Iris looked back. “You packed six.” “Seven.” “That is worse.” Brenda walked close. Too close for a luggage argument. Iris did not move away. Brenda lowered her voice. “One of them looks very good on the floor.” Iris’s face did not change. Her hand closed around Brenda’s collar. She pulled her in and kissed her once. Hard enough to shut her up. Then released her. “Hang the coats.” Brenda stood there for a second. Ace, halfway up the stairs with a bag, stopped. Panam stopped. Kiro stopped. Reyes looked over from the hall. Brenda slowly smiled. “Oh, this weekend is going to fuck.” Iris turned toward the coat hooks. “Yes.” Ace made a noise. Mai looked up from below. Ace stared down at her. “No more pyhäkoulua.” Mai’s eyes narrowed slightly. Ace realized she had spoken in Finnish. Nyx, behind her on the stairs, laughed despite not needing a translation. Ace shook her head. “Never mind.” Then she looked back toward Iris. Iris met her gaze. Something passed between them. Shared recognition. That direct camp language. No little coy detour around sex. No pretending the room had not understood Brenda perfectly. Ace grinned. Iris’s mouth curved. Mai saw. Brenda definitely saw. Good. Let them. --- Ace reached the upper landing. Stopped. The hallway was familiar. Same doors. Same windows. Same room at the end. Nyx came up beside her. No uncertainty in her expression. Mai followed. Ace looked at Nyx. Then at the room. Nyx lifted her bag slightly. “Same starting point.” Ace smiled. Not broadly. Something warmer. “Yeah.” Mai reached them. Nyx looked at her. Mai’s expression softened too. There was history in that room. Not merely sleep. Not merely proximity. The kind of history that made all three of them aware of the closed door before anyone had actually entered. Ace felt it. So did Nyx. Mai definitely did. Ace stepped closer to Nyx and tugged lightly at the front of her jacket. “Still good?” Nyx looked down at her. “Yes.” No joke. Ace nodded. Mai touched Nyx’s lower back. Nyx leaned slightly into the contact. Then looked at both of them. “Very.” Ace’s eyes warmed. The answer landed low. Immediate. Adult. No one needed to unpack that yet. The day had barely begun. But the room was there. And this time nobody was going to mistake _same room_ for merely sharing a bed because there happened to be enough space. Downstairs, Brenda shouted: “Marco, if you put my chocolate on the top shelf again, I’m climbing you to get it.” Marco shouted back: “That sentence makes no sense.” Panam answered: “It made perfect sense.” Ace closed her eyes. Nyx laughed. Mai smiled. Ace picked up her bag again. “Home.” The word slipped out before she could make it uglier. Nyx looked at her. Mai did too. Ace grimaced. “Don’t.” Nyx touched her cheek. “Wasn’t going to.” Mai kissed the top of Ace’s head. Ace let her. Then the three went into the room long enough to drop their things. Not stay. Not yet. --- When they came back downstairs, most of the unloading was done. Marco stood in the kitchen pretending this was because people had finally obeyed him. Lena let him have it. Panam and Shammy were on the terrace. Shammy leaned against the railing. Panam stood behind her, arms around her waist. No conversation. Just touch. Rhea, Sol, and Kiro were headed toward the side building. Kiro looked back once. Not at Ace. At Mai. Ace caught it. Mai did too. Ace sighed. “Fine.” Mai looked at her. “What?” Ace pointed after Kiro. “You can have your second side.” Mai’s eyebrow rose. Ace added: “Tonight I have Nyx. I’m not fucking greedy.” Nyx, beside her, turned. Ace looked up. Nyx’s eyes had gone warm. Ace immediately realized that one had landed exactly as intended. Mai’s mouth curved. “Not greedy?” Ace looked at both women. “Shut up.” Nyx leaned down and kissed her. Brief. Promising. Ace came out of it smiling. Across the clearing, Reyes had stopped near the path to the water. She saw. Ace saw her seeing. Nobody looked away. Reyes’s expression softened. Then she glanced toward Mai. Mai gave her the smallest nod. Not permission. Understanding. Reyes looked back at Ace. Ace walked toward the terrace instead of the dock. As she passed Reyes, she caught her hand. Only for a second. Reyes’s fingers closed around hers. Ace squeezed. Released. No one had to hide a goddamn thing. That was the first moment the cabin truly felt different. Not because the place had changed. Because they no longer had to spend energy pretending distance where none existed. Behind them, Marco shouted something about knives. Panam told him to shove the knife chart up his ass. Brenda applauded. Iris told Panam she could probably make it fit if Marco laminated it first. The entire clearing went silent. Then exploded. Ace stopped dead. Turned toward Iris. Iris stood on the terrace holding a drink, calm as stone. Brenda was doubled over beside her. Panam had one hand over her mouth. Marco looked genuinely wounded. Kiro shouted from halfway to the side house: “OH, FUCK.” Ace stared at Iris. Then started laughing. Not polite laughter. Not the measured little release of tension they had been living on. Full. Ugly. Helpless. Mai came up behind her and wrapped both arms around her. Nyx pressed against her side. Ace kept laughing. Reyes joined them from the path. Not touching yet. Close. Shammy watched the whole group. Her expression softened. The air around them felt different. Not lighter. That would have been too simple. Looser. As if everyone had stopped holding their shoulders half an inch too high. Ace finally caught her breath. She wiped at one eye. Looked around at them. At Panam still laughing. At Iris looking pleased with herself. At Brenda hanging off her. At Marco swearing he was surrounded by animals. At Lena laughing too hard to help him. At Rhea and Sol holding Kiro between them because Kiro had nearly dropped a bag. At Shammy tucked into Panam again. At Nyx pressed close. At Mai’s arms around her. At Reyes close enough that Ace could reach her without moving her feet. Same cabin. Same lake. Same people. Not the same damage. Not anymore. Ace reached sideways. Her fingers found Reyes’s. Reyes took them. Mai tightened her arms. Nyx rested her head briefly against Ace’s. Nobody commented. For once, nobody needed to. They had five days. And nothing here required pretending. --- ## Chapter Two — Muscle Memory Nobody assigned rooms. Marco tried. That was not the same thing. He had found the old room list in the cabin system, updated it sometime before arrival, added names, removed two outdated access entries, and apparently expected the rest of the group to react to this administrative achievement with something resembling gratitude. Instead, by the time he emerged from the kitchen with the tablet in hand, three people were already walking toward the side house. Marco stopped on the terrace. “Wait.” Rhea looked over her shoulder. Sol did too. Kiro did not. She kept walking. Marco looked at the screen. Then at them. “We haven’t done rooms.” Kiro finally turned. “Yes, we have.” “No.” “Yes.” Marco lifted the tablet. “I literally have the assignments.” Ace appeared in the doorway behind him carrying a beer she had absolutely not asked anyone before opening. “Burn it.” Marco did not turn. “No.” Ace took a drink. “Then frame it.” Lena came through behind Ace and looked at the tablet. “You really made one?” Marco looked offended by the question. “There are thirteen people.” “There were thirteen people when you made it.” “Yes.” “And there are thirteen people now.” “Yes.” “So your math survived.” Marco stared. Ace leaned toward Lena. “Marriage material.” Lena smiled. Marco looked from one woman to the other. “I hate both of you.” “No, you don’t,” Lena said. “Currently negotiable.” Ace took another drink. “See? Adult communication.” Marco turned. “Why are you drinking already?” Ace looked at the bottle. “Because I opened it.” “That was not the question.” “It was the answer.” Rhea had stopped near the side-house path. Sol stood beside her. Kiro had made it another few meters before realizing neither of them was following. She turned. “What?” Rhea looked at her. Then toward the side house. Then back. “Same room?” The question was quiet. Not coy. Not loaded. It did not need to be. Kiro answered instantly. “Yes.” Ace made a delighted little sound. Kiro’s head snapped toward her. “No.” Ace grinned. “That was a noise.” “You made the sound.” “What sound?” “The one before you say something filthy.” Ace looked toward Mai. Mai had come onto the terrace carrying two glasses of water. She gave one to Nyx. Kept the other. Ace pointed toward Kiro. “She knows me.” Kiro folded her arms. “I know what you’re like.” Ace’s grin widened. “Better.” Rhea laughed. Sol looked at Kiro. “Still side house?” Kiro turned back toward them. The answer was already in the way she stepped closer to Rhea. “Yes.” Sol’s expression warmed. “Good.” Kiro looked toward Mai. Not dramatically. Just a glance. Quick. Habitual. Ace caught it anyway. Of course she did. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Kiro froze. Mai looked at Ace. “What?” Ace pointed between Kiro and Mai. “This.” Kiro’s eyes narrowed. “There is no this.” “There is absolutely a this.” Mai took a drink of water. Ace looked at her. Mai remained silent. Ace stared. “You are enjoying this.” Mai’s mouth curved. Slightly. “That depends.” “On what?” “Whether you keep digging.” Ace looked offended. Kiro looked suddenly much too interested in the gravel. Rhea saw that. So did Sol. Nyx came to stand beside Ace. She looked toward Kiro. Then Mai. Then Ace. “Oh.” Ace turned. “No.” Nyx smiled. “I kept quiet.” “That is clearly contagious.” Mai looked toward Kiro again. This time Kiro met the gaze properly. No embarrassment. No pretending the previous cabin weekend had not happened. Something quiet passed between them. Familiar. Physical memory without any need to drag it into the open. Ace saw. Her expression changed. Not jealousy. Something softer. Then dirtier. She leaned toward Nyx and murmured, not remotely quietly enough: “She’s going to get fucked stupid in that side house before we leave.” Kiro’s eyes widened. Rhea choked. Sol covered her mouth. Mai actually laughed. Kiro stared at Ace. “You absolute cunt.” Ace smiled brightly. “There she is.” Rhea put an arm around Kiro’s waist. Kiro looked toward her. Rhea’s smile was warm enough to undo half the outrage immediately. “Come on.” Kiro pointed at Ace one last time. “This is why people shoot you.” Ace lifted the beer in salute. “And yet.” Sol took Kiro’s other hand. The three started toward the side house. Kiro looked back once. Ace immediately blew her a kiss. Kiro gave her the finger. Ace looked delighted. Marco watched all of this with the tablet still in his hand. Then slowly lowered it. “Fine.” Lena leaned into him. “Growth.” “Shut up.” She kissed his cheek. “Better?” “No.” “Liar.” Marco looked toward the side house. Then at the tablet. “Room one: Rhea, Sol, Kiro.” Ace leaned toward him. “You writing down sex too?” Marco looked at her. “No.” “Coward.” “Fuck off.” Ace’s eyes lit. “There he is.” --- The main cabin sorted itself without discussion. That was the part Marco hated most. Not the disorder. The fact that the disorder was functional. Brenda and Iris took the same room they had used before. Brenda dumped her large bag onto the bed, opened it, and immediately produced three sets of underwear Iris had definitely not packed. Iris stood in the doorway and watched. Brenda looked over. “What?” Iris looked at the underwear. Then at Brenda. “Seven jackets.” “Yes.” “That.” “Yes.” “And you still packed more lingerie than shirts.” Brenda considered. “That sounds balanced.” Iris walked closer. Brenda smiled. “See something you like?” Iris looked into the bag again. “Several things.” Brenda’s eyebrows rose. Iris reached in. Picked up one black set. Looked at it. Then at Brenda. “This one.” Brenda’s smile widened. “Tonight?” Iris folded it once and put it on the chair. “Maybe.” Brenda stared at her. Iris looked back. Calm. Entirely serious. Brenda took one step closer. “You know I’m trying very hard not to drag you onto that bed right now.” Iris glanced toward the open door. Then back. “Try harder.” Brenda stopped. Iris’s mouth curved. “Dinner first.” Brenda laughed. “You evil bitch.” “Yes.” Iris kissed her. Short. Deliberate. Then stepped away. “Unpack.” Brenda watched her go. “Marrying you was the best fucking decision I ever made.” Iris called from the hall: “You haven’t married me yet.” “Details!” --- Panam and Shammy needed less time. Panam put her bag down. Shammy put hers beside it. Done. Panam looked at the bed. Then at Shammy. Shammy looked back. Panam’s mouth twitched. “No.” Shammy tilted her head. “I only looked.” “You looked at the bed.” “So did you.” Panam stared. Shammy smiled. Panam walked over and caught her by the hips. Shammy’s hands settled on Panam’s shoulders. “Still thinking?” “Yes.” Panam kissed her. Not long. Long enough. When she pulled back, Shammy’s hair had lifted slightly around her face. Panam smiled. “Subtitles?” “Yes.” “What do they say?” Shammy looked at her. “Later.” Panam laughed. “Fuck.” Shammy kissed her once more. Then turned toward the door. Panam caught her hand. Shammy looked back. Panam squeezed. Not stopping her. Just contact. Shammy squeezed back. They left together. --- Marco and Lena took the room closest to the kitchen because Marco insisted this was efficient. Lena let him say that. Reyes took her usual room alone. No one interpreted _alone_ as a declaration about the weekend. Least of all Ace. Reyes carried her duffel inside. Set the rifle case against the wall. Unzipped the bag. Stopped. A bottle of bourbon sat on top of her clothes. Reyes stared. Then picked it up. There was a note beneath it. Three words. **DON’T BE BORING.** Reyes looked toward the open door. Ace stood in the hallway. Reyes lifted the bottle. “You?” Ace leaned against the frame. “No.” Reyes waited. Ace smiled. “Yes.” “You packed contraband in my bag.” “You brought a rifle.” “That’s not contraband.” “Depends where we’re going.” Reyes looked at the note. Then at Ace. “You wrote this?” Ace folded her arms. “Mai did.” Reyes’s eyebrow rose. Ace cracked. “Fine. I did.” Reyes put the bottle on the dresser. “Thank you.” Ace’s grin softened. “Welcome.” For a second neither moved. The hallway noise continued behind Ace. Doors. Footsteps. Brenda swearing at something. Marco shouting from downstairs that nobody was to leave wet towels on wood surfaces. None of it entered the room. Reyes looked at Ace. Ace looked back. The last weeks sat there between them. Not needing excavation. Not yet. Reyes stepped closer. Ace did too. No kiss. Just a hand from Reyes against Ace’s cheek. Ace leaned into it. Closed her eyes for half a second. Reyes’s thumb moved once. “You good?” Ace opened her eyes. “Getting there.” Reyes nodded. “That’s enough.” Ace looked at her. “No.” Reyes waited. Ace stepped closer. Hugged her. This time not hard. Not desperate. Just long. Reyes’s arms went around her. Ace rested her face against Reyes’s chest. Reyes held her without teasing. When Ace finally stepped back, she looked toward the bourbon. “Don’t drink all of it tonight.” Reyes smiled. “Concerned?” “No. I want some.” “Thought so.” Ace grinned. Then walked out. Reyes watched her leave. The room felt less empty afterward. --- Upstairs, Nyx had already opened the window. The forest air moved through the room. Cool. Clean. Mai stood beside the bed unpacking with the ruthless efficiency of someone who had brought exactly what she needed. Ace came in carrying nothing. Mai looked toward her. “Where is your bag?” Ace stopped. Nyx turned from the window. Ace looked toward the hall. Then back. “Downstairs.” Mai closed her eyes. Nyx laughed. Ace pointed. “I was busy.” “With?” “Reyes.” Mai opened her eyes again. The irritation vanished. “Good.” Ace looked at her. That simple answer did something. No possessiveness. No question. Just good. Ace walked closer. Mai touched her shoulder. Ace leaned in. Nyx watched. Not excluded. Not waiting for the moment to end. Ace looked toward her. “Come here.” Nyx crossed the room. Ace put one arm around Mai. The other around Nyx. Then looked up at both. “This is better.” Mai smiled. Nyx’s hand settled against Ace’s waist. “Than what?” Ace thought about the last weeks. Then shook her head. “Everything.” No one joked. For a while. Then Nyx glanced toward the open door. “Your bag is still downstairs.” Ace sighed. “Fuck.” Mai stepped away. Ace caught her hand. “No, you get it.” Mai looked at her. “Why?” “Because you love me.” Mai stared. Nyx laughed. Ace looked toward her. “You’re taller. You can help.” Nyx’s eyebrows rose. “With stairs?” “Yes.” “How?” Ace gave her a deeply serious look. “Longer legs.” Mai pulled her hand free. “You are going downstairs.” Ace folded her arms. “This relationship is abusive.” Nyx kissed the top of her head. “You’ll survive.” Ace looked between them. “Both of you are very brave when I’m outnumbered.” Mai’s mouth curved. “Outnumbered?” Something in her tone changed. Ace heard it. Nyx did too. Ace’s eyes narrowed. “That sounded filthy.” Mai remained perfectly calm. “Did it?” Nyx smiled. Ace stepped closer to Mai. “Say it again.” Mai touched her chin. “Later.” Ace stared. Nyx laughed. Ace pointed at both of them. “This room is already a problem.” Mai kissed her. Ace stopped talking. Nyx watched for a second. Then leaned in and kissed Ace’s cheek when Mai drew back. Ace looked from one to the other. Her annoyance disappeared completely. “Fine.” Nyx smiled. “Bag.” Ace groaned and left. --- By the time Ace returned, Kiro had somehow beaten her back to the main cabin. Ace saw her at the kitchen counter beside Mai. Of course. Kiro was holding something electronic. Also of course. Mai stood close enough to look at the display. Kiro pointed at one graph. Mai said something. Kiro laughed. Ace stopped in the doorway. Nyx, behind her carrying Ace’s bag because apparently all principles had collapsed, nearly walked into her. “What?” Ace pointed. Nyx followed the gesture. Kiro. Mai. Nyx looked back at Ace. “Oh.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “Do not.” “You left.” “For six minutes.” “Long enough.” Ace looked offended. She walked into the kitchen. Kiro saw her. Kept talking. That was deliberately provocative. Ace stopped on Mai’s other side. Very close. Mai looked down at her. “What?” “Nothing.” Kiro smiled. Ace looked across Mai. “What?” Kiro shook her head. Ace narrowed her eyes. “Say it.” “You’re fucking ridiculous.” Ace smiled. “Correct.” Mai looked between them. Kiro held up the device. “I was showing her the thermal drift from the last camp test.” Ace stared. “On vacation?” Kiro glanced down at the display. Then back. “That sounds bad when you say it.” “It is bad.” “It’s interesting.” Ace took the device. Kiro protested. Ace handed it to Marco, who happened to be walking past. Marco took it reflexively. Kiro stared. Marco looked at the screen. “What is this?” “Not yours.” Kiro snatched it back. Ace leaned against Mai. “Fixed.” Kiro glared. Mai put an arm around Ace. Kiro saw. Ace smiled. Then Mai held out her other hand. Kiro looked at it. Ace saw. Her smile became wicked. Kiro looked at Ace. Ace sighed theatrically. “Oh, go on then.” Kiro took Mai’s hand. Ace looked up at Mai. “You are absolutely milking this.” Mai’s expression was serene. “I have no idea what you mean.” Nyx set Ace’s bag down beside the stairs. “Liar.” Mai looked toward her. Nyx smiled. Ace followed Mai’s gaze. Then looked at Nyx. Then Mai. Then Kiro. Her eyebrows rose. “Oh, this weekend is going to be fucking exhausting.” Brenda walked through carrying two glasses. “Only if you’re doing it right.” Ace turned. Brenda kept walking. Iris followed behind her. “Do not encourage Ace before dinner.” Brenda looked over her shoulder. “Why? She’s funnier horny.” Ace pointed. “Thank you.” Mai said, “Unfortunately true.” Kiro nearly inhaled wrong. Ace looked across Mai at her. “You okay?” Kiro coughed. “Yes.” Brenda stopped. Looked at Kiro. Then Mai’s hand holding hers. Then Ace tucked against Mai’s other side. “Oh.” Kiro immediately let go. Mai looked at her. Ace looked offended. “Coward.” Kiro pointed at Brenda. “She made the face.” Brenda’s eyes widened. “What face?” “The one where you start talking.” Iris took Brenda by the elbow. “Come on.” Brenda let herself be moved. “But I had questions.” Iris did not slow. “That was the problem.” Ace called after them: “Ask later!” Brenda shouted back: “I fucking will!” Iris’s laugh carried down the hall. Kiro looked toward Mai. Then Ace. “This place is worse than the camp.” Ace grinned. “No guns.” Kiro considered. “Yet.” Reyes entered from the terrace. “Whose guns?” Ace looked at her. “No one’s.” Reyes looked at Kiro. Kiro looked away. Reyes looked at Mai. Then Ace. Then their proximity. Her mouth curved. Ace stared. “Not a fucking word.” Reyes smiled wider. Ace paused. Then groaned. “No, scratch that. Say it. We’re not doing coy bullshit.” Reyes leaned against the counter. “I was going to say you look comfortable.” Ace looked at Mai’s arm around her. Then Kiro standing close. Then Nyx beside them. She smiled. “I am.” Reyes nodded. “Good.” That landed. Simple. No joke needed. Ace looked at her. Warmth passed between them. Then Brenda shouted from somewhere down the hall: “I FOUND THE SAUNA TOWELS!” Marco shouted back: “They were in the towel cabinet!” Brenda: “I FOUND THE TOWEL CABINET!” Panam: “Jesus fucking Christ.” Shammy laughed. The cabin came alive around them. Ace looked up at Mai. Then toward Nyx. Then Reyes. Then Kiro. No one asking anyone to step back. No one pretending a bond was smaller than it was. Ace breathed out. The tension she had carried into the drive loosened another notch. Not gone. Good. It did not need to disappear all at once. Kiro looked toward the side-house path. Rhea and Sol had just appeared outside. Waiting. Kiro saw them. Her whole face softened. Ace caught it. This time she did not tease. Kiro looked toward Mai. Mai squeezed her hand once. Then let go. Kiro looked at Ace. Ace lifted her chin toward the door. “Go.” Kiro hesitated. Ace grinned. “And if you come back looking completely wrecked, I reserve the right to be fucking unbearable about it.” Kiro stared. “There she is.” Ace blew her another kiss. Kiro laughed. Then went. Rhea took one of her hands as soon as she reached the terrace. Sol took the other. No discussion. They disappeared toward the side house together. Nyx watched them go. Then looked at Ace. Ace looked up at her. “What?” Nyx smiled. “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “You’re thinking something filthy.” “Yes.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. “Good.” Mai laughed. Nyx leaned down and kissed Ace slowly enough that Mai’s expression changed. Ace noticed. Of course she noticed. When Nyx drew back, Ace looked up at Mai. “Later?” Mai’s eyes warmed. “Much.” Ace grinned. Now that sounded more like the weekend she remembered. --- ## Chapter Three — Real Food Marco stopped pretending Panam’s farm haul was merely adequate when he opened the steak crate. He did not gasp. Marco did not gasp over food. He simply went quiet. Panam saw. Ace saw Panam see. Lena, standing beside the kitchen island with a knife and a bowl of potatoes, saw all of them. Nobody helped Marco. He lifted one of the sealed steaks, checked the marbling through the wrap, turned it once beneath the light, and set it down with considerably more care than he had used with anything else that afternoon. Panam folded her arms. “Well?” Marco reached for another. “No.” Panam stared. “No what?” “I am not performing for you.” “You already are.” “I’m checking the cut.” “You checked the fucking cut at the Safehouse.” “I’m checking it again.” Ace leaned against the counter. “Say you love her meat, Marco.” Silence. Marco closed his eyes. Panam’s mouth fell open. Lena bit down hard on the inside of her cheek. Nyx, halfway through carrying vegetables toward the sink, stopped completely. Mai looked at Ace. Ace smiled. “What?” Marco opened his eyes. “Out.” Ace looked toward the door. Then back. “You cannot throw me out of a room where my beer is.” “It’s in your hand.” “Exactly. Property rights.” Panam started laughing. Marco pointed at her. “You are encouraging her.” “No shit.” Shammy came in carrying bread. “What happened?” Panam looked at her. “Ace asked Marco to say he loves my meat.” Shammy considered this. Then looked toward the steaks. “They are very good.” The kitchen broke. Panam folded against the counter. Lena finally gave up and laughed openly. Nyx put the vegetables down before she dropped them. Mai covered her mouth. Ace pointed at Shammy with both hands. “See? This is why I fucking love her.” Shammy smiled. Panam looked at her girlfriend. “You knew what she meant.” “Yes.” That made Panam laugh harder. Marco stared at Shammy. Then at Ace. Then at the ceiling. “Five days.” Lena touched his back. “You’ll survive.” “I’m revising my estimate.” Ace took a drink. “Still no verdict on Panam’s meat.” Marco turned. “Ace.” She grinned. Panam slapped one palm against the island. “Come on. Say it.” Marco looked at her. The grin on Panam’s face was unbearable. He looked at the steaks again. Then finally: “They’re excellent.” Panam’s grin disappeared. Not completely. Enough. “Yeah?” Marco nodded. “Very.” The answer was sincere. Panam softened immediately. “Good.” Ace looked between them. “You two are disgusting.” Panam flipped her off. Marco said, “You started this.” “I start many beautiful things.” Mai passed behind Ace and caught her lightly by the hips. Ace leaned back into her without interrupting her drink. Mai looked toward Marco. “She also finishes very few of them.” Ace nearly choked. Panam made a sound like something had stabbed her. Nyx turned toward Mai. Lena froze. Marco looked at Mai with new respect. Ace slowly lowered the bottle. “Excuse me?” Mai’s face remained calm. “You heard me.” Ace stared up at her. Mai’s hands were still at her hips. Ace’s mouth began to curve. “Oh.” Mai saw the change. So did Nyx. “Not here,” Mai said. Ace’s smile widened. “You brought it up.” “I corrected Marco’s assessment.” “You corrected something.” Panam pointed toward them. “No. If you two start fucking on my steaks, I’m killing both of you.” Ace looked toward the sealed crate. “Those would be cold.” Marco made a strangled noise. Lena covered his face with one hand. “Don’t.” He spoke through her palm. “I wasn’t going to.” “That was for me.” --- Dinner preparation spread through the cabin because thirteen people could not occupy the same place without turning anything practical into a social event. Marco took control of the kitchen. Panam took control of the grill. Neither officially surrendered territory to the other. Lena handled vegetables because she was the only person both trusted enough not to micromanage. Mai helped with preparation. Nyx sliced bread. Rhea and Sol dealt with the outdoor table. Kiro was supposed to carry plates. Instead she spent seven minutes explaining to Shammy why the grill’s temperature sensor was inaccurate by several degrees. Shammy listened seriously. Panam eventually leaned over. “Kiro.” Kiro looked up. “What?” “Are you trying to optimize my grill?” “No.” Panam waited. Kiro glanced at the sensor. “Not actively.” “Go carry plates.” Kiro looked toward Shammy. Shammy smiled. “Plates.” Kiro sighed. “Fine.” She turned. Walked straight into Mai. Mai caught her by the shoulders. Kiro froze. Ace, three meters away, saw it. Her eyes lit up immediately. Kiro saw Ace’s face. “No.” Ace held up both hands. “I said nothing.” “You’re about to.” Mai released Kiro. Kiro remained suspiciously close for another second before stepping away. Ace looked at her. Then at Mai. Then back. “Actually, I have a practical question.” Kiro stopped. “No.” “You don’t even know it.” “I know you.” Ace ignored that. “How many plates can you carry while distracted by a hot Korean woman?” Kiro stared. Mai turned toward Ace. Nyx stopped slicing. Panam looked over from the grill. Rhea and Sol both appeared at the terrace door at exactly the wrong moment. Kiro’s face warmed. “Fuck you.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. “That is not a number.” Rhea leaned against the frame. “I’d guess two.” Sol looked at Kiro. “Three if Mai walks ahead.” Kiro turned. “You’re both cunts too.” Rhea smiled. “Come here.” Kiro glared. Rhea held out a hand. Kiro went anyway. Ace looked satisfied. Mai touched the back of Ace’s neck. Ace looked up. “What?” “You are stirring shit.” “I am documenting observed behavior.” “You are enjoying observed behavior.” Ace smiled. “Also true.” Nyx heard that. Her attention stayed on Ace a fraction longer. Ace did not notice. Not yet. --- Brenda and Iris entered from upstairs midway through the first round of food prep. Brenda had changed clothes. Iris had not. Brenda wore shorts and a loose top that revealed enough skin to make it obvious she had dressed for comfort rather than temperature. Iris looked at her. Then toward the grill. “You changed for steak?” Brenda looked offended. “I changed because the jeans were trying to cut me in half.” Ace looked over. “They looked good.” Brenda turned. “Thank you.” Iris’s eyes moved toward Ace. Ace caught it. Brenda saw both. Her smile became dangerous. Ace looked at Iris. “I said the jeans looked good.” Iris nodded. “They did.” Brenda looked delighted. Ace blinked. Then smiled slowly. “Oh, this is going to be fun.” Mai, without looking up from the vegetables she was cutting, said: “No.” Ace turned. “You cannot no the entire weekend.” “I can try.” Iris stepped closer to the island. Ace watched her. There was something in Iris’s posture that had not been there before the specialist camp. Not confidence. Iris had never lacked that. Permission. Less concern about whether the room found her directness excessive. Ace knew it because she had learned the same thing in different ways. Iris looked at the steaks. “Panam actually found proper beef.” Panam called from outside: “I heard that.” “I meant it as praise.” “Good.” Brenda leaned against the island. “What are we doing?” Marco said, “Nothing.” Ace answered at the same time: “Steak.” Brenda looked from one to the other. “I trust Ace more.” Marco stared. “That is clinically insane.” Iris looked at Brenda. “You trust Ace because she’s more likely to answer the question you actually meant.” Brenda paused. Then pointed at her. “Exactly.” Marco frowned. “What question did she mean?” Everyone looked at him. Lena rested both palms on the counter. “Marco.” “What?” Ace smiled. Brenda smiled. Iris looked serenely at him. Marco slowly looked around. “No.” Panam shouted from outside: “Too late.” --- The steaks hit the grill. That shut everyone up for almost twenty seconds. The smell alone changed the room. Real fat. Char. Pepper. Herbs. Something dense and unmistakably physical about food that had once been an animal rather than a chemistry problem. Ace stood at the terrace door and inhaled. “Fuck me.” Iris, behind her, answered immediately: “Maybe after dinner.” Silence. Ace turned. Slowly. Iris stood there with a glass of water. Calm. Brenda’s eyes widened. Mai stopped cutting. Panam froze with the tongs in one hand. Kiro’s head appeared around the side-house path. Rhea looked at Sol. Sol’s mouth fell open. Marco looked toward Lena. Lena was already laughing. Ace stared at Iris. Then pointed. “Yes.” Iris’s eyebrows rose. Ace grinned. “That. More of that.” Brenda looked at Iris with open adoration. “Jesus fucking Christ.” Iris took a drink. “What?” “You heard her say fuck me and answered like that in front of twelve people.” Iris looked toward Ace. Ace lifted both hands. “I asked publicly.” Brenda leaned toward Iris. “I am so fucking proud of you.” Iris looked at her. “You say that as if this is new.” “It’s not new.” Brenda smiled. “It’s just finally loud.” That quieted things for a second. Not awkwardly. Because it was true. Iris met Brenda’s gaze. Brenda’s expression softened. Then Ace ruined it. “Do you two need five minutes or can Panam finish burning the cow first?” Panam turned. “Burning?” Marco immediately looked toward the grill. “No.” Panam glared. Ace laughed. Brenda looked toward Ace. “Five minutes?” Iris put one hand at Brenda’s lower back. “Not with you asking.” Brenda’s eyes warmed. “So later.” Iris’s thumb moved once. “Possibly.” Ace looked at Mai. Mai looked back. Ace whispered: “Fuck, camp improved her.” Iris heard. “So did it improve you.” Ace turned. The two women looked at each other. Mai watched. Brenda definitely watched. Iris’s voice stayed calm. “Less patience for bullshit.” Ace nodded. “More patience for good bullshit.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Much more.” Mai put down the knife. “You two learned far too much at that camp.” Ace and Iris both looked toward her. Iris answered first. “We adapted.” Ace smiled. “Professionally.” The room detonated. Not because the word itself was obscene. Because everyone knew exactly how little professional behavior had survived the last ten minutes. Brenda folded against Iris. Panam nearly dropped the tongs. Kiro laughed from the terrace. Rhea buried her face against Sol’s shoulder. Nyx turned away from the counter. Reyes, arriving with a bottle of water, stopped just inside the door. “What did I miss?” Ace pointed toward Iris. “Professional development.” Reyes looked at Iris. Iris took another drink. Reyes’s eyes narrowed. Then she looked toward Ace. “Do I want context?” “No,” Mai said. “Yes,” Brenda said. Ace grinned. “Absolutely.” Reyes considered all three answers. Then took a drink. “I’ll wait until alcohol.” Panam called: “Smartest person here.” Kiro looked offended. “Objectively false.” Reyes glanced toward her. “You brought instrumentation to a cabin.” Kiro opened her mouth. Closed it. Rhea kissed her temple. “Let it go.” Kiro looked at her. “I hate when she’s right.” Sol said, “You like it.” Kiro looked toward her. “That too.” Ace’s grin widened. “There’s my girl.” Kiro turned. “Your girl?” Ace’s eyes flicked toward Mai. Then Rhea. Then Sol. Then back to Kiro. Kiro saw the entire sequence. “Oh, fuck you.” Ace nodded. “See? We’re improving already.” --- Dinner went outside. Not because anyone planned an elegant terrace meal. Because the weather refused to justify staying indoors. The evening sun sat low across the lake. The table had been extended with the cabin’s second folding section and still barely held thirteen people, food, bottles, bread, and Marco’s insistence that serving dishes needed space. Nobody sat according to couples. That would have been both impossible and pointless. Mai ended up with Ace on one side and Kiro on the other. Ace noticed immediately. Kiro noticed Ace noticing. Neither said anything for nearly thirty seconds. A personal record. Nyx sat beside Ace. Reyes took the place across from her. Rhea and Sol sat near Kiro. Panam and Shammy shared one end. Brenda and Iris sat opposite Marco and Lena. The first few minutes belonged to food. That surprised everyone. Real steak did what operational discipline could not. It shut them up. Ace cut into hers. Looked. Took a bite. Stopped. Panam watched from the far end. Ace looked toward her. Panam’s expression was trying very hard not to ask. Ace chewed. Swallowed. Then: “Okay. If you ever leave Shammy, I’ll marry you for the grocery connections.” Panam laughed. Shammy looked at Ace. “No.” Ace turned. Shammy’s expression remained mild. “You can’t have her.” Ace froze. Then slowly smiled. Panam stared at Shammy. Reyes laughed first. Brenda pointed across the table. “Oh, fuck me, there it is.” Marco looked up. Ace immediately said: “Careful. Iris might answer.” Iris did not even blink. Brenda folded forward against the table. Panam nearly choked. Mai looked down at her plate. Nyx covered her mouth. Reyes laughed harder. Kiro stared at Iris. Iris looked at her. “What?” Kiro shook her head. “Nothing. I’m updating expectations.” Ace pointed at her. “Good girl.” Kiro looked toward Mai. “Can I hit her?” Mai took a sip of water. “Not while she’s eating.” Ace stared. Kiro’s mouth opened. Rhea looked delighted. Sol leaned toward Kiro. “I think that means later.” Ace turned toward Mai. “You are an absolute fucking menace.” Mai’s expression remained calm. “You like me that way.” Ace leaned closer. “I like you a lot of ways.” Nyx made a sound beside her. Ace looked over. Nyx had stopped eating. Her eyes were on Ace. Ace smiled. “What?” Nyx shook her head. “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “That looked like something.” Nyx leaned closer. “You’re very loud tonight.” Ace looked around the table. Nobody appeared offended. Several appeared actively entertained. She looked back at Nyx. “Good.” Nyx smiled. “Yes.” Ace’s expression softened. Then she took another bite. No joke. That one mattered. --- Marco finally tried his steak. Panam caught him. Everybody else was busy enough that for once she did not make a performance of it. She watched him cut. Taste. Chew. Marco closed his eyes for a brief second. Panam smiled. There was no triumph in it now. Just satisfaction. “Worth the drive?” Marco opened his eyes. “Yes.” “Good.” Lena leaned against his shoulder. Marco looked at her. She smiled. “You’re happy.” “I’m eating.” “That’s not what I said.” Marco looked toward the table. At thirteen people talking over one another. At Kiro trying to defend some technical opinion to Sol. At Rhea stealing a potato from Kiro’s plate. At Panam with one hand resting on Shammy’s knee. At Brenda whispering something into Iris’s ear that made Iris’s mouth curve. At Ace sitting close enough to Mai and Nyx that nobody could identify where one person’s personal space ended. At Reyes watching Ace openly instead of pretending not to. Marco looked back at Lena. “Maybe.” Lena kissed his cheek. “Good.” Marco resumed eating. Nobody mocked him. That was another kind of muscle memory too. Knowing when not to. --- It did not last. Halfway through dinner, Brenda leaned back and looked toward Ace. “So how bad was camp?” Ace looked up. “Define bad.” “I’m looking at you and Iris.” Iris kept eating. Ace smiled. Brenda continued: “You both came back with the verbal restraint of horny dockworkers.” Reyes looked toward Brenda. “That is unfair to dockworkers.” Panam laughed. Iris looked at Brenda. “You complained before that I was too controlled.” Brenda’s expression changed immediately. “I did not complain.” “You absolutely did.” “I said you could stand to stop thinking every desire through like a legal filing.” Iris lifted one eyebrow. Brenda smiled. “Which was loving feedback.” Ace looked toward Mai. “She did that to you too?” Mai glanced down. Ace’s expression brightened. “Oh.” Mai looked at her. “Do not.” Ace leaned closer. “You definitely gave me loving feedback.” Nyx stopped eating. Reyes looked toward the lake. Kiro froze. Mai remained perfectly calm. Ace waited. Mai said: “You were very receptive.” Reyes put her fork down. Panam barked a laugh. Brenda slapped the table. Kiro covered her face. Nyx turned to Ace. Ace stared at Mai. Then slowly grinned. “Jesus Christ.” Mai went back to eating. Iris looked toward her with genuine admiration. “Good.” Mai lifted her glass slightly. Ace looked from one to the other. “No. Absolutely not. You two becoming friends over destroying me is unacceptable.” Brenda leaned toward Iris. “Too late.” Iris looked at Brenda. “We were already friends.” Brenda smiled. “Now I’m worried.” Ace pointed across the table. “You should be.” Reyes finally looked back. “Why?” Ace’s grin became filthy. “Because Iris has ideas now.” Iris looked at Ace. So did Brenda. Mai did too. Ace held Iris’s gaze. Not joking entirely. Iris knew. Something passed between them. Not a plan. Possibility. Brenda saw enough to understand that. Her expression sharpened with interest rather than concern. Ace noticed. That was new too. Or maybe only newly visible. Ace leaned back. No need to chase it. The weekend had barely started. For once she did not need every interesting possibility immediately. Panam lifted her glass of water. “To real food.” Marco nodded. “Finally, something sensible.” Brenda raised hers. “To unsensible company.” Iris corrected: “Insensible.” Brenda looked at her. “That means unconscious.” “Exactly.” Ace laughed. Reyes lifted her own glass. “To nobody needing to be sensible for five fucking days.” That landed. The table quieted. Not completely. Enough. Ace looked at Reyes. Reyes held her gaze. Mai’s hand found Ace’s thigh beneath the table. Nyx’s knee rested against hers. Kiro leaned toward Rhea while Sol’s hand rested behind her chair. Brenda’s shoulder pressed into Iris. Panam’s fingers stayed linked loosely with Shammy’s. Marco’s arm touched Lena’s. Nobody hid any of it. Ace lifted her glass. “Fuck sensible.” Iris raised hers. “Now that I can support.” Brenda laughed. Glasses touched. Not all thirteen at once. Too much table. Too many hands. Messy. Good. They drank. The food kept disappearing. The sun dropped lower over the lake. Conversation became louder instead of more careful. And by the time Marco admitted he had eaten too much bread, nobody in the cabin had managed to sound remotely respectable for at least an hour. --- ## Chapter Four — Funny How Cuddly Everyone Is Dinner refused to end cleanly. That was the first sign. Nobody stood up and declared the meal over. Nobody began carrying plates inside with purpose. The table simply dissolved around them. Marco collected two serving dishes, got distracted arguing with Panam about whether the remaining steaks needed to be chilled immediately, and never came back for the third. Lena took the plates from his hands before the argument became a second course. Brenda stole the last roasted potato from Iris’s plate. Iris watched her eat it. “That was mine.” Brenda swallowed. “You hesitated.” “I was speaking.” “Fatal mistake.” Iris looked at the empty plate. Then at Brenda. Brenda smiled. Iris leaned in. Brenda’s smile widened in anticipation. Iris kissed her once. Slow enough to make Brenda forget the potato. Then pulled back. “Still mine.” Brenda stared. Ace, across the table, nearly fell out of her chair. “That was fucking vicious.” Iris looked toward her. “Thank you.” Brenda finally recovered. “No, absolutely not. You cannot use sex to win arguments.” Ace pointed immediately. “Objection. Of course she fucking can.” Mai looked at Ace. Ace saw. “What?” Mai lifted one eyebrow. Ace smiled. “Fine. Historically, I may have a conflict of interest.” Reyes leaned back in her chair. “May?” Ace looked across at her. “You want to start?” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Not yet.” Ace held the gaze for a second. Something warm moved under the joke. Then Panam stood. “Fire.” Marco looked up from the plates. “I already set it.” Panam looked toward the firepit. Then at him. “You arranged wood.” “Yes.” “You haven’t lit shit.” “I was going to.” “Now I am.” Marco opened his mouth. Lena touched his arm. He looked at her. She shook her head. Marco sighed. “Fine.” Panam grinned. “Growth.” Marco pointed at her. “Do not start.” Shammy stood beside Panam. “I can help.” Panam’s expression softened immediately. “Yeah.” Ace saw it. “So fucking whipped.” Panam turned. “You’re one to talk.” Ace looked toward Mai. Then Nyx. Then Reyes. Then back at Panam. “Fair.” No defense. That got a laugh out of Reyes. --- The fire took quickly. Marco’s preparation was, annoyingly, excellent. Panam refused to give him the satisfaction. She crouched by the flames with Shammy beside her, both women watching the first pieces catch. Marco hovered ten feet away. Lena stood beside him. “You’re staring.” “I am checking airflow.” “You’re staring.” “They moved the kindling.” Lena looked toward Panam. Panam had not touched the kindling. Shammy had. Lena looked back at Marco. “No.” Marco frowned. “What?” “You are not correcting Shammy.” “I wasn’t going to.” “Good.” He looked toward the fire again. Shammy moved one piece of wood half an inch. Marco flinched. Lena smiled. “You’re adorable.” “I am not.” “Yes.” He looked at her. She kissed his cheek. That ended it. For now. --- The group rearranged itself around the fire without discussion. Not by couples. Not really. By gravity. Panam took one of the broader chairs. Shammy sat on the arm. That lasted perhaps two minutes. Then Panam pulled her down between her knees because the arm was narrow and because she wanted her there. Shammy settled back against her without comment. Panam’s arms went around her waist. Natural. Automatic. Rhea and Sol took the long bench. Kiro sat between them. Again, no discussion. She simply did. Rhea stretched one arm along the back of the bench behind Kiro. Sol sat close enough that their thighs touched. Kiro looked down at the lack of space. Then left it alone. Brenda chose a chair beside Iris. Five minutes later she was sitting sideways across it, both legs over Iris’s lap. Iris rested one hand on Brenda’s thigh and continued talking to Lena as though nothing about the arrangement was remarkable. It was not. Marco took the remaining chair beside Lena. Lena leaned against him before he was fully seated. He adjusted automatically. Nyx sat near Mai. Ace started beside Mai. Reyes took the edge of the terrace step slightly apart from the main circle. That lasted. For a while. Ace noticed almost immediately. She did not move. Yet. Mai saw her notice. Did not move either. Nyx noticed both. She took a drink. “You two are loud even when you’re silent.” Ace looked toward her. “What the fuck does that mean?” Nyx smiled. “Exactly.” Mai laughed softly. Ace looked offended. Then Kiro came back from inside with another blanket. She stopped beside Mai. Ace looked up. Kiro looked down. Mai looked at both of them. Kiro held up the blanket. “Cold.” Ace looked toward the empty chair three feet away. Then at Kiro. Then at Mai’s free side. Kiro saw the whole sequence. “Oh, fuck off.” Ace grinned. “I was being good.” “You don’t have to.” Mai shifted slightly. Enough space. Kiro looked at it. Then at Ace. Ace’s grin widened. “Go on.” Kiro narrowed her eyes. “You’re enjoying this too much.” “Correct.” Kiro sat. Close to Mai. Not pressed into her. Not yet. Mai took the edge of the blanket and helped pull it over Kiro’s knees. Ace saw. Her mouth curved. Kiro caught that too. “What now?” Ace leaned back into Mai’s other side. “Nothing. You’re cute.” Kiro stared. The insult would have been easier. She looked toward Rhea. Rhea smiled. Sol did too. Kiro looked betrayed. “Everyone can go fuck themselves.” Ace lifted her drink. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” Mai’s hand settled behind Ace’s neck. Ace immediately relaxed into it. Kiro saw. Then Mai’s other hand rested lightly over the blanket near Kiro’s thigh. Kiro did not move away. Ace saw that too. Her smile softened. Not territorial. Not even teasing now. Just pleased. Nyx watched the shift. Ace caught her. “What?” Nyx shook her head. “Nothing.” “Bullshit.” “Yes.” Ace smiled. “Better.” --- The fire pushed back the evening chill. Conversation loosened. Not because of alcohol. There was barely any. Because they were fed. Warm. Away. Nobody needed to be sharp. Panam started telling Rhea about a Nomad convoy that had once tried to tow a generator using three vehicles and no tow bar. Rhea laughed before Panam reached the disaster. Sol asked whether anyone died. Panam said no. Marco muttered, “Then you got lucky.” Panam turned. “We got creative.” “You tied it with cable.” “High-tensile cable.” “That does not make it engineering.” Kiro immediately looked interested. “What gauge?” Panam stared. “No.” Kiro leaned forward. “Seriously.” “No.” Ace looked toward her. “You’re horny for specifications.” Kiro’s head snapped around. Brenda made a choking noise. Rhea put a hand over her face. Sol looked at Kiro. Kiro looked personally betrayed by language. “That is not—” Ace continued: “You hear ‘high-tensile’ and your legs start trying to file a requisition.” Kiro stared. Panam laughed loud enough to scare something in the trees. Shammy looked up at Kiro with genuine curiosity. “Does that happen?” Kiro closed her eyes. “No.” Shammy considered. “Okay.” Ace looked at Shammy. “Never change.” Panam kissed the top of Shammy’s head. “Agreed.” Kiro opened her eyes again. Rhea leaned closer. “Still want the gauge?” Kiro looked at her. A beat. “Yes.” Sol laughed. Kiro pointed. “Technical interest is real.” Ace nodded. “So is arousal.” “Fuck you.” “Not tonight.” Kiro stared. Rhea folded into Sol laughing. Mai’s fingers tightened lightly at the back of Ace’s neck. Ace looked up. “What?” Mai’s expression was calm. “You are asking for trouble.” Ace smiled. “I like trouble.” Reyes, from the step: “We know.” Ace turned. Their eyes met. There it was. Ace’s smile changed. Less broad. More direct. “Do you?” Reyes held the gaze. “Yes.” Nobody at the fire heard the entire weight in it. Mai did. Nyx did. Ace looked away first only because she felt too much of the answer at once. --- Brenda eventually noticed Ace had not moved. That surprised her. She followed Ace’s gaze. Reyes. Of course. Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris was already watching Ace. Brenda smiled. Iris caught the smile. “What?” Brenda leaned closer. “She’s trying to behave.” Iris looked toward Ace. Ace was currently arguing with Kiro about whether a timer counted as emotional baggage. Iris’s mouth curved. “No, she isn’t.” Brenda laughed. “That’s fair.” Iris’s hand moved slowly over Brenda’s thigh. Brenda looked down. Then at her. “You doing that on purpose?” “Yes.” Brenda’s expression warmed. “Good.” Iris looked back toward Ace. Ace saw the hand. Then looked at Iris. Iris held the gaze. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Iris’s did too. No embarrassment. No coyness. Brenda saw. Her smile widened. Mai saw Brenda see it. Nyx saw Mai see Brenda seeing it. This was becoming ridiculous. Good. --- Reyes stayed on the step. Ace lasted another eleven minutes. Then stood. Mai looked up. Kiro looked suspicious. Nyx smiled before anything happened. Ace ignored all three. She crossed the terrace with her drink. Reyes saw her coming. Did not move. Ace stopped in front of her. “Shift.” Reyes looked at the wide step. “There’s room.” “More.” Reyes moved perhaps three centimeters. Ace stared. “That’s insulting.” “Then sit somewhere else.” Ace sat. Close. Shoulder against Reyes’s side. Thigh against hers. Reyes looked down. Ace looked forward. Nothing. For three seconds. Then Ace leaned. Fully. No testing. No hesitation. Reyes’s body adjusted before thought had time to intervene. Her arm came around Ace. Held. Ace exhaled. That was the part nobody at the fire could hear. The release. Small. Deep. Mai saw it anyway. Nyx did too. Reyes felt it. Her hand tightened at Ace’s shoulder. Ace looked up. Reyes’s expression had lost the joke. “You okay?” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Reyes studied her. Ace gave her a tiny smile. “Fucking missed this.” Reyes’s thumb moved against her upper arm. “Me too.” That was it. No speech. No explanation. Ace rested her head against Reyes. Reyes held her. The conversation went on around them. Nobody stopped it. Nobody announced that something emotional had happened. Exactly right. --- Minutes later, Ace was talking again. Of course. Reyes’s arm remained around her. Ace argued with Panam about whether throwing someone into water counted as exercise. Panam said yes. Ace said attempted murder was not cardio. Reyes said: “You were laughing.” Ace looked up. “Fuck you.” “You were.” “I was in shock.” “You hugged me afterward.” “Wet revenge.” Reyes smiled. Ace tried not to. Failed. Panam pointed across the fire. “See? That’s the face.” Ace turned. “What face?” “The one where you’re pretending you don’t fucking love her.” The terrace quieted. Not because the statement was forbidden. Because Panam had hit something true with zero preparation. Ace looked toward her. Then up at Reyes. Reyes looked back. Ace’s expression softened completely. “Yeah.” Simple. No joke. Panam’s own face softened. “Good.” Ace looked back toward the fire. Still tucked against Reyes. “Cunt.” Panam laughed. “Exactly.” Reyes kissed the top of Ace’s head. Ace froze. Then looked up. Reyes raised an eyebrow. Ace stared. “You’re fucking brave tonight.” Reyes smiled. “Good.” Ace’s eyes warmed. She leaned closer. --- Across the fire, Kiro had shifted. So subtly she probably had not noticed. Rhea and Sol were still on the bench. Kiro had started beside them. Then moved to Mai. Now, after Ace had gone to Reyes, Nyx sat on one side of Mai and Kiro on the other. Mai rested back with the relaxed expression of someone who knew exactly how absurd the geometry was. Nyx’s knee touched hers. Kiro’s shoulder touched her arm. Mai did not move either away. Ace saw. From Reyes’s side. Her eyes narrowed. Not possessive. Interested. Reyes followed her gaze. Mai. Nyx. Kiro. Then Ace. “Problem?” Ace shook her head. “No.” Reyes waited. Ace’s smile became dirty. “Actually, quite the opposite.” Reyes laughed quietly. Nyx saw Ace looking. She looked toward Mai. Then deliberately leaned closer. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Nyx smiled. Mai noticed. Her eyes moved toward Ace. Ace held the gaze. Mai’s hand settled at Nyx’s waist. Not much. Enough. Ace’s breath caught. Tiny. Reyes felt it against her side. She looked down at Ace. Ace ignored her. Nyx saw the effect. Her smile sharpened. Mai’s expression warmed. Ace finally looked toward Reyes. Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace whispered: “Don’t.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “I kept it to myself.” “Your face did.” Reyes leaned slightly closer. “What did it say?” Ace looked back toward Mai and Nyx. Then at Kiro tucked close on Mai’s other side. “Probably something filthy.” Reyes smiled. “Probably.” Ace settled against her again. Did not stop watching. --- Marco added wood to the fire. Panam watched. “You’re doing it wrong.” Marco stopped. Looked at her. “Fuck off.” The silence that followed was perfect. Panam’s face lit up. Lena looked at Marco like she had just been given a gift. Ace sat upright. “There he fucking is.” Marco stared at everyone. “What?” Panam pointed at him. “You finally said it like you meant it.” Marco sat back down. “I always mean it.” Lena leaned into him. “No. Usually you mean ‘please stop creating logistical problems.’” Marco looked at her. “And now?” Lena smiled. “Now you mean fuck off.” Marco considered. Then nodded. “Yes.” Panam lifted her drink. “Welcome.” Marco clinked glasses with her. That nearly caused another round of laughter by itself. --- The evening kept folding people closer. No plan. No one saying _come sit here_. Just bodies choosing. Brenda ended up almost completely in Iris’s lap. Iris did not object. Rhea shifted over enough for Sol to pull her closer. Kiro eventually returned to the bench but stayed pressed against Mai long enough that Ace gave her a knowing look. Kiro flipped her off. Ace blew her a kiss. Panam’s chin rested against Shammy’s shoulder. Shammy’s hands covered Panam’s forearms around her waist. Nyx’s legs stretched beneath the blanket and crossed Mai’s. Marco and Lena shared one chair despite another being empty. Reyes kept Ace. Mai watched Ace with Reyes. Ace watched Mai with Nyx. Brenda watched Iris watching both. Nobody hid any of it. The fire burned lower. The noise softened. Not quiet. Never quiet. But softer. Shammy looked around. She had been mostly listening for several minutes. Panam noticed first. “What?” Shammy’s hair had started lifting. Not much. A little silver halo in the firelight. Shammy looked at Panam. Then around the group again. “What?” Panam repeated. Shammy smiled. “I was just noticing something.” Ace pointed across the fire immediately. “No.” Shammy looked toward her. Ace was still tucked against Reyes. “What?” “You have the face.” Shammy tilted her head. “What face?” “The one where you’re about to say some innocent shit that ruins everybody.” Panam laughed. Shammy looked around once more. Ace. Reyes. Mai. Nyx. Kiro half tucked into Rhea and Sol now, but one foot still resting against Mai’s chair. Brenda almost horizontal across Iris. Marco and Lena sharing a blanket. Panam holding Shammy close enough that separating them would have required tools. Shammy smiled. “Funny how cuddly everyone is.” Silence. Complete. Beautiful. Ace stopped. Brenda looked down at herself. Then at Iris. Iris looked at Brenda’s legs across her lap. Marco glanced at the empty chair beside him. Then at Lena sharing his. Kiro looked at Rhea. Then Sol. Then down at where her foot still touched Mai’s chair. Panam closed her eyes. Nyx looked toward Mai. Mai looked toward Ace. Ace looked up at Reyes. Reyes did not blink. “Coincidence.” The terrace exploded. Ace folded against Reyes laughing. Brenda nearly slid off Iris. Kiro covered her face. Panam buried hers in Shammy’s shoulder. Lena laughed so hard Marco had to hold her up. Even Mai lost control. Ace finally looked up at Reyes. “You lying bitch.” Reyes’s arm tightened. “Prove it.” Ace looked around. Then deliberately settled more fully against her. “Fuck you.” Reyes smiled. “Later.” Ace froze. The group went silent again. Brenda made a strangled sound. Panam shouted: “OH, FUCK.” Kiro folded forward into Rhea. Iris covered her mouth. Mai closed her eyes. Nyx stared at Reyes. Reyes remained perfectly calm. Ace looked up at her. Very slowly. “You did not.” Reyes smiled. Ace stared for another second. Then started laughing so hard she had to put her face against Reyes’s chest. Reyes held her. No embarrassment. No retreat. Around the fire, the laughter came back louder. Shammy looked delighted with herself. Panam kissed her cheek. “You did that.” “I only said they were cuddly.” “You started a fucking riot.” Shammy smiled. “Good.” Panam stared. Then laughed again. --- Much later, after the worst of the laughter had passed, the group remained where they were. No one spread back out. If anything, the opposite. Ace stayed against Reyes. Reyes’s hand moved occasionally over her shoulder. Mai sat with Nyx pressed close. Kiro had surrendered entirely between Rhea and Sol. Brenda rested her head beneath Iris’s chin. Shammy had gone quiet in Panam’s arms. Marco and Lena shared the same blanket without pretending it was accidental. The fire cracked. The lake beyond the trees was dark. Ace looked around. Nobody was watching the door. Nobody was measuring who touched whom. Nobody was thinking about what a stranger might infer from the seating arrangement. She felt Reyes breathing beside her. Mai across the fire. Nyx at Mai’s side. Shammy in Panam’s arms. All of it visible. Allowed. Ace closed her eyes for a moment. Reyes felt it. Her hand tightened. Ace opened them again. Mai was looking at her. Ace smiled. Mai smiled back. Nothing needed saying. For once, the room did not ask them to choose between being careful and being close. So they stopped being careful. --- ## Chapter Five — Same Rooms The fire died slowly. Nobody helped it. Marco looked at the remaining wood twice. Panam caught him the second time. “Don’t.” Marco looked at her. “I wasn’t doing anything.” “You were thinking about adding another log.” “I was evaluating.” “It’s midnight.” “Eleven forty-two.” Panam stared. “That is the most Marco answer you could’ve given.” Lena leaned into him beneath the shared blanket. “He’s tired.” “I’m not tired.” “You corrected the clock.” “That proves nothing.” Ace, still tucked against Reyes, lifted her head. “It proves you need to get laid and go to sleep.” Marco turned. “Ace.” “What?” Lena covered her mouth. Panam barked a laugh. Brenda immediately sat up. “No, no, she’s right. That was medically sound.” Marco looked around the fire. “You are all animals.” Iris, with Brenda’s legs still across her lap, said: “Some of us are housebroken.” Brenda turned toward her. “Speak for yourself.” Iris looked at her. Brenda’s smile widened. Iris’s mouth curved. Ace pointed. “See? That’s the fucking spirit.” Mai looked toward Ace. Ace caught it. “What?” “You are encouraging them.” “Yes.” “Why?” Ace looked around the fire. “At this point? Public service.” Reyes’s arm tightened slightly around her. Ace felt it and settled back down. That tiny movement did more to quiet her than any argument. Mai saw. So did Nyx. Neither interrupted. Around them, people were beginning to admit the night had edges. Shammy had gone soft and quiet in Panam’s arms. Rhea had both hands wrapped around a mug that had been empty for fifteen minutes. Sol’s head rested briefly against her shoulder. Kiro was still awake. Technically. She sat between them, staring into the fire with the glassy concentration of someone who had stopped following the conversation three topics ago. Ace looked across. “Kiro.” No response. “Kiro.” Kiro blinked. “What?” Ace smiled. “You’re cooked.” Kiro straightened. “I’m fine.” Rhea kissed her temple. Kiro leaned into it before remembering she was meant to object. Sol smiled. Ace pointed. “Exhibit A.” Kiro looked at her. “You’ve been horizontal on Reyes for an hour.” Ace looked down at herself. Then at Reyes. Then back. “Comfortably.” Kiro’s eyes narrowed. “Exactly.” Ace shrugged. “Difference is I’m honest.” Rhea laughed. Sol leaned toward Kiro. “She has you there.” Kiro looked betrayed. “Whose fucking side are you on?” Sol smiled. “Tonight?” Kiro went very still. Rhea looked at Sol. Then Kiro. Ace’s eyebrows went up. “Oh, that was filthy.” Sol’s face remained calm. Kiro’s did not. She looked toward Mai. Mistake. Ace saw. Of course she saw. Ace grinned. “There. That fucking look again.” Kiro closed her eyes. “Please die quietly.” Mai laughed. Kiro opened them. “You’re not helping.” Mai took a drink. “I am doing nothing.” “That’s worse.” Ace leaned up against Reyes. “Aw, fuck, she’s already thinking about the side house.” Kiro pointed at her. “You are unbearable.” Ace smiled. “And yet you keep coming back.” Kiro looked toward Rhea. Then Sol. Rhea’s expression had softened. Sol’s too. The teasing drained out of Kiro by degrees. Ace saw that. This time she let it go. Good. There were moments even she knew not to stomp on. Kiro leaned back between Rhea and Sol. Rhea’s arm came around her. Sol’s hand settled over Kiro’s knee. Nothing dramatic. Just placement. Familiar. Kiro breathed out. Ace looked away first. Not from discomfort. Respect. --- The group broke apart in no particular order. No room meeting. No “who’s sleeping where.” Nobody needed one. Marco and Lena stood first. Marco gathered two empty glasses. Lena took one from him. “No.” He looked at her. “What?” “You’re not cleaning the whole terrace at midnight.” “I’m taking glasses inside.” “You’re taking two.” “Yes.” “You were looking at the table.” Marco looked at the table. Then at her. “I have eyes.” Reyes laughed quietly. Ace looked up. “Careful. That’s my line.” Marco ignored her. Lena took his hand. “Come on.” Marco looked toward the remaining glasses. Then at Lena. The choice took perhaps half a second. He went. Panam watched. “Growth.” Marco turned. “Fuck off.” Panam’s face lit. “There he is.” Lena laughed and pulled him inside. Shammy stood next. Panam rose immediately behind her. Shammy turned toward Ace. Ace saw. That part was different from the rest. Not complicated. Just important. Ace stood. Reyes let her go without question. Mai came over. Nyx followed. Shammy opened her arms. Ace went into them. Mai joined from one side. Nyx stayed close, not forcing her way into the Triad moment. Panam stayed close too. Same reason. Ace held Shammy tightly. Shammy’s chin rested on top of her head. Mai’s hand moved slowly over Ace’s back. For several breaths nobody said anything. Then Ace muttered into Shammy’s shoulder: “If she fucks off on another road stretch that long, we’re keeping you.” Shammy smiled. “You already have me.” Panam looked over. “And I’m standing right fucking here.” Ace leaned back enough to look at her. “Then don’t fuck off for weeks.” Panam stared at her for a beat. “Fair.” Ace smiled. She smiled. “Good.” Shammy touched Ace’s cheek. Then Mai’s. “Tomorrow.” Mai nodded. “Tomorrow.” Ace looked at her. “Before breakfast?” Shammy considered. Panam said: “No.” Ace looked at Panam. “You don’t own mornings.” Panam pulled Shammy closer. “This one I fucking do.” Shammy laughed. Ace pointed. “See? Possessive.” Panam kissed Shammy’s cheek. “Correct.” No shame. No softening the word. Ace grinned. “Good night.” Shammy kissed her forehead. Then Mai’s cheek. Panam took her hand. They walked inside together. Nyx watched them go. Ace looked up at her. “You good?” Nyx nodded. “Yeah.” Ace touched her wrist. “Come upstairs with us.” Nyx’s eyes warmed. “I was planning to.” Mai looked at both of them. “Good.” The word carried more than sleeping. All three heard it. None pretended otherwise. --- Rhea stood. Kiro immediately looked at her. Rhea held out a hand. Kiro stared at it. Then Sol. Sol smiled. “Same room.” Not a question this time. Kiro put her hand in Rhea’s. “Yeah.” Sol stood too. Ace watched them. Kiro saw. “You say one thing and I’m throwing you in the lake myself.” Ace smiled. “Threatening me with Reyes’s love language?” Reyes looked down at her. “My what?” Ace turned. “Nothing.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace grinned. Kiro covered her face. Rhea laughed. Sol took Kiro’s other hand. “Come on.” Kiro let herself be pulled upright. She looked toward Mai. Not hidden. Not accidental. Mai saw. There was no awkwardness in it. No pretending they had forgotten the last cabin. Mai stepped closer. Touched Kiro’s cheek. Kiro went still. Mai kissed her. Not long. Not enough to turn the terrace into something else. Enough. When Mai drew back, Kiro’s eyes remained closed for a second. Ace watched. Her expression softened. Then she said: “Okay, fuck, that was hot.” Kiro opened her eyes. “Of course you ruined it.” Ace smiled. “You’re welcome.” Rhea looked at Mai. Warm. Sol too. No tension. No uncertainty. Mai touched Kiro’s shoulder. “Sleep.” Kiro’s mouth curved. “Eventually.” Ace made a delighted sound. Kiro pointed at her. “No.” Ace lifted both hands. “I respect the wording.” Rhea and Sol guided Kiro toward the path. Kiro looked back once. Ace blew her a kiss. Kiro gave her the finger. Then disappeared into the dark with both women. Mai looked at Ace. “You really cannot help yourself.” Ace leaned against her. “No.” Mai kissed the top of her head. “Good.” Ace looked up. “See? You fucking like me this way.” Mai’s eyes warmed. “I like you a lot of ways.” Ace froze. Reyes, still beside them, made a quiet sound. Nyx looked toward Mai. Ace slowly grinned. “Okay.” Mai raised an eyebrow. “Okay?” “That one’s coming upstairs.” Nyx laughed. Mai’s smile sharpened. “Is it?” Ace stepped closer. “Very fucking deliberately.” Reyes laughed. Ace turned toward her. “You stay out of this.” “I’m trying.” Ace looked at her for half a second. Then at the lake. Then back. Reyes saw the shift. The joke softened. So did Ace. --- Brenda and Iris were already halfway inside. Brenda stopped in the doorway and looked back. “Ace.” Ace turned. “What?” Brenda looked toward Mai. Then Nyx. Then Ace. Her smile widened. “Sleep well.” Ace smiled right back. “Planning to.” Iris appeared beside Brenda. She took one look at Ace. Then Mai. Nyx. Then Brenda. “Oh, leave them alone.” Brenda looked offended. “I was being nice.” “You were being nosy.” “I can be both.” Iris put one hand at Brenda’s waist. “Inside.” Brenda leaned close enough to kiss her jaw. “Yes, ma’am.” Iris went still. Brenda’s eyes widened with immediate delight. Ace heard it. Reyes heard it. Mai definitely did. Iris looked at Brenda. Slowly. Brenda smiled. “I said what I said.” Iris’s expression changed. Not embarrassed. Interested. “Inside.” This time Brenda moved immediately. Ace stared after them. Then looked at Mai. “Holy shit.” Mai smiled. Nyx laughed. Reyes said: “They’re not sleeping yet.” Ace looked at her. “You think?” Reyes’s expression remained dry. “No. I’m sure.” Ace laughed. Good. No one was dancing around it. --- The terrace emptied until only four remained. Ace. Mai. Nyx. Reyes. The fire was almost out. The lake beyond the trees was black. The cabin behind them had gone quieter by degrees. Doors. Muted voices. Then less. Ace looked toward Reyes. Reyes looked back. There was no urgency. That mattered. Ace stepped closer. Reyes lowered her drink. Ace touched the front of her shirt. Not seduction. Not quite. Connection. “You really taking your own room?” Reyes nodded. “Tonight.” Ace looked up. Reyes smiled. “You have plans.” Ace’s mouth curved. “Maybe.” Reyes looked toward Mai and Nyx. Then back. “Have fun.” Ace’s face softened. “You too.” Reyes lifted one eyebrow. “In my own room?” Ace smiled. “Hands work.” Mai closed her eyes. Nyx turned away laughing. Reyes stared at Ace. Then laughed. “Jesus Christ.” Ace grinned. “You said have fun.” “I walked into that.” “Balls deep.” Nyx choked. Mai looked at Ace. Ace paused. Then laughed. “Okay, that one was fucking terrible.” Reyes was still laughing. “Absolutely.” Ace leaned closer and hugged her. Reyes caught her. Held. The joking stopped naturally. Ace rested her cheek against Reyes’s chest. Reyes’s hand moved to the back of her neck. They stayed that way. Long enough. No one hurried them. Mai and Nyx stood nearby without intruding. Ace finally spoke. Quiet. “Missed you.” Reyes’s hand tightened. “I know.” Ace pulled back enough to look up. “That still isn’t an answer.” Reyes smiled. “I missed you too.” Ace’s expression softened immediately. No performance. No cute line. She looked down for a second. Then back. “Good.” Reyes touched her cheek. “Very.” Ace smiled. Then kissed Reyes. Not on the mouth. Just the corner of her jaw. Warm. Affectionate. Promise without forcing anything tonight. Reyes’s eyes closed briefly. Ace stepped back. “Night.” “Night.” Reyes looked toward Mai. Then Nyx. “Take care of her.” Ace turned. “Excuse me?” Nyx smiled. Mai’s expression was calm. “We will.” Ace stared at all three. “This is conspiracy.” Reyes picked up her drink. “No. This is experience.” Ace pointed at her. “Fuck off.” Reyes smiled. “Tomorrow.” Ace’s eyes narrowed. Then warmed. “Yeah.” Reyes went inside. Ace watched until she disappeared down the hall. Mai came up behind her. Hands at Ace’s waist. Ace leaned back. Nyx moved close on her other side. For a moment Ace stood between them. The lake in front. Warm bodies behind and beside. No pressure. No need to choose one feeling. She breathed out. Mai kissed the side of her neck. Ace’s eyes closed. Nyx touched her hand. Ace opened them again. “Upstairs.” Nyx smiled. “Thought you’d never ask.” --- The room upstairs had been waiting. That was how it felt. Not ominously. Familiar. Three bags. Three people. The window cracked open enough for cool forest air. Soft light from the bedside lamp. No one rushed. That was the first important thing. Ace closed the door. Turned. Nyx stood near the bed. Mai leaned against the dresser. Ace looked at both. Then laughed once under her breath. Nyx tilted her head. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Mai raised an eyebrow. Ace looked toward her. “Just… fuck.” Nyx’s smile softened. “Good fuck or bad fuck?” Ace looked at the room. Then at them. “Good.” Mai stepped closer. Ace met her halfway. Mai touched Ace’s face. “You sure?” Ace nodded. “Yes.” Mai looked toward Nyx. Nyx nodded too. “Very.” That word again. Ace felt it. Low and immediate. Her smile changed. “Well then.” She kissed Mai first. Slow. Not because she lacked hunger. Because there was time. Mai’s hands settled around her waist. Ace leaned in. Nyx came close enough that Ace felt her before being touched. When Mai drew back, Ace turned. Nyx was already there. The kiss between Ace and Nyx began with a smile. Ended without one. Nyx’s hands moved to Ace’s hips. Ace touched the back of her neck. Mai watched. Ace knew. The knowledge sharpened everything slightly. When Ace opened her eyes, Mai was still looking. Ace smiled. “Like the view?” Mai’s mouth curved. “Yes.” Nyx laughed softly against Ace’s cheek. Ace looked between them. “That was too easy.” Mai stepped closer. “Were you hoping for modesty?” Ace thought about it. “Fuck no.” “Good.” Mai kissed Nyx. Ace stayed between them for the first second. Then shifted. Not out. Aside. Enough to see. Nyx leaned into Mai. Mai’s hand moved behind Nyx’s neck. The kiss deepened. Ace watched. No surprise in it. No new discovery yet. Just pleasure. She liked seeing Mai lose some of that controlled stillness. Liked seeing Nyx’s fingers slide into Mai’s hair. Liked knowing neither woman had forgotten she was there. Nyx’s free hand found Ace’s waist without even looking. That mattered. Ace touched her. Stayed. Mai opened her eyes. Looked at Ace. Caught her watching. Ace did not look away. Mai’s expression changed. Small. Knowing. Ace’s breath shifted. Nyx noticed. She drew back just enough to look at Ace too. Ace stared at both. “What?” Nyx smiled. “You.” Ace looked offended. “Highly specific.” “You’re enjoying this.” Ace glanced at Mai. Mai’s eyes remained on her. Ace looked back at Nyx. “Yeah.” No coyness. No denial. Just yes. Nyx’s smile widened. “Good.” Ace stepped in and kissed her. Harder this time. Mai’s hands stayed on both women. The room started to change. Not suddenly. By degrees. Jackets first. Shoes. Then shirts. Not thrown theatrically. Mostly. Ace missed the chair with hers and looked at it on the floor. Mai saw. Ace pointed. “Leave it.” Mai smiled. “Fine.” Nyx laughed. Ace turned. “You too.” “I didn’t say anything.” “You both have faces.” Mai came close behind Ace. Her hands moved slowly along Ace’s sides. Ace leaned back against her. Nyx watched. Ace saw. A smile appeared. “Your turn.” Nyx raised one eyebrow. Ace reached for her. Brought her closer. The three pressed together. Not performative. Not trying to invent choreography. Just enough contact to make the rest inevitable. Mai kissed Ace’s shoulder. Nyx kissed her mouth. Ace’s hands moved between them. The room warmed. Clothing became increasingly irrelevant. When Nyx’s fingers reached the waistband of Ace’s shorts, she stopped. Looked at her. Ace nodded. “Yes.” Clear. Nyx smiled. Ace helped. The shorts went. Mai’s followed later, after Ace had turned toward her and asked the same question with a look. Mai answered by taking Ace’s hand and guiding it. No ambiguity. No rushing. By the time the last barriers were gone, the three were close enough that the cool air from the window no longer mattered. Skin. Warmth. Breath. Familiar bodies changed by time and memory but still known. Ace found herself between them. Mai behind. Nyx in front. Held. Her head tipped back against Mai’s shoulder when Nyx kissed her neck. Mai’s arms tightened around both. Ace laughed softly. “What?” Nyx looked up. Ace shook her head. “This is fucking ridiculous.” Mai kissed behind Ace’s ear. “Bad?” Ace’s eyes closed. “No.” Nyx smiled. “Good.” Ace turned enough to kiss Mai. Nyx stayed against her. No one waited. No one took turns. That was important. The attention shifted naturally. Mai and Nyx found each other again. Ace watched for longer this time. Not because she had been displaced. Because she wanted to. She sat close. One hand still touching Nyx’s thigh. Mai’s foot against her hip. Connected. But watching. Nyx’s breathing changed under Mai’s mouth. Mai’s composure softened. Ace felt heat gather just from seeing it. Interesting. Very fucking interesting. Mai noticed Ace’s stillness. Opened her eyes. Looked directly at her. Ace held the gaze. Mai knew. A small smile touched her mouth. Ace’s own expression changed. “Don’t.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. “Actually, do.” Nyx laughed. Mai did too. The tension broke for a second. Then returned warmer. Ace stayed where she was. Watched Mai kiss Nyx again. Watched Nyx’s hand move down Mai’s back. Watched Mai visibly lose another piece of control. Ace’s breathing deepened. Nyx looked toward her. “You really do like this.” Ace nodded. “Apparently.” No surprise now. Just fact. Nyx held out a hand. Ace looked at it. Then at both women. She took it. Nyx pulled her closer. Not because Ace had to stop watching. Because she was wanted inside the shape too. Ace kissed Nyx first. Then Mai. Then all three shifted closer until the invitation between them became physical instead of merely implied. When sex began, the change was unmistakable: breath caught, bodies adjusted around one another, and nobody dropped out of the shared shape. Then both connections blurred. The pace built. Slow. No hurry. Ace lost track of who touched where. Only what felt good. Who needed more. Who slowed. Who asked. Who answered. Mai’s voice became quieter. Nyx’s laughter disappeared into soft sounds. Ace’s own jokes vanished completely for long stretches. When Ace became the center, neither woman reduced the other to background. Nyx stayed connected to Mai. Mai touched Nyx while holding Ace. Hands overlapping. Kisses crossing. Three people rather than one person serviced by two. That mattered to Ace more than she could have explained. She did not try. At one point she opened her eyes and found Nyx watching Mai. Mai watching her. Ace smiled. “Fuck.” Mai touched her cheek. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing bad.” Nyx leaned in. “Good.” The first peak came to Nyx slowly. Ace felt it building before Nyx said anything. Her grip tightened. Breathing shortened. Mai noticed too. Neither rushed her. Ace held her. Mai kissed her shoulder. Nyx’s body tightened between them. Then released. A soft, helpless sound. Ace stayed close. “Good?” Nyx laughed weakly. “Yes.” Mai kissed her. Ace watched. Again. The warmth inside her sharpened. Mai caught the look. Nyx did too. This time nobody said anything. They knew. Mai came apart later with less warning. Her control did not vanish theatrically. It thinned. Ace saw every piece of it. The stillness turning into breath. The careful mouth losing words. Nyx’s hand in Mai’s. Ace watching Mai watch her. That mattered. Mai’s eyes stayed on Ace through the final crest. Ace felt something inside her tighten hard enough to almost hurt. When Mai finally softened, Ace moved closer immediately. Held her. Kissed her. Nyx joined them. Mai breathed against Ace’s hair. For several seconds no one spoke. Then Ace murmured: “Fuck, you’re beautiful.” Mai laughed once. Soft. Spent. “You are biased.” Ace kissed her. “Very.” Nyx smiled. “Correct.” Ace looked at her. “Don’t encourage her.” Nyx kissed Ace’s cheek. “Too late.” The last long build belonged to Ace. Not because she waited politely. Because the others knew. They stayed with her. No rush. No turning it into performance. Nyx’s arms around her. Mai close enough for Ace to feel every breath. Ace stopped trying to control the pace. That was harder than anything else. Then easier. She let go. Not theatrically. Deeply. Her body tightened between them. Breath caught. Then broke. Mai held her through it. Nyx held both. Ace buried her face against Mai and stayed there while the last waves passed. No jokes. No immediate teasing. Only breathing. Hands. Skin. Warmth. Ace finally opened her eyes. Nyx was watching her. Mai too. Ace stared. Then whispered: “Don’t say a fucking word.” Nyx smiled. Mai’s mouth curved. Ace groaned. “Fine. Say something.” Nyx kissed her forehead. “You’re very pretty when you stop fighting everything.” Ace stared. Mai laughed quietly. Ace pointed weakly toward Nyx. “That was fucking rude.” Nyx smiled. “True.” Ace tried to glare. Failed. Mai kissed her. Ace surrendered again. --- Much later, they found blankets. Eventually. Ace lay between them. One leg over Mai’s. Nyx’s arm across her waist. Mai’s hand resting on Nyx’s forearm where it crossed Ace. No one cared who had stolen which pillow. Ace looked toward the ceiling. “I’m trapped.” Nyx’s voice came against her shoulder. “Yes.” Mai added: “Completely.” Ace smiled. “Good.” Silence settled. Not empty. Full. Ace turned her head slightly. Mai was watching Nyx. Nyx noticed. She leaned across Ace and kissed Mai once. Soft. Finished. Ace watched. Again. The feeling returned. Quieter now. No urgency. Just pleasure in seeing two people she wanted and trusted touching each other. Nyx drew back. Caught Ace. Mai did too. Ace sighed. “Yeah, yeah.” Nyx’s smile widened. “What?” “I like watching.” Mai touched Ace’s side. “Good.” Ace looked toward her. “That simple?” Mai’s expression softened. “Yes.” Nyx nodded. Ace thought about that. Then smiled. “Fuck, I love you two.” Nyx kissed her shoulder. Mai kissed the back of her head. Ace closed her eyes. Outside, the lake stayed dark. Across the property, doors had closed behind other chosen people. No assignments. No permission slips. No one needing to explain why they belonged in the room they had chosen. Ace’s breathing slowed. Nyx’s arm tightened once. Mai’s hand stayed over it. For the first time in weeks, Ace fell asleep without any part of herself still standing guard. --- ## Chapter Six — Breakfast Without Operational Security Ace woke because somebody laughed into her neck. Not loudly. That sleepy, breathless little laugh people made when they were trying very hard not to wake anyone and had already failed. Ace opened one eye. Nyx. Close enough that the answer had been obvious before vision got involved. Nyx lay partly over her, hair loose across the pillow, one arm around Ace’s waist. Her face was buried against the side of Ace’s neck. Ace tried to remember what had been funny. Nothing arrived. Mai’s voice came from behind her. “She was trying to leave.” Ace went still. Then slowly looked down at Nyx. Nyx lifted her head. “I was not.” Mai’s arm remained around Ace from behind. “You moved one leg.” Nyx stared. “That is not leaving.” “At this hour it is suspicious.” Ace closed her eye again. “Both of you shut up.” Nyx smiled. “You’re awake.” “No.” Mai kissed the back of Ace’s shoulder. Ace made a small sound and immediately regretted providing evidence. Nyx’s smile widened. “Oh.” Ace opened both eyes. “No.” Nyx looked delighted. Mai laughed quietly behind her. Ace twisted enough to look over her shoulder. “This is already bullshit.” Mai’s hair was slightly disordered. That helped. Not enough. She still somehow looked unfairly composed for a woman who had spent a significant portion of the previous night proving she could be anything but. Ace looked at her. Mai saw exactly where the thought went. Her eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. “Morning.” Mai’s mouth curved. “Now you’re polite?” Nyx laughed again. Ace turned back. “Fuck off.” “There she is.” Ace looked toward the curtains. Morning had begun properly. Light pushed around the edges. Birds somewhere outside. A vehicle cooling? No. Impossible. Probably something from the cabin heating system. Then smell. Coffee. Ace froze. Nyx felt it. “Oh, no.” Ace tried to sit up. Two bodies prevented it. “Coffee.” Mai tightened her arm. “No.” Ace stared over her shoulder. “You heard me.” “Yes.” “There is coffee downstairs.” “Yes.” “Release me.” Nyx put her head back against Ace’s shoulder. “No.” Ace looked from one woman to the other. “This is kidnapping.” Mai kissed her neck. Ace stopped talking. Nyx noticed. “Very effective kidnapping.” Ace closed her eyes. “Dirty tactic.” Mai’s lips moved once more against her skin. “You objecting?” Ace opened one eye. “No.” Nyx laughed softly. Ace turned toward her. “Don’t get smug. You were just as bad.” Nyx’s eyebrows rose. “Was I?” Ace stared. Memory returned with irritating efficiency. Nyx against Mai. Mai’s composure slowly going to hell. Ace herself sitting back and watching longer than she had intended because the sight had felt so damn good. Then all three together again. Nyx laughing against her. Mai’s hands. Heat. Then no room left anywhere in the bed that was not occupied by somebody. Ace looked away. Nyx saw everything. “Oh.” Ace immediately pointed. “Not a fucking word.” Nyx’s smile turned positively wicked. Mai, behind Ace, asked: “What?” Nyx looked toward her. “Ace remembered something.” Ace turned. “You both know exactly what happened.” Mai’s expression stayed calm. “Yes.” “Then nobody needs a fucking recap.” Nyx leaned closer. “Breakfast might.” Ace stared at her. “No.” Nyx kissed her. Ace tried to maintain outrage. Failed before the kiss ended. When Nyx drew back, Ace’s face had softened. Mai saw. Ace looked toward her. “What?” “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “Your face is doing that irritating fond shit.” Mai touched her cheek. “Can’t imagine why.” Ace held her gaze. Then smiled. “Fuck.” Nyx’s arm tightened around her. For a little while, none of them moved. That was the real danger. Not sex. Comfort. The kind that made coffee seem negotiable. Ace lay between them and listened to the cabin wake around them. A door downstairs. Running water. Muted voices. Somebody laughing outside. Then Marco: “Who left the bread uncovered?” Ace’s eyes opened. Nyx started shaking with silent laughter. Mai buried her face against Ace’s shoulder. Ace stared toward the ceiling. “There. Civilization is dead.” From downstairs Panam shouted: “It’s bread, Marco!” Marco answered: “It goes dry!” Brenda’s voice carried from somewhere farther away: “So does my mouth, make coffee!” Ace smiled. “Better.” Mai released her. Ace moved approximately ten centimeters before Nyx caught her around the waist again. Ace looked down. Nyx looked up. “One more.” Ace tilted her head. “One more what?” Nyx smiled. Ace understood. “Oh.” Mai moved closer behind her. Ace looked between them. Then toward the door. Coffee. Then at Nyx. Then Mai. “Fine.” She kissed Nyx first. Mai second. Then somehow the decision to get up dissolved for another stretch of time that absolutely did not deserve to be called _one more_ anything. --- Marco had breakfast under control. This did not mean breakfast was peaceful. Nothing could do that. By the time Ace, Mai, and Nyx came downstairs, almost everyone else had arrived. Rhea and Sol sat at the long table with Kiro between them. Kiro had coffee in both hands. Not two cups. One mug. Both hands around it like she intended to survive through grip strength. Panam stood near the counter with Shammy close against her side. Shammy wore one of Panam’s shirts. Nobody had bothered commenting yet. Brenda sat sideways in her chair with one bare foot tucked beneath her. Iris had wet hair and a completely unreadable expression. Reyes sat at the far end with coffee and toast. Marco worked at the stove. Lena stood close enough to steal from the serving plate whenever he turned. Ace entered. Stopped. Looked around. Then: “Jesus Christ, you all look fucked.” Silence. Kiro nearly dropped her mug. Panam looked down at Shammy. Brenda’s eyes widened. Iris closed hers. Reyes’s mouth twitched. Marco turned from the stove. “Ace.” “What?” “You have been awake thirty seconds.” “Longer.” Nyx came in behind her. Mai last. Panam looked at the three of them. Then at Ace. Ace caught the look. “Don’t.” Panam folded her arms. “I kept my mouth shut.” “You don’t need to. Your whole fucking face is yelling.” Shammy looked at Panam. Then at Ace. Then Mai. Then Nyx. Shammy smiled. Ace pointed immediately. “You too.” Shammy blinked. “What?” “No innocent observations before coffee.” “I wasn’t going to say anything.” Ace walked toward the coffeepot. “Good.” Brenda leaned toward Iris. “She absolutely was.” Iris murmured: “Probably.” Shammy’s hair lifted slightly. Panam saw. “You definitely were.” Shammy looked betrayed by the room. Ace took a mug. Marco looked over. “Clean one.” Ace stared at the mug. Then at him. “It was in the cabinet.” “Left side.” “I took it from the left.” Marco looked. Paused. “Fine.” Ace poured. “Was that an apology?” “No.” “Sounded like one.” “It wasn’t.” Lena stole a piece of potato. Marco slapped lightly at her hand. Lena dodged. Ace saw. “Foreplay in the kitchen?” Marco closed his eyes. Lena ate the potato. Panam laughed. Marco opened his eyes again. “No.” Lena leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Relax.” “I am relaxed.” “You just tried to defend a potato.” “It was for the table.” Lena smiled. “So am I.” Marco stared. Ace nearly spilled her coffee. Panam slapped the counter. Brenda shouted: “YES, LENA.” Marco turned crimson. Lena looked extremely pleased with herself. Reyes took a slow drink. “Breakfast is improving.” Ace pointed at her. “Thank you.” --- Ace reached the table. There were several seats. One beside Mai. One beside Nyx. One beside Reyes. Ace looked at all three. Kiro saw. Her exhausted face became interested. “Oh, this should be good.” Ace turned. “You look like Rhea and Sol kept you up half the fucking night.” Kiro froze. Rhea looked down. Sol smiled. Brenda sat forward immediately. Panam looked toward Kiro. Shammy’s eyes widened slightly. Reyes leaned back. Kiro stared at Ace. “You know what?” Ace smiled. “Quite a lot.” “I hate you.” Ace looked at Rhea. “Did she say that last night too?” Rhea choked. Sol actually put her forehead against the table. Kiro’s face went hot. “Ace.” “What?” Brenda was barely holding herself together. Iris looked at Ace with a slow, dangerous smile. Ace saw. “Oh, don’t you fucking encourage me.” Iris lifted her mug. “I’m not.” “Bullshit.” Iris looked toward Kiro. Then Rhea. Then Sol. “I was just wondering whether Kiro slept at all.” Kiro turned. “Not you too.” Iris’s eyebrows rose. Brenda whispered: “You’re fucked.” Kiro heard. “So are you.” Brenda stopped. Then smiled. “Yeah.” Iris looked at her. Brenda leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Very happily.” Ace slapped one hand against the table. “There. That’s how you fucking answer.” Mai sat down beside her. Ace looked toward her. Mai’s mouth curved. “Pyhäkoulua?” Ace grinned. “Ei tänään.” Nyx laughed. Kiro looked between them. “What?” Ace leaned toward her. “Finnish state secret.” Kiro narrowed her eyes. “That phrase sounded suspicious.” “It was.” Rhea kissed Kiro’s temple. Kiro relaxed into it before remembering she was still publicly under attack. Ace saw. Her grin widened. Kiro caught it. “Say it and I’m throwing that coffee in your lap.” Ace looked at the mug. Then at Kiro. “Hot?” “Very.” Ace smiled. “Threat noted.” Reyes looked toward Ace. “You’re being cautious?” Ace turned. “Fuck no.” Reyes’s eyes warmed. “Good.” Ace took the empty chair beside her. No performance. Just chose it. Reyes’s expression softened by a fraction. Ace leaned against her shoulder immediately. Reyes’s arm went around her. Kiro stared. Ace looked over. “What?” Kiro lifted both hands. “Nothing.” “Good.” Brenda looked toward Iris. “Cuddly.” Ace pointed without looking away from her coffee. “Don’t start.” Shammy said: “She is.” Ace turned slowly. Shammy smiled. Reyes’s arm tightened around Ace. Ace looked down at it. Then toward Shammy. “Fine.” She leaned harder into Reyes. “Very.” Reyes smiled. That answer killed the joke before anyone could turn it into one. Good. --- Marco served breakfast. Eggs. Potatoes. Bread. Farm tomatoes. Cheese. Some kind of sausage Panam had also brought and apparently forgotten to mention because by this point the farm haul was turning into a religious event. Ace stared at the plate. “Fuck me.” Iris immediately said: “Later.” The room detonated. Again. Brenda put both hands over her face. Kiro dropped her fork. Panam laughed so hard she had to grab the counter. Rhea folded over Sol’s shoulder. Nyx stared at Iris with open admiration. Mai looked down at her plate, shoulders shaking. Reyes closed her eyes. Ace stared across the table. Iris calmly cut into her breakfast. Ace pointed. “You’ve been waiting since yesterday to do that again.” Iris looked up. “No.” Brenda lowered her hands. “That was way too fast to be accidental.” Iris looked at Brenda. “You say that like I need preparation.” Brenda’s mouth opened. Ace made a strangled sound. Mai finally laughed outright. Panam slapped the counter. Kiro looked at Sol. “I don’t think I can survive five days of this.” Sol leaned close. “You did fine last night.” Kiro froze. Rhea slowly turned toward Sol. Everyone heard. Sol realized. Too late. Ace leaned forward. “Oh, fucking beautiful.” Kiro looked at Sol. “You betrayed me.” Sol covered her mouth. Rhea laughed. Kiro looked around. “No. Absolutely not.” Brenda pointed. “She did fine last night.” Kiro put both hands over her face. Ace looked toward Rhea. “Independent verification?” Rhea looked at Kiro. Then Ace. Kiro peered through her fingers. Rhea smiled. “Very fine.” Kiro dropped her head onto the table. Shammy looked concerned. “Is she okay?” Panam leaned toward her. “She’s having breakfast.” Shammy considered. “Okay.” Ace looked at Shammy. “You are the most dangerous person here and you don’t even fucking try.” Shammy smiled. “Thank you.” Panam kissed her temple. “Accurate.” --- Eventually Kiro lifted her head. Her dignity had not survived. She had. Good enough. Ace pushed the bread basket toward her. “Eat.” Kiro glared. “You just spent five minutes publicly discussing my sex life.” “Yes.” “And now you’re being nice?” Ace shrugged. “You’re hungry.” Kiro looked at the bread. Then Ace. Something softened. She took a piece. “Cunt.” Ace smiled. “Love you too.” Kiro froze. Not because the words were dramatic. Because Ace had said them casually. Like fact. Kiro’s expression changed. Then she looked away. “Yeah.” Ace let that be enough. Rhea’s hand settled at Kiro’s back. Sol touched her knee beneath the table. Kiro ate. The conversation moved. That was how this group handled most tenderness when it appeared unexpectedly. Let it land. Then keep breathing. --- Panam sat at the table after everyone had food. Shammy took the chair beside her. For perhaps thirty seconds. Then Panam hooked one arm around her waist and dragged the chair closer. Shammy went without resistance. Ace saw. “You two have separation anxiety now?” Panam looked toward her. “Fuck off.” Shammy answered at the same time: “Maybe.” Panam turned. Shammy looked completely sincere. Panam’s expression softened. “Yeah?” Shammy nodded. “I missed you.” Panam’s face changed. Ace saw. Everybody who mattered saw. Panam touched Shammy’s cheek. “Missed you too.” Then Shammy smiled. “And I like your shirt.” Panam looked down at herself. Then at Shammy wearing Panam’s other shirt. “Wait.” Shammy smiled wider. Ace caught it. “Oh, fuck.” Panam looked at Shammy. “You stole that.” “I borrowed it.” “You have clothes.” “Yes.” “Then why are you wearing mine?” Shammy looked thoughtful. “Smells like you.” Panam went completely still. Brenda made a high noise. Ace covered her face. Kiro looked toward the ceiling. Iris smiled. Reyes quietly laughed. Panam stared at Shammy. Then leaned over and kissed her. Long enough that the table stopped pretending not to watch. When Panam pulled back: “Keep it.” Shammy smiled. “I was going to.” Ace dropped her hands. “Jesus fucking Christ, that was disgusting.” Panam flipped her off. Ace smiled. “Beautiful. But disgusting.” --- Marco sat down last. Lena immediately stole a sausage from his plate. Marco looked at the missing piece. Then at her. Lena ate it. “What?” “You have your own.” “I wanted yours.” Ace looked over. “Oh, Marco. She likes your sausage.” Marco put his fork down. Lena closed her eyes. Panam looked away. Brenda made a choking sound. Nyx bit her lip. Reyes shook her head. Marco stared at Ace. “Are you twelve?” Ace looked at the table. “Anyone?” Kiro said: “Emotionally?” Ace pointed. “See?” Kiro realized she had helped. “Fuck.” Ace smiled. Marco took another piece of sausage. Held it up. Looked directly at Ace. A warning. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Marco ate it slowly. Ace stared. Panam noticed. “No.” Ace looked at her. “Not yet.” “You were about to.” “I’m learning restraint.” Lena looked at Mai. “Can you confirm?” Mai took a sip of coffee. “No.” Ace turned. “Betrayal.” Nyx leaned close. “Last night suggests otherwise.” Silence. Ace froze. Mai’s eyes moved toward Nyx. Reyes looked down at Ace. Brenda sat forward. Kiro’s expression became delighted now that someone else was dying. Ace slowly turned toward Nyx. “What exactly are you implying?” Nyx buttered her bread. “That you’re capable of slowing down when sufficiently motivated.” Ace stared. Mai covered her mouth. Brenda whispered: “Holy fuck.” Reyes’s arm around Ace tightened. Ace looked up at her. Reyes’s face was perfectly controlled. That was worse. “Don’t.” Reyes lifted one eyebrow. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai was absolutely enjoying this. Nyx too. Ace narrowed her eyes. “You two are getting fucked for that.” The table went silent. Mai’s expression warmed immediately. Nyx smiled. “Again?” Ace stopped. Brenda dropped her forehead to the table. Iris laughed into her coffee. Panam shouted: “Jesus Christ.” Kiro looked at Ace. “Walked into it.” Reyes finally laughed. Ace stared at Nyx. Then slowly smiled. “Yeah.” No retreat. “Again.” Nyx’s eyes warmed. Mai looked at Ace. Ace caught it. “Both of you.” Mai took another drink. “Noted.” Marco looked toward Lena. “I miss when breakfast was food.” Lena leaned against him. “You’re lying.” Marco sighed. “Maybe.” --- The first real lull arrived after everyone had eaten enough to stop attacking the plates. Coffee refilled. The sun reached the table through the windows. Nobody rushed. No schedule. No gear checks. No one saying they had fifteen minutes before moving. Ace had shifted sideways against Reyes, one leg tucked beneath her. Reyes’s hand rested at her waist. Mai sat close to Nyx across from them. Kiro remained securely between Rhea and Sol. Brenda’s bare foot had somehow ended up in Iris’s lap. Iris idly rubbed it while listening to Panam describe the farm. Ace noticed. Of course. She looked toward Brenda. Brenda caught her. Ace looked down at Iris’s hand. Then up. Brenda smiled. Ace smiled back. Iris noticed both. Her eyebrows rose. Ace lifted her coffee. “Comfortable?” Brenda looked down at herself. “Very.” Iris said: “She’s spoiled.” Brenda turned. “You love spoiling me.” Iris looked at her. “Yes.” Simple. Brenda’s expression softened. Then immediately became filthy again. “Good. Keep going.” Iris’s hand moved higher along Brenda’s calf. Brenda’s eyes warmed. Ace saw. She looked toward Mai. Mai had also seen. Ace grinned. Mai shook her head. Ace whispered toward Reyes: “We’re never getting through breakfast.” Reyes looked down at her. “Do we need to?” Ace stopped. That was almost profound. Almost. Then Reyes added: “You already ate.” Ace laughed. “Bitch.” Reyes kissed her temple. Ace relaxed against her. There it was again. That quiet easing. No one missed it. No one commented. --- Brenda broke the relative peace. Naturally. “So.” Iris closed her eyes. Ace smiled immediately. Kiro whispered: “No.” Brenda looked around. “What?” Panam said: “That noise.” “What noise?” “The one you make before saying some shit everybody has to live with afterward.” Brenda looked delighted. “I have a noise?” Iris opened her eyes. “Yes.” Brenda leaned closer. “Sexy?” Iris considered. “Usually expensive.” Ace laughed. Brenda looked around the table. “All right. Question.” Marco stood. “No.” Everyone looked at him. He picked up his plate. “I’m cleaning.” Lena caught his wrist. “Sit.” “I know where this is going.” “You absolutely don’t.” “That is why I am leaving.” Lena smiled. “You’re staying.” Marco stared at her. Then sat. Ace pointed. “Whipped.” Marco looked toward her. “Quiet.” Ace leaned against Reyes. “Can’t hear you from all the way over here.” Reyes looked down. “You’re three meters away.” Ace smiled. Marco shook his head. Brenda waited until everyone settled. Then: “Who fucked last night?” Silence. Complete. Not embarrassed. Just amazed by the efficiency. Iris turned slowly. “Brenda.” “What?” “You could have asked literally anything else.” “I wanted useful information.” Ace sat forward. “No, let her cook.” Reyes laughed quietly. Panam looked at Brenda. Then Shammy. Then back. Rhea looked toward Sol. Sol looked at Kiro. Kiro looked horrified. Marco put both hands over his face. Lena patted his shoulder. Brenda looked around. “Well?” Ace raised one hand. Mai looked at her. Nyx raised hers too. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai calmly raised hers. Brenda’s eyes widened. “Good.” Panam raised hers. Shammy raised hers. Rhea lifted one. Sol lifted one. Kiro stared at both of them. Rhea smiled. Kiro closed her eyes. Then raised hers. Brenda looked absolutely thrilled. Iris stared at her coffee. Brenda nudged her. Iris looked over. Brenda waited. Iris sighed. Raised her hand. Brenda raised hers immediately. Ace counted. Then looked at Reyes. Reyes sat with both hands around her mug. Ace’s expression changed. Not teasing. Reyes saw. She smiled. “Not last night.” Ace nodded. Warm. No problem. Marco looked around. “Are we seriously doing this?” Lena raised her hand. Marco stared. Lena looked at him. Marco’s face changed. “Oh, fuck off.” Lena laughed. Marco reluctantly raised his hand. The table collapsed. Ace folded into Reyes. Brenda shouted triumphantly. Panam laughed into Shammy’s shoulder. Kiro looked genuinely betrayed by reality. Marco pointed at Brenda. “This never happens again.” Brenda smiled. “Sure.” Iris leaned close to her. “Next time I’m gagging you before breakfast.” Everything stopped. Brenda’s eyes widened. Slowly. Ace stared across the table. Panam’s mouth fell open. Kiro looked at Iris as though she had achieved transcendence. Mai’s expression became intensely interested. Reyes closed her eyes. Nyx covered her mouth. Marco looked toward the ceiling. Brenda turned fully toward Iris. “You promise?” Iris held her gaze. The corner of her mouth lifted. “Eat your breakfast.” Brenda looked like she had forgotten what breakfast was. Ace slapped the table. “That. Fucking. Woman.” Iris took another drink. Brenda stared. Ace leaned toward Mai. “Camp improved her.” Mai nodded. “Significantly.” Kiro whispered: “I need a minute.” Rhea leaned close. “Why?” Kiro looked at Iris. Then at Rhea. Then Sol. Her face changed. Ace saw. “Oh, Kiro.” Kiro pointed. “No.” Ace grinned. “Nothing.” “Good.” Ace sat back. For once, she actually kept quiet. Five whole seconds. Then Marco stood again. “This time I am cleaning.” Nobody stopped him. He had earned it. --- Breakfast dissolved after that. Not ended. Dissolved. People carried plates. Coffee moved outside. Panam and Shammy took theirs to the terrace. Rhea and Sol left with Kiro between them. Kiro claimed she needed a shower. Ace called after her: “Cold one?” Kiro gave her the finger without turning around. Ace laughed. Brenda leaned against Iris while they walked toward the windows. Iris whispered something. Brenda stopped. Looked at her. Then followed faster. Ace noticed. “Those two are fucking doomed.” Reyes stood beside her. “Happy.” Ace looked up. “Same thing sometimes.” Reyes smiled. Mai came over with Nyx. Ace looked at them. Then toward the kitchen. Then at the clock. “Whole day ahead.” Mai nodded. Nyx smiled. Reyes looked toward the lake. Ace saw. Immediately. “No.” Reyes turned. “What?” “That fucking look.” “I looked at water.” “You looked at the dock.” “They’re in the same direction.” Ace narrowed her eyes. Reyes smiled. Mai looked toward Nyx. Nyx already knew. The morning was about to become violent. Ace pointed at Reyes. “Not before I digest.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. “You setting conditions now?” “Yes.” “Good.” Ace stopped. The answer was not teasing. Reyes meant it. Ace’s expression softened. Then she grinned. “After digestion, you’re still a cunt.” Reyes nodded. “Also good.” Ace looked toward the lake again. Then back. A little anticipation appeared. Mai saw. Nyx saw. Reyes definitely did. Ace lifted her chin. “Come on, then.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Thought you wanted to digest.” Ace started toward the terrace. “I can digest while threatening you.” Panam, already outside, heard. “Lake?” Ace shouted: “NO.” Shammy laughed. Kiro called from somewhere across the clearing: “I HAVE A TIMER.” Panam immediately shouted: “YOU ARE NOT TIMING MY GIRLFRIEND.” Kiro answered: “I WASN’T TALKING ABOUT HER.” Ace stopped. Slowly looked toward Reyes. Reyes smiled. Ace closed her eyes. “Fuck all of you.” Reyes slipped an arm around her shoulders. Ace leaned into it anyway. Breakfast was over. Operational security had not survived coffee. --- ## Chapter Seven — You Knew This Time The dock looked offensively peaceful. Ace distrusted it on principle. She stood halfway down the path with one hand on her hip and the other wrapped around the neck of a water bottle, staring at the lake as if it had personally insulted her family. Reyes stood ten feet ahead. Hands in pockets. Calm. Too calm. Ace narrowed her eyes. “Don’t.” Reyes turned. “I’m standing.” “Menacingly.” “I’m wearing shorts.” “That has never stopped anyone.” Behind them, Brenda laughed. Ace looked over one shoulder. Brenda and Iris were coming down the path together. Panam and Shammy followed. Mai and Nyx behind them. Rhea, Sol, and Kiro farther back. Marco and Lena last. All thirteen. Ace stared. “Oh, fuck off. Why is everybody coming?” Panam answered first. “Because Reyes is about to throw you in the lake.” Ace pointed. “She has not been authorized.” Reyes looked toward her. “You said after breakfast.” “I said after digestion.” Panam looked at Ace’s water bottle. “How digested are you?” Ace looked down at herself. Then back. “Emotionally? Never.” Reyes laughed. Ace glared at her. “That’s exactly the face.” “What face?” “The one before you do something fucking stupid.” Reyes’s mouth curved. Ace pointed harder. “There.” Kiro arrived carrying a timer. Panam saw it immediately. “No.” Kiro stopped. “What?” “You know what.” “I brought a timer.” “Yes.” “It tells time.” “So does the fucking sun.” Kiro looked up at the sky. “Not precisely.” Panam closed her eyes. Ace looked at Kiro. “You’re timing her.” Kiro looked toward Reyes. Then Ace. “No.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Kiro hesitated. “Maybe.” Ace stared. “You little cunt.” Kiro smiled. “Technical curiosity.” Reyes started walking toward the dock. Ace turned. “HEY.” Reyes kept going. Ace followed automatically. Panam looked at Mai. “She’s following.” Mai smiled. “She always does.” Ace heard. Turned while walking backward. “I HEARD THAT.” Nyx called: “Good.” Ace flipped them off and nearly walked into Reyes. Reyes caught her by the shoulders. Ace froze. Then looked up. Reyes looked down. “Careful.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “You did that on purpose.” “You walked backward.” “While monitoring hostile activity.” Reyes’s hands stayed on her shoulders. Ace noticed. So did everybody else. Reyes looked toward the dock. Then back at Ace. “No surprise this time.” The joke thinned. Ace stopped performing for the crowd. Reyes’s voice stayed low. “You know exactly what I’m asking.” Ace did. That mattered. The last time had been trust in motion. Reyes taking control because Ace had given it. This time Reyes did not move until Ace chose first. Ace looked toward the water. Then back. “Same way?” Reyes nodded. “If you want.” Ace’s expression softened. No one behind them interrupted. Even Brenda knew better. Ace put the bottle down beside the path. Walked onto the dock. Reyes followed. The boards creaked beneath them. Ace stopped near the end. Turned. “Ready?” Reyes lifted one eyebrow. “You’re asking me?” “Yes.” Reyes smiled. “Very.” Ace exhaled through her nose. Then stepped closer. “Do it.” Reyes’s hands went to her waist. Ace immediately grabbed Reyes’s shoulders. Not resisting. Preparing. Reyes bent. Ace’s eyes widened. “Oh, you fucking—” Reyes lifted her. Ace squealed. The shoreline erupted. Kiro started the timer. Ace’s legs kicked uselessly. “REYES!” Reyes turned toward the water. Ace was already laughing. She knew it. Everyone knew it. That made the outrage useless. “PUT ME THE FUCK DOWN.” Reyes shifted her grip. Ace saw open water over her shoulder. “NOT THAT WAY.” Brenda shouted: “FORM!” Ace looked toward shore. “FUCK YOU, BRENDA.” Iris called: “She does have good form.” Ace stared. “YOU TOO?” Reyes laughed. Ace’s grip tightened. “Do it before I change my fucking mind.” Reyes looked at her. One last check. Ace nodded. Reyes threw her. Ace flew. For one bright, ridiculous second she saw sky. Trees. Water. Reyes’s face. Then the lake hit her. Cold enough to wipe every thought out clean. Ace vanished beneath the surface. Silence lasted less than a second. Then she came up laughing so hard she could barely breathe. Not screaming. Not swearing. Laughing. Hair plastered to her head. Shirt clinging to her. Eyes bright. Reyes stood at the end of the dock looking down. Ace wiped water from her face. “You absolute fucking bitch.” Reyes folded her arms. “You asked.” “I know.” “Still mad?” Ace considered. Then grinned. “Fuck no.” That answer hit harder than the splash. Reyes’s expression softened. Ace saw. “Don’t get sentimental.” “I’m admiring my throw.” Kiro shouted from shore: “Four point six meters.” Ace’s head snapped around. “Kiro!” Kiro held up the timer. “That wasn’t timing.” “What the fuck was it?” “Distance estimate.” Ace stared. “HOW?” Kiro pointed toward the dock boards. “Reference spacing.” Marco nodded. “Reasonable.” Ace looked at him. “You’re helping?” Marco took a drink. “Technically.” Ace slapped the water. “Jesus fucking Christ.” Reyes crouched at the edge. Held out one hand. Ace looked at it. Then at her. “You throwing me again?” “No.” “Promise?” “No.” Ace stared. Reyes smiled. “Not today.” Ace laughed. Then took the hand. Reyes pulled. Ace found the ladder with one foot and climbed. Water poured from her clothes. The second Ace got high enough, she wrapped both wet arms around Reyes. Reyes made a startled sound. The crowd lost it. Ace squeezed. Hard. Reyes looked down at the soaked shirt now pressed against her. “You did that on purpose.” Ace smiled into her shoulder. “Absolutely.” “You’re freezing.” “You threw me in a fucking lake.” “Fair.” Ace stepped back. Reyes looked at her. Ace looked at Reyes’s wet front. Then smiled. “Better.” Reyes shook her head. Mai came onto the dock carrying a towel. Nyx had another. Ace looked toward both. “Oh, look. Competent people.” Mai wrapped the towel around her shoulders. Nyx started rubbing Ace’s hair aggressively with the second. Ace ducked. “HEY.” “Dry.” “I can do it.” “You’re five feet of bad decisions.” Ace looked offended. “Four nine.” Nyx stopped. Ace stared. Nyx smiled. “Sorry.” Mai laughed. Reyes looked toward the shoreline. Panam was already watching Shammy. That changed things. Ace followed the gaze. Shammy stood barefoot near the edge of the water. Panam stood beside her. Suspicious. Very. Ace’s smile began. “Oh.” Panam looked toward her. “No.” Ace pulled the towel closer. “That was just breathing.” “You made the sound.” Kiro immediately moved closer. Panam pointed. “You stay the fuck back.” Kiro stopped. “I’m not doing anything.” “You’re holding a timer.” Kiro looked down. Then hid it behind her back. Panam stared. “That is worse.” Shammy smiled. Panam turned toward her. “You too.” “What?” “That face.” Shammy tilted her head. Panam pointed toward the water. “The last time you did this, you damn near stopped my fucking heart.” Shammy’s smile widened. “You screamed.” Ace called from the dock: “She absolutely screamed.” Panam turned. “You shut the fuck up, drowned rat.” Ace laughed. Reyes leaned toward her. “She has a point.” Ace looked up. “You want round two?” Reyes smiled. “Later.” Ace stopped. Nyx made a sound. Mai looked toward Reyes. Panam barked a laugh. Ace stared at Reyes. “You are getting dangerously good at that.” Reyes’s expression stayed calm. “You’re very easy to rile up.” Ace looked down. Then back. “Noted.” That sounded like a threat. Good. --- Panam turned back toward Shammy. “You want a rematch.” Shammy nodded. “Yes.” Panam folded her arms. “You already know you cheat.” “I don’t cheat.” “You become a fucking torpedo.” Ace looked toward Mai. “That’s accurate.” Mai nodded. “Technically.” Kiro made a noise. Everyone looked at her. Kiro looked like she was physically suffering. Panam pointed without turning. “No data.” Kiro clenched both fists. “This is cruel.” Sol wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You’ll live.” Rhea kissed her cheek. Kiro looked betrayed. “You both know this is scientifically interesting.” Rhea nodded. “Extremely.” Kiro brightened. Rhea continued: “Still no.” Kiro closed her eyes. Ace laughed. Panam took off her shirt. Underneath, sports top. Shorts. Ready. Ace saw. “You planned this.” Panam looked toward her. “Of course I fucking planned this.” Shammy’s eyebrows rose. Panam pointed at her. “You gave me months to think.” Shammy smiled. “Good.” Panam kicked off her shoes. “Ten-second head start.” Shammy nodded. “Okay.” Ace blinked. “That’s it?” Shammy looked toward her. “Yes.” Panam narrowed her eyes. “You’re way too confident.” Shammy’s hair lifted lightly. Ace saw. “Oh, fuck.” Panam turned. “What?” Ace pointed at Shammy. “That.” Panam looked. Shammy stood very still. Bare feet in the shallows now. Water around her ankles. Hair barely moving despite the breeze. Panam stared. “You’re already doing the weird shit.” Shammy smiled. “No.” “The water is fucking listening to you.” Shammy looked down at the lake. Then back. “Maybe.” Panam looked toward Ace. Ace held up both hands. “Not my girlfriend.” Panam stared. Ace grinned. “Your problem.” Shammy laughed. Panam’s outrage dissolved instantly. “Yeah, yeah.” She looked toward the agreed marker farther down the shoreline. Thirty meters. Maybe a little more. Then at Shammy. “Ten.” Shammy nodded. Panam turned toward Kiro. Kiro immediately put both hands behind her back. Panam narrowed her eyes. “You are not measuring my girlfriend.” Kiro answered far too fast. “I’m measuring you.” Silence. Ace froze. Reyes closed her eyes. Nyx covered her mouth. Mai turned away. Brenda made a sound somewhere between a scream and a laugh. Iris looked toward Kiro. Kiro realized. Her face changed. “Oh.” Ace doubled over. Panam stared at Kiro. Kiro lifted one finger. “That is not what I—” Rhea folded against Sol. Sol was laughing too hard to stand straight. Brenda shouted: “FUCKING BEAUTIFUL.” Kiro looked at the sky. “I hate all of you.” Ace wiped at one eye. “No, no, you don’t get to run from that one.” Kiro pointed at Ace. “I meant speed.” “Sure.” “Velocity.” “Better.” “Performance.” The entire shoreline exploded again. Kiro stopped talking. Finally. Panam looked at Shammy. “Can we fucking start before she digs through bedrock?” Shammy nodded. Panam stepped onto the dock. Then turned. “No bullshit.” Shammy looked innocent. Panam stared. “Exactly that.” Ace leaned toward Reyes. “She’s fucked.” Panam heard. “I’m prepared.” Reyes looked at Shammy. “No, you’re not.” Panam pointed at her. “You already committed your lake crime for the day.” Ace looked up. “Actually consensual.” Panam paused. Then nodded. “Fine. Your lake kink.” Ace stared. Nyx choked. Mai laughed. Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace pointed at Panam. “No. We are not making that a thing.” Panam grinned. “Too late.” Ace groaned. “Fuck you.” Panam stepped to the edge. Kiro visibly fought herself. Panam looked over one shoulder. “Do not start that timer.” Kiro’s thumb froze. Panam stared. Kiro slowly lowered it. “Fine.” Shammy came closer. Water to her calves. Panam looked at her. “Ten seconds.” “Yes.” “Actual seconds.” “Yes.” “Not elemental bullshit seconds.” Shammy smiled. “Panam.” “What?” “Go.” Panam did. She dove cleanly. Hit the water. Surfaced several meters out already moving. Fast. Panam could swim. Very fucking well. Strong strokes. Efficient. No wasted movement. Ten seconds was a ridiculous head start. Which was exactly why she wanted it. Kiro looked at the timer. Then at Panam. Then at Shammy. Her entire face was agony. Rhea saw. “You can count in your head.” Kiro turned. “That is still measurement.” Sol smiled. “Then suffer.” Kiro glared. Ace watched Shammy. Not Panam. Shammy. She remembered the last time. The way the water had moved. The way Shammy had simply ceased being where physics expected. Five seconds. Shammy walked deeper. Water to her waist. Six. Her hair settled against her shoulders. Seven. The ripples around her changed. Tiny. Wrong. Ace felt the laugh leave her. Not fear. Recognition. “Here we go.” Mai stood beside her. Eyes on Shammy. Eight. Shammy lowered herself. Water reached her shoulders. Panam was already more than halfway to the marker. Nine. Shammy took a breath. Ten. She disappeared. Not dove. Disappeared. The water folded over her. For half a heartbeat the surface went strangely flat. Then a narrow disturbance shot forward. Ace whispered: “Oh, fuck.” Kiro made a high sound. Rhea grabbed her wrist before the timer could come up. Kiro stared. “Did you see that?” “Yes.” “Do you understand how fucking fast—” “No.” “That was—” “Kiro.” “FINE.” Panam looked back. Nothing behind her. She grinned. Actually grinned. Then turned forward and dug harder into the water. Ace saw the mistake. “Don’t look forward.” Panam obviously could not hear. Two strokes. Three. Then Shammy’s hand touched her ankle. Panam screamed. Not a cute little shriek. A full-throated: “FUCK!” It echoed across the lake. Everyone collapsed. Ace sat down on the dock. Brenda grabbed Iris’s arm. Marco nearly dropped his water bottle. Lena turned away. Rhea and Sol folded around Kiro. Kiro was laughing so hard she could not object to anything. Panam spun in the water. Shammy surfaced directly behind her. Calm. Smiling. Panam stared. “You fucking—” Shammy wrapped both arms around Panam from behind. Panam’s outrage stalled. Shammy rested her chin on Panam’s shoulder. “You knew this time.” Panam breathed hard. Looked toward shore. Then back at Shammy. “Didn’t fucking help.” Shammy kissed her cheek. Panam closed her eyes. The anger vanished. Completely. Ace shouted: “TEN SECONDS!” Panam turned her head. “SHUT UP!” Kiro called: “TECHNICALLY IT WAS LESS THAN—” Panam pointed toward shore. “DO NOT FINISH THAT SENTENCE.” Kiro stopped. Ace looked at her. Kiro whispered: “I know exactly how long.” Rhea leaned in. “How long?” Kiro’s eyes brightened. Panam shouted: “I CAN SEE YOU CONSPIRING.” Kiro looked away. “Nothing.” Ace started laughing again. Shammy still held Panam. Panam looked at her. “You enjoyed scaring me.” Shammy smiled. “Yes.” Panam narrowed her eyes. “You’re getting worse.” Shammy kissed the corner of her mouth. “You like me worse.” Panam stopped. Ace heard from the dock. “OHHHH.” Panam turned. “Ace.” Ace held up both hands. “That one was hers.” Shammy looked pleased. Panam looked back at her. “Yeah.” Then kissed her. No hurry. No performance. Still in the lake. Shammy’s arms tightened. Panam’s hands came around her. The shoreline got quieter. Not prudish. Just letting them have it. Ace watched for a second. Then glanced toward Mai. Mai was already looking at her. Ace’s expression softened. Nyx saw. Reyes did too. No one said anything. Good. --- Panam and Shammy came back normally. Mostly. Panam insisted on a normal swim. Shammy agreed. They reached the dock close enough together that Panam looked pleased. Then Shammy slowed just enough to let Panam touch the ladder first. Panam noticed. Immediately. She looked over her shoulder. “You let me win.” Shammy climbed up behind her. “You wanted to.” Panam stared. “That is worse.” Shammy smiled. Panam tried to maintain outrage. Failed. She turned and kissed Shammy again. Ace looked toward Reyes. “Disgusting.” Reyes looked at Ace. “You hugged me dripping wet five minutes ago.” “That was revenge.” “Sure.” Ace smiled. “Fuck off.” Reyes leaned closer. “Later?” Ace froze. Again. Reyes was absolutely doing it on purpose now. Ace looked up slowly. “You’re enjoying this.” “Yes.” The answer was immediate. Ace’s eyes warmed. “Good.” No joke. That one stayed between them. --- They spread along the dock and shoreline afterward. No one rushed inside. Sun. Water. The kind of morning that made clocks irrelevant. Panam sat wrapped in a towel with Shammy between her knees. Still touching. Kiro had regained the timer. Nobody knew how. Sol noticed first. “You got it back.” Kiro looked innocent. “It was mine.” Rhea leaned over. “What was the time?” Panam turned instantly. “Kiro.” Kiro froze. Ace started laughing. Panam pointed. “No.” Kiro looked pained. “But—” “No.” “It was objectively—” “No.” “Just one number.” Panam stared. Kiro sighed. “Fine.” Shammy looked toward her. “I want to know.” Panam turned. “Traitor.” Shammy smiled. “You said that yesterday.” Panam looked at her. Then Kiro. Then back. “Later.” Kiro’s face lit up. Ace pointed. “Oh, fuck, she caved.” Panam glared. Ace leaned back against Reyes. Dry enough now that nobody could call it accidental. Reyes’s arm went around her. Ace looked toward the lake. Then at Reyes. “So.” Reyes looked down. “So?” Ace tilted her head toward the water. “You get one.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. “One what?” “One throw per weekend.” Reyes considered. “Generous.” “Extremely.” “And if I want two?” Ace smiled. “Earn it.” Reyes’s expression changed. Just slightly. Dirty enough that Ace saw. Ace’s smile widened. “That sounded worse in your head.” “Better.” Ace laughed. “Cunt.” Reyes kissed her temple. Ace leaned into it. Mai sat a little farther down the dock with Nyx. Kiro, Rhea, and Sol on the grass. Brenda and Iris close together beneath one towel because apparently separate towels were beneath them. Marco and Lena sharing water. Panam wrapped around Shammy. Ace looked around. Everybody soaked somewhere. Everybody laughing. Everybody touching. Nobody scanning the tree line. Nobody performing indifference. The operation felt farther away than it had the previous evening. Not gone. Good. But no longer sitting at the center of every room. Ace rested her head against Reyes. Reyes’s hand moved slowly over her upper arm. Ace closed her eyes. “Good throw.” Reyes looked down. Ace opened one eye. “Don’t get smug.” Reyes smiled. “Too late.” Ace laughed. Then stayed exactly where she was. --- ## Chapter Eight — No One Is Going For A Walk By noon, the cabin had stopped pretending anyone was doing anything organized. That was not the same as laziness. People moved. They just moved according to impulse. Panam and Shammy disappeared toward the forest trail with no announcement beyond Panam grabbing a bottle of water and Shammy following because of course she did. Rhea and Sol took Kiro toward the sauna building after Kiro made the tactical error of saying she was “not tired anymore.” Marco started reorganizing the refrigerator. Lena stopped him halfway through and dragged him outside with a towel over one shoulder. Brenda and Iris went upstairs for what Brenda loudly claimed was “a clothing issue.” Nobody believed her. Ace looked at the stairs. Then at Mai. Mai looked back. Ace’s mouth curved. “Clothing issue.” Nyx, sitting on the terrace rail, said: “Could be.” Ace turned. “You’re cute when you lie.” Nyx smiled. Mai took a drink. Ace looked toward her. “You’re not going to comment?” Mai’s expression remained calm. “On Brenda taking Iris upstairs?” “Yes.” “No.” Ace stared. Mai added: “They’ll come back eventually.” Ace slowly smiled. “Oh, there she is.” Nyx laughed. Ace looked between them. “What?” “You keep waiting for Mai to say something filthy.” Ace folded her arms. “She’s devastating when she does.” Mai looked toward Nyx. “She likes anticipation.” Ace turned immediately. “See?” Nyx smiled. Mai’s mouth curved. Ace pointed at both. “This is what I mean. You’re fucking with me.” Mai took another drink. “Yes.” Ace stared. Then smiled. “Good.” --- The sauna was already hot when Ace eventually wandered over. She did not knock. Nobody did. The door opened. Heat rolled out. Kiro looked up from the upper bench with immediate suspicion. Rhea sat beside her. Sol lower down, pouring water over the stones. Steam hissed. Ace stood in the doorway. Towel around her. Hair still damp from the lake. Kiro narrowed her eyes. “No.” Ace looked around. “I haven’t said anything.” “You came in smiling.” “I always smile.” “Not like that.” Rhea laughed. Sol poured another ladle. The steam thickened. Ace stepped in and shut the door behind her. “Jesus fuck.” Kiro grinned. “Too hot?” Ace climbed onto the lower bench. “I’m Japanese, not ceramic.” Sol looked over. “Want less steam?” Ace considered. “No.” Kiro smiled. “Thought so.” Ace leaned back against the wood. The heat soaked into everything still tight from the morning swim. Good. For a few minutes, nobody spoke. That was rare enough to feel deliberate. Rhea’s shoulder rested against Kiro’s. Sol sat close enough that one knee touched Kiro’s calf. Ace watched. Not with the sharp interest from last night. Just noticing. Kiro saw. “What?” Ace looked at her. “You three look annoyingly comfortable.” Rhea smiled. “We are.” Sol nodded. “Very.” Kiro looked between them. Then at Ace. “Don’t.” Ace lifted both hands. “I’m not saying shit.” Kiro stared. Ace smiled. Kiro sighed. “That’s worse.” Ace laughed. Rhea leaned closer to Kiro. “You know she’s going to anyway.” Kiro looked toward Ace. Ace was already grinning. “See?” Ace tilted her head. “Fine. You want direct?” Kiro closed her eyes. “No.” Ace continued anyway. “You look like you got exactly the amount of sleep you deserved.” Rhea choked. Sol covered her mouth. Kiro opened her eyes. “You absolute cunt.” Ace smiled brightly. “You asked for direct.” “I explicitly said no.” “Details.” Rhea laughed harder. Sol looked at Kiro. Kiro’s face was already warm from the sauna. That gave her plausible deniability. Not enough. Ace saw. “So?” Kiro stared. “So what?” Ace leaned forward. “Good night?” Kiro looked toward Rhea. Then Sol. Both women smiled. Kiro’s irritation softened. “Yeah.” Ace’s face changed immediately. Not teasing. Just pleased. “Good.” Rhea’s hand moved over Kiro’s knee. Sol leaned back against the bench. Kiro took a breath. Ace looked away. Again, knew when to. --- The door opened. Panam entered first. Shammy behind her. Both carrying towels. Ace looked toward them. “Forest?” Panam nodded. “Short one.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Shammy smiled. Panam saw Ace’s face. “No.” Ace looked innocent. “What?” “That exact fucking expression.” Ace pointed between them. “You said short one.” Panam stared. “I meant walk.” Ace’s grin widened. Shammy tilted her head. “I thought she meant the walk too.” Panam looked toward her. Ace folded over laughing. Kiro slapped one hand over her face. Rhea laughed. Sol leaned forward. Panam stared at Shammy. Shammy’s expression remained perfectly sincere. Then she smiled. Panam’s eyes narrowed. “You’re learning.” Shammy nodded. “Yes.” Ace looked up. “Oh, fuck. We’re all doomed.” Panam sat. Shammy beside her. Panam put an arm around her immediately. Ace saw. “Separation anxiety.” Panam flipped her off. Shammy leaned into Panam. Ace smiled. Panam saw the smile. This time no insult. Good. --- Sauna rotation became meaningless after that. People came and went. Sometimes dry. Sometimes wet. Sometimes suspiciously flushed before entering. Nobody asked. Mostly. Brenda eventually came through the door alone. Ace looked up. Brenda had changed shirts. Ace stared. Brenda stared back. “What?” Ace looked toward the door. Then back. “Clothing issue?” Brenda smiled. “Yes.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda sat beside her. “Very complicated.” Ace looked toward the empty space behind Brenda. “Where’s Iris?” Brenda took the water ladle. “Shower.” Ace smiled. “Mm.” Brenda looked toward her. “You want details?” Ace considered. “Yes.” Brenda laughed. Kiro groaned. “Of course she does.” Brenda poured water over the stones. Steam exploded upward. Ace hissed. Brenda leaned back. Then calmly: “She fucked me until I stopped talking.” Silence. Complete. Kiro’s mouth fell open. Panam barked a laugh. Rhea covered her face. Sol looked toward Brenda with open admiration. Shammy blinked. Ace stared. Then slowly smiled. “Did it work?” Brenda looked thoughtful. “For about thirty seconds.” Ace slapped one hand against the bench. “Fucking beautiful.” Panam laughed harder. Kiro looked at Brenda. “You just say that?” Brenda turned. “Why wouldn’t I?” Kiro opened her mouth. Closed it. Brenda smiled. “Exactly.” Ace pointed. “There. That. No fucking pyhäkoulu.” Panam looked toward her. “What the hell is pyhäkoulu?” Ace smiled. “Ask Mai.” The door opened. Mai entered. Perfect timing. Nyx behind her. Mai heard only the last line. “What?” Ace looked delighted. “Panam wants to know what pyhäkoulu means.” Mai stopped. Nyx started laughing before she had even sat down. Panam looked between them. Mai sighed. “Sunday school.” Panam stared. Then at Ace. “Why the fuck are you talking about Sunday school in a sauna?” Ace pointed at Brenda. “She just said Iris fucked her until she stopped talking.” Mai looked toward Brenda. Brenda smiled. Mai nodded once. “Briefly, I assume.” Brenda stared. Ace made a noise. Panam shouted: “JESUS CHRIST.” Kiro leaned forward. “See, that one was surgical.” Ace pointed at Kiro. “Exactly.” Mai sat beside Nyx. Ace looked at her. “Fucking menace.” Mai’s mouth curved. “You like me that way.” Ace smiled. “I like you a lot of ways.” Nyx turned her face away, laughing. Mai’s expression warmed. Brenda looked between them. “Oh, that was smooth.” Ace leaned back. “Thank you.” Mai looked at Brenda. “Don’t encourage her.” Brenda smiled. “Too late.” --- Iris entered three minutes later. Fresh from the shower. Hair wet. Towel around her. Brenda saw her and immediately smiled. Iris looked at the smile. Then at the room. Then Ace. Ace looked absolutely delighted. Iris sighed. “She told you.” Ace nodded. “Everything important.” Iris looked at Brenda. Brenda folded her hands in her lap. “In my defense, I was praised.” Iris sat beside her. “For what?” Brenda leaned close. “For shutting up.” Iris’s mouth curved. Panam looked away. Ace laughed. Kiro stared at Iris. “You’re not embarrassed?” Iris looked toward her. “About having sex with my fiancée?” Kiro paused. “No.” Iris raised one eyebrow. “Then what?” Kiro considered. “The table-level reporting.” Brenda pointed. “Sauna-level.” Iris looked at her. Brenda smiled. Iris touched the back of Brenda’s neck. “Your problem is that you think geography changes the answer.” Brenda’s eyes warmed immediately. Ace saw. “Oh, fuck.” Iris looked toward her. Ace smiled. “Nothing.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Liar.” Ace grinned. “Yep.” --- After the sauna, the afternoon spread open. No one called it a schedule. No one dared. Marco grilled leftover vegetables and bread for lunch. Panam sliced cold steak. Lena made a dressing out of something nobody could identify but everybody ate. Ace wandered barefoot through the kitchen wearing shorts and a shirt that clearly belonged to Mai. Nyx saw. Mai saw. Brenda saw. Naturally Brenda said it. “That yours?” Ace looked down. “No.” Brenda smiled. Mai entered behind her. Brenda looked at Mai. Then the shirt. Then Ace. “Oh.” Ace leaned against the counter. “Problem?” Brenda looked delighted. “No. I like theft.” Mai stood behind Ace. Hands rested lightly at her waist. Ace leaned back. Brenda saw that too. “Very subtle.” Ace looked toward Iris. “She’s wearing your shirt.” Iris looked down at herself. Then Brenda. “Yes.” Brenda blinked. Ace grinned. “See?” Brenda looked at Iris. “You knew?” “I have eyes.” Brenda looked down again. Her smile softened. “Good shirt.” Iris touched her side. “Better on you.” Brenda stared. Ace slapped the counter. “Fuck, this place is impossible.” Reyes entered carrying a basket of towels. Ace turned. Reyes looked at Ace in Mai’s shirt. Then Mai’s hands at Ace’s waist. Then Brenda in Iris’s shirt. Her mouth curved. Ace pointed. “No.” Reyes put the towels down. “Wasn’t going to say anything.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “Your face.” Reyes smiled. Ace’s expression warmed. “Come here.” Reyes did. No hesitation. Ace took her hand and pulled her close enough for their shoulders to touch. Mai’s hands stayed at Ace’s waist. Nobody repositioned to make the geometry socially legible. Good. Reyes looked down. “You collecting women now?” Ace smiled. “Always.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace looked up. “Relax, you’re premium.” Reyes laughed. Mai’s expression remained calm. “Premium?” Ace grinned. “Expensive. High maintenance. Worth it.” Mai stared. Brenda whispered: “Dangerous.” Ace turned. “Don’t you fucking start with that word.” Brenda laughed. Mai leaned down. Kissed Ace’s temple. “Worth it?” Ace looked up. “Very.” Mai’s expression softened. Reyes saw. Her hand touched Ace’s back. Just once. --- Nobody went for a walk. Not in the old sense. That joke had died somewhere between Palace and camp and Safehouse and all the rest. If two people wanted privacy, they stood up and left. If three wanted privacy, they did the same. Nobody manufactured a euphemism. Nobody stared meaningfully and said _we’re going for a walk_ while the rest pretended not to understand. That afternoon, the first to prove it were Lena and Marco. They were sitting on the terrace. Talking quietly. Marco said something no one else heard. Lena looked at him. Then stood. Held out her hand. Marco took it. They went inside. Panam watched. Ace watched Panam watch. Panam looked toward Ace. Ace smiled. “Say it.” Panam grinned. “He’s getting laid.” Marco’s voice came from the open door: “I CAN HEAR YOU.” Panam shouted back: “GOOD.” Lena laughed somewhere inside. Ace folded over. No false privacy. They still closed the door. Because walls had uses. But no one acted like the reason was mysterious. --- Kiro disappeared next. Not alone. Rhea stood from the grass. Sol followed. Kiro looked toward both. Then toward the side house. Ace saw. Kiro saw Ace seeing. Ace smiled. Kiro pointed at her. “Don’t.” Ace took a drink. “Have fun.” Kiro stopped. That was it. No joke. No filthy comment. Just have fun. Kiro’s expression softened. “Yeah.” Rhea took her hand. Sol touched the small of her back. They went. Ace watched for a second. Mai sat beside her. “You could have destroyed her.” Ace looked toward her. “Yeah.” “Why didn’t you?” Ace shrugged. “Didn’t want to.” Mai touched her knee. Ace looked at the hand. Then at Mai. “See? Growth.” Mai’s mouth curved. “Temporary.” Ace laughed. --- Brenda and Iris made it another hour. Barely. They were on the terrace steps. Brenda talking. Iris listening. Brenda’s hand moved as she spoke. Iris’s gaze dropped to it. Then Brenda’s mouth. Ace noticed. Reyes, beside her, noticed Ace noticing. Ace looked up. Reyes said nothing. Brenda kept talking. Iris waited. Then leaned in and whispered something into Brenda’s ear. Brenda stopped. Completely. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda turned toward Iris. “Now?” Iris nodded. Brenda stood so fast she nearly tripped. Ace laughed. Brenda looked over. “Shut up.” Ace grinned. “Have fun.” Brenda smiled. “Planning to.” Iris stood. Looked toward Ace. Then: “She won’t be talking afterward.” Brenda’s mouth fell open. Ace made a helpless noise. Reyes laughed into one hand. Panam shouted from the other side of the terrace: “IRIS.” Iris smiled. Then took Brenda’s hand. Brenda followed without another word. Ace watched them go. Reyes looked down at her. Ace was still smiling. “Jealous?” Ace turned. “Of Brenda?” Reyes nodded. Ace considered. “No.” Then grinned. “Curious, though.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace looked up. “That surprise you?” Reyes thought about it. “No.” Ace leaned against her. “Good.” --- Later, Ace found Nyx alone in the kitchen. That did not last. Ace entered. Nyx looked over. Ace stopped. Neither spoke. There was no reason to. Ace walked closer. Nyx smiled. “Hi.” Ace stood between her knees where Nyx sat on the counter edge. “Hi.” Nyx touched her waist. Ace looked down. Then up. “You busy?” Nyx shook her head. “No.” Ace leaned closer. “Good.” The kiss started small. Stayed that way for perhaps five seconds. Then not. Nyx’s hands moved around Ace’s back. Ace stepped closer. The counter gave Nyx height. Ace liked that. Very. Nyx knew. Ace broke the kiss. “Door.” Nyx looked toward it. Open. She smiled. “You care?” Ace thought about it. Then heard Marco’s voice from somewhere outside. “Yes.” Nyx laughed. Ace closed the door. Not locked. Just closed. Good enough. No ceremony. No announcement. No disappearing act everyone had to interpret. They both knew exactly why they were there. Nyx touched Ace’s shirt. Mai’s shirt. Her eyes warmed. Ace saw. “What?” Nyx shook her head. “Nothing.” Ace smiled. “Liar.” Nyx pulled her closer. “Maybe.” The kiss resumed. Warm. Hungry. Shorter than the previous night. Intentionally. No need to turn everything into a long ceremony. Ace’s hands moved under the hem of Nyx’s top. Nyx shivered. Ace smiled against her mouth. “Cold?” Nyx looked at her. “No.” “Good.” Nyx caught Ace by the hips. Ace laughed softly. “Bossy.” Nyx kissed her neck. Ace’s breath changed. “Okay.” The word came out quieter than intended. Nyx heard. Her mouth curved against Ace’s skin. Ace closed her eyes. There was nothing to solve. No question about belonging. Just wanting. Choosing. Nyx’s fingers reached the waistband of Ace’s shorts and stopped. Ace opened her eyes. “Yes.” Nyx smiled. Ace stepped back just far enough to get the shorts off properly. Nyx slid down from the counter and did the same with her own, underwear following with the same practical lack of ceremony. Then Nyx was back on the counter, Ace between her knees, both of them laughing once at how little patience they had for anything elegant. The laughter did not last. Nyx pulled her close. Ace’s hands settled at her waist. They adjusted once by feel, Ace met Nyx’s eyes, and when sex began neither had to guess whether the other was ready. Their bodies found a fast, familiar rhythm—close enough for every change in breath to register, slow enough that neither woman vanished into haste. Ace kissed her when Nyx’s breathing started to break. Nyx held on harder. Ace answered, the rhythm tightening between them until Nyx went still for one sharp second and then softened against her. Ace barely had time to grin before Nyx kissed her again and kept her close through the last part of Ace’s own build. Ace’s laugh disappeared into Nyx’s shoulder, turned into a broken breath, and then nothing coherent at all. Quick. Mutual. Exactly what they had wanted. The kitchen counter had been extremely useful. When it was over, Ace stayed where she was. Forehead against Nyx’s. Both breathing. Nyx smiled. Ace opened one eye. “What?” “Nothing.” Ace narrowed it. “Bullshit.” Nyx kissed her once. “Good nothing.” Ace smiled. “Yeah.” They stayed another minute. Then Ace fixed Mai’s shirt. Nyx noticed. “You’re putting it back on.” Ace looked down. “Yes.” Nyx’s smile sharpened. “Good.” Ace looked at her. “You like it?” “Yes.” Ace grinned. “Filthy.” Nyx laughed. “Look who’s talking.” Ace opened the door. Panam stood outside. Ace froze. Panam looked at Ace. Then Nyx. Then Ace’s hair. Then the kitchen counter. Ace stared. Panam’s mouth began to curve. Ace pointed. “Choose your next words very fucking carefully.” Panam folded her arms. “You two done with lunch prep?” Nyx covered her mouth. Ace stared. Panam’s grin widened. Ace looked toward the ceiling. “Fuck you.” Panam laughed. “Door was closed.” Ace walked past her. “Observant.” Panam looked inside at Nyx. Nyx smiled. Panam nodded once. “Good?” Nyx nodded. “Very.” Ace stopped in the hall. Turned. “You are both dead.” Panam laughed harder. Nyx hopped down from the counter. Ace shook her head and walked outside. Panam followed. No apology. Exactly right. --- By late afternoon, everyone had disappeared at least once. Some for sex. Some not. That distinction stopped mattering socially. Marco and Lena returned looking calm. Panam saw. Said nothing. Ace did. “Better?” Marco looked at her. “Yes.” Ace nodded. “Good.” Marco paused. He had clearly expected more. Ace smiled sweetly. “What?” Marco narrowed his eyes. “Nothing.” “See? Growth.” Lena laughed. Marco sighed. --- Rhea, Sol, and Kiro returned from the side house with Kiro’s hair slightly wrong and her expression much too satisfied. Ace saw. Kiro saw Ace see. They stared at each other. Kiro pointed preemptively. Ace raised both hands. “I’m behaving.” Kiro narrowed her eyes. Ace looked at Rhea. Then Sol. Then Kiro. Her mouth twitched. Kiro waited. Ace said: “Hydrate.” Kiro blinked. Rhea started laughing. Sol covered her mouth. Ace grinned. Kiro stared. “That’s it?” Ace nodded. “Adult concern.” Kiro looked suspicious. Then Ace added: “You look fucked enough already.” Kiro closed her eyes. Rhea folded over. Sol laughed. Ace slapped one hand against her own thigh. “Knew it.” Kiro opened her eyes. “You lasted four seconds.” Ace smiled. “Personal best.” Kiro laughed despite herself. Rhea kissed her cheek. Sol took her hand. No one hid. --- Brenda and Iris returned last. Brenda was quiet. Ace saw. Everyone saw. It lasted perhaps twelve seconds. Then Panam looked toward Iris. “Holy shit.” Brenda immediately said: “Don’t.” Iris sat down. Calm. Ace looked at Brenda. “You okay?” Brenda stared at her. “Yes.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda added: “Shut up.” Ace smiled. “I behaved.” Brenda pointed toward Iris. “She did exactly what she said.” Iris took a drink. Panam looked at Brenda. “You mean—” Brenda nodded. “Yes.” Ace laughed. Brenda turned. “I hate all of you.” Iris touched Brenda’s thigh. Brenda’s expression softened instantly. “No, I don’t.” Iris looked at her. “I know.” That ended it. Not the banter. The need to defend anything. --- The afternoon drifted toward evening. Nothing grand. Nothing that needed to become important just because it happened. That was good. They needed ordinary appetite too. Desire without crisis. Touch without lesson. Quick kisses in doorways. Hands at waists. Someone sitting too close. Doors closing for twenty minutes. Doors opening again. People returning to the same conversation slightly flushed and entirely unashamed. Ace saw Panam emerge from the guest bathroom with Shammy two minutes later. Panam caught her looking. Ace raised one eyebrow. Panam raised both. Ace smiled. “Efficient?” Panam grinned. “Very.” Shammy appeared behind her. Ace looked at her. Shammy nodded. “Yes.” Ace laughed. Panam wrapped an arm around Shammy. “See?” Ace shook her head. “Fucking animals.” Panam looked around. “At least we stopped lying about going for walks.” Ace followed her gaze. Rhea and Sol sitting close with Kiro. Marco holding Lena’s hand. Iris with Brenda half against her. Reyes stretched out on the terrace. Mai beside Nyx. Shammy in Panam’s arms. Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Panam looked toward her. Ace’s expression softened. “That part’s better.” Panam nodded. “Much.” Ace walked over to Reyes. Sat close. Reyes shifted automatically to make room. Ace leaned against her. Reyes’s arm came around. No one commented. Not even Shammy. For once. The sun lowered. The lake turned gold. The cabin smelled of wood, sweat, soap, coffee, food, and people who had stopped treating wanting each other like something that needed euphemism. Nobody went for a walk. They just went where they wanted. --- ## Chapter Nine — Panam Bought Wine Panam waited until dinner was over. That fact alone should have warned everyone. The second warning was the box. Ace saw it first. Panam came out of the kitchen carrying six bottles in a low wooden crate with the deeply satisfied expression of someone about to introduce a bad idea to people who had absolutely no defensive instincts left. Ace stopped mid-sentence. “Oh, fuck.” Reyes followed her gaze. “What?” Ace pointed. “That.” Panam set the crate on the terrace table. Kiro looked over. Rhea looked over. Sol looked over. Brenda immediately abandoned whatever conversation she had been having with Iris. Marco closed his eyes. “No.” Panam looked at him. “You haven’t even seen it.” “I know you.” “It’s wine.” “That does not reassure me.” Shammy came out behind Panam carrying glasses. Ace stared at her. “You’re helping.” Shammy smiled. “Yes.” “Traitor.” Panam looked delighted. Ace got up. Mai caught the back of her shirt. Ace stopped. Looked down at Mai’s hand. Then at Mai. “What?” “You’re already moving toward it.” “It could be poisoned.” Mai raised one eyebrow. Ace considered. “Fine. I’m moving toward it because it’s wine.” Nyx laughed. Reyes leaned back. “At least she’s honest.” Ace looked at her. “Always.” Reyes smiled. “Selective memory.” Ace pointed. “Don’t start.” Panam uncorked the first bottle. The sound turned three heads instantly. Ace looked toward Marco. “See? Civilization.” Marco looked at the label. Then Panam. “This is the organic one?” Panam nodded. “Farm owner recommended it.” Marco stood. Ace stared. “You folded fast.” “I’m reading the label.” Panam handed him the bottle. Marco read. His eyebrows rose. Lena noticed. “What?” Marco looked at Panam. “This is stronger than normal table wine.” Panam’s mouth curved. “How much stronger?” Marco turned the bottle slightly. “Enough that Ace should not drink it like beer.” Ace looked offended. “Why am I specifically named?” The entire terrace looked at her. Ace stared around. “Fuck all of you.” Nyx patted the seat beside her. “Come here.” Ace went. Immediately. Reyes saw. Mai saw Reyes see. Nobody said anything. Panam started pouring. --- The first glass was genuinely excellent. That irritated Marco almost as much as it pleased Panam. He took one sip. Paused. Took another. Panam watched him. “Well?” Marco looked toward her. “It’s very good.” Panam smiled. Ace leaned over the table. “Did he just compliment you twice in twenty-four hours?” Marco looked at her. “I complimented the product.” Panam pointed at him. “You don’t get to separate me from procurement now.” Lena smiled. “He’s trying.” Marco looked at her. “I am drinking wine.” “Exactly.” Ace lifted her glass. “To Marco’s emotional breakthrough.” Marco sighed. “No.” Brenda clinked hers against Ace’s anyway. “To Marco.” Iris joined. Panam did too. Shammy followed. Kiro hesitated. Rhea nudged her. Kiro gave in. Marco looked at the growing cluster of glasses. “This is ridiculous.” Reyes raised hers. “Correct.” Mai did the same. Nyx smiled and joined. Sol lifted hers. Lena looked at Marco. Marco stared at everyone. Then, with the resigned dignity of a man being publicly bullied by people he loved, raised his own. Ace grinned. “Fucking beautiful.” Glasses touched. Wine disappeared. Nobody died. Promising start. --- The second warning came twenty minutes later. Ace was talking with Brenda about the Palace. Not the operation. Not the reason they had gone. The other parts. That alone made Mai glance over. Ace had one leg over the arm of her chair. Brenda sat opposite, already halfway into Iris’s space despite having technically started with her own seat. Ace held up one finger. “I’m telling you, zero-g changes the entire fucking definition of leverage.” Brenda’s eyes lit. “I knew it.” Iris took a drink. “You have never been in zero-g.” Brenda looked toward her. “I have an imagination.” Ace pointed. “Exactly.” Mai, from nearby: “That is not evidence.” Ace turned. “It is emotionally compelling.” Kiro, from the other side of the table: “I could explain the actual mechanics.” Everyone looked at her. Kiro froze. Panam said: “No.” Kiro looked offended. “I wasn’t going to be explicit.” Ace leaned forward. “Coward.” Kiro stared. Ace smiled. Mai looked toward Kiro. “Don’t.” Kiro looked at her. Something passed between them. Ace caught it. Of course. She took a slow sip. Then: “You two are getting increasingly bad at pretending there isn’t a whole secondary conversation happening every time you make eye contact.” Kiro nearly inhaled wine. Rhea laughed. Sol covered her mouth. Mai remained calm. Kiro turned red. Panam leaned back. “Oh, shit.” Brenda looked between Kiro and Mai. Then Ace. Then back. “You knew?” Ace looked offended. “Do I look dead?” Brenda considered. “Pale.” “I look pale.” “Very.” “I am not fucking anemic.” Iris looked at Ace. “Nobody said you were.” Ace pointed at Brenda. “She thought it.” Brenda smiled. “I absolutely did.” Ace looked toward Mai. “See what I live with?” Mai took a drink. “You encourage her.” Ace glanced toward Brenda. Brenda lifted her glass. “Correct.” Ace clinked hers against it. “Also correct.” Kiro tried to disappear behind Rhea. It did not work. Rhea put an arm around her. Sol leaned closer on the other side. Kiro looked at both. “This is not support.” Rhea smiled. “It is.” Sol nodded. “Very supportive.” Kiro looked suspicious. Ace saw that too. Her grin sharpened. Kiro pointed immediately. “No.” Ace held up both hands. “I’m drinking.” “That doesn’t stop you.” “True.” Kiro sighed. --- The sun disappeared. The second bottle opened. Nobody had become drunk. Not yet. The wine was strong, not magical. No heat blooming unnaturally under the skin. No sudden loss of judgment. No manufactured desire. Just thirteen adults who had already spent the previous day proving that embarrassment had very little remaining authority over them. Alcohol merely made the distance between thought and speech shorter. For Ace, that distance had not exactly been vast to begin with. For Iris, it was more interesting. Brenda discovered this first. She was telling Panam about the cabin’s shower pressure when Iris, entirely without warning, looked at her and said: “You moaned louder upstairs.” Silence. Brenda stopped breathing. Ace’s head snapped around. Panam slowly lowered her glass. Kiro stared. Marco looked at Lena. Lena’s eyes widened. Reyes closed hers briefly. Shammy looked curious. Mai’s mouth curved. Nyx covered her smile with her glass. Brenda turned toward Iris. Slowly. “You did not just say that.” Iris looked calm. “You were comparing volume.” Ace made a strangled sound. Panam bent forward laughing. Brenda stared at Iris. “No. No, you don’t get to sit there looking like fucking royalty after saying that.” Iris took another drink. “Why not?” Brenda’s eyes went bright. Ace slapped the table. “There she fucking is.” Kiro whispered: “Jesus Christ.” Iris looked toward her. Kiro immediately looked away. Ace pointed. “Don’t you run. You wanted data earlier.” Kiro turned. “That is not data.” Brenda leaned forward. “It can be.” Kiro stared. Rhea laughed into Kiro’s shoulder. Sol murmured: “You walked into that.” Kiro looked at her. “I didn’t walk anywhere.” Ace smiled. “You were born into it.” Mai looked toward Ace. “That explains a lot.” Ace turned. “Oh, fuck you.” Mai’s eyes warmed. “Later.” The table erupted. Ace froze. Mai calmly drank her wine. Nyx stared at her. Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Panam pointed at Mai. “Okay, that one was fucking deliberate.” Mai looked at her. “Yes.” Ace slowly smiled. “Good.” No shame. No retreat. Brenda leaned toward Iris. “I need you to take notes.” Iris looked at her. “On Mai?” “On timing.” Iris’s mouth curved. “I don’t need notes.” Brenda went still. Ace folded forward laughing. --- By the third bottle, people were moving. Not disappearing. Just refusing to stay in one arrangement. Panam changed seats because Shammy had drifted toward Mai to look at something on Nyx’s wrist. Panam followed three minutes later and sat close enough to Shammy that their knees touched. Ace noticed. “Separation anxiety.” Panam looked at her. “You’ve said that already.” Ace paused. “Shit.” Reyes smiled. “Wine is affecting memory.” Ace looked at her. “Or you’re all too fucking predictable.” Reyes leaned close. “Maybe you like predictable.” Ace stared. Reyes’s eyes stayed on hers. Ace’s mouth curved. “Depends what I’m predicting.” Reyes looked at the glass. Then Ace. “Trouble.” Ace smiled. “That I like.” Reyes’s hand rested briefly on Ace’s knee. Nothing more. Ace looked down. Then back. The smile softened. Brenda saw. Iris saw Brenda seeing. No one commented. Good. --- Kiro became unintentionally filthy after her second glass. This surprised nobody who knew Kiro. It started with wine aeration. Which should have been safe. Marco had found the decanter. Panam accused him of showing off. Marco insisted decanting was normal. Kiro picked up the bottle and studied the neck. “Surface exposure matters.” Ace looked at her. Kiro saw. “No.” Ace smiled. “I haven’t said anything.” “You’re about to.” Kiro turned toward Marco. “If the opening were wider, you’d get more exchange.” The table went silent. Kiro stopped. Her eyes slowly closed. Ace whispered: “Oh, sweetheart.” Panam put her glass down. Brenda started laughing before anyone else. Rhea buried her face in Kiro’s shoulder. Sol leaned against her. Kiro kept her eyes shut. “I mean oxygen.” Ace nodded solemnly. “Of course.” Kiro opened one eye. “I hate your face.” Ace smiled. Marco, trying desperately to keep the conversation functional, said: “She’s technically right.” Panam looked at him. “You really want in on this?” Marco froze. Lena laughed. Kiro pointed at Marco. “Thank you.” Ace looked at Kiro. “See? It’s not size. It’s airflow.” Kiro put her forehead on the table. Rhea laughed harder. Brenda wheezed. Iris shook her head. Sol rubbed Kiro’s back. Panam pointed at Ace. “You are going straight to hell.” Ace leaned against Reyes. “Company?” Reyes looked down. “Obviously.” Ace smiled. “Good.” --- The wine did not create anything. That became clearer the later it got. Nobody suddenly wanted someone they had not wanted sober. Nobody made a choice that felt alien. What changed was the volume. And the willingness to comment. Brenda had always enjoyed watching Iris. Tonight she simply stopped pretending that noticing Iris’s hands was private. Iris sat beside her, one hand resting low against Brenda’s waist. Brenda looked down. Then at Ace across the table. Ace noticed. Brenda smiled. Ace lifted one eyebrow. Brenda mouthed: _See?_ Ace looked toward Iris’s hand. Then back. Nodded. Iris saw the entire exchange. She looked at Brenda. “You two are discussing my hand?” Brenda smiled. “Yes.” Ace lifted her glass. “Excellent hand.” Iris looked toward Ace. “Thank you.” Brenda laughed. Ace pointed at Iris. “That’s what I mean. No hesitation.” Iris’s eyebrows rose. “Why would there be?” Brenda turned toward her. “Because most people don’t respond to someone complimenting how they touch their fiancée like they’re reviewing cutlery.” Iris considered. Then looked at Ace. “You have excellent eyes.” Ace froze. Mai looked over. Nyx looked toward Ace. Brenda’s expression became delighted. Reyes smiled slowly. Ace stared at Iris. “That sounded dirty.” Iris took a sip. “It was.” Panam shouted: “FUCK.” Kiro dropped her head again. Ace sat back. A grin spread across her face. “Okay.” Iris raised one eyebrow. Ace looked toward Brenda. Brenda was already glowing with amusement. Then Ace looked toward Mai. Mai was watching her. Ace caught it. Held the gaze. Interest. Ace smiled. Mai smiled back. Something small and electric passed between them. Nyx noticed. Of course she did. She leaned toward Mai and said quietly: “You like watching her get flustered.” Mai did not look away from Ace. “Yes.” Ace heard. “HEY.” Nyx laughed. Mai’s expression stayed calm. Ace pointed at her. “I do not get flustered.” Reyes looked down at Ace. Ace turned. “What?” Reyes’s eyebrow rose. Ace sighed. “Fuck you too.” Reyes smiled. “Later.” Ace stared. The table screamed. Reyes remained completely composed. Ace looked at her. Then laughed. “You fucking bitch.” Reyes’s hand moved behind Ace’s neck. “Drink your wine.” Ace obeyed. That was somehow worse. --- Marco confiscated the fourth bottle before it was empty. Panam caught him. “What are you doing?” “Preventing tomorrow.” Panam looked at the bottle. Then around the table. Nobody was falling over. Nobody slurring. Ace was louder, but that proved nothing. Kiro had become dangerously honest about sensor design. Brenda was practically sitting on Iris. Rhea and Sol had Kiro boxed happily between them. Shammy sat close to Panam with one hand resting over Panam’s. Nyx had her feet in Mai’s lap. Ace was leaning against Reyes while maintaining simultaneous arguments with three people. Marco pointed around. “This is enough.” Ace looked up. “You’re rationing joy.” “I am rationing alcohol.” “Fascist.” Marco nodded. “Correct.” Ace blinked. Panam laughed. Lena kissed Marco’s cheek. “Good call.” Panam looked toward Lena. “Traitor.” Lena smiled. “You’ll thank him tomorrow.” Panam considered. Then looked at the three remaining bottles. “Fine.” Marco relaxed. Panam pointed. “But one more.” Marco stared. “Half.” “One.” “Half.” Panam narrowed her eyes. Ace watched. “This is hotter than it should be.” Marco turned. “Ace.” “What? Negotiation.” Lena looked at Marco. “You are not helping yourself.” Panam smiled. “One.” Marco sighed. “One.” Panam held out her hand. Marco gave her the bottle. Ace looked toward Reyes. “Diplomacy.” Reyes nodded. “Better than yours.” Ace looked offended. “I’m excellent at diplomacy.” Reyes looked toward the lake. Ace followed. “Oh, fuck you.” Reyes smiled. “Exhibit A.” Ace laughed. --- The final bottle lasted. Mostly because Shammy poured. Panam watched her. “You’re giving Ace half a glass.” Shammy looked toward Ace. Ace looked betrayed. “Excuse me?” Shammy smiled. “You drink fast.” Ace pointed. “Profiling.” Reyes nodded. “Accurate profiling.” Ace turned. “You’re supposed to be on my side.” Reyes looked at the arm still around Ace. “I am.” Ace looked down. Then back. “Oh.” The simple answer took the wind out of her outrage. Reyes’s thumb moved once against her shoulder. Ace leaned closer. “Fine.” Shammy poured her half a glass. Ace accepted it. Then looked at Panam. “You taught her tyranny.” Panam grinned. “Worth it.” Shammy leaned over and kissed Panam’s cheek. Panam’s entire face softened. Ace saw. Smiled. No comment. Not every affectionate thing needed execution. --- Then Brenda made the mistake. Or achievement. Depends who you asked. She looked around the terrace. At the group. At Iris. At Ace leaning against Reyes. At Mai with Nyx’s feet in her lap. At Kiro nearly horizontal between Rhea and Sol. At Shammy in Panam’s space. At Marco and Lena sharing a chair again because apparently chairs had become optional. Brenda took a drink. Then: “So who here has fucked Ace?” Silence. Absolute. Ace slowly turned her head. “Brenda.” Brenda’s eyes widened. “What?” Iris closed hers. Panam looked at the ceiling. Kiro whispered: “Oh, no.” Reyes started laughing quietly beside Ace. Ace pointed at Brenda. “No.” Brenda smiled. “You told me to stop being coy.” “That does not mean start a census.” “It’s not a census.” Kiro looked toward her. “It is literally a population survey.” Ace pointed at Kiro. “Thank you.” Kiro realized who she had helped. “Fuck.” Brenda looked around. “Hands?” Ace stared. Nobody moved. Brenda waited. Iris leaned close. “You are going to regret this.” Brenda looked at her. “Probably.” Iris smiled. “Good.” Brenda looked back at the table. “Come on.” Ace covered her face. “This is fucking stupid.” Reyes’s hand rubbed her back. Ace looked through her fingers. Mai raised one hand. Ace dropped her hands. “Of course.” Nyx raised hers. Ace stared. Panam made an approving sound. Reyes slowly raised hers. Ace turned. “You too?” Reyes looked down. Ace realized what she had said. The table exploded. Ace covered her face again. “Fuck off.” Reyes laughed. Brenda pointed. “Three.” Ace looked around. Shammy raised her hand. Brenda froze. Ace looked toward Shammy. Shammy smiled. “Triad.” Brenda blinked. Then: “Oh, right.” Ace stared. “OH RIGHT?” Panam started laughing. Shammy leaned against her. Mai looked thoroughly amused. Brenda counted. “Four.” Kiro was looking intensely at her wine. Ace saw. Then smiled. “Kiro.” Kiro froze. “No.” Ace tilted her head. “I didn’t ask anything.” “Yes, you did.” “With your name?” “With your fucking voice.” Rhea laughed. Sol touched Kiro’s arm. Brenda looked toward her. Kiro stared at Ace. Ace’s grin softened. She did not push. Not tonight. Brenda noticed. Moved on. “Anybody else?” Iris raised her hand. Ace looked across the table at her. Brenda turned too. Then smiled. “Obviously.” Ace grinned. “Repeatedly.” Iris looked at Ace. “You weren’t complaining.” “Fuck no.” Brenda laughed. Mai’s mouth curved. Reyes leaned back beside Ace, amused. Nothing about it needed surprise. History was history. Whatever else the look between them might become, it would not be decided over wine. Ace looked at Iris. Iris held the gaze. Ace smiled. Small. “Tomorrow.” Iris nodded once. Brenda looked between them. Her smile was different now. Not threatened. Interested. Deeply. Ace noticed. Filed it. No need to do anything. Saturday existed. --- The question migrated. Naturally. Panam looked at Brenda. “Your turn.” Brenda blinked. “My turn what?” “Census.” Brenda stared. Panam grinned. “Who’s fucked you?” Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris took a slow drink. Ace sat forward. “Oh, now we’re cooking.” Brenda pointed. “No.” Ace smiled. “What happened to openness?” “I believe in privacy.” Iris looked toward her. Brenda paused. Then sighed. “Fuck.” Panam laughed. Brenda looked around. “Fine. But nobody is counting aloud.” Kiro whispered: “I can count silently.” Brenda pointed. “You’re banned from mathematics.” Kiro looked offended. Rhea laughed. Sol kissed her cheek. Brenda started counting on her fingers. Stopped. Looked at Iris. Iris raised an eyebrow. Brenda lowered her hand. “Nope.” Ace laughed. “Coward.” Brenda looked at her. “You first.” Ace spread her arms. “I literally just survived your audit.” Reyes said: “Barely.” Ace leaned into her. “Shut up.” Reyes kissed her hair. Ace stopped complaining. Brenda saw. Smiled. Then looked toward Iris. “Okay, actual answer?” Iris nodded. Brenda smiled. “Enough.” Panam stared. “That’s cheating.” Brenda shrugged. “I’m happy.” Iris’s hand rested on her thigh. Brenda covered it with her own. The table quieted. Not awkward. Enough was enough. Panam nodded. “Fair.” Ace lifted her glass. “To enough.” Shammy raised hers. “Enough.” Mai joined. Reyes. Nyx. Rhea. Sol. Kiro. Marco. Lena. Iris. Brenda. Panam last. Glasses touched. Messily. Again. --- Later, much later, the terrace looked like the aftermath of a small, affectionate war. Blankets everywhere. Empty glasses. Two bottles waiting for morning cleanup. Shoes abandoned. Ace lying sideways with her head in Reyes’s lap. Reyes’s fingers moving through her hair. Mai beside Nyx. Nyx leaning against her. Panam with Shammy asleep against her shoulder. Kiro curled between Rhea and Sol. Brenda tucked beneath Iris’s arm. Marco and Lena speaking quietly near the dying fire. Nobody had disappeared into a giant drunken sex pile. That would have been stupid. And wrong. The night was already good. Ace stared up at Reyes. “You have two faces.” Reyes looked down. “No.” Ace squinted. “One is slightly farther left.” Reyes smiled. “You’re done.” Ace lifted her glass. Empty. “Apparently.” Reyes took it from her. Ace allowed this. Mai saw. Her mouth curved. Ace looked toward her. “What?” “Nothing.” Ace frowned. “Everyone keeps saying nothing.” Nyx smiled. “Because you keep asking.” Ace considered. “That’s fair.” Reyes’s fingers continued through her hair. Ace closed her eyes. Then opened them again. “Iris.” Across the fire, Iris looked over. Brenda lifted her head. Ace pointed vaguely. “You.” Iris raised an eyebrow. Ace thought. Very carefully. “I like you.” Brenda smiled. Iris did too. “I like you too.” Ace nodded. “Good.” Then she pointed toward Brenda. “You too.” Brenda put one hand over her heart. “I’m touched.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “Don’t make it weird.” Brenda laughed. “Too late.” Ace looked toward Kiro. Kiro had one eye open. Ace pointed. “You.” Kiro sighed. “Yes?” Ace thought again. “Your mouth is dangerous.” Kiro stared. Rhea started laughing. Sol covered her face. Ace frowned. “No, wait.” Reyes closed her eyes. Mai leaned toward Nyx. Panam woke slightly. Brenda was already shaking with laughter. Ace tried again. “The things that come out of your mouth.” Kiro’s eyes widened. Ace stopped. “Oh, fuck.” The terrace erupted. Even Shammy woke. Kiro folded forward against Rhea. Sol laughed into Kiro’s shoulder. Ace covered her own face. “I meant words.” Reyes looked down. “Stop helping.” Ace groaned. Brenda could barely breathe. Iris laughed against her hair. Panam shouted: “GET HER WATER.” Mai stood. “I’ll do it.” Ace looked toward her. “Thank you.” Mai came over. Handed her a glass. Ace drank. Very obediently. Mai looked at Reyes. “Bed soon.” Ace lowered the water. “I can decide my own bedtime.” Reyes and Mai both looked at her. Ace stared. Nyx laughed. Ace pointed. “No alliance.” Mai kissed her forehead. Ace leaned into it. Reyes’s hand stayed in her hair. Ace looked at both women. Then sighed. “Fine.” Panam called: “Whipped.” Ace turned her head. “Look who’s fucking talking.” Panam looked down at Shammy asleep against her. Then back. “Fair.” Ace smiled. “Growth.” Marco groaned from near the fire. “Please stop saying growth.” Everyone looked at him. Ace considered. Then: “Fuck you.” Marco raised his glass. “Better.” Ace laughed. --- Nobody opened another bottle. That was the smartest decision of the night. The second smartest was letting people drift toward bed at their own pace. No declarations. No pairing announcements. No horny logistics committee. Panam woke Shammy gently. Shammy stood. Almost immediately leaned back into Panam. Panam wrapped an arm around her. “Come on.” Shammy nodded. They went inside. Marco and Lena followed. Rhea stood. Kiro looked up. Sol held out her hand. Kiro took it. No teasing this time. The three walked toward the side house together. Ace watched them. Smiled. Brenda stood. Iris did too. Brenda looked at Ace. Ace looked back. Brenda’s eyes flicked toward Iris. Then Ace. The earlier _not yet_ still lived there. Ace understood. Sober tomorrow. Clear. Not tonight. Ace nodded once. Brenda smiled. Iris saw. No tension. Good. They went inside. Nyx stood. Mai looked toward Ace. Reyes still had Ace’s head in her lap. Ace looked between them. Then up at Reyes. “Am I moving?” Reyes considered. “Eventually.” Ace smiled. “Good answer.” Mai came close. Crouched beside Ace. Touched her cheek. “You okay?” Ace nodded. “Very.” Nyx stood behind Mai. Ace looked toward her. Nyx smiled. No pressure. Ace reached up. Nyx took her hand. Reyes looked toward Mai. Then Nyx. Then Ace. “Take her upstairs before she decides the terrace is a bed.” Ace looked offended. “I have standards.” Reyes looked at the floor beside the fire. Ace followed. A discarded blanket. Ace considered. “Actually, not terrible.” Mai laughed. Reyes shook her head. Ace sat up. The world moved slightly. She froze. Reyes caught her. Mai’s hand came to her shoulder. Ace looked between them. “Okay.” Nyx smiled. “Evidence.” Ace pointed. “Do not use that fucking word.” Nyx laughed. Ace stood more carefully. Reyes kept one hand at her waist until she was stable. Ace looked up. Warm. “Thanks.” Reyes touched her cheek. “Night.” Ace leaned forward and kissed her. Brief. Soft. On the mouth this time. No performance. When Ace stepped back, Reyes’s expression had softened. “Night.” Mai watched. Nyx watched. Neither had a problem. Ace took Mai’s hand. Nyx’s with the other. Then paused. Looked back at Reyes. “You good?” Reyes nodded. “Yes.” Ace smiled. “Good.” They went inside. Reyes stayed another minute. Alone by choice. Not abandoned. The fire burned low. The cabin quieted. No one had proved anything. Nobody needed to. Saturday could wait. Tonight had been wine, bad judgment limited mostly to language, and thirteen people remembering that being shameless around people who loved them was its own kind of rest. --- ## Chapter Ten — Evidence Before Coffee Ace woke up smiling. That was suspicious enough on its own. Mai noticed before Ace had fully opened her eyes. Nyx noticed before Ace had moved at all. Ace lay between them, one arm trapped under Nyx, one knee hooked over Mai, hair flattened in several directions and absolutely no dignity left in the bed. Mai looked at her. Ace looked back. Then at Nyx. Then smiled again. Nyx’s eyes narrowed. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Mai lifted one eyebrow. Ace looked offended. “Why does everyone react like that when I say nothing?” Nyx smiled. “Because it’s never nothing.” Ace considered. “Fair.” She stretched. Slowly. That turned into a problem. Nyx’s hand tightened at her waist. Mai’s palm slid down her side. Ace stopped halfway through the stretch. Looked at both. “Oh, no.” Nyx smiled. “What?” “That.” Mai’s expression stayed calm. “That what?” Ace stared at her. “You both know exactly what.” Nyx leaned closer. Ace narrowed her eyes. “Coffee.” Nyx kissed her shoulder. Ace’s eyes closed. “Dirty move.” Mai kissed the side of Ace’s neck. Ace’s head tipped back. “Both of you are fucking cheats.” Nyx laughed softly. Mai’s mouth curved against her skin. Ace opened one eye. “Five minutes.” Nyx looked toward Mai. Mai looked toward Nyx. Ace saw. “Oh, fuck off.” Nyx smiled. “Five?” Ace sighed. “Maybe ten.” Mai’s hand moved lower. Ace stopped negotiating. --- It was not another full round. Not really. More like the bed refusing to let go of them properly. Kisses. Hands. Warm skin under tangled sheets. Ace laughing into Nyx’s mouth. Mai behind her, holding both. No hurry. No need to finish anything. Just enough contact to turn five minutes into twenty and make coffee increasingly theoretical. Eventually Ace ended up on her back. Nyx leaned over Mai. Mai kissed her. Ace watched. Again. Quietly this time. No commentary. That was what made Nyx notice first. She drew back slightly. Looked toward Ace. Ace held the gaze. Nyx’s mouth curved. Ace knew that smile. “Don’t.” Nyx’s eyebrows rose. Ace pointed between them. “I know what you’re thinking.” Mai looked toward Ace. “What is she thinking?” Ace looked at Mai. Then Nyx. Then back. “That I’m doing it again.” Mai’s expression softened. “Watching?” Ace exhaled. “Yeah.” Nyx reached for her hand. Ace took it. Nyx’s fingers linked with hers. Still no pull. No invitation back in. Just connection. Ace looked at that. Then at Mai. “Keep going.” Mai’s eyes warmed. Nyx smiled. “Sure?” Ace nodded. “Yes.” Clear. Sober. No wine. No joke. Mai turned back to Nyx. Kissed her again. Ace watched. This time deliberately. No pretense that she had simply happened to be looking. Mai’s hand moved along Nyx’s back. Nyx leaned closer. Ace felt warmth build slowly under her ribs. Not exclusion. Not jealousy. Not even exactly arousal at first. Pleasure. In seeing them want each other. In knowing they both wanted her too. In knowing nothing was being taken away. Ace’s thumb moved over Nyx’s knuckles. Nyx squeezed back. Mai looked toward Ace mid-kiss. Caught her watching. Held the gaze. Ace smiled. Mai’s expression changed. Small. Knowing. Ace’s breath deepened. “Yeah,” she murmured. Nyx looked over. Ace’s smile widened slightly. “Definitely.” Mai laughed softly. Nyx did too. Ace shook her head. “Fuck.” Nyx leaned down. Kissed Ace once. Then returned to Mai. Ace smiled. Stayed back. Watched. The choice felt even better in daylight. Interesting. Very fucking interesting. --- Downstairs, somebody dropped something metal. Marco’s voice followed immediately. “Who put that there?” Panam shouted: “Morning to you too!” Ace closed her eyes. Nyx laughed. Mai kissed Ace’s forehead. Ace sighed. “Civilization.” Nyx looked toward the door. “Coffee?” Ace opened her eyes. “Yes.” Mai glanced at the bed. Then at Ace. Ace saw. “No.” Mai raised an eyebrow. Ace pointed. “We are leaving the bed before this becomes breakfast.” Nyx smiled. “What’s wrong with breakfast here?” Ace stared. Then slowly grinned. “Nothing.” Mai laughed. Ace climbed out anyway. Barely. --- Evidence started in the hallway. Not sexual evidence exactly. Social evidence. Brenda’s voice came from downstairs before Ace reached the stairs. “You are not throwing that away.” Marco answered: “It’s empty.” “It’s decorative.” “It’s a wine cork.” “It has history.” Ace stopped halfway down. Looked at Mai. Mai looked back. Nyx covered her mouth. Ace whispered: “Still drunk?” Mai shook her head. “No.” Ace listened. Brenda continued: “That cork survived us.” Marco: “It was removed from a bottle.” Brenda: “Exactly.” Panam shouted from the kitchen: “Give her the fucking cork, Marco.” Marco: “No.” Iris’s voice, calm: “Brenda.” Brenda stopped. Then: “Yes?” Iris: “Leave the cork.” Brenda sighed. “Fine.” Ace looked toward Nyx. “That sounded ominously obedient.” Nyx smiled. Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace grinned. They continued downstairs. --- The kitchen looked lived in. Glasses from last night stacked near the sink. Blankets over chair backs. One empty bottle still on the counter. Coffee already going. Marco at the stove. Lena beside him. Panam barefoot. Shammy wrapped in a blanket despite the room being warm. Kiro sitting at the table with Rhea and Sol. Reyes near the window. Brenda and Iris at the far end. Ace entered. Reyes looked over first. Then Mai. Then Nyx. Then Ace again. Ace caught it. “What?” Reyes took a sip of coffee. “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “Fuck you.” Reyes smiled. “Morning.” Ace smiled back. “Morning.” Brenda looked at Ace. Then Mai. Then Nyx. Her eyes sharpened. Ace saw. “Do not.” Brenda lifted both hands. “I was silent.” Iris looked toward Brenda. Brenda immediately turned innocent. Iris’s eyebrows rose. Brenda smiled. Ace looked at Iris. “You know exactly what she was about to say.” Iris took a drink. “Yes.” Brenda looked delighted. Ace pointed at Iris. “See? This is why I like you.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Repeatedly, apparently.” Ace froze. Brenda made a choking sound. Kiro looked up sharply. Panam barked a laugh. Reyes closed her eyes. Mai’s expression became very interested. Nyx smiled. Ace stared across the kitchen. “I am never hearing the end of that, am I?” Iris looked at her. “No.” Brenda laughed. Ace grinned. “Fair.” --- Coffee happened. Eventually. Ace sat beside Reyes. Mai and Nyx took places across from them. Brenda beside Iris. Rhea and Sol with Kiro between. Panam close to Shammy. Marco and Lena moving between stove and table. Same geometry. Less alcohol. More awareness. Brenda looked far too pleased with herself. Ace noticed. “Why are you smiling like that?” Brenda looked toward her. “Because everyone survived.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “That’s not it.” Brenda took a drink. Ace waited. Iris looked toward Brenda. Brenda smiled wider. Ace pointed. “There. That fucking face.” Panam leaned toward Shammy. “She’s right.” Shammy nodded. Brenda looked around. “I’m just appreciating the morning.” Kiro muttered: “Bullshit.” Brenda turned. “Excuse me?” Kiro froze. Rhea smiled. Sol touched Kiro’s shoulder. Kiro sighed. “I said bullshit.” Brenda grinned. “Good girl.” Kiro’s eyes widened. Ace nearly spit coffee. Rhea laughed. Sol covered her mouth. Kiro looked toward Brenda. “Do not do that.” Brenda’s smile turned wicked. “Why?” Kiro stared. Ace leaned toward Reyes. “Oh, she’s fucked.” Reyes whispered back: “Again?” Ace froze. Slowly looked up. Reyes’s expression remained dry. Ace’s mouth opened. Then closed. Reyes took another sip. Ace stared. “You absolute fucking sniper.” Reyes smiled. “Morning.” Ace laughed. --- Then it happened. Small enough that half the table missed the beginning. Mai reached for the bread. Nyx shifted at the same moment. Their shoulders touched. Nyx lost balance slightly because her chair had caught on a blanket edge. Mai caught her at the waist. Nothing dramatic. Simple reflex. But Mai’s hand stayed there. A second longer than necessary. Nyx looked at her. Mai looked back. Nyx smiled. Mai’s thumb moved once. Ace saw. Stopped talking. That was the first piece. Brenda saw Ace stop talking. That was the second. Ace’s eyes stayed on Mai’s hand. Then Nyx’s face. Then Mai. She did not look away. Not embarrassed. Just absorbed. Brenda’s expression changed. Not teasing. Recognition. She looked from Ace to Mai and Nyx. Then back to Ace. Ace felt it. Looked over. Caught Brenda watching her watch them. The third piece. Ace raised one eyebrow. Brenda raised hers. No words. Not needed. Ace looked back at Mai. Deliberately. Brenda smiled. Small. Knowing. That was when Iris noticed. Not Mai touching Nyx. That had been obvious. The exchange between Ace and Brenda. Iris looked at Brenda. Then Ace. Then followed Ace’s gaze. Mai. Nyx. Back to Ace. Then Brenda. Her eyebrows rose. There. Fourth piece. Ace saw. Brenda saw Iris see. Brenda’s smile widened. Iris looked at her. “What?” Brenda shook her head. “Nothing.” Iris held the gaze. Brenda cracked almost immediately. “Okay, something.” Ace laughed quietly. Mai looked toward them. “What?” Ace looked at Mai. Still holding Nyx at the waist. Ace’s smile warmed. “Nothing bad.” Mai followed Ace’s gaze to Brenda. Then Iris. Nyx noticed too. The room began to understand itself. Brenda looked at Ace. “So.” Ace pointed. “No census.” Brenda laughed. “Wasn’t going to.” Iris looked at Ace. Then Mai and Nyx. Then back. Something clicked. Her expression softened. Not jealousy. Not even surprise. Interest. File stored. Brenda saw that too. Ace definitely did. Ace leaned back. “Okay.” Reyes looked down. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Reyes smiled. Ace sighed. “Fuck. I hear it now.” Reyes laughed. --- Mai finally removed her hand from Nyx’s waist. Ace saw that too. Then surprised herself. “Put it back.” Silence. Mai looked at her. Nyx turned. Brenda’s eyes widened. Iris’s mouth curved. Reyes slowly looked down at Ace. Ace stared around. “What?” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace shrugged. “I liked it.” Nyx smiled. Mai’s expression warmed. Then she put her hand back. Exactly where it had been. Ace looked. Brenda saw. Ace caught Brenda seeing again. This time Brenda nodded. Tiny. Yes. Ace nodded back. Also yes. Iris watched both women. Then, very calmly, rested her hand on Brenda’s thigh. Brenda looked down. Then at Iris. Iris’s eyes stayed on Ace. Ace saw. Her eyebrows rose. Iris’s mouth curved. Brenda slowly smiled. “Oh.” Ace looked at her. Brenda looked back. Then both women looked at Iris’s hand. Ace laughed. “Fuck.” Kiro looked around. “What?” Rhea glanced at Sol. Sol smiled. Kiro frowned. “I missed something.” Panam took a drink. “Several things.” Kiro looked offended. “What things?” Ace smiled. “Adult things.” Kiro narrowed her eyes. “You say that like I’m twelve.” Brenda looked toward her. “You were the one who spent last night explaining bottle neck diameter.” Kiro put her face in her hands. Rhea kissed her temple. Sol laughed. Ace leaned into Reyes. “Breakfast is healing.” Reyes looked down. “No.” Ace smiled. “Fair.” --- After food, the group spread into the terrace. Coffee followed. Morning cool. Sun through the trees. No one in a hurry. Ace sat on the railing. Mai stood between her knees for a moment. Ace put both hands at Mai’s waist. Nyx leaned against the post beside them. Brenda came out with Iris. Saw. Paused. Ace saw her pause. “Stop studying me.” Brenda smiled. “I’m not.” “You absolutely are.” Brenda leaned against Iris. “Maybe.” Ace looked toward Iris. Iris’s expression was calm. Too calm. Ace narrowed her eyes. “You too.” Iris looked toward her. “What?” Ace pointed between herself, Mai, and Nyx. Then toward Brenda. “You’re filing shit.” Iris took a drink. “Yes.” Ace stared. Brenda laughed. Mai looked toward Iris. Nyx did too. Ace slowly smiled. “At least you admit it.” Iris’s mouth curved. “You do too.” Ace tilted her head. “Do what?” “Watch.” That landed. Brenda went quiet. Mai’s hands settled on Ace’s shoulders. Nyx watched Ace. Ace looked at Iris. Not much surprise either. Just the slight jolt of hearing someone else say it plainly. Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Iris nodded. Brenda looked toward her. Then Ace. Then Mai. Then Nyx. The possibility widened again. Not acted on. Not yet. Good. Ace looked toward Iris’s hand resting at Brenda’s waist. Then back. “You?” Iris held the gaze. “Yes.” Brenda’s eyes warmed. Ace smiled. “Being watched?” Iris looked toward Brenda. Then back. “Yes.” No coyness. No denial. Brenda’s entire expression changed. Ace saw. Mai saw. Nyx saw. Iris saw all of them seeing it. And did not look away. Ace laughed softly. “Well, fuck.” Brenda looked at Iris. “Anything else you want to casually reveal before lunch?” Iris considered. Then looked at Ace. “Probably.” Brenda stared. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Mai’s hand tightened on Ace’s shoulder. Nyx smiled. Ace looked toward Brenda. Brenda looked back. No threat. No tension. Just interest. Ace grinned. “Good.” Iris lifted her coffee. “Good.” Reyes, behind them: “You’re all very loud.” Ace turned. “You were listening.” Reyes walked closer. “Impossible not to.” Ace held out one hand. Reyes took it. Ace pulled her into range. Reyes stood beside Mai. Ace looked around at all of them. Then laughed. “What?” Mai asked. Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Everyone stared. Ace sighed. “Fuck you. Fine.” She looked toward the lake. Then back at the group. “This weekend is going to get ridiculous.” Panam called from the doorway: “Going to?” Ace laughed. “Fair.” Shammy appeared behind Panam. Hair lifting slightly in the morning air. She looked at the cluster. Ace between Mai and Reyes. Nyx close. Brenda and Iris watching. Shammy smiled. Ace immediately pointed. “No cuddly commentary.” Shammy laughed. “I wasn’t going to.” Ace narrowed her eyes. Shammy looked innocent. Panam leaned close. “She absolutely was.” Shammy smiled. “Yes.” Ace laughed. The morning kept going. No one needed coffee to see where the weekend was heading now. --- ## Chapter Eleven — Familiar Shape Kiro tried to pretend the afternoon was normal. That lasted until Mai sat beside her. Rhea noticed first. Sol noticed second. Ace noticed because Ace noticed everything that might eventually become interesting. Kiro was on the terrace steps with a tablet balanced on one knee, supposedly checking something she had absolutely no business checking on a weekend away. Rhea sat behind her with one leg stretched along the step. Sol had claimed the other side. Kiro was comfortably bracketed between them and still somehow trying to convince herself she was working. Mai came outside. Saw them. Stopped. Ace was sprawled across a chair near the railing with Reyes beside her and Nyx perched on the arm. Ace saw Mai stop. Then followed her gaze. Kiro. Rhea. Sol. Ace’s mouth curved. Reyes looked down. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Reyes waited. Ace looked toward her. “Fuck you.” “I didn’t say anything.” “You were thinking it loudly.” Nyx laughed. Across the terrace, Mai walked toward Kiro. Kiro looked up. Something happened to her whole face. Tiny. Immediate. Ace saw. “Oh, sweetheart.” Kiro turned. “Do not.” Ace spread both hands. “I’m over here.” “That has never protected anyone.” Rhea laughed. Sol smiled. Mai stopped directly in front of Kiro. Looked at the tablet. Then Kiro. “You’re working.” Kiro looked down. “No.” Mai waited. Kiro sighed. “Barely.” Mai held out a hand. Kiro stared at it. Ace sat forward. Kiro pointed without looking. “Ace.” Ace immediately leaned back. “Silent.” Reyes snorted. Kiro looked at Mai’s hand again. Then took it. Mai pulled her up. No force. No hesitation. Kiro stood very close. Rhea rose behind her. Sol followed. For a moment the four women simply occupied the same small patch of terrace. Nothing hidden. Nothing surprising. Not to them. Ace watched. Of course she did. Kiro glanced toward her. Ace smiled. Not teasing this time. Warm. Kiro’s shoulders loosened. Mai looked at Rhea. Then Sol. “Same?” Rhea smiled. “Yes.” Sol answered: “Very.” Kiro looked between all three. Then laughed once under her breath. “Apparently I don’t get a vote.” Mai turned toward her. “You do.” Immediately. No joke. Kiro met her eyes. That mattered. Mai’s voice stayed quiet. “Do you want this?” Kiro looked at Rhea. Rhea’s expression had softened completely. Then Sol. Same. Then back to Mai. “Yes.” No delay. Mai’s mouth curved. “Good.” Ace, from the chair: “Fucking finally.” Kiro closed her eyes. Rhea laughed. Sol covered her mouth. Mai looked toward Ace. Ace lifted both hands. “I waited for consent.” Reyes murmured: “Barely.” Ace turned. “Traitor.” Nyx leaned down. “She’s right.” Ace looked betrayed by the entire chair. Kiro laughed. That helped. The last little edge of tension disappeared. Mai touched her cheek. Kiro leaned into it. Rhea stepped close behind her. Sol’s hand settled at Kiro’s waist. The shape was already there. Familiar. Nobody inventing it. Nobody assigning positions like strangers negotiating space. Bodies remembered. Kiro looked toward the side house. Rhea saw. “Come on.” Kiro nodded. Sol took her hand. Mai stayed close on the other side. They started across the clearing together. Ace watched all four go. Reyes looked down at her. Ace was still watching. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Nyx smiled. Ace sighed. “Fine.” She looked toward the side house again. “That is going to be very fucking pretty.” Reyes laughed. Nyx’s smile warmed. Ace did not look embarrassed. Good. --- The side house held the afternoon differently. Quieter than the main cabin. Cooler. The curtains moved slightly in the open-window draft. Rhea closed the door behind them. Not locked. No need. Sol set Kiro’s tablet on a shelf by the entrance. Kiro saw. “You confiscated it.” Sol looked at her. “Yes.” Kiro stared. Rhea stepped closer. “You’ll survive.” Kiro looked from one woman to the other. Then at Mai. Mai’s expression was calm. Too calm. Kiro narrowed her eyes. “You’re enjoying this.” Mai’s mouth curved. “A little.” “A little.” “Yes.” Kiro looked suspicious. Mai touched the hem of Kiro’s shirt. “Still yes?” Kiro’s face softened. “Yes.” Mai kissed her. Slow. Not hungry enough to rush. Rhea came close behind Kiro. Her hands settled at Kiro’s hips. Sol stood beside them, fingers moving gently over Kiro’s arm before reaching Mai. That mattered immediately. Mai turned her head. Kissed Sol. Kiro stayed between them. Rhea’s mouth touched Kiro’s shoulder through the fabric. Nobody waited for a turn. Kiro’s breathing changed. Mai felt it. Drew back. “You okay?” Kiro nodded. “Very.” Rhea smiled against her shoulder. Sol looked toward Mai. Then Kiro. “Still familiar?” Kiro laughed softly. “Too fucking familiar.” Mai’s eyes warmed. “Good.” Kiro looked at her. “That sounded threatening.” “It wasn’t.” Rhea kissed the side of Kiro’s neck. Kiro closed her eyes. “Now it does.” Sol laughed. Mai smiled. The room loosened. --- Clothing disappeared without ceremony. Not fast. Not shy. Rhea helped Kiro out of her shirt. Sol kissed her while she did. Mai stepped close enough that Kiro’s hands naturally found her waist. Kiro looked at the fabric under her fingers. Then up. Mai understood. Nodded. Kiro lifted the shirt. Mai helped. Rhea watched. Sol touched Mai’s back as the fabric came away. Kiro’s eyes followed. No embarrassment. Just appetite. Mai saw. “You staring?” Kiro froze. Then remembered who she was standing with. She nodded. “Yes.” Mai smiled. “Good.” Rhea laughed softly. Sol stepped closer. Kiro looked toward both. “You’re all impossible.” Rhea touched her cheek. “You came back.” Kiro’s expression changed. Warm. “Yes.” Not because she had been dragged. Not because anyone needed proof. Because she wanted the exact shape again. The recognition sat in all four of them. That was enough. More clothing moved. Dropped. Folded once then forgotten. Kiro laughed when Rhea’s sock landed halfway under the chair. Rhea looked down. “Leave it.” Sol smiled. “Very organized.” Rhea looked at Kiro. “I have other priorities.” Kiro’s eyebrows rose. Mai touched the back of her neck. Kiro turned. Whatever reply she had vanished into the kiss. Good. --- The bed was large enough. Barely. They had solved that before. Rhea sat first. Kiro followed almost automatically. Sol took the other side. Mai stayed standing for a moment. Watching. Kiro noticed. “Your turn to stare?” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Kiro smiled. “Fair is fair.” Mai looked over all three. Rhea’s hand at Kiro’s waist. Sol’s fingers linked with hers. Kiro already flushed. Mai’s expression softened. “Yes.” Kiro went quiet. That answer landed harder than teasing would have. Rhea looked at Mai. “Come here.” Mai did. No hesitation. The bed shifted beneath four bodies. Kiro ended up close to the middle. Not trapped. Held. Rhea behind her. Sol beside her. Mai facing her. But the geometry kept changing. That was what made it theirs. Rhea kissed Sol over Kiro’s shoulder. Mai’s hand remained on Kiro while her mouth found Rhea next. Sol touched Mai. Kiro touched all three because there was no reason not to. Nothing became two couples. Every time one connection deepened, another stayed alive. A hand remained linked. A knee pressed close. A kiss crossed the center. Someone laughed. Someone pulled another closer. Kiro’s breathing became unsteady first. Rhea noticed. “Too much?” Kiro shook her head. “No.” Sol touched her face. “Want slower?” Kiro looked at her. Then at Mai. Then Rhea. “Yes.” Immediate adjustment. The pace eased. No frustration. No performance. Mai kissed Kiro softly. Rhea’s hands moved more slowly. Sol stayed close. Kiro breathed. Then smiled. “Better.” Mai touched her cheek. “Good.” Rhea whispered against her shoulder: “Tell us.” Kiro nodded. “I will.” And did. That mattered more than any choreography. When sex began, it did not create a turn order. The four women adjusted around one another until every active connection was chosen and readable, then let the shared shape carry them forward. --- The rhythm found them again. Slowly. Not one rhythm. Several that learned each other. Kiro stopped thinking in complete sentences. That was probably the greatest achievement of the afternoon. Rhea felt her give up trying. Smiled. “You’re quiet.” Kiro opened one eye. “Busy.” Sol laughed. Mai’s mouth curved. Rhea kissed Kiro’s cheek. “Good.” Kiro looked toward Mai. “You’re all enjoying this too much.” Mai shook her head. “No.” Kiro stared. Mai leaned closer. “Exactly enough.” Kiro made a helpless sound that had nothing to do with language. Rhea laughed into her shoulder. Sol kissed Mai. Mai stayed connected to Kiro with one hand. Kiro watched them. Her expression softened. Then heated. Mai caught it. Sol did too. Kiro did not look away. Good. There was no need. Mai kissed Sol longer. Kiro watched. Rhea watched Kiro watching. Her smile became knowing. Kiro felt it. Turned. “What?” Rhea touched her face. “Nothing.” Kiro stared. Then laughed. “Fuck you. I know that one now.” Rhea laughed too. Sol looked over. Mai smiled. The room broke into laughter for several seconds. Four naked women in a bed, laughing because _nothing_ had become an accusation. It should have killed the mood. It did not. It made everything warmer. More theirs. Kiro caught Mai by the neck and kissed her again. Harder. Mai responded immediately. Rhea moved with them. Sol did too. The shape closed. --- Time stretched. Not because anything dramatic happened. Because nobody rushed toward an ending. Rhea had Kiro against her chest. Sol lay partly across both. Mai close enough that Kiro could reach her without opening her eyes. Sometimes one person became the center. Then another. Never formally. Never _now your turn_. Attention flowed. Mai found herself held by Rhea while Sol kissed her and Kiro stayed pressed close, one hand linked with hers. Later Rhea softened between Sol and Mai while Kiro kissed her shoulder. Sol laughed when Kiro tried to say something and lost the sentence halfway through. Kiro looked offended. “I had a point.” Rhea’s eyes were closed. “I’m sure.” Mai looked toward Kiro. “What was it?” Kiro thought. Nothing. She stared. Sol started laughing. Kiro looked at all three. “Oh, fuck all of you.” Rhea pulled her closer. “Gladly.” Silence. Kiro froze. Mai’s eyes widened slightly. Sol covered her mouth. Rhea opened her eyes. Realized. Then laughed. Kiro stared at her. “You cannot say that and then laugh.” Rhea kissed her. Kiro surrendered immediately. Mai looked toward Sol. Sol smiled. “Gone.” Mai nodded. “Completely.” Kiro broke the kiss just enough to glare. “I can hear you.” Rhea held her tighter. “Good.” That shut her up again. --- The first climax arrived without announcement. Not Kiro’s. Sol’s. She had been quieter for several minutes. Rhea noticed before Mai did. Kiro noticed through touch. Mai felt the shift last. Then everybody adjusted around Sol without stopping the shared shape. Kiro held her. Rhea kissed her. Mai stayed close enough that Sol could feel her. The release built visibly through breath and tension. Sol’s hand tightened hard around Kiro’s. Kiro squeezed back. Sol’s body arched. Then softened. A broken laugh escaped her. Rhea kissed her forehead. Mai touched her cheek. Kiro smiled. “You okay?” Sol breathed. “Yes.” Then laughed again. “Very.” Kiro kissed her. No applause. No joke. Just warmth. The rest of them stayed close while Sol came back down. That was part of it too. --- Rhea followed later. Slowly enough that everyone knew it was coming. Her control became shorter breaths. Tighter hands. Her mouth losing the dry little comments she had been making all afternoon. Kiro saw. Smiled. Rhea noticed. “What?” Kiro shook her head. “Nothing.” Rhea stared. Kiro’s smile widened. “Payback.” Sol laughed softly. Mai kissed Rhea. Kiro watched. Then joined. Rhea’s eyes closed. The final crest took her quietly. Deep. Her grip tightened around Kiro and Sol at once. Mai stayed connected from the other side. Rhea breathed out against them. Long. Then laughed once. “Fuck.” Kiro smiled. “Good?” Rhea opened her eyes. “Very.” Sol kissed her. Mai touched her shoulder. Kiro leaned into her. Nobody moved away. --- Mai’s turn came with less warning. Kiro recognized the signs from before. Not because she was keeping score. Because she knew Mai. That alone hit her. The way Mai grew quieter. The way her hands became more deliberate right before control thinned. Kiro looked at her. Mai saw. Kiro smiled. “You.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. “What?” Kiro shook her head. “Nothing.” Mai narrowed her eyes. Kiro laughed softly. “Now you know how it feels.” Mai’s mouth curved. Then Rhea kissed her. Sol’s hand found hers. Kiro stayed close. Mai lost the line she had been about to deliver. Kiro’s eyes lit. “Oh, fuck.” Mai looked at her. Kiro whispered: “Got you.” Mai tried to answer. Couldn’t. That was enough. Kiro kissed her. Rhea and Sol stayed with them. Mai’s breathing broke. The familiar composure softened further. Then gave. Not explosively. Completely. Kiro felt the change in her hand. Held tighter. Mai’s forehead rested briefly against hers afterward. Both breathing. Kiro smiled. “Hi.” Mai laughed. Soft. Spent. “Hi.” Kiro’s expression warmed. “Very pretty.” Mai opened one eye. “Biased.” Kiro thought. Then nodded. “Absolutely.” Rhea laughed quietly. Sol kissed Mai’s shoulder. The four stayed tangled. No reset. No separation. --- Kiro realized too late that three recovered women were now looking at her. She froze. “No.” Rhea smiled. Kiro looked toward Sol. Sol’s expression was entirely too warm. Then Mai. Mai’s composure had returned just enough to be dangerous. Kiro pointed weakly. “Do not gang up on me.” Rhea’s eyebrows rose. “We’re lying down.” “That is not what I meant.” Sol laughed. Mai touched Kiro’s cheek. “Still good?” Kiro’s outrage disappeared. “Yes.” “Want to stop?” “No.” Rhea’s hand settled at her waist. “Want slower?” Kiro thought. Then shook her head. “No.” Sol leaned closer. “What do you want?” Kiro looked at all three. That question should not have been difficult anymore. It still took one breath. Then: “All of you.” No joke after it. Rhea’s expression softened. Sol kissed Kiro’s cheek. Mai’s eyes warmed. “Good.” The shape closed around her again. Not as an attack. Not three against one. Three with one. The distinction mattered. Kiro let herself stop organizing anything. Stopped wondering whether she was taking too much attention. Stopped trying to track who was touching whom. Nobody needed her to manage the room. They already knew how to move together. Kiro gave in to that. Rhea held her. Sol stayed close. Mai kissed her. The pace built. Kiro’s breathing shortened. Words became useless. That was probably why Ace would have been unbearably proud. The thought made Kiro laugh once. Mai pulled back. “What?” Kiro shook her head. “Ace.” Rhea groaned. “Now?” Kiro laughed harder. Sol smiled. Mai looked toward her. “What about her?” Kiro closed her eyes. “She’d be so fucking smug.” Mai’s mouth curved. “Yes.” Kiro opened one eye. “Do not tell her.” Rhea laughed. Sol kissed Kiro’s shoulder. Mai leaned closer. “She’ll know.” Kiro’s eyes widened. Then the next wave of sensation erased the argument. Good. Her hands tightened. Rhea steadied her. Sol held her. Mai stayed close enough that Kiro could bury her face against her when the final climb became too much. The release came hard enough to empty everything. Thought. Language. Control. Kiro held onto all three women because there was nowhere else she wanted to be. They stayed with her through it. No teasing. Not then. Just hands. Breathing. Warmth. Kiro slowly softened. Her face stayed hidden against Mai for several seconds. Then: “Fuck.” Rhea laughed quietly. Sol kissed her back. Mai touched her hair. Kiro lifted her head. Looked at all three. “Okay.” Sol smiled. “Okay?” Kiro nodded. “That was…” She stopped. Rhea waited. Mai’s eyebrows rose. Kiro tried again. “Really fucking good.” Rhea laughed. “Poet.” Kiro looked at her. “Shut up.” Sol kissed Kiro. That worked. --- Afterward, nobody moved for a while. The afternoon had shifted toward evening. Light through the curtains had changed. Warm gold now. Kiro lay partly across Rhea. Sol curled against her other side. Mai beside all three, one hand resting over the tangle of arms near Kiro’s stomach. Kiro stared at the ceiling. Then: “I’m hungry.” Rhea laughed. Sol smiled. Mai closed her eyes. Kiro looked offended. “What?” Rhea kissed her temple. “Nothing.” Kiro pointed weakly. “I hate that word now.” Mai opened her eyes. “Good.” Kiro looked at her. “You’re smug.” “Yes.” “Fair.” Sol moved closer. Kiro looked down at her. “Comfortable?” Sol nodded. “Very.” Rhea looked toward Mai. “You staying?” Mai looked toward the main cabin through the wall as if she could somehow see Ace from there. Then back. “For a little while.” No awkwardness. No question about whether she _belonged_ here. She did. Not permanently. Not exclusively. Enough. Kiro touched her hand. “Good.” Mai linked their fingers. Rhea closed her eyes. Sol did too. Kiro tried. Made it perhaps twenty seconds. Then: “Do you think Ace knows?” Mai laughed. Rhea covered her face. Sol groaned. Kiro looked around. “What?” Mai turned her head. “She knew before we left the terrace.” Kiro stared. “That fucking woman.” Rhea smiled. “You love her.” Kiro looked toward the ceiling. “Yes.” Then added: “Still a cunt.” Mai’s mouth curved. “Also yes.” --- Ace knew. Of course she knew. Not details. She did not need details. The side-house door had closed behind four women who already knew exactly what they were to one another. Then it had stayed closed for a very long time. Ace sat on the main-cabin terrace with her feet in Reyes’s lap and did not even pretend she had forgotten where Mai was. Nyx sat beside her. Panam and Shammy were arguing softly about dinner. Brenda and Iris had vanished somewhere upstairs again. Marco was cooking. Lena was helping. Reyes rubbed one thumb idly over Ace’s ankle. Ace looked toward the side house for approximately the ninth time. Reyes caught her. “You could go knock.” Ace looked at her. “No.” “Why?” Ace thought about it. Then shrugged. “They’re good.” Reyes smiled. Ace looked toward the side house again. Nyx watched her. “Curious?” Ace turned. “Yes.” No denial. Nyx’s eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. “Very.” Reyes looked down at her feet. “About Mai?” Ace shook her head. “Not whether she’s having fun. I know she is.” Nyx’s expression softened. Ace looked toward the side house. “I like knowing she is.” Reyes looked at her. Ace saw. “What?” “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. Reyes smiled. Ace sighed. “You all need new vocabulary.” Nyx laughed. Ace rested back. For once, she did not go investigate. Did not insert herself. Did not need confirmation. She pictured Mai with Kiro. Rhea. Sol. Not details. Just the shape. Bodies close. Mai losing that precise control. Kiro probably saying something technical at exactly the wrong moment. Rhea laughing. Sol quieter. Ace smiled. Nyx saw. “You’re doing it.” Ace turned. “Doing what?” Nyx’s smile warmed. “Watching without seeing.” Ace stopped. That landed. Reyes looked toward Nyx. Then Ace. Ace looked back at the side house. Thought. Then smiled slowly. “Yeah.” Nyx touched her knee. Ace covered Nyx’s hand. Reyes’s thumb continued moving against her ankle. Ace stayed exactly where she was. And liked it. A lot. --- The side-house door finally opened near dinner. Sol came out first. Hair slightly wrong. Expression soft. Rhea followed. Same problem. Kiro came third. Ace saw her from the terrace. Stopped mid-sentence. Kiro saw Ace. Stopped walking. They stared at each other across the clearing. Ace’s smile began. Kiro pointed. “No.” Ace lifted both hands. Kiro narrowed her eyes. Ace’s smile widened. Rhea started laughing. Sol leaned into her. Kiro looked betrayed. Then Mai emerged behind them. Ace’s eyes moved immediately. Mai looked toward her. Their gaze met. Ace saw everything she needed. Mai looked relaxed. Warm. Thoroughly satisfied. Ace’s expression softened. Then became filthy. Mai knew exactly what she was thinking. Her eyebrow rose. Ace mouthed: _Good?_ Mai nodded. Once. _Very._ Ace grinned. Kiro saw. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Ace looked toward her. “What?” “You two are doing the silent thing.” Ace smiled. “You look good.” Kiro froze. The joke she had expected never arrived. Ace continued: “All four of you.” Rhea’s expression softened. Sol smiled. Kiro looked toward Mai. Then back at Ace. “Yeah.” Ace nodded. “Good.” Mai crossed the clearing. When she reached the terrace, Ace moved her feet from Reyes’s lap and stood. Mai stopped in front of her. Ace looked up. No question. She put both hands around Mai’s waist. Mai’s arms came around her. Ace held her. Long. Mai kissed the top of her head. Ace smiled against her. “Have fun?” Mai murmured: “Yes.” Ace leaned back. “Good.” Mai looked at her. Ace’s eyes were bright. Then Ace’s smile became more wicked. “Kiro?” Behind Mai: “I CAN FUCKING HEAR YOU.” Ace burst out laughing. Rhea laughed. Sol covered her mouth. Mai closed her eyes. Kiro marched toward the terrace. Ace looked over Mai’s shoulder. “What?” Kiro pointed. “You are not asking her for a fucking performance review.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. “I wasn’t.” “You were.” Ace looked toward Mai. Mai’s mouth curved. Kiro saw. “You were both going to.” Ace grinned. Then looked Kiro over. Not leering. Just openly appreciative. “You look very satisfied.” Kiro’s face warmed. She folded her arms. “So?” Ace smiled. “So I’m happy for you.” Kiro stopped. The fight vanished. Ace stepped away from Mai. Held out one arm. Kiro stared at it. Then went. Ace hugged her. Kiro hugged back. Harder than expected. Ace laughed softly against her shoulder. “Good afternoon?” Kiro murmured: “Really fucking good.” Ace squeezed. “Good.” Then Kiro leaned back. Her expression changed. “You’re still a cunt.” Ace grinned. “That’s better.” Rhea and Sol joined them on the terrace. Mai remained close. Reyes watched from her chair. Nyx too. No one had to explain anything. No one had to account for where Mai had spent the afternoon. She came back carrying the warmth of it with her. Ace accepted that warmth exactly as it was. Then stole Mai’s chair while Mai was still standing. Mai looked down. Ace smiled. “Mine.” Mai raised one eyebrow. Ace patted her own lap. The terrace went quiet. Mai stared. Ace’s grin widened. “You heard me.” Kiro started laughing. Reyes covered her mouth. Nyx’s eyes lit. Mai looked at Ace. Then calmly sat sideways across her lap. Ace’s eyes widened. There was significantly more Mai than there was Ace. The chair creaked. Ace wrapped both arms around her anyway. “Perfect.” Mai looked down. “Comfortable?” Ace buried her face against Mai’s shoulder. “Very.” Kiro pointed. “Now that is fucking ridiculous.” Ace looked up. “Jealous?” Kiro opened her mouth. Rhea touched her waist. Sol touched her hand. Kiro looked at both. Then Mai sitting in Ace’s lap. Then Ace. “No.” Ace smiled. “Good answer.” Marco called from inside: “Dinner!” Ace tightened her arms around Mai. “Bring it out.” Marco appeared in the doorway. Saw Mai in Ace’s lap. Saw Kiro between Rhea and Sol. Saw Reyes laughing. Saw Nyx smiling. He closed his eyes. “No.” Ace grinned. “Ask Lena.” Lena appeared behind him. Took one look. Smiled. “Bring it out.” Marco slowly turned toward her. The terrace exploded. Ace kissed Mai’s shoulder. Mai laughed. And the afternoon folded straight into dinner without anyone pretending the shape they had chosen needed explanation. --- ## Chapter Twelve — Different Company Dinner cleanup should have belonged to Marco. Everyone knew this. Marco definitely knew this. Lena knew it best. That was why, when Marco reached for the first stack of plates, Lena put one hand flat against his chest and stopped him. Marco looked down at the hand. Then at her. “What?” “You cooked.” “Yes.” “You planned breakfast.” “Yes.” “You reorganized the refrigerator twice.” “Once.” Lena looked toward Panam. Panam immediately said: “Twice.” Marco turned. “You moved the wine.” Panam grinned. “Still counts.” Lena looked back at Marco. “You’re sitting down.” “I can wash plates.” “I know.” Marco frowned. “That sounded insulting.” “It wasn’t.” Ace, from the table: “It was loving dominance.” Marco closed his eyes. Lena laughed. Mai looked toward Ace. Ace smiled innocently. “What?” Marco pointed without opening his eyes. “Do not help.” Ace took another bite of bread. “Wasn’t.” Lena kissed Marco’s cheek. “Sit.” Marco opened his eyes. Looked at her. Then at the sink. Then at the table. The internal fight lasted several seconds. Finally: “Fine.” Panam lifted her glass. “Growth.” Marco looked toward her. “Fuck off.” Panam smiled. “Never gets old.” Ace immediately said: “It absolutely will if you keep using it.” Panam paused. Then pointed. “Fair.” Mai’s mouth curved. Good. Someone had finally killed the phrase before it became a disease. Lena collected the plates. Mai stood. “I’ll help.” Marco looked toward her. “You don’t have to.” Mai picked up two serving dishes. “I know.” Marco stared. Then sat. Ace watched him. “You okay?” Marco looked toward the sink. “No.” Lena called from the kitchen: “Liar.” Marco sighed. Reyes laughed. --- The kitchen quieted once the door swung mostly shut behind Mai and Lena. Not silent. The terrace still carried laughter. Panam arguing with Kiro about whether wine could be accurately described as “structurally aggressive.” Ace telling Brenda that this was not a real phrase. Kiro insisting it could be. Iris laughing. But the kitchen itself held a different pace. Lena turned on the water. Mai started clearing the counter. No rush. No performance. They had worked together plenty before. Not exactly this. But enough that neither woman needed instructions. Lena washed. Mai dried. For several minutes they spoke about nothing important. The farm vegetables. Marco’s obsession with keeping knives dry. Panam’s complete refusal to admit Marco had been right about chilling the steaks. Then Lena looked toward the terrace. Through the glass, Marco sat with one arm over the back of his chair. Relaxed now. Finally. Lena smiled. Mai noticed. “You’re pleased.” Lena looked toward her. “Yes.” “With him sitting?” “With him not carrying the entire fucking cabin like he’ll be court-martialed if someone leaves a glass out.” Mai laughed softly. Lena rinsed a plate. “He gets worse when he’s tired.” “I know.” “And everyone thinks the answer is to tease him until he stops.” Mai looked through the glass. Ace was currently saying something that made Marco point at her. Lena followed. “Sometimes that works too.” Mai smiled. “Yes.” Lena handed her the plate. Their fingers touched. Brief. Nothing. Then Lena looked at Mai. Not at the hand. At her. Mai felt the change. Small. No need to misread it. Lena went back to the sink. Mai dried the plate. A minute passed. Then Lena said: “You look good.” Mai glanced toward her. “Thank you.” “I don’t mean the hair.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Lena smiled. “Though also the hair.” Mai set the plate down. “What do you mean?” Lena thought. Then leaned back against the counter. “Looser.” Mai looked toward the terrace. Ace sat half in Reyes’s space while Nyx leaned over the back of the chair. Kiro between Rhea and Sol. Shammy against Panam. Brenda laughing against Iris’s shoulder. Marco finally not holding anything. Mai looked back. “Maybe.” Lena’s smile softened. “You needed this.” Mai nodded. “Yes.” No speech. No operational autopsy. Just yes. Lena turned the water lower. “I missed this version of you.” Mai looked at her. “Which version?” “The one that notices everything and doesn’t look like she’s about to shoot the room for disappointing Ace.” Mai laughed. Actually laughed. Lena smiled. “There.” Mai shook her head. “That is unfair.” “Completely.” Mai leaned one hip against the counter. “You’re not wrong.” Lena looked toward the terrace again. Ace caught Mai looking through the glass. Immediately smiled. Mai smiled back. Lena saw. “Yeah.” Mai turned. “What?” Lena shook her head. “Nothing.” Mai gave her a look. Lena laughed. “Fine. That.” “What about it?” “The way she checks for you without even knowing she’s doing it.” Mai’s expression softened. “She knows.” Lena thought. Then nodded. “Fair.” Mai looked through the glass again. Ace was now arguing with Kiro while one hand rested absently over Reyes’s wrist. Nyx said something. Ace turned toward her. Same warmth. Different line. Lena followed Mai’s gaze. “No jealousy?” Mai looked at her. “Of what?” Lena smiled. “Good answer.” Mai’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You knew.” “Yes.” “Then why ask?” “Because sometimes I like hearing people say what they actually mean.” Mai looked at her. A beat. Then: “I don’t lose Ace because she loves someone else.” Lena nodded. “And?” Mai’s mouth curved. “I gain the part of her that is happier.” Lena went quiet. That landed. Then she looked toward Marco. “Yeah.” Mai followed. Marco was laughing at something Panam had said. Lena’s whole expression changed again. Mai saw. “You understand.” Lena nodded. “Completely.” --- The dishes kept moving. The conversation did too. Softer. No audience. Lena washed the last serving bowl. Mai dried it. Lena reached for the towel at the same time Mai did. Their hands touched again. This time neither moved immediately. Lena looked down. Then up. Mai held her gaze. No surprise. The possibility had been in the room for longer than either needed to pretend. Lena smiled slightly. “You noticed.” Mai’s mouth curved. “Yes.” “Of course you did.” “Yes.” Lena laughed. Mai looked toward the kitchen door. Then back. “Do you want me to stop noticing?” Lena’s expression changed. “No.” Clear. Mai set the towel down. Lena turned off the water. The kitchen suddenly felt much quieter. Not because the terrace had stopped. Because neither woman was listening to it anymore. Lena stepped closer. Mai did not move away. Lena looked at her mouth. Then eyes. Mai noticed that too. “You want to kiss me.” Lena smiled. “That direct?” Mai’s expression remained calm. “You were staring.” Lena laughed softly. “Fair.” Mai waited. Lena leaned closer. Stopped before contact. “Okay?” Mai nodded. “Yes.” Lena kissed her. Slow. No hurry. No startled retreat. Mai’s hand settled lightly at Lena’s waist. Lena’s fingers touched Mai’s neck. The kiss deepened by degrees. Warm rather than urgent. When they separated, Lena stayed close. Forehead nearly against Mai’s. “Well.” Mai smiled. “Disappointing?” Lena laughed. “Fuck no.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Lena looked amused. “You thought Marco got all the dirty language?” Mai’s mouth curved. “No.” “Good.” Lena kissed her again. This time Mai met her halfway. --- The terrace door opened. Both women stopped. Ace stood there. Of course. She looked at Lena. Then Mai. Then the approximately six inches of space between them. Then the finished dishes. Then back at both. Lena waited. Mai waited. Ace’s eyebrows rose. “Am I interrupting?” Mai answered first. “Yes.” Ace smiled immediately. “Good.” Lena laughed. Ace leaned against the doorframe. “Need the room?” Mai looked toward Lena. Lena looked back. Neither embarrassed. Lena answered: “Maybe.” Ace’s smile warmed. Not filthy yet. Just pleased. “Kitchen’s technically communal.” Mai raised one eyebrow. Ace grinned. “There are other rooms.” Lena laughed again. Mai looked at Ace. “You came for something.” Ace stopped. Looked around. Then toward the counter. “Wine.” Lena pointed. “Left cabinet.” Ace walked in. Opened the cabinet. Found the bottle. Looked toward both women again. “Carry on.” Mai’s mouth curved. Ace walked to the door. Stopped. Turned. Looked at Lena. Then Mai. “Have fun.” Simple. No joke. Lena smiled. “Planning to.” Ace nodded. Then left. The door swung shut. Lena looked at Mai. “That easy.” Mai looked toward the door. “Yes.” Lena smiled. “Good.” Mai stepped closer. “Very.” --- They did not stay in the kitchen. Not because Ace had embarrassed them. Because the counter was covered in clean dishes and Marco would probably develop a twitch if they used it for anything else. Lena looked toward the hall. Mai understood. They moved upstairs without announcement. No one asked where they were going. Mostly. Panam saw. Raised one eyebrow. Lena saw Panam see. Panam smiled. No comment. Marco was in the middle of arguing with Kiro. He did not notice. That was probably best. Not because he had any veto. Because Lena preferred to tell him herself, when she wanted, if she wanted. Privacy was still allowed. Openness was not compulsory confession. Important difference. Mai followed Lena into one of the smaller upstairs rooms. Not Mai’s room. Not Lena’s. Neutral. Clean bed. Open window. Late-afternoon light. Lena closed the door. Turned. Mai stood near the dresser. Neither woman rushed. Lena smiled. “This feels weirdly formal.” Mai looked around. “It’s a guest room.” “That’s not what I meant.” “I know.” Lena stepped closer. Mai met her. The next kiss had less testing in it. Lena’s hands moved to Mai’s waist. Mai touched her back. Their bodies came close. Different heights. Different rhythm. No shared history to lean on the way Mai had with Kiro, Rhea, and Sol. That made the attention sharper. Learning. Lena’s mouth curved against Mai’s. “You’re thinking.” Mai drew back slightly. “So are you.” “Probably.” Mai touched Lena’s cheek. “Want to stop thinking?” Lena’s eyes warmed. “Yes.” Clear. Mai kissed her again. That helped. --- Clothing moved slowly. Not because either woman was shy. Because neither wanted to rush the novelty out of it. Mai’s top first. Lena’s after. They paused there. Skin against skin. Hands learning. Lena looked at Mai. “Still good?” Mai nodded. “Yes.” Mai’s fingers rested at Lena’s waistband. She waited. Lena nodded. “Yeah.” The rest followed. Not ceremonial. Not careless. Enough attention to keep every choice visible. Soon the room held warm skin, discarded clothes, and the kind of quiet laughter that only happened when someone misjudged where the bed edge was. Lena bumped the mattress with the back of her legs. Looked down. Mai smiled. “Graceful.” Lena laughed. “Fuck you.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Lena caught it. “Oh, don’t look like that.” Mai stepped closer. “Like what?” “Like I just made an offer.” Mai’s mouth curved. “Didn’t you?” Lena stared. Then laughed. “Okay. Ace was right.” Mai looked amused. “About?” “You’re a menace.” Mai kissed her. Lena stopped laughing. --- The bed took them. Not in a rush. Lena pulled Mai down beside her. Mai stayed close. Kisses became slower again. Hands moved with more certainty now. They shifted together until the question between them had become an answer. When sex began, the transition was unmistakable, chosen in the same unhurried rhythm as everything that had brought them there. Lena learned quickly what made Mai’s breathing change. Mai noticed what made Lena’s whole body answer before her mouth did. Neither needed to narrate every discovery. Enough was obvious. The rhythm built quietly. Not the four-person shared geometry from earlier. Something smaller. Two women with space to pay attention. Lena’s fingers tightened against Mai’s back. Mai kissed beneath her jaw. Lena breathed out. “Again.” Mai did. Lena’s eyes closed. Mai smiled against her skin. “Bossy.” Lena opened them. “You complaining?” Mai looked at her. “No.” Lena smiled. “Good.” The pace continued. Mai let Lena set it for a while. Then changed it. Lena noticed instantly. Her breath caught. “Fuck.” Mai looked toward her. “Too much?” Lena shook her head. “No.” “Good?” “Yes.” Mai stayed there. No rush. Lena’s hands moved over Mai’s shoulders. Held. The tension built through both. Not identical. Not synchronized for convenience. Lena reached her first high point slowly. Mai felt it coming. Stayed close. Lena’s breathing broke. Her whole body tightened. Then softened against Mai with a low, helpless laugh. Mai held her. Kissed her temple. Lena closed her eyes. “Okay.” Mai smiled. “Okay?” Lena laughed again. “Shut up.” Mai kissed her. Lena kissed back. Still warm. Still interested. Not done simply because one woman had reached release. Lena touched Mai’s face. “Your turn.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Lena smiled. “That sounded worse than I meant.” Mai’s mouth curved. “No. It sounded fine.” Lena laughed. “Good.” Then she pulled Mai closer. --- Mai took longer. Lena did not mind. She watched. Learned. Adjusted. Mai’s usual control stayed intact for a while. Then thinned. Lena noticed the moment. Smiled. Mai opened one eye. “What?” “Nothing.” Mai stared. Lena grinned. “Now I understand why everyone enjoys saying that to you.” Mai laughed once. Then the next wave of pleasure cut it short. Lena’s expression changed. Less teasing. More intent. She stayed close. Mai’s breath shortened. Hands tightened. The careful stillness gave way. Lena saw exactly what Ace meant by devastating. Not in words. In the way Mai lost them. The final release came deep. Quiet. Mai held Lena close through it. Then softened. Lena kissed her forehead. Mai’s eyes stayed closed. “Pretty.” Mai opened one. Lena smiled. “You can tell Ace I said that.” Mai’s mouth curved. “She knows.” “Of course she does.” They laughed softly. Then stayed. --- Afterward, Lena lay on her back. Mai beside her. One arm across Lena’s waist. No urgency to dress. The open window carried distant voices from the terrace. Panam laughing. Kiro protesting something. Ace unmistakably saying _bullshit_. Lena smiled. “Sounds healthy.” Mai listened. “Yes.” Lena turned her head. “You think Ace knew where this was going before we did?” Mai considered. “Yes.” Lena laughed. “Annoying.” “Very.” “You tell her everything?” Mai looked toward the ceiling. “No.” Lena nodded. “Good.” Mai looked at her. Lena smiled. “Not because of secrecy.” Mai waited. “Because some things should belong to the people who were actually there first.” Mai’s expression softened. “Yes.” Lena touched her hand. “Marco and I work the same way.” Mai nodded. “No accounting.” “No scorecard.” “No permission slips.” Lena smiled. “Exactly.” Mai looked toward her. “Will you tell him?” Lena thought. “Probably.” “Tonight?” “Maybe.” Mai nodded. No concern. No claim. Lena studied her. “You really are good at this.” Mai raised one eyebrow. “At what?” “Not making everything complicated.” Mai laughed quietly. “Ace would disagree.” Lena smiled. “Ace makes cereal complicated.” Mai considered. “Yes.” They both laughed. --- The door opened a crack. Ace’s face appeared. Lena stared. Mai closed her eyes. Ace froze. “Oh.” Lena pulled the sheet higher mostly because the room was cooling, not shame. Ace looked at both women. “I knocked.” Mai opened her eyes. “No, you didn’t.” Ace thought. “Spiritually.” Lena laughed. Ace smiled. “You alive?” Mai looked toward Lena. Lena nodded. “Very.” Ace’s grin widened. “Good.” Mai looked at her. “You need something?” Ace leaned into the doorway. “Marco wants to know where Lena is.” Lena blinked. Then sat up slightly. “He asked?” Ace nodded. “Actually he said, ‘Has anyone seen Lena?’ and Panam said, ‘Probably fucking,’ and then Marco told her to fuck off.” Lena covered her face. Mai laughed. Ace continued: “So technically this is a welfare check.” Lena looked at her through her fingers. “You are enjoying this.” Ace smiled. “Somewhat.” Mai raised an eyebrow. Ace corrected: “A lot.” Lena laughed. Ace’s expression softened. Then she looked at Mai. Warm. “You good?” Mai nodded. “Yes.” Ace looked at Lena. “You?” Lena smiled. “Also yes.” Ace nodded. “Perfect.” She started to close the door. Lena stopped her. “Ace.” Ace looked back. Lena smiled. “She’s really fucking good.” Mai closed her eyes. Ace froze. Then slowly grinned. “Oh, I know.” Mai threw a pillow. Ace ducked. Lena burst out laughing. Ace disappeared into the hall. From outside: “LOVE YOU.” Mai called: “Go away.” Ace shouted back: “ALSO LOVE YOU.” Lena was still laughing. Mai looked toward the ceiling. “Hopeless.” Lena touched her arm. “Happy.” Mai’s expression softened. “Yes.” Then smiled. “Very.” And that was enough. --- ## Chapter Thirteen — You Can Stay The cabin went quiet in the way crowded places sometimes did after a long day. Not silent. Never that. Just thinned. Panam and Shammy had taken their drinks outside. Kiro, Rhea, and Sol were somewhere between the side house and the sauna. Marco had finally stopped pretending the kitchen needed supervision. Lena had not returned from upstairs immediately. Nobody asked why. Ace was on the terrace rail with one foot hooked around the lower bar, listening to Reyes explain why her lake throw had technically been conservative. Ace disagreed. Loudly. “Conservative my ass.” Reyes leaned against the post beside her. “You landed flat.” “I landed like a fucking dropped cat.” “You surfaced laughing.” “That does not make the flight safe.” Nyx, from the nearby chair: “You asked for it.” Ace pointed. “Consent does not erase my right to complain afterward.” Reyes smiled. “That sounded almost intelligent.” Ace stared. “Almost?” Nyx laughed. Mai came outside. Ace noticed immediately. Not because Mai said anything. Because Ace had been checking the door every few minutes since she disappeared upstairs with Lena, and she had stopped pretending otherwise. Mai looked relaxed. That was enough. Ace’s face softened. Reyes saw. Nyx saw. Mai crossed the terrace. Ace held out one hand. Mai took it. Ace tugged her closer until Mai stood between her knees. No words at first. Mai touched Ace’s cheek. Ace looked up. “Good?” Mai nodded. “Very.” Ace smiled. “Good.” That was all. No interrogation. No scorekeeping. Mai leaned down and kissed her. Reyes looked toward the lake. Nyx smiled. Ace’s hands stayed at Mai’s waist when the kiss ended. Then she noticed someone else coming through the door. Iris. Brenda behind her. Ace’s attention shifted. Not sharply. Enough. Iris wore one of Brenda’s loose shirts over shorts. Brenda wore the black set Iris had chosen earlier underneath an open robe, apparently having decided subtlety was a waste of fabric. Ace looked. Brenda caught her. Ace looked directly at Brenda. Then toward Iris. Then back. Brenda’s eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. “Nice.” Brenda looked down. “Which part?” Ace considered. “All of it.” Brenda grinned. Iris looked toward Ace. “You like her clothes?” Ace looked at her. “Those too.” Brenda barked a laugh. Mai’s hand moved lightly along Ace’s shoulder. Reyes looked away again. Nyx watched with growing interest. Iris stepped closer. Calm. Too calm. Ace saw. “What?” Iris stopped in front of her. “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “You say that like you’ve been hanging around me too long.” Iris smiled. “Maybe I have.” Brenda looked between them. Then toward Mai. Mai met her gaze. No tension. Just awareness. Something was already moving. Ace felt it too. She slid down from the rail. Mai stepped back enough to give her space. Ace looked at Iris. “Want something?” Direct. Iris nodded. “Yes.” Brenda’s expression sharpened. Reyes looked toward Ace. Ace looked at Iris. “What?” Iris held the gaze. “You.” Silence. Not shocked. Just suddenly attentive. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Then her mouth curved. “Okay.” Iris glanced toward Brenda. Then Mai. Ace followed the look. That was when the shape changed. Mai saw it first. Brenda second. Ace third. Iris had not asked for privacy. Not yet. Ace looked at Iris. “You want them gone?” Iris shook her head. “No.” Clear. Brenda went still. Mai’s expression softened. Ace studied Iris. “You want them here.” “Yes.” No coyness. No half-smile pretending this was theoretical. Just yes. Ace looked toward Brenda. Brenda’s eyes were already warm. Not nervous. Not jealous. Interested enough that she was barely hiding it. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai was calmer. But not disinterested. Not remotely. Ace smiled. “Oh.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Problem?” Ace shook her head. “Fuck no.” Brenda exhaled. Ace heard. Looked at her. “You good?” Brenda nodded immediately. “Yes.” Ace looked at Mai. Mai touched Ace’s shoulder. “Very.” That settled it. Reyes understood. She stepped back. Nyx stood too. No awkwardness. No one acting like they had been dismissed. Reyes touched Ace’s arm as she passed. Ace looked up. Reyes smiled. “Have fun.” Ace grinned. “Planning to.” Nyx leaned close and kissed Ace’s cheek. Then looked toward Mai. Mai nodded. Nyx smiled. She followed Reyes inside. No wounded pride. Just leaving the room because this one belonged to someone else. For now. --- The four stayed on the terrace for another minute. Nobody rushed indoors. Iris stood near Brenda. Ace near Mai. Two established couples. Not pairing off. Not yet. Brenda looked at Iris. “You sure?” Iris turned toward her. “Yes.” Brenda smiled. Not dirty this time. Loving. “Good.” Iris touched her face. Brenda leaned into it. Ace watched. Noticed that too. Then Iris looked back at her. Ace held the gaze. “What?” Iris took one step closer. “You’re staring.” Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Iris’s eyes warmed. “Good.” Brenda heard. Her own expression changed. Mai saw Ace’s face. The same one from breakfast. The one that appeared when she was watching people she loved touch each other and realizing it did not diminish her place in the room. Mai smiled. Ace saw. “Don’t.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace grinned. “Actually, fuck it. You can too.” Brenda laughed. Iris looked toward the open door. Then back at Ace. “Inside.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. “That an order?” Iris stepped close enough that Ace had to tilt her head slightly. “Invitation.” Ace smiled. “Better.” --- They chose the larger downstairs bedroom. Not Ace and Mai’s. Not Brenda and Iris’s. Neutral. Enough room. A wide bed. Low lighting. Curtains drawn only halfway, leaving the last of the evening light across the floor. Brenda closed the door. Then stopped. Looked at Iris. “Closed?” Iris nodded. “Closed.” Not locked. Ace noticed. Of course. Mai stood near the wall. Brenda beside the dresser. Ace and Iris near the bed. For several seconds, nobody did anything. The stillness did not feel uncertain. Intentional. Iris looked at Mai. Then Brenda. “I want you to stay.” Brenda smiled. “You’ve said that.” “I’m saying it again.” Brenda’s expression softened. Mai nodded once. “We’re staying.” Iris looked at Ace. Ace’s mouth curved. “Happy?” “Yes.” “Good.” Ace stepped closer. Iris met her. The kiss was not tentative. Why would it be? They had kissed before. Fucked before. Spent enough time in each other’s bodies to know the basics. This was not discovery. The new thing was the room. The eyes. Mai behind Ace. Brenda behind Iris. And Iris wanting both. Ace felt that immediately. Not in the kiss. In the way Iris stayed aware. Not distracted. Aware. Brenda there. Mai there. Seeing. Ace pulled back slightly. Iris followed for half an inch. Stopped. Ace smiled. “Hungry?” Iris looked at her. “Yes.” Ace’s eyes warmed. “Good.” Then kissed her again. Harder. --- Brenda watched Iris’s hand move to Ace’s waist. Saw Ace step closer. Saw Iris’s composure loosen by degrees. That was the part she loved. Not the fact that Iris wanted someone else. The fact that Iris wanted at all without needing to package it into something respectable. Brenda’s smile softened. Mai noticed. “You okay?” Brenda glanced over. “Very.” Mai nodded. Brenda looked toward Ace and Iris again. “You?” Mai’s eyes stayed on Ace. “Yes.” Brenda followed her gaze. Ace had one hand at the back of Iris’s neck. Iris’s fingers curled into Ace’s shirt. Brenda smiled. “She’s good for her.” Mai looked toward Iris. Then Ace. “Yes.” Brenda laughed softly. “Which one?” Mai’s mouth curved. “Both.” Brenda looked at her. Then laughed. “Fair.” --- Ace and Iris did not perform for them. That became obvious quickly. If anything, the presence of observers made them quieter. More focused. Ace stopped checking the room. Iris stopped checking anything except Ace. That was the strange part. Iris had wanted Brenda and Mai there. Still did. But once Ace’s mouth was on hers again, once their bodies came close enough that the rest of the room became peripheral, she did not turn toward the watchers. Did not pose. Did not make eye contact for effect. She simply allowed herself to know they were there. Ace felt it. That extra charge beneath everything. Not performance. Permission. Ace’s hands moved under the loose shirt Iris wore. Iris inhaled sharply. Ace smiled against her mouth. “There.” Iris’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t get smug.” Ace’s grin widened. “Too late.” Brenda whispered from across the room: “She does that.” Iris looked toward her. Ace followed. Brenda raised both hands. “What?” Iris’s mouth curved. Ace laughed. Mai leaned against the wall. Calm. Watching. Ace saw. That hit differently. She looked at Mai. Held the gaze. Mai’s expression softened. No distance. Just _I’m here_. Ace’s breath changed. Iris noticed. Followed the gaze. Saw Mai. Then Brenda. Something in Iris’s face deepened. Ace caught it. “You like this.” Iris looked back. “Yes.” Ace smiled. “Being watched.” “Yes.” Brenda’s eyes warmed. Iris heard the change in Brenda’s breathing. Did not look away from Ace. That, more than anything, made Brenda’s expression soften. Iris was not performing for her. She trusted Brenda enough to let her see something real. --- Clothing moved slowly. Not because anyone was shy. Because every step had weight tonight. Ace pulled Iris’s shirt upward. Stopped. Iris lifted her arms. Helped. The shirt dropped beside the bed. Brenda’s gaze followed. Iris saw. Smiled. Ace saw Iris see Brenda watching. That loop landed. Brenda did not look away. Ace did not either. “Still good?” Ace asked. Iris nodded. “Yes.” Ace looked toward Brenda. “Brenda?” Brenda’s voice came warm. “Yes.” Then Ace looked at Mai. Mai nodded. Ace smiled. “Good.” Her own shirt went next. Iris removed it. Ace did not help much. Enjoyed being handled. Brenda noticed that. So did Mai. Mai’s expression changed. Ace caught it. A grin appeared. Iris followed Ace’s gaze. Mai’s eyes stayed on Ace. Ace looked back at Iris. “She likes that.” Iris raised an eyebrow. “What?” Ace smiled. “Me letting someone else do the work.” Mai spoke calmly from the wall. “Sometimes.” Brenda looked toward her. Ace laughed. Iris’s mouth curved. “Useful information.” Ace looked at her. “Don’t get ideas.” Iris touched the fastening at Ace’s waist. “Too late.” Ace’s eyes widened. Brenda made a delighted little sound. Mai smiled. Ace stared at Iris. “Oh, fuck.” Iris’s expression remained perfectly controlled. “Problem?” Ace shook her head. “None.” Iris continued. The rest of their clothing disappeared by degrees. Clear pauses. Clear nods. No ambiguity. The bed waited behind them. By the time they reached it, the room had warmed. Skin. Breath. Close bodies. Observers still clothed. That contrast sharpened everything. Ace noticed. So did Iris. Brenda stayed beside Mai now. Not touching at first. Then their shoulders brushed. Neither moved away. --- Ace sat on the edge of the bed. Iris stood between her knees. Ace looked up. Iris looked down. For a second the entire room seemed arranged around that difference. Then Ace smiled. “Come here.” Iris did. Ace’s hands found her waist. Iris’s fingers moved into Ace’s hair. The kiss slowed. Longer. Less aggressive. Brenda watched Iris soften. That got her. Not the nudity. Not the physical fact of what they were doing. The softness. The way Iris’s shoulders lowered. The way she stopped carrying herself like every room required command. Brenda whispered: “Fuck.” Mai glanced toward her. Brenda looked over. “Sorry.” Mai shook her head. “Don’t be.” Brenda’s eyes stayed on Iris. “I love seeing her like this.” Mai followed the gaze. “I know.” Brenda swallowed. Then smiled. “Yeah.” --- Ace heard enough. Not the words. The tone. She looked toward Brenda. Brenda met her eyes. Ace saw everything there. Love. Want. Pride. Ace’s expression softened. Then she looked toward Iris. Iris had heard too. Ace touched her face. “You okay?” Iris nodded. “Yes.” “Still want them here?” Iris turned enough to look at Brenda. Then Mai. “Yes.” Brenda smiled. Iris looked back at Ace. “Very much.” Ace’s eyes warmed. “Good.” Then the room narrowed again. When sex began, Ace and Iris made the transition openly enough that neither observer had to infer it: one last look between them, one answered movement closer, then the unmistakable change in breath and rhythm as they joined the next part of the encounter together. --- The lovemaking built slowly. Not because they needed to relearn each other. Because neither woman wanted to rush the fact that this time they were being seen. Ace found herself more aware of her own choices. Not more self-conscious. More deliberate. When Iris pulled her closer, Ace went. When Ace wanted Iris to slow, she said so. When Iris wanted more, she asked. No performance. No coded signals. Just adult clarity threaded through heat. Brenda watched Iris ask. Watched Ace answer. Mai watched Ace relax. Watched how she responded differently to Iris than she did to Mai, Nyx, Reyes, Shammy. Not lesser. Different. That pleased her. Ace noticed Mai still watching. The awareness became part of the pleasure. She did not turn toward Mai every time. Did not need to. But sometimes their eyes met. Sometimes Mai’s expression changed. Sometimes that alone made Ace’s breath catch. Iris learned that quickly. She noticed Ace look toward Mai. Then felt the response. Her mouth curved. Ace saw. “Don’t.” Iris leaned closer. “You like her watching.” Ace’s eyes narrowed. “Yeah.” No denial. Iris looked toward Brenda. Brenda held her gaze. Iris’s breathing changed. Ace noticed. “You like her watching too.” Iris smiled. “Yes.” Brenda’s expression warmed immediately. Ace laughed softly. “Fuck, we’re both hopeless.” Iris kissed her. “Apparently.” --- The rhythm deepened. Sustained. No turn-taking. No one tracking whose pleasure belonged where. Ace and Iris stayed at the center. Mai and Brenda remained observers. Sometimes the observers spoke. Mostly they did not. Brenda’s hand found Mai’s briefly. Not sexual. Grounding. Mai looked down. Then at Brenda. Brenda smiled. Mai linked their fingers. That helped. Both watching women connected without changing the shape. Ace saw. Liked that too. She smiled. Iris noticed. “What?” Ace nodded toward them. Iris glanced. Saw Brenda and Mai holding hands. Something melted across her face. Brenda saw. Her eyes went bright. Iris looked back at Ace. “Good.” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Then they stopped talking again. --- Iris reached her first high point slowly. Ace recognized it. Not from anatomy. From the way Iris’s control thinned. Her voice disappeared. Her grip tightened. Her eyes closed, then opened again because she wanted to see. Ace stayed close. Did not rush her. Brenda’s whole attention sharpened. Mai watched Ace watching Iris. That nested attention turned the room electric. Iris looked toward Brenda once. Just once. Brenda held the gaze. No smile. No joke. Just there. Iris’s breath broke. Ace felt it. Held her. The release came deep. Iris’s body tightened against Ace. Then softened. Ace stayed close. Held her through it. Kissed her temple. Brenda inhaled sharply. Ace looked toward her. Brenda’s eyes were wet. Not crying. Close. Ace’s expression softened. Iris opened her eyes. Saw. “Hey.” Brenda smiled. “I’m fine.” Iris looked at her. Brenda’s voice went quieter. “You’re fucking beautiful.” Iris’s face changed. No joke. Ace felt it. Brenda saw. Mai saw. Iris looked back at Ace. Ace smiled. “She’s right.” Iris closed her eyes briefly. Then laughed. Soft. “Both of you shut up.” Brenda smiled. “No.” Ace laughed. “Absolutely not.” That brought Iris back. Good. --- Ace’s own release took longer. Iris had recovered enough to notice that. Mai definitely noticed. Brenda too. Ace lost the jokes first. That was always the sign. She got quieter. More willing to be held. Less interested in controlling anything. Iris saw. Mai saw more. Mai knew this version of Ace intimately. The one that emerged when she stopped fighting the shape of pleasure and simply let herself be wanted. Mai’s expression softened. Ace looked toward her. Caught it. That almost undid her. Iris noticed. She touched Ace’s cheek. “Stay with me.” Ace looked back. “Yeah.” Clear. Mai remained in sight. Brenda too. But Ace returned fully to Iris. That mattered. Iris held her through the next rise. Ace’s hands tightened. Breath caught. Then broke. No words. Just a deep release that went through her hard enough to leave her trembling against Iris. Iris held her. Ace hid her face against Iris’s shoulder. Brenda made a soft sound. Mai’s fingers tightened around Brenda’s hand. Ace came back slowly. Breathing. Warm. Held. No jokes yet. Iris kissed her hair. Ace finally whispered: “Fuck.” Iris smiled. “Good?” Ace laughed weakly. “Very.” Mai’s mouth curved. Brenda smiled. Ace looked toward them. “Stop looking smug.” Brenda laughed. Mai’s expression stayed calm. “I’m not.” Ace stared. “Liar.” Mai smiled. There. Ace laughed again. --- Nobody moved immediately afterward. That was important. Iris lay back against the pillows. Ace half across her. Brenda sat on the edge of the bed now. Still dressed. Mai beside her. Ace opened one eye. Looked at Brenda. “Come here.” Brenda froze. Not because she misunderstood. Because she did. Ace saw. “No joining.” Brenda laughed softly. “I know.” Ace held out a hand. “Just come here.” Brenda took it. Moved closer. Iris reached for her too. Brenda sat beside them. Iris touched her face. Brenda leaned down and kissed her. Slow. Tender. Ace stayed close. Watched. This time openly. No hiding. Mai saw Ace watch. Ace caught her. Smiled. Mai’s eyes warmed. Brenda drew back from Iris. Looked at Ace. “You really do like watching.” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Brenda’s smile widened. “So do I.” Iris looked between them. Both women saw. Brenda laughed. “Oh, fuck.” Ace looked at her. “What?” Brenda pointed between herself and Ace. “She’s filing that.” Iris’s eyebrows rose. Ace started laughing. Mai closed her eyes. Brenda looked at Iris. “You are.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Yes.” Ace laughed harder. “Good.” --- Mai eventually came to the bed too. Still clothed. Ace held out a hand. Mai took it. Sat on the other side. Ace shifted just enough to put her head in Mai’s lap while keeping one leg over Iris. Brenda stared. Ace looked up. “What?” Brenda smiled. “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. Brenda laughed. “Fine. That is absurdly cute.” Ace groaned. Iris touched Ace’s leg. Mai’s fingers moved through her hair. Brenda sat close to Iris. The four settled. No one rushing to shower. No one asking whether the observers had “gotten enough.” That would have missed the point. Brenda had gotten what she wanted. She had seen Iris want. Seen her choose. Seen her enjoy without apology. Mai had gotten something too. Ace had let herself be seen letting go with someone else. No distance afterward. No withdrawal. Ace was literally using Mai’s lap as a pillow. The proof was in the geometry. Not words. --- Brenda looked at Ace. “So.” Ace opened one eye. “No census.” Brenda laughed. “Not this time.” “Good.” Brenda glanced toward Iris. Then back. “How was she?” Iris turned. “Brenda.” Ace’s mouth curved. “Very fucking good.” Iris closed her eyes. Brenda looked delighted. Ace continued: “You want details?” Iris’s eyes opened. “Ace.” Brenda leaned forward. “Yes.” Mai’s fingers paused in Ace’s hair. Ace felt it. Smiled. Then shook her head. “Nope.” Brenda looked betrayed. Ace grinned. “Some things you were here for. Some things are mine.” Brenda considered. Then nodded. “Fair.” Iris looked at Ace. Something warm passed between them. Good. Boundaries without shame. Privacy without secrecy. --- They eventually found water. Not immediately. Ace complained. Naturally. “I’m fucking dehydrated.” Mai handed her a glass. Ace drank. Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris was watching Ace. Brenda saw. Ace lowered the glass. Caught it. “What?” Iris shook her head. “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. Brenda laughed. Mai smiled. Ace sighed. “Hopeless.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Yes.” Ace looked at Brenda. Then Mai. Then Iris. Her own expression softened. “Good though.” Brenda leaned against Iris. “Very.” Mai’s hand rested on Ace’s shoulder. Iris nodded. “Very.” Ace smiled. There was no operation in the room. No camp. No staged rupture. No role anyone had to maintain. Just four women who knew exactly what had happened and did not need to turn it into anything larger than it was. Except perhaps one thing. Ace looked at Brenda. Brenda looked back. Then both women looked toward Iris. Iris caught them. Her eyebrows rose. Brenda smiled. Ace did too. Iris looked from one to the other. “Absolutely not.” Ace laughed. Brenda laughed harder. Iris’s mouth betrayed her. She was smiling too. And that was enough to make Saturday suddenly look much more interesting. --- ## Chapter Fourteen — Lunch Is Unsafe Now Lunch should have been safe. That was the theory. Nobody had wine. Nobody had just come out of the lake. Nobody was half asleep. Nobody was naked. Mostly. There were sandwiches. Cold steak. Fruit. Bread. Coffee. Water. A table. Perfectly ordinary objects arranged in a perfectly ordinary way. And thirteen adults who had collectively lost the ability to behave around one another. Ace knew this before she sat down. Brenda confirmed it within thirty seconds. She arrived with Iris. Stopped beside the table. Looked at Ace. Ace looked back. Nothing happened. For two full seconds. Then Brenda smiled. Ace’s eyes narrowed. “No.” Brenda took the chair beside Iris. “I was behaving.” “You’re about to.” Iris sat. Brenda looked at her. Then at Ace. Then at Mai. Mai was buttering bread. Calm. Too calm. Ace saw that too. “Don’t fucking start.” Mai looked up. “With?” Ace pointed between Brenda and Iris. Then at Mai. “All of this.” Brenda leaned toward Iris. “She’s defensive.” Ace stared. “I am not.” Reyes, beside her: “You are.” Ace turned. “Traitor.” Reyes took a bite of sandwich. “Accurate.” Ace looked around the table. Kiro had already started smiling. Panam was watching with open interest. Shammy sat close against her. Rhea and Sol flanked Kiro. Nyx leaned against the table opposite Ace. Marco was placing a bowl of fruit down like proper presentation might somehow save them. Lena knew better. Ace pointed at all of them. “No postgame analysis.” Brenda brightened. “Oh, so there was a game.” Ace closed her eyes. Iris sighed. Mai looked down at her bread. Reyes laughed quietly. Ace opened her eyes. “You know exactly what happened.” Brenda smiled. “I know what I saw.” Ace looked at her. “And?” Brenda’s expression changed. Warm. Then dirty. “Good fucking view.” The table went quiet. Iris looked toward Brenda. Brenda shrugged. “What?” Ace slowly smiled. “There she is.” Panam leaned back. “Okay, straight out of the gate.” Kiro muttered: “It’s lunch.” Brenda looked toward her. “Sex happened before lunch.” Kiro froze. Rhea covered her face. Sol laughed. Ace pointed. “Valid.” Kiro looked betrayed. “Why are you helping?” “Because she’s right.” Brenda nodded. “Thank you.” Iris picked up her coffee. “Do not encourage each other.” Ace looked at her. “You liked us encouraging each other twenty minutes ago.” Silence. Iris stopped with the cup halfway to her mouth. Brenda’s eyes widened. Panam made a strangled sound. Kiro whispered: “Oh, fuck.” Mai covered her mouth. Reyes leaned away from Ace because she was already laughing. Ace saw Iris’s face. Grinned. “Got you.” Iris set the cup down. Slowly. Then: “You were considerably quieter twenty minutes ago.” Everything detonated. Ace froze. Brenda slapped both hands over her mouth. Panam doubled over. Kiro dropped her forehead to the table. Rhea folded against Sol. Nyx stared at Iris like she had just witnessed an assassination. Mai’s shoulders shook. Reyes closed her eyes. Ace looked across the table. Speechless. Iris lifted the coffee again. Ace finally pointed. “You.” Iris took a sip. Ace stared. “You absolute fucking bitch.” Iris’s mouth curved. Brenda leaned close to her. “I love you so much.” Iris looked at her. “I know.” Ace leaned back. “Lunch is already fucked.” Marco sat down. “It has been forty seconds.” Lena touched his shoulder. “Give up.” “I just sat down.” “Exactly.” --- The first few bites went peacefully. That should have been suspicious too. Ace ate half a sandwich. Reyes finished hers. Kiro concentrated on food like concentration might provide immunity. It did not. Panam looked toward Mai. “So.” Ace immediately pointed at her. “No.” Panam looked confused. “I was going to ask about Lena.” Mai looked up. Lena did too. Marco froze. Ace slowly lowered her hand. “Oh.” Panam smiled. “See? Guilty conscience.” Ace ignored that. Mai looked toward Lena. Lena met her gaze. No embarrassment. Marco looked between them. Then at Lena. Lena saw. Touched his hand. “Later.” Marco held her gaze. Then nodded. “Okay.” No drama. No public interrogation. Panam noticed. Ace did too. Good. Then Panam ruined it. She looked at Mai. “Good?” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Lena burst out laughing. Marco closed his eyes. Ace slapped one hand against the table. “Yes, Panam.” Panam looked toward Ace. “What?” “You are exactly why we can’t have civilized lunch.” Panam grinned. “Didn’t hear Mai complain.” Mai looked at Lena. Then Panam. “Very good.” Lena smiled. Marco opened his eyes again. Looked at Lena. Lena leaned closer. “You okay?” Marco nodded. “Yes.” She kissed his cheek. He softened. Then Ace leaned across the table. “You want a review too?” Marco turned. “No.” Lena laughed. Panam pointed. “Coward.” Marco looked at her. “I do not need a fucking peer-reviewed report on my partner’s afternoon.” Kiro immediately perked up. “Peer review would be a terrible methodology for that.” Everyone looked at her. Kiro froze. Ace smiled slowly. “Please continue.” Kiro stared. “No.” “You started.” “I objected to the method.” Brenda leaned in. “What would be better?” Kiro looked toward her. Then realized. “Oh, fuck off.” Rhea started laughing. Sol kissed Kiro’s temple. Kiro looked around. “This table is predatory.” Ace nodded. “Correct.” --- Shammy had been quiet. That became dangerous. She looked at Ace. Ace saw. “No.” Shammy blinked. “I only looked.” “You have the face.” Panam looked toward Shammy. “What face?” Ace pointed. “The one where she’s about to say something sincere enough to ruin me.” Shammy considered. Then smiled. Ace groaned. “Fuck.” Shammy looked toward Iris. Then Ace. Then Brenda and Mai. “I think it was beautiful.” The table softened. Just like that. Ace looked at Shammy. No joke available immediately. Iris did too. Brenda’s expression warmed. Mai smiled. Shammy continued: “Not because they were watching.” Ace listened. “Because you both knew they were.” Iris’s face changed. Small. Shammy looked at Brenda. “And you looked happy.” Brenda nodded. “I was.” Then at Mai. “So did you.” Mai answered: “Yes.” Shammy smiled. Ace sighed. “This is exactly what I meant.” Panam laughed softly. Ace pointed. “She fucking ruins me with sincerity.” Shammy leaned into Panam. “I can stop.” Ace immediately: “No.” Shammy smiled. Ace took a drink. Then looked at Iris. Iris was already looking back. Something quiet passed between them. Good. No need to explain it. Then Brenda took a bite of bread and said: “Also Ace makes a very nice sound when she forgets she’s being watched.” Silence. Ace choked. Mai closed her eyes. Iris turned. “Brenda.” Panam shouted. Kiro dropped her fork. Reyes looked toward Ace with immediate interest. Nyx covered her mouth. Ace coughed. Reyes slapped her back once. Ace finally breathed. Then stared at Brenda. “You fucking menace.” Brenda smiled brightly. “You said no postgame analysis.” Ace pointed. “That was color commentary.” “Exactly.” Mai looked at Brenda. Ace saw. “No.” Mai’s mouth curved. Ace turned. “No.” Mai calmly said: “She’s not wrong.” Ace stared. The table exploded again. Ace put both hands over her face. “Fucking hell.” Reyes looked down at her. “Want me to save you?” Ace peeked through her fingers. “How?” Reyes considered. Then: “You also make that sound when I throw you in the lake.” Ace dropped her hands. Panam nearly fell off her chair. Brenda screamed. Kiro folded into Rhea. Sol laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes. Ace stared at Reyes. “You absolute cunt.” Reyes smiled. “Diversion successful.” Ace started laughing despite herself. “Okay. Fine.” Reyes leaned close. “You’re welcome.” Ace kissed her cheek. “Still a cunt.” “Obviously.” --- The food survived. Barely. Lunch migrated outside because nobody wanted to remain under Marco’s increasingly judgmental kitchen lighting. The terrace table filled again. This time Ace sat beside Mai. Reyes across. Nyx beside her. Brenda and Iris opposite Ace. That arrangement lasted perhaps five minutes before Ace realized she was being watched. She looked up. Brenda. Ace narrowed her eyes. “What?” Brenda shook her head. “Nothing.” Ace pointed. “Bullshit.” Brenda smiled. Iris looked toward her. Brenda immediately said: “I’m observing.” Ace stared. Mai looked amused. Nyx laughed. Ace leaned back. “Observing what?” Brenda looked at her. Then Mai. Then Ace again. “How you are afterward.” Ace’s expression changed. Less defensive. “After what?” Brenda raised one eyebrow. Ace rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Brenda waited. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai had one hand resting beside Ace’s on the table. Ace covered it. Then looked back. “Normal.” Brenda tilted her head. Ace thought. Then shook hers. “No.” Brenda’s smile softened. “Different?” Ace looked toward Iris. Then Mai. Then Brenda. Then Reyes across the table. Nyx beside her. Shammy in Panam’s arms farther down. Kiro between Rhea and Sol. “Bigger.” Brenda’s expression changed. Ace saw. “You know what I mean.” Brenda nodded. “Yeah.” Iris looked at Ace. Ace looked back. Iris’s voice was quiet. “More connected.” Ace nodded. “Exactly.” Mai’s fingers linked with hers. Ace squeezed. No joke. That was enough. Then Panam from down the table: “Are you fuckers having feelings during lunch?” Ace turned. “Yes.” Panam looked scandalized. “Disgusting.” Ace flipped her off. Shammy smiled. “Very cuddly.” Everyone groaned. Shammy laughed. Good. The phrase was still alive. Just not everywhere. --- Kiro made the mistake of asking for mustard. Ace handed it to her. Kiro took it. Looked at the bottle. Then Ace. “Thank you.” Ace smiled sweetly. “You’re welcome.” Kiro stared. Rhea noticed. “What?” Kiro looked at Ace. “She’s being too nice.” Ace looked offended. “I can be nice.” Sol smiled. “Why?” Ace pointed at her. “See? Character assassination.” Kiro opened the mustard. Squeezed. Too much came out. Onto the plate. Ace stared. Then at Kiro. Kiro froze. Panam saw. “Oh, no.” Ace’s mouth began to curve. Kiro pointed the bottle at her. “No.” Ace held up both hands. “I haven’t said shit.” “You’re thinking it.” “Everyone is.” Kiro looked around. Everyone avoided eye contact. Kiro closed her eyes. “Fuck all of you.” Rhea took the bottle from her. “Give me that.” Kiro looked toward Sol. Sol smiled. Kiro sighed. “I hate lunch.” Ace nodded. “Lunch hates you too.” --- Brenda eventually turned toward Mai. “So.” Ace groaned. Brenda looked offended. “What now?” “You have the Brenda noise.” Iris looked toward Ace. “She does.” Brenda stared at her. “Et tu?” Iris smiled. Brenda sighed dramatically. Then looked at Mai. “You liked watching her.” Mai answered immediately. “Yes.” Ace looked toward her. No surprise. Still warmth. Brenda continued: “What part?” Mai looked at Ace. Ace’s eyebrows rose. “Careful.” Mai’s mouth curved. Brenda leaned forward. Ace looked between them. “Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Mai thought. Then: “The surrender.” Ace froze. The whole table did not hear. Only the immediate cluster. Brenda’s expression softened. Iris looked at Mai. Ace stared. Mai’s eyes stayed on her. “When you stopped performing.” Ace’s face changed. No joke now. Mai continued quietly: “When you forgot to be clever.” Ace swallowed. Nyx watched. Reyes too. Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris’s expression had softened. Ace held Mai’s gaze. Then smiled. Small. “Yeah.” Mai squeezed her hand. Ace leaned in and kissed her. Short. Warm. No embarrassment. When she pulled back, Brenda sighed. “Fuck.” Ace looked at her. Brenda smiled. “That was hot too.” Ace laughed. There. Balance restored. --- Iris looked at Brenda. “You really do say everything now.” Brenda turned. “You like it.” Iris considered. “Yes.” Brenda smiled. Ace heard. Pointed. “See? Direct answer. Beautiful.” Iris looked toward her. “You are obsessed with this.” Ace leaned back. “Because I spent too long listening to people talk around sex like naming it would summon a demon.” Panam called: “In Night City? Bad example.” Ace turned. Then laughed. “Fair.” Ace looked back at Iris. “I like people saying what they fucking mean.” Iris nodded. “So do I.” Brenda leaned against her. “Good. Because I mean that watching you with Ace made me horny as hell.” Silence. Iris turned slowly. Brenda met her gaze. No shame. Mai looked toward Ace. Ace’s eyebrows went up. Reyes smiled. Nyx’s eyes warmed. Kiro looked toward the sky as if asking for strength. Panam whispered: “Here we go.” Iris looked at Brenda. “Did it.” Brenda smiled. “Still does.” Iris’s mouth curved. Ace watched. Brenda caught her. Ace did not look away. Brenda’s smile widened. Iris noticed both. The exchange from breakfast was no longer accidental. Ace lifted her glass toward Brenda. Brenda answered with hers. Iris’s eyes sharpened. Brenda laughed softly. --- Marco came outside with more coffee. Saw the cluster. Stopped. “What?” Lena took one cup from him. “Don’t.” Marco looked around. Ace smiling at Brenda. Brenda half in Iris’s lap. Iris watching Ace. Mai beside Ace. Reyes across from them looking entertained. Nyx watching all of it. Marco sighed. “Fine.” He sat. Ace looked toward him. “You missed Brenda announcing she was horny.” Marco closed his eyes. Lena laughed. Brenda looked toward him. “I said specifically because I watched Iris fuck Ace.” Marco opened his eyes. Stared. Then looked at Lena. Lena looked delighted. Marco took a sip of coffee. “Of course you did.” Ace laughed. Marco looked toward her. “What?” Ace shook her head. “You’re adapting.” Marco pointed. “No.” Lena leaned over. Kissed him. Marco stopped. Lena drew back. “Better?” Marco looked at her. “Yes.” Ace grinned. “See?” Marco stared. “Do not.” Ace laughed. --- Lunch should have ended there. It did not. Reyes leaned back and looked toward Ace. Ace caught it. “What?” Reyes looked at Brenda. Then Iris. Then Mai. Then Ace. Ace narrowed her eyes. “That is a lot of looking.” Reyes smiled. “You’re enjoying being discussed.” Ace blinked. “No.” Reyes waited. Ace looked around. Brenda smiling. Iris calm. Mai beside her. Nyx watching. Reyes waiting. Ace sighed. “Fine.” Reyes’s mouth curved. Ace pointed. “Not because I need the fucking attention.” “No.” “Because I like that nobody is being weird about it.” Reyes nodded. “Exactly.” Ace relaxed. Then Reyes added: “And because you like the attention.” Ace stared. Brenda exploded. Panam shouted from the other end: “GOT HER.” Ace looked at Reyes. “You fucking sniper.” Reyes smiled. “Repeatedly.” Ace froze. The word landed. Iris covered her mouth. Brenda screamed. Mai closed her eyes. Kiro dropped her head. Nyx laughed so hard she nearly spilled coffee. Ace stared at Reyes. Then started laughing. “Okay.” She leaned across the table. Caught Reyes by the shirt. Pulled her closer. Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace kissed her. Quick. Hard. Then let go. Reyes looked at her. Ace smiled. “Shut up.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “No.” Ace laughed. “Good.” --- By the time the table finally cleared, nobody remembered what had been served besides steak. Marco did. Of course. Nobody asked. Ace stood and stretched. Mai’s hand slid briefly along her back. Ace looked over. Mai smiled. Brenda saw. Iris saw Brenda see. Ace saw Iris seeing Brenda see. Ace stopped. Then laughed. Brenda looked toward her. “What?” Ace shook her head. “This is getting fucking ridiculous.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Yes.” Brenda leaned against her. “Good ridiculous?” Ace looked at Mai. Then Reyes. Then Nyx. Then Iris. Then Brenda. “Very.” Brenda smiled. “Good.” Ace started toward the terrace steps. Reyes watched her. Ace caught it. “What?” Reyes shook her head. Ace narrowed her eyes. Reyes smiled. Ace pointed. “You’re up to something.” Reyes’s smile widened by barely anything. That was worse. Ace stopped. “Reyes.” Reyes took another sip of coffee. “No.” Ace stared. Brenda looked between them. Panam noticed too. Nyx smiled. Mai’s expression became interested. Reyes stood. Walked past Ace. Her shoulder brushed Ace’s. Then she leaned down just enough to murmur near her ear: “Later.” Ace froze. Reyes kept walking. Toward the lake. Ace turned slowly. Watched her go. Brenda looked at Ace. Ace looked back. Brenda’s eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Mai came beside her. “You’re going to pounce her.” Ace turned. “No.” Mai looked at her. Ace held the gaze. Then glanced toward Reyes. “…eventually.” Brenda laughed. Iris’s mouth curved. Nyx shook her head. Ace smiled. Saturday still had plenty of room left. --- ## Chapter Fifteen — Reyes Is Being Helpful Reyes did not go to the lake. That would have been too obvious. Instead, she disappeared around the side of the cabin with the particular casualness of someone who knew Ace was watching and intended to make that fact useful. Ace stood on the terrace steps. Still. Mai stood beside her. Nyx leaned against the railing. Brenda and Iris were nearby, pretending they had not also noticed. Ace looked toward the corner Reyes had vanished around. Then at Mai. Mai looked back. Ace narrowed her eyes. “No.” Mai’s mouth curved. “I was quiet.” “You’re doing it with your face.” Nyx smiled. Ace pointed at her. “You too.” Brenda laughed. Ace turned. “You don’t get to join.” Brenda’s eyebrows rose. “I’m not joining anything.” Iris looked at her. Brenda paused. “Currently.” Ace stared. Brenda smiled. Iris’s mouth curved. Mai looked toward the corner again. Ace caught it. “See?” Mai folded her arms. “What exactly do you think is happening?” Ace looked toward the side yard. “Reyes is being a cunt.” Nyx nodded. “Probably.” Brenda said: “Almost certainly.” Iris added: “Deliberately.” Ace stared at all four. “Thank you. Finally, a competent threat assessment.” Mai’s eyebrow rose. Ace grinned. “Do not say diplomacy.” Mai smiled. “Wasn’t going to.” Ace looked offended. “Now I’m disappointed.” --- Reyes reappeared five minutes later. With Lena. Ace blinked. Then looked at Marco. Marco was inside, visible through the kitchen window, arguing with Panam about leftover storage. Lena walked beside Reyes carrying two towels. They were talking quietly. Reyes said something. Lena laughed. Ace’s eyes narrowed. Mai noticed. “Oh.” Ace looked toward her. “What?” Mai shook her head. “Nothing.” Ace stared. “You are all fucking addicted to that word.” Nyx looked toward Reyes and Lena. Then Ace. Her smile sharpened. Ace saw. “Don’t.” Nyx folded her arms. “You’re watching.” Ace looked toward Reyes. Reyes glanced over at exactly that moment. Caught Ace looking. Held it. Then looked back at Lena. Ace went very still. Brenda saw. “Oh, she’s good.” Ace turned. “Whose side are you on?” Brenda smiled. “Entertainment.” Iris touched Brenda’s waist. “Honest answer.” Brenda leaned into her. “Always.” Ace looked back toward Reyes. Lena had stopped near the sauna path. Reyes stood close. Not touching. That was almost worse. Ace knew Reyes. Knew the way she moved when she was actually interested. This was not a random performance. There was something real there. Good. Also deeply irritating. Ace folded her arms. Mai looked at her. “You okay?” Ace turned. The question took the heat out of the joke for half a second. She nodded. “Yeah.” Mai waited. Ace looked toward Reyes again. Then smiled. “Very.” Nyx’s expression softened. Brenda saw that too. Ace noticed. “Stop studying me.” Brenda grinned. “Can’t.” Iris said: “She’s interesting.” Ace looked at her. “Traitor.” Iris lifted one eyebrow. “You wanted honesty.” Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Then looked back at Reyes. “She’s still a cunt.” Mai nodded. “Obviously.” --- Reyes and Lena disappeared toward the sauna building. Not inside. Past it. Forest path. Ace watched until the trees swallowed them. Then: “Oh, fuck her.” Nyx laughed. Mai’s mouth curved. Brenda looked delighted. Iris leaned against her. Ace turned toward Mai. “Not like that.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace stared. “You know what I meant.” Mai remained calm. “Do I?” Ace pointed. “There. That’s exactly the shit.” Nyx laughed. Brenda covered her mouth. Ace looked toward the path again. Then sighed. “She’s doing this on purpose.” Mai nodded. “Yes.” Ace stopped. “So you admit it.” “Of course.” Ace stared. “Why the fuck didn’t you say that before?” Mai looked at her. “Because you were having fun.” Ace opened her mouth. Closed it. Brenda laughed softly. Ace looked offended. “I am not having fun.” Iris looked at her. “You’re smiling.” Ace stopped smiling immediately. Everyone laughed. Ace sighed. “Fuck all of you.” --- The afternoon moved. Reyes did not return. At first Ace pretended not to care. Then she pretended more aggressively. She helped Panam move chairs. She lost an argument with Kiro about whether the cabin coffee maker had a defective pressure regulator. She let Shammy braid a small section of her hair for reasons nobody understood. She sat in Mai’s lap for three minutes until Mai reminded her they were both trying to drink. She kissed Nyx in the hallway. She stole half of Brenda’s chocolate. She did not look toward the forest path. Much. Brenda noticed every single time. Eventually Ace caught her. “Say it.” Brenda smiled. “You’re horny.” Ace stared. Kiro choked on water. Panam looked over. Iris closed her eyes briefly. Nyx laughed. Mai looked toward Ace with interest. Ace pointed at Brenda. “That is an accusation.” Brenda shook her head. “Observation.” Ace looked toward the forest. Then back. “Maybe.” Brenda’s smile widened. Ace folded her arms. “What?” “You admitted it.” Ace looked offended. “I admit lots of things.” Iris looked toward her. “Eventually.” Ace grinned. “Good one.” Brenda leaned closer. “So?” Ace narrowed her eyes. “So what?” “You going after her?” Ace looked toward the path. Then at Mai. Mai’s expression was calm. Knowing. Ace sighed. “No.” Mai’s mouth curved. Brenda looked confused. Nyx smiled. Ace held up one finger. “Not yet.” Mai nodded. “Yes.” Ace looked at her. “Yes what?” “You’re going to pounce her.” Ace stared. “No.” Mai waited. Ace looked toward the trees. Then back. “…eventually.” Brenda laughed. Iris’s mouth curved. Nyx shook her head. Ace pointed at all three. “This is becoming harassment.” Brenda grinned. “Very affectionate harassment.” Ace sighed. “Worse.” --- Reyes returned forty minutes later. Alone. That stopped Ace immediately. She came down the path carrying both towels. Hair slightly damp at the temples. Expression calm. Too calm. Ace looked past her. No Lena. Then looked toward the cabin. Marco was still inside. Lena’s voice came from upstairs. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Interesting. Reyes saw Ace. Walked straight toward her. No hurry. Ace folded her arms. Reyes stopped close. “Hi.” Ace stared. “Hi.” Reyes held out one towel. Ace looked at it. Then at Reyes. “What?” Reyes shook her head. “Nothing.” Ace snatched the towel. “You’ve all gone insane.” Reyes smiled. Ace looked toward the path. “Where’s Lena?” “Inside.” “I heard.” Reyes nodded. Ace waited. Reyes waited too. Ace narrowed her eyes. “Did you fuck her?” Silence nearby. Not complete. Enough. Panam slowly turned from the table. Kiro looked up. Brenda’s face lit. Iris watched Ace. Mai watched Reyes. Nyx smiled. Reyes looked at Ace. “No.” Ace blinked. Then: “Did you want to?” Reyes considered. “Yes.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. “Did she?” “Yes.” Ace stared. Reyes smiled slightly. Ace looked around. “Then what the fuck happened?” Reyes leaned closer. “She decided she wanted Marco.” Ace stopped. Then laughed. Not mockery. Recognition. “Okay.” Reyes nodded. “Okay.” Ace looked toward the cabin. Lena. Marco. Then back at Reyes. “No problem?” Reyes shook her head. “None.” Ace smiled. “Good.” Reyes’s eyes warmed. “Very.” Brenda sighed. “Jesus, healthy adults are annoying.” Iris looked at her. “You are one.” Brenda grinned. “Debatable.” --- Ace watched Reyes for a moment. Then something else occurred to her. “You still did that on purpose.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “What?” Ace pointed toward the forest. “All of it.” Reyes folded her arms. “Lena wanted company.” “You were flirting.” “Yes.” Ace stared. Reyes waited. Ace’s eyes narrowed. “You knew I could see.” Reyes’s smile sharpened by half a degree. “Yes.” Ace stared harder. Panam whispered: “Oh, shit.” Kiro looked toward Rhea. Rhea smiled. Sol touched Kiro’s wrist. Brenda was openly delighted. Mai’s expression had become very calm. Nyx’s too. Ace looked at Reyes. “You absolute fucking bitch.” Reyes smiled. “Still here.” Ace stepped closer. Reyes did not move. Ace looked up. “How much of that was for me?” Reyes’s eyes stayed on hers. “Enough.” Ace inhaled. There it was. Not jealousy bait. Not cruelty. A nudge. A reminder. You can want me. You can show it. You can take back what you missed. Ace understood. That made it worse. Or better. Probably both. She put one finger against Reyes’s chest. “You are playing a dangerous fucking game.” Reyes looked down at the finger. Then back. “Are you going to arrest me?” Ace smiled slowly. “Diplomacy first.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Then came the hit. Dry. Perfectly timed. “Yeah. When you do diplomacy with the center part of your body.” Silence. Absolute. Ace froze. Mai closed her eyes. Nyx made a strangled sound. Brenda folded over Iris. Panam shouted: “FUCK.” Kiro dropped her head onto Rhea’s shoulder. Sol covered her mouth. Iris stared at Reyes with open admiration. Ace slowly lifted her hand away from Reyes’s chest. “You absolute fucking bitch.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Effective diplomacy.” Ace stared. Then started laughing. Hard. Helpless. She leaned forward and put her forehead against Reyes. Reyes laughed too. Her hands settled at Ace’s waist. Ace looked up again. “That was mine.” Reyes smiled. “No.” “I invented filthy diplomacy.” “Apparently not.” Ace grinned. “Fuck you.” Reyes leaned slightly closer. “Eventually?” Ace stopped. Again. Reyes was getting entirely too good at that. Ace narrowed her eyes. Then smiled. “Yeah.” Clear. No joke this time. “Eventually.” Reyes’s expression softened. Her hands stayed at Ace’s waist for another second. Then released. That was deliberate too. Ace felt the absence immediately. Reyes saw. Good. --- The rest of the group pretended to recover. Nobody actually did. Panam took a drink and looked toward Mai. “Did you teach her that?” Mai looked at Reyes. Then Ace. “No.” Nyx smiled. “Natural talent.” Brenda straightened. “I need lessons.” Iris looked at her. “No, you don’t.” Brenda turned. “Compliment?” Iris’s mouth curved. “Warning.” Brenda’s eyes warmed. “Oh.” Ace pointed. “There. That.” Kiro sighed. “You’re analyzing everyone again.” Ace turned. “Occupational hazard.” Kiro looked toward Mai. Then Rhea. Then Sol. Ace saw. Kiro immediately said: “No.” Ace held up both hands. “Didn’t say anything.” Kiro stared. Ace smiled. “Yet.” Kiro threw a cushion. Ace ducked. The cushion hit Reyes. Reyes caught it. Looked at Kiro. Kiro froze. Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace whispered: “Run.” Kiro immediately moved behind Rhea. Rhea laughed. Sol opened one arm. Kiro wedged herself between both. Reyes looked toward Ace. Ace grinned. “Diplomatic immunity.” Reyes threw the cushion at her. Ace caught it against her chest. “See? Violence.” Reyes smiled. “Conservative.” Ace stared. Then laughed. “Fuck you.” --- Later, when the terrace thinned, Ace found Mai alone near the kitchen door. Not truly alone. Nyx was inside. Reyes somewhere near the dock. Brenda and Iris upstairs. The others scattered. Enough privacy. Ace stepped close. Mai looked down at her. “You okay?” Ace nodded. “Yes.” Mai waited. Ace looked toward the lake. Then back. “She really is doing it on purpose.” Mai smiled. “Yes.” Ace folded her arms. “And you approve.” Mai touched Ace’s waist. “I approve of you being happy.” Ace looked at her. “That’s annoyingly reasonable.” Mai’s mouth curved. Ace’s expression softened. Then: “You think I should go after her.” Mai shook her head. “No.” Ace blinked. “No?” “I think you should do what you want.” Ace stared. “That is less useful.” Mai laughed softly. Ace leaned in. Forehead against Mai. “What if I want her?” Mai’s hands settled at Ace’s back. “You do.” Ace sighed. “Rude.” Mai kissed her temple. “You asked.” Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Mai waited. Ace looked toward the lake again. “I missed her.” “I know.” “I hate that she knows exactly how to get under my skin.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace saw. “Do not make that dirty.” Mai smiled. Ace groaned. “Fuck.” Mai kissed her. Slow. Ace relaxed into it. When they separated, Mai touched her cheek. “Go when you want.” Ace looked at her. “No rush?” “No.” “No expectation?” “No.” Ace smiled. “Good.” Then she looked toward the dock. Reyes stood there. Alone. Not watching them. Or pretending not to. Ace’s mouth curved. Mai saw. “You’re going.” Ace turned. “No.” Mai waited. Ace looked back toward Reyes. “…eventually.” Mai laughed. Ace kissed her once more. Then stayed. For another ten minutes. Purely out of principle. --- Reyes left the dock first. That annoyed Ace enough to make the decision for her. She watched Reyes head toward the cabin. Ace stood. Nyx looked over from the table. Mai saw. Brenda saw from the doorway. Iris behind her. Ace pointed at all of them. “Not a fucking word.” Brenda smiled. Iris raised one eyebrow. Mai said nothing. Nyx did too. Ace stared. “That is somehow worse.” Reyes reached the terrace. Saw Ace standing. Stopped. Ace looked up. Reyes looked down. Neither spoke. Then Reyes’s mouth curved. Ace pointed. “No.” Reyes said: “I kept quiet.” Ace closed her eyes. “Fucking disease.” Reyes laughed. Ace opened them. Looked at her. Really looked. The easy strength. The calm. The mouth that had been using exactly the right amount of provocation all afternoon. The person she had spent weeks publicly acting distant from because the operation demanded it. The person who had given her space anyway. Ace’s smile faded into something warmer. Reyes saw. The teasing thinned. Ace stepped closer. “Come with me.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. “Where?” Ace looked toward the hallway. Then back. “Somewhere with a door.” Silence behind them. Brenda made a noise. Ace turned. Brenda immediately covered her mouth. Iris looked toward her. Ace pointed. “You.” Brenda nodded. “Silent.” Ace looked back at Reyes. Reyes’s expression had changed. Interested. Warm. No triumph. That mattered. “Sure?” Ace nodded. “Yes.” Reyes smiled. “Then lead.” Ace took her hand. Started toward the door. Mai called after her: “Eventually?” Ace stopped. Slowly turned. Mai’s face was completely calm. Nyx was laughing. Brenda had folded into Iris. Panam, somewhere farther back, shouted: “OH, FUCK.” Ace stared at Mai. Then grinned. “Shut up.” Mai smiled. Ace looked at Reyes. Reyes looked back. Ace squeezed her hand. “Come on.” Reyes went. No hesitation. And this time Ace was the one pulling her away. --- ## Chapter Sixteen — Caught You Ace did not choose the nearest room. Reyes noticed that. The nearest room would have worked. So would the guest room upstairs. So would the cabin’s smaller side room nobody had claimed. Ace kept walking. Past the kitchen. Past the stairs. Down the short hall toward the room Reyes had taken on arrival. Reyes followed without comment. That mattered. Ace knew exactly where she was going. Not just somewhere with a door. Reyes’s room. Her space. The room where Ace had hidden bourbon in the duffel and left the note. The room where Reyes had touched her cheek before anything else in the weekend had fully settled. Ace reached the door. Stopped. Looked back. Reyes stood close behind her. Neither woman smiled. Not because anything was wrong. Because the teasing had done its job. They did not need it now. Ace opened the door. Reyes stepped in. Ace followed. Closed it. The latch clicked. That sound changed the room. Not dramatically. Enough. Reyes’s duffel sat open beside the dresser. The bourbon bottle remained where she had placed it. The bed was made badly. Reyes-style badly: blanket pulled straight enough to count, pillows left wherever they had landed. Ace looked around. Then at Reyes. Reyes waited. No reaching. No assumption. Ace’s expression softened. “You really waited.” Reyes leaned back against the dresser. “For what?” Ace looked at her. “Me.” Reyes held the gaze. “Yes.” No joke. Ace swallowed. Then looked toward the floor. That was rare enough that Reyes did not interrupt. Ace rubbed one thumb over the side of her hand. The weeks before the cabin seemed farther away now. Not gone. The staged fracture. The public anger. The ugly confrontation later. The forced distance. The moments where Ace had needed Reyes close and the operation had required exactly the opposite. Reyes had understood. That did not mean it had not hurt. Ace looked up. “I hated that fight.” Reyes’s expression changed. “I know.” “No.” Ace stepped closer. “I really fucking hated it.” Reyes nodded. “So did I.” Ace stopped. “What part?” Reyes looked at her. “The part where you looked at me like I was someone you needed to beat.” Ace went still. There it was. Not accusation. Truth. Ace closed the distance another step. “I didn’t.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose slightly. Ace shook her head. “I mean, I did. I had to.” “I know.” “But I didn’t.” Reyes understood. Ace looked frustrated with language. “I was angry because I needed to be angry. And then I got actually angry because you were too fucking good at giving it back.” Reyes’s mouth curved faintly. “That sounds like you.” Ace pointed. “Do not make this funny.” The smile disappeared. “Okay.” Ace breathed. Good. Then: “And afterward I wanted to fucking hit you and hug you and drag you somewhere private and make sure you knew I didn’t mean half of what I said.” Reyes looked at her. “You did mean some.” Ace paused. “Yes.” “Good.” Ace stared. Reyes continued: “I would have been more worried if you hadn’t.” Ace exhaled. Some tension left. Not all. Reyes pushed away from the dresser. Still did not touch her. “Come here.” Ace went. Immediately. No hesitation. Reyes opened her arms. Ace stepped into them. That was all. For a long time. No kiss. No sexual escalation. Just Ace folded against Reyes. Reyes’s arms around her. Ace’s face against the center of her chest. Reyes’s chin resting lightly over Ace’s hair. Ace held her hard. Reyes held back just as hard. The hug did not feel like the ones on the terrace. Those had been reconnection. This was repair. Not repairing trust. That had survived. Repairing bruised closeness. The places where they had forced themselves apart long enough that the body had started believing distance might be real. Ace’s fingers tightened in the back of Reyes’s shirt. Reyes felt. Her hand moved slowly over Ace’s back. Once. Again. Ace whispered: “Fucking missed you.” Reyes’s breath moved through her. “I missed you too.” Ace held tighter. “Say it again.” Reyes did not tease. “I missed you.” Ace closed her eyes. Something inside her settled. Not fixed. Settled. Reyes kissed the top of her head. Ace stayed where she was. Several breaths. Then more. Reyes did not move first. Ace did. She leaned back enough to look up. Reyes looked down. Ace’s eyes were bright. Not crying. Close enough to matter. Reyes touched her cheek. Ace covered the hand with hers. Then turned and kissed the palm. Reyes’s expression softened. Ace saw. “Don’t.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. “Actually, no. Do.” Reyes laughed softly. There. Enough warmth to breathe again. Ace stepped closer. Reyes’s hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck. Ace looked at her mouth. Then eyes. “Can I kiss you?” Reyes smiled. “Yeah.” Ace did. Slow. That was the first surprise. Not hungry. Not trying to prove anything. Just the long, careful return of something familiar. Reyes bent slightly. Ace came up on her toes. Hands settled at Reyes’s sides. Reyes’s hands stayed gentle. The kiss lasted. Separated. Returned. No rush. Ace’s mouth softened. The anger that had once lived between them felt impossible from here. Not forgotten. Just not in charge. When they parted, Ace kept her forehead against Reyes. “Again.” Reyes kissed her. Ace smiled into it. That changed the kiss. Made it warmer. More open. Still slow. Reyes’s thumb moved at the base of Ace’s neck. Ace leaned closer. Their bodies met fully. Ace breathed out. “Yeah.” Reyes heard. Held her. No hurry. --- The first layer came off almost accidentally. Ace tugged at Reyes’s overshirt. Not removing it. Just opening the space between them. Reyes looked down. Then at Ace. Ace smiled. “Hot.” Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace rolled her eyes. “Temperature.” Reyes’s mouth curved. Ace narrowed hers. “And you.” Reyes laughed. Ace smiled. There it was. Still them. Reyes slipped the overshirt off. Ace took it. Dropped it over the chair. Reyes looked toward the chair. Ace followed. “What?” “You missed.” “It landed.” “Barely.” Ace stepped close again. “You want me organized or naked?” Reyes froze. Ace’s eyes lit. “Got you.” Reyes laughed. “Cheap shot.” Ace touched the hem of Reyes’s shirt. “Still effective.” Reyes’s expression softened. “Yeah.” Ace looked up. “Okay?” “Yes.” Clear. Ace lifted the shirt. Reyes helped. Fabric off. Skin beneath. Ace’s hands found Reyes’s waist immediately. Not because she had been waiting only for that. Because touching skin made the reunion suddenly real in a different way. Warm. Known. Reyes looked down at Ace’s hands. Then at her. Ace’s expression changed. Less playful. She leaned in. Pressed a kiss against Reyes’s chest. Then another higher. Reyes’s hand moved into Ace’s hair. Ace closed her eyes. Stayed there. No audience. No one watching. No need to be anything except close. That was the contrast. And Ace needed it. Reyes felt that. She did not turn the moment hotter too quickly. Just touched her. Let Ace take the pace. Ace eventually looked up. “Your turn.” Reyes smiled. “That an order?” Ace shook her head. “Request.” Reyes touched the hem of Ace’s shirt. Waited. Ace nodded. “Yes.” Reyes lifted it slowly. Ace raised her arms. The shirt came off. Reyes looked at her. Ace watched the look. Not shy. Still affected by it. “Like what you see?” Reyes answered immediately. “Yes.” Ace smiled. “Good.” Then stepped back into her arms. Skin to skin. The first contact made both women exhale. Ace wrapped her arms around Reyes. Reyes did the same. Not erotic at first. Bare skin simply made the hug feel more honest. No fabric. No armor. Ace rested her cheek against Reyes. Reyes’s hand moved slowly along her back. Ace whispered: “This.” Reyes understood. “Yeah.” “This is what I wanted after the fight.” Reyes held her tighter. “I know.” Ace leaned back. “You keep saying that.” Reyes looked down. “Because I did.” Ace studied her. Then smiled. “Annoying.” “Usually.” Ace laughed. Then kissed her. --- The rest of the clothing disappeared gradually. Not as a striptease. Not as a race. Each piece moved only when the body underneath wanted more contact. Ace’s shorts first. Reyes’s after. Underwear later. Clear pauses. Nods. Touches that checked without breaking the rhythm. Ace did not need verbal confirmation every second. But neither woman assumed. That balance was theirs. Eventually the room held skin, scattered clothes, quiet breathing, and the familiar sense that the bed was inevitable. When their intimacy crossed into sex, the beginning was just as clear as the choices that had preceded it—Reyes held Ace’s gaze, Ace moved closer of her own accord, and both settled into the new rhythm together. Ace looked toward it. Then back at Reyes. “Still want me?” Reyes stared. The question was unnecessary. That made it important. “Yes.” Ace nodded. “Good.” Reyes touched her face. “You?” Ace smiled. “Very fucking much.” There. No ambiguity. Reyes kissed her. Then guided her toward the bed. Not controlling. Helping. Ace went willingly. --- The bed dipped under them. Ace lay on her side at first. Reyes facing her. No one moved beyond that for several breaths. They looked. Just looked. Ace touched Reyes’s cheek. Reyes touched Ace’s waist. Ace smiled. “This is weird.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. “Bad weird?” “No.” Ace thought. “Too much history in one room.” Reyes looked around. “Small room.” Ace laughed. “Fuck you.” Reyes smiled. The tension eased again. Ace moved closer. Reyes’s arm came around her. They kissed lying down. Slower than before. No standing balance to maintain. No need to reach. Ace’s leg moved over Reyes’s. Reyes’s hand rested against her thigh. Ace shivered. Reyes stopped. Ace looked at her. “Don’t stop.” Reyes’s eyes warmed. “Sure?” “Yes.” Reyes continued. Ace exhaled. The touch stayed unhurried. So did everything that followed. Ace had spent too long operating at speed. Fighting. Running. Choosing fast. Responding before feeling. Here, nothing demanded that. Reyes’s touch moved. Ace’s breathing changed. Ace returned the attention. Reyes’s eyes closed briefly. Ace saw. Smiled. “Caught you.” Reyes opened them. Ace’s grin softened. “Still works.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “You’re surprised?” “No.” Ace kissed her. “Happy.” That landed. Reyes held her. --- The pace deepened by degrees. Not because either woman forced it. Because bodies remembered. Ace knew how Reyes breathed when she wanted more. Reyes knew the small change in Ace’s shoulders when she needed slower. They adjusted before language sometimes. Then checked anyway. “Good?” “Yes.” “More?” “Yes.” “Slow?” “Little.” “Okay.” Nothing dramatic. Nothing coy. That directness made the rest easier. Ace’s pleasure built in waves rather than all at once. Reyes stayed with her. Ace stayed with Reyes. Neither disappearing into a private experience while the other became scenery. The closeness mattered as much as the sensation. At one point Ace opened her eyes and found Reyes watching her. Not broadly smiling. Just looking. Ace’s breath caught for a completely different reason. “What?” Reyes touched her cheek. “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. Reyes smiled. Ace sighed. “You’ve all ruined that word.” Reyes laughed. Ace did too. The rhythm broke. Not badly. They both ended up laughing close together, foreheads touching. Ace kissed her again. The tenderness afterward hit harder because of the laughter. Reyes’s hand stayed at the back of her neck. Ace’s fingers moved slowly over Reyes’s shoulder. For several minutes they forgot the room existed beyond the bed. --- Reyes reached the first deep peak. Ace saw it coming. Not because Reyes announced it. Because she stopped talking. Because her control became breath. Because her hand tightened around Ace’s. Ace stayed close. No teasing. Not now. Reyes’s eyes closed. Ace kissed her. Held. Reyes’s body tightened. Then slowly softened. A long exhale. Ace stayed there. Forehead against hers. Hand still linked. Reyes opened her eyes. Ace smiled. “Hi.” Reyes laughed softly. “Hi.” “Good?” Reyes nodded. “Very.” Ace’s expression warmed. “Good.” Then Reyes touched Ace’s cheek. “Your turn.” Ace immediately: “No.” Reyes blinked. Ace grinned. “Not like that.” Reyes laughed. Ace kissed her. “Stay with me.” Reyes’s expression softened. “Always.” Ace stopped. That word. Too big in any other room. Right in this one. Ace looked at her. Reyes saw. Did not retreat. Ace whispered: “Good.” Then they continued. --- Ace took longer. That was okay. Reyes did not push. Ace’s breathing deepened. Her body gradually lost the remaining tension. The same surrender Mai had talked about at lunch. But this was different. Private. Not watched. No one seeing except Reyes. Ace let herself be soft without turning it into a statement. Reyes held her. Ace’s hands tightened. Her eyes closed. Then opened again. Reyes was there. That mattered. The release built slowly enough that Ace could feel every part of herself trying to stay controlled. Then choosing not to. She looked at Reyes. “Don’t let go.” Reyes answered immediately. “I won’t.” Ace believed her. That was enough. The final crest went through Ace deeply. Not flashy. Not loud. Her body tightened. Breath broke. Hands closed around Reyes. Then she softened against her, trembling. Reyes held her through all of it. No moving away. No joke. No congratulations. Just stay. Ace buried her face against Reyes’s neck. Reyes’s hand moved through her hair. Slow. Ace breathed. Again. Again. Eventually: “Fuck.” Reyes smiled. “Good?” Ace laughed weakly. “Very.” Reyes kissed her forehead. Ace’s arm tightened around her. They stayed like that. Long enough that the room cooled slightly around them. --- Afterward, Ace lay almost entirely on top of Reyes. Not because there was no space. Because she wanted to. Reyes did not complain. Her hands moved lazily along Ace’s back. Ace listened to her heartbeat. Then: “You know what I hated most?” Reyes looked down. “What?” Ace kept her face against Reyes’s chest. “Not touching you.” Reyes’s hand stopped briefly. Then continued. Ace swallowed. “That whole fucking operation. I could deal with the lies. The fights. Rogue being Rogue. People watching.” Reyes smiled faintly. “Barely.” Ace lifted her head. “Fine. Badly.” Reyes laughed. Ace continued: “But seeing you and having to act like I didn’t want to fucking climb into your lap?” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Reyes touched her cheek. “I noticed.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “Of course you did.” “Yes.” Ace looked toward the ceiling. “Annoying.” “Still.” Ace rested her head again. Then quieter: “I hated making you think I was choosing distance.” Reyes’s hand slowed. “You didn’t.” Ace looked up. Reyes held her gaze. “You chose the job.” Ace said nothing. Reyes continued: “So did I.” Ace’s expression softened. “No damage?” Reyes thought. “Some.” Ace swallowed. There. Truth. Reyes touched her face. “Not the kind that scares me.” Ace nodded slowly. “What kind?” Reyes looked toward the ceiling. “The kind you fix by being honest afterward.” Ace smiled. “Like this?” Reyes looked down. “Exactly like this.” Ace kissed her. Soft. Long. No heat needed now. Just affection. When they separated, Ace stayed close. “Then I’m very fucking committed to repair work.” Reyes laughed. “That sounds like your diplomacy.” Ace stared. Then grinned. “You’ve been waiting to use that.” “Yes.” Ace laughed against her. “Cunt.” Reyes held her tighter. “Yours.” Ace went still. Not possessive. Not exclusive. Just relational. Ace looked up. Reyes’s expression was calm. Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Then: “And Mai’s.” Reyes laughed. “Obviously.” “And Shammy’s.” “Yes.” “And apparently half the fucking cabin depending on the day.” Reyes laughed harder. Ace smiled. “But this part?” Reyes looked at her. Ace’s expression softened. “This is ours.” Reyes nodded. “Yes.” Nothing about it asked for ownership. It was simply true. Ace rested her head down again. Good. --- They talked after. Not continuously. Fragments. The camp. The lake. The horrible public fight. Reyes admitted she had enjoyed provoking Ace earlier in the afternoon. Ace admitted she knew after approximately twenty seconds. Reyes did not believe that. Ace called her a bitch. Reyes accepted. Ace asked whether Reyes had genuinely wanted Lena. Reyes said yes. Ace smiled. Then asked: “Would you have?” Reyes thought. “If she wanted me more than she wanted to go back to Marco.” Ace nodded. “Fair.” Then: “Would you tell me?” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. “Before?” Ace shook her head. “No. After.” “Yes.” Ace smiled. “Good.” Reyes looked at her. “You?” Ace stared. “What?” “Would you tell me?” Ace’s mouth curved. “If you asked.” Reyes nodded. “Good.” No compulsory reporting. No ledger. But honesty available when wanted. That worked. --- Eventually Reyes looked toward the window. The light had changed. Ace noticed. “How long?” Reyes guessed. “Hour and a half.” Ace’s eyes widened. “Fuck.” Reyes smiled. “What?” Ace looked at the floor. Clothes everywhere. Then back. “I told them somewhere with a door. That implies quick.” Reyes laughed. Ace sat up slightly. “No, seriously. Brenda is going to be unbearable.” Reyes looked at her. “She already is.” Ace considered. “Fair.” She started to move. Reyes caught her waist. Ace stopped. Looked down. Reyes’s expression had softened again. “No rush.” Ace looked toward the door. Then back. The reflex to move quickly was obvious. So was the choice not to. Ace smiled. “Okay.” She lay back down. Reyes’s arm closed around her. Ace tucked herself against Reyes. Five more minutes. Then ten. No one died. --- They finally dressed. Slowly. Ace found one sock under the bed. No idea how. Reyes watched her crawl halfway underneath. Ace backed out. Held it up. “Caught you.” Reyes looked at the sock. “That’s yours.” Ace stared. Then looked at her other foot. Same pair. “Fuck.” Reyes laughed. Ace threw the sock at her. Reyes caught it. Ace narrowed her eyes. “Show-off.” Reyes tossed it back. Ace dressed. Reyes did too. When Ace pulled the shirt over her head, Reyes watched. Ace saw. “Still?” Reyes nodded. “Yes.” Ace smiled. “Good.” Reyes stepped closer. Straightened the hem. Ace looked down at the hands. Then up. Something tender in the domesticity of it almost hurt more than anything else. Ace touched Reyes’s wrist. “Hey.” Reyes looked at her. Ace leaned in. Kissed her. Not long. Enough. “Thank you.” Reyes raised one eyebrow. “For what?” Ace thought. Then smiled. “For waiting.” Reyes touched her cheek. “You came.” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Eventually.” Ace stared. Then laughed. “Fuck you.” Reyes opened the door. “Later.” Ace stopped dead. Reyes walked into the hall. Ace stared after her. Then: “You are enjoying that way too fucking much.” Reyes looked over one shoulder. “Yes.” Ace grinned. Good. --- They reached the kitchen together. That was their first mistake. Their second was assuming nobody had noticed how long they had been gone. Brenda sat at the table. Iris beside her. Panam across. Shammy against Panam. Kiro between Rhea and Sol. Marco and Lena near the counter. Nyx on the windowsill. Mai with coffee. Everyone looked up. Ace stopped. Reyes stopped behind her. Silence. Ace looked around. “No.” Brenda’s smile became enormous. Ace pointed. “No.” Panam looked at Reyes. Then Ace. Then the clock. Ace pointed at her too. “Do not.” Kiro looked down immediately. Ace narrowed her eyes. “You are calculating.” Kiro looked up. “No.” “You absolutely are.” Rhea covered her mouth. Sol laughed. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai’s expression was warm. Ace softened immediately. There. Home base. Mai looked toward Reyes. Reyes gave the smallest nod. Mai nodded back. Ace saw. Liked it. Brenda watched the whole exchange. Of course. Then: “Well?” Ace turned. Brenda smiled. Ace looked at Iris. “Control your fiancée.” Iris took a drink. “No.” Brenda looked delighted. Ace sighed. Brenda asked: “Good?” Ace stared. Then smiled. “Really fucking good.” Reyes’s hand rested at Ace’s back. Brenda’s expression softened. Not teasing now. “Good.” Iris nodded. Mai smiled. Nyx too. Nobody asked for details. For approximately three seconds. Then Panam looked at Reyes. “Did she shut up?” Ace’s head snapped around. Reyes considered. Ace stared. “Do not answer that.” Reyes looked down. Ace’s eyes narrowed. Reyes’s mouth curved. “Eventually.” The room exploded. Ace covered her face. Brenda screamed. Kiro folded into Rhea. Sol laughed. Panam slapped the table. Even Marco lost it. Mai put down her coffee because her hands were shaking. Ace looked through her fingers. “You fucking people.” Reyes’s arm came around her. Ace leaned into it despite everything. Mai stood. Came close. Touched Ace’s cheek. Ace looked up. Mai smiled. “You look good.” Ace’s expression softened. “Yeah?” “Very.” Ace leaned into her. Reyes stayed close. Nyx came over too. No crowding. Just connection. Ace looked around at them. Then laughed. “Okay.” Mai touched her shoulder. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Everyone stared. Ace immediately corrected: “Fuck. Fine.” She smiled. “I missed this.” The room quieted. Reyes’s hand tightened at her back. Mai’s fingers linked with hers. Nyx touched her arm. Across the table, Brenda leaned into Iris. Panam pulled Shammy closer. Kiro settled between Rhea and Sol. Marco’s hand found Lena’s. Nobody made it a speech. Good. Ace looked around. Then: “Now who the fuck stole my other sock?” The room broke again. And that was better. --- ## Chapter Seventeen — Extremely Normal Morning Sunday morning began with Brenda laughing so hard she nearly fell out of bed. Iris opened one eye. Brenda had both hands over her mouth. That made it worse. Iris stared at her. Brenda shook beside her under the blanket. “What?” Brenda tried to answer. Failed. Iris waited. Brenda finally dragged in enough air. “You.” Iris’s eyebrows rose. “Me.” Brenda nodded. Another laugh escaped. Iris looked down at herself. Nothing obviously wrong. Then at Brenda. “What did I do?” Brenda looked at her. That restarted everything. Iris sighed. “Brenda.” “I’m trying.” “You’re not.” “I am.” “You’re looking at me and laughing.” Brenda wiped at one eye. “That’s because I remembered yesterday.” Iris stared. Brenda bit her lip. Iris’s expression shifted by a fraction. “Which part?” Brenda immediately lost control again. Iris closed her eyes. “Oh.” Brenda rolled closer. “Don’t ‘oh’ me.” Iris opened them. “You’re the one laughing.” “Because you spent half the day saying filthy shit like it was fucking weather information.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Did I?” Brenda stared. “You know you did.” Iris looked entirely too calm. Brenda pointed. “That. That exact fucking face.” Iris reached out. Caught Brenda’s wrist. Pulled her closer. Brenda came willingly. Still smiling. Iris kissed her. Slow. Enough to quiet her. When they separated, Brenda’s eyes stayed warm. Iris looked at her. “Better?” Brenda smiled. “No.” Iris raised one eyebrow. Brenda leaned closer. “Do it again.” Iris did. --- Across the hall, Ace woke with one sock on. This was not how she had gone to sleep. She was almost sure. Almost. Ace lay very still and looked down beneath the blanket. Left foot: sock. Right foot: bare. She frowned. Mai slept beside her. Nyx on Mai’s other side, one arm thrown loosely across Mai’s waist. The room was quiet. Ace looked at the floor. One shirt. Two pairs of shorts. One boot near the dresser. A second boot under the chair. No sock. She narrowed her eyes. This was now personal. Ace slowly pulled one leg free. Mai’s hand immediately closed around her thigh. Ace froze. Mai did not open her eyes. “No.” Ace looked down at the hand. “I need something.” “No.” “You don’t even know what.” “Yes.” Ace stared. Nyx’s voice came sleepily from the other side. “Coffee?” Ace looked toward her. “No.” Nyx opened one eye. “That’s concerning.” Ace pointed at her bare foot. “Sock.” Nyx looked. Then at the socked foot. Then Ace. Her smile began. Ace narrowed her eyes. “Don’t.” Mai opened her eyes. Looked down. Then back at Ace. “You lost one.” “I did not lose it.” Nyx’s smile widened. Ace folded her arms. “It was stolen.” Mai looked toward the floor. “By whom?” Ace stared. “That is what I intend to find out.” Nyx closed her eye again. “Very serious.” “It is.” Mai’s hand remained at Ace’s thigh. Ace looked at it. Then Mai. “Release me.” Mai’s mouth curved. “No.” Ace sighed. “This room is corrupt.” Nyx’s hand reached across Mai and found Ace’s waist. Ace froze. Then looked toward her. Nyx opened one eye again. “What?” “You’re helping.” “Yes.” Ace looked between both women. Then down at herself. One sock. Two women holding her in bed. She considered her options. “Fine.” Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace leaned back down. “But I’m finding the sock later.” Nyx laughed softly. Mai kissed Ace’s shoulder. Ace smiled. “Good morning.” Mai murmured: “Good morning.” Nyx added: “Good morning, detective.” Ace turned. “You’re first suspect.” Nyx smiled. “Worth it.” Ace’s eyes narrowed. Then warmed. “Definitely suspect.” --- Downstairs, Marco had already made coffee. Of course he had. Sunday did not stop Marco from being Marco. It merely slowed him down enough that he was drinking from his own mug while the second pot brewed instead of trying to solve breakfast before anyone else woke. Lena entered barefoot. Hair loose. Wearing one of Marco’s shirts. Marco looked over. Stopped. Lena saw. “What?” Marco looked at the shirt. Then at her. “My shirt.” Lena looked down. “Yes.” “You have clothes.” “Yes.” Marco stared. Lena walked closer. “Problem?” Marco’s mouth curved. “No.” Lena took his mug. Drank from it. Marco watched. “That was mine too.” Lena handed it back. “You have more coffee.” Marco looked toward the pot. Then at her. “You’re very entitled this morning.” Lena smiled. “Yes.” Marco put the mug down. Caught her waist. Lena’s eyebrows rose. Marco pulled her closer. “Good.” Lena smiled. Then kissed him. --- Panam arrived next. Shammy behind her. Panam looked at Marco. Then Lena in Marco’s shirt. Then Marco’s hand still at Lena’s waist. Panam stopped. Her grin began. Marco saw. “No.” Panam held up both hands. “I didn’t say shit.” Marco narrowed his eyes. “You were going to.” “Probably.” Shammy looked at Lena. “Nice shirt.” Lena smiled. “Thank you.” Panam looked at Shammy. Then down. Shammy was, naturally, wearing one of Panam’s. Panam sighed. “Okay.” Marco saw. His mouth curved. Panam pointed. “You don’t get to judge me.” “I’m not.” “You’re thinking it.” Marco lifted his mug. “Apparently shirt theft is contagious.” Shammy looked down at herself. Then toward Lena. “Maybe.” Panam stared. Shammy smiled. Panam shook her head. “Fine.” She wrapped one arm around Shammy’s waist. “Keep it.” Shammy leaned into her. “Planning to.” Marco looked at Lena. Lena looked back. Neither said anything. Panam noticed. “Oh, fuck off.” Marco smiled. “Didn’t say anything.” Panam stared. Then laughed. “Okay, that’s annoying.” --- Kiro entered carrying three mugs. Rhea followed. Sol last. Ace had been wrong about one thing yesterday. Kiro was not incapable of functioning after a good night. She simply functioned with fewer filters. Rhea took one mug. Sol took another. Kiro kept the third. Panam looked at her. “Sleep?” Kiro nodded. “Yes.” Rhea looked toward her. “Eventually.” Kiro stopped. Sol laughed. Kiro turned. “Really?” Rhea smiled. “What?” “You’re doing this before coffee?” Panam barked a laugh. Marco looked toward the ceiling. Shammy smiled. Kiro pointed at Rhea. “You are becoming a bad influence.” Rhea leaned closer. “On you?” Kiro hesitated. Sol said: “Clearly.” Kiro looked at both. Then smiled despite herself. “Fuck.” Panam lifted her mug. “Strong opening.” Kiro sat. Rhea on one side. Sol on the other. No one discussed it. Good. --- Reyes arrived alone. That should not have been noteworthy. It was. Panam looked over. Kiro looked over. Marco looked over. Lena definitely looked over. Reyes stopped. “What?” Panam smiled. “Nothing.” Reyes looked at her. “That word is getting abused.” Kiro nodded immediately. “Thank you.” Panam looked toward Kiro. “You don’t get to complain. You use it too.” Kiro took a drink. “I use it technically.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “That’s not how words work.” Kiro frowned. Then Ace’s voice came from the stairs. “WHO THE FUCK STOLE MY SOCK?” Every head turned. Ace appeared halfway down. One sock on. One bare foot. Hair wrong. Shirt half tucked. Expression murderous. Mai came behind her. Nyx behind Mai. Both women looked much too amused. Reyes stared. Then slowly smiled. Ace saw. “No.” Reyes looked down at the missing sock. Then back. Ace pointed. “Do not.” Panam folded over the counter laughing. Kiro almost spilled coffee. Brenda and Iris emerged from the hall at exactly the right moment. Brenda looked at Ace. Then the feet. Then started laughing immediately. Ace stared. “Fuck you.” Brenda put one hand over her mouth. “No, wait, I can help.” “No, you can’t.” Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris inspected Ace’s feet. Then: “Did you check Reyes’s room?” Silence. Ace froze. Reyes closed her eyes. Mai turned away. Nyx covered her mouth. Panam slapped the counter. Kiro made a high sound. Brenda doubled over. Ace stared at Iris. “You.” Iris calmly poured coffee. Ace pointed. “You woke up choosing violence.” Iris looked toward her. “Did you?” Ace’s mouth opened. Nothing. Reyes laughed quietly. Ace turned. “Do not encourage her.” Reyes looked at Ace’s bare foot. “Hard not to.” Ace sighed. “Fuck all of you.” Brenda finally managed: “Seriously, did you?” Ace looked at her. “No.” Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace turned. “I mean this morning.” The kitchen exploded. Ace closed her eyes. “Fuck.” Kiro dropped her forehead onto the table. Rhea laughed. Sol covered her mouth. Panam shouted: “YOU WALKED INTO THAT ONE.” Ace opened her eyes. Looked toward Mai. Mai was laughing. Actually laughing. Ace stared. “Traitor.” Mai came close. Kissed Ace’s temple. “Very.” Ace’s expression softened despite herself. Nyx looked down at the missing sock. Then toward Reyes. Reyes saw. Nyx smiled. Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace caught that. “Oh, no.” Nyx looked innocent. Ace pointed. “You know something.” Nyx shook her head. “Nothing.” Ace stared. Everyone groaned. Nyx laughed. --- Breakfast began without anyone solving the sock crime. Ace considered this unacceptable. Everyone else considered it hilarious. She sat between Mai and Reyes. Nyx across. Brenda and Iris near the end. Panam and Shammy together. Kiro bracketed by Rhea and Sol. Marco and Lena opposite them. Same table. Different day. Ace looked under the table twice. Reyes noticed the second time. “You checking my feet?” Ace came up. “No.” Reyes smiled. Ace narrowed her eyes. “Unless you’re hiding a sock.” “I’m not.” Ace looked at Reyes’s feet. Both socks present. “Suspicious.” Reyes took a drink. “Very.” Ace looked at Mai. Mai’s expression was calm. Ace looked at Nyx. Nyx smiled. Ace pointed. “You did it.” Nyx shook her head. “I didn’t.” “You look guilty.” “I look happy.” Ace stared. “Same face.” Mai laughed softly. Ace turned. “And you’re covering for her.” Mai took a bite of toast. Ace waited. Mai finally said: “Maybe.” Ace’s eyes widened. “Conspiracy.” Brenda looked over. “Again?” Ace pointed. “Exactly.” Iris took coffee. Brenda leaned toward her. “You seem pleased.” Iris looked at Ace. “Yes.” Ace stared. “This whole fucking cabin is compromised.” Panam lifted one eyebrow. “By a sock?” Ace looked at her. “Today it’s a sock. Tomorrow civilization.” Marco nodded thoughtfully. Ace froze. Then looked at him. “Thank you.” Marco looked back. “I was joking.” Ace sighed. “Coward.” --- Food arrived. Marco had kept it deliberately simple. Eggs. Bread. Fruit. Leftover steak. Coffee. Nobody complained. Ace immediately stole a piece of steak from Mai’s plate. Mai looked down. Then Ace. Ace chewed. “What?” “You have your own.” Ace looked at her plate. Then Mai’s. “Yours looked better.” Reyes laughed quietly. Ace turned. “What?” Reyes shook her head. Ace stared. “Say it.” Reyes leaned closer. “You say that about people too.” Silence. Ace stopped chewing. Brenda’s eyes widened. Panam put down her fork. Kiro looked toward Reyes with respect. Mai closed her eyes. Nyx smiled. Ace swallowed. Slowly. Then looked at Reyes. “Breakfast diplomacy?” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Center part of the body unavailable due to missing sock.” The table detonated. Ace froze. Brenda screamed. Panam folded against Shammy. Kiro covered her face. Rhea laughed into Sol’s shoulder. Marco nearly dropped his coffee. Lena put both hands on the table. Iris looked at Reyes like she had just delivered a masterclass. Mai actually leaned away from Ace because she was laughing too hard. Ace stared. Then: “You were fucking waiting for that.” Reyes nodded. “Yes.” Ace pointed. “You’re evil.” Reyes looked down at her. Ace saw the smile. Then started laughing too. “Fuck.” Reyes put one arm around her. Ace leaned in. Still laughing. “That was good.” “I know.” Ace looked up. “Smug cunt.” “Also know.” Ace kissed her cheek. “Fine.” --- Brenda looked toward Iris. Then Ace. Then Reyes. Then Mai. Something in her expression became increasingly dangerous. Iris noticed. “No.” Brenda turned. “I was being good.” Iris waited. Brenda smiled. Ace saw. “Oh, let her.” Iris looked toward Ace. Ace leaned back. “Sunday. I’m curious.” Brenda pointed. “Exactly.” Iris sighed. Brenda looked around the table. “So.” Kiro immediately: “No census.” Brenda looked offended. “I was not going to do a census.” Ace smiled. “What were you going to do?” Brenda looked at Reyes. Then Ace. “Ask whether reunion sex is always better after a fight.” Silence. Ace slowly turned toward her. Reyes looked down at Ace. Mai’s expression softened. Nyx watched. Iris looked toward Brenda. Brenda shrugged. “What? Real question.” Ace thought. Not offended. Not embarrassed. Just surprised by the directness. Then she looked toward Reyes. Reyes held the gaze. Ace’s smile softened. “Not because of the fight.” Brenda waited. Ace thought again. “Because of the missing.” Reyes’s hand settled at Ace’s back. Ace leaned into it. Brenda’s expression changed. Warm. “Yeah.” Ace nodded. “The fight was ugly. The sex wasn’t good because the fight was ugly.” Reyes added: “It was good because the ugly part was over.” Ace looked at her. “Exactly.” Brenda nodded slowly. Iris’s hand found Brenda’s knee beneath the table. Brenda looked down. Then at Iris. Their eyes met. Something quiet passed. Ace saw. Did not comment. Not every opening needed a joke. Then Panam ruined the peace. “Still fucked for an hour and a half, though.” Ace’s head snapped around. Panam grinned. Reyes closed her eyes. Brenda folded over laughing. Kiro made a strangled noise. Ace pointed. “WHO FUCKING TIMED US?” Everyone looked at Kiro. Kiro froze. “Oh, fuck off.” Panam shouted. Rhea laughed. Sol put both hands over her mouth. Ace stared at Kiro. Kiro pointed at the clock. “There is a clock!” Ace narrowed her eyes. “And?” “And you disappeared at—” Kiro stopped. Silence. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Kiro closed her eyes. “Fuck.” Panam slapped the table. Brenda was wheezing. Reyes laughed. Ace slowly smiled. “You absolutely timed us.” “I did not start a timer.” “You noted departure.” “I notice time.” Rhea leaned toward her. “Technically true.” Sol nodded. “Very.” Kiro looked betrayed. “That is not helping.” Ace leaned over the table. “How long?” Kiro stared. “No.” Ace smiled. “How.” “Long.” Kiro put both hands over her ears. Ace laughed. “Coward.” Reyes leaned close. “You already know.” Ace turned. “Yeah, but I want independent verification.” Kiro shouted: “I AM NOT PEER REVIEWING YOUR SEX LIFE.” Marco put his face in one hand. Lena laughed. Ace pointed. “See? Now _that_ sounds like Kiro.” Kiro dropped her head. --- Shammy ate quietly through most of this. That was dangerous. Panam noticed first. “You have the face.” Shammy looked at her. “What face?” Panam pointed toward Ace. “The Ace-destroying sincerity face.” Ace immediately looked over. “No.” Shammy blinked. “I was just thinking.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “That’s how it starts.” Shammy smiled. Ace groaned. “Fuck.” Shammy looked toward Ace and Reyes. Then Mai. Then Nyx. Then the rest of the table. “You all look better.” The room softened. Ace stopped. Shammy continued. “Not prettier.” Panam laughed. Ace smiled. “Thank you.” Shammy’s mouth curved. “You know what I mean.” Ace did. Everyone did. Shammy looked toward Kiro. “You too.” Kiro’s expression softened. Then Rhea. Sol. Brenda and Iris. Marco and Lena. Panam. Mai. Nyx. Reyes. Finally Ace. “Less held.” That landed. No one joked immediately. Ace looked down at the table. Then at Reyes’s hand at her back. Mai’s knee against hers. Nyx across from her. Shammy beside Panam. All of it. Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Panam kissed Shammy’s temple. Brenda leaned into Iris. Kiro covered Rhea’s hand with hers while Sol moved closer. Marco touched Lena’s wrist. No one needed more. Then Ace looked at Shammy. “You’re still a fucking emotional sniper.” Shammy smiled. “I learned from Reyes.” Reyes looked over. Ace stared at Shammy. Then Reyes. Then back. “Absolutely not. We cannot have two.” Panam laughed. “Too late.” Ace groaned. “Sunday ruined.” --- The sock reappeared halfway through coffee. Not through investigation. Through Brenda. She reached into the pocket of her robe for something. Stopped. Her expression changed. Ace saw. “What?” Brenda slowly pulled out a black sock. Silence. Ace stared. Brenda stared at the sock. Then at Ace. Ace’s mouth fell open. The table erupted before anyone spoke. Brenda looked horrified. “I did not—” Ace stood. “YOU.” Brenda held up the sock. “I SWEAR TO GOD.” Ace pointed. “THIEF.” “I DON’T KNOW HOW IT GOT THERE.” Iris was laughing too hard to help. Panam slammed both hands against the table. Kiro nearly fell sideways into Rhea. Sol was crying with laughter. Marco turned away. Lena folded over his shoulder. Nyx had both hands over her mouth. Mai was completely useless. Reyes leaned back, openly delighted. Ace marched around the table. Brenda backed up with the sock held like evidence. “Ace, listen.” “You stole my fucking sock.” “I did not.” “It was in your pocket.” “I know.” “THAT IS HOW POSSESSION WORKS.” Brenda laughed despite herself. “I genuinely don’t know.” Ace reached. Brenda held it high. Ace stopped. Looked up. Brenda was taller. Ace’s eyes narrowed. Brenda saw. “No.” Ace climbed onto a chair. The kitchen exploded again. Iris covered her face. Ace pointed from the chair. “Give.” Brenda stepped back. “This is getting ridiculous.” Ace stared. “You made it height-based.” “I literally just held my hand up.” “Oppression.” Reyes was laughing too hard to breathe properly. Mai finally said: “Ace.” Ace turned. Mai held out a hand. Ace looked at it. Then Brenda. Then the sock. Ace sighed. “Fine.” She stepped down. Mai took the sock from Brenda easily. Ace stared. Brenda stared. Mai handed it to Ace. Ace looked at her. Then slowly smiled. “Useful tall girlfriend.” Mai raised one eyebrow. Ace leaned in. “Very useful.” Mai kissed her forehead. Ace put the sock on. Immediately. Brenda watched. Then looked at Iris. “I swear I did not steal it.” Iris smiled. “I believe you.” Brenda blinked. “You do?” “Yes.” Ace looked over. “Why?” Iris looked toward Nyx. Ace followed. Nyx went very still. Ace’s eyes narrowed. Nyx smiled. Ace slowly stood. “Oh.” Nyx held up both hands. Ace pointed. “You.” Nyx laughed. Ace moved around the table. Nyx backed toward the door. Ace smiled. “You put it in Brenda’s pocket.” Nyx shook her head. “No.” Ace kept advancing. Nyx’s smile betrayed everything. Mai looked toward Nyx. “Did you?” Nyx laughed. Ace stopped. Stared. Nyx cracked. “Yes.” The kitchen exploded again. Brenda shouted: “YOU BITCH.” Ace looked at Brenda. Then Nyx. Then started laughing. “Why?” Nyx leaned against the doorway. “Because you were investigating.” Ace stared. “That explains nothing.” Nyx smiled. “You were cute.” Ace’s mouth opened. Nothing. Mai laughed softly. Reyes smiled. Brenda pointed. “She stole your sock because you were cute.” Ace turned. “Do not make this romantic.” Nyx walked closer. Ace narrowed her eyes. Nyx leaned down and kissed her. Ace tried to maintain outrage. Failed quickly. When Nyx drew back: “Sorry.” Ace looked up. “Liar.” “Yes.” Ace smiled. “Cunt.” Nyx smiled back. “Yours.” Ace froze. Then her expression softened. “Yeah.” There. No exclusivity problem. No ownership accounting. Just affection. Ace took Nyx’s hand. Led her back to the table. Brenda looked toward Ace. “Am I forgiven?” Ace sat. “You were framed.” Brenda nodded. “Thank you.” Ace looked at Nyx. Nyx smiled. Ace looked back at Brenda. “Mostly.” Brenda laughed. --- Breakfast stretched almost into lunch. Nobody cared. Sunday. No schedule. No proof. Ace ended up with both socks on and one foot in Reyes’s lap. Mai beside her. Nyx leaning against Mai. Shammy half asleep against Panam. Kiro relaxed between Rhea and Sol. Brenda’s head on Iris’s shoulder. Marco and Lena sharing coffee because apparently cups were also becoming optional. Ace looked around. Shammy caught her. Ace immediately pointed. “Don’t.” Shammy smiled. “I wasn’t going to say cuddly.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “What were you going to say?” Shammy looked around the table. Then at Ace. “Normal.” Ace froze. Brenda laughed softly. Panam’s mouth curved. Kiro looked around. Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace looked at the room. Nobody remotely resembled normal by any conventional standard. Ace smiled. “Extremely.” Reyes rubbed one thumb over Ace’s ankle. Mai’s hand settled at the back of Ace’s chair. Nyx leaned closer. Ace took another drink of coffee. “Fucking extremely normal.” Iris nodded. “Obviously.” Brenda laughed. And somehow, for this group, that was exactly true. --- ## Chapter Eighteen — Watching Is Also Doing Something Sunday afternoon did not announce itself. It simply happened. Breakfast finally ended. Then coffee happened again. Then nobody could remember whether they had eaten enough to call the next thing lunch, so Panam cut fruit, Marco found bread, Lena produced cheese, and the entire cabin collectively agreed that classification was somebody else’s problem. Ace ended up outside. Of course. The terrace had warmed in the sun. The lake beyond the trees had gone bright enough to make looking directly at it mildly hostile. Reyes sat on the low rail with one foot braced against a post. Nyx lay stretched along the broad bench. Mai stood near the open doors with a glass of water. Ace sat on the terrace floor between them all. Not because there were no chairs. Because she had stolen one of the cushions and decided gravity deserved cooperation today. Reyes looked down at her. “You’re on the floor.” Ace looked up. “Observant.” “There are chairs.” “I know.” “You’re short enough that nobody can see you down there.” Ace smiled. “Feature.” Nyx laughed. Mai looked toward Ace. “What are you hiding from?” Ace considered. “Responsibility.” Reyes nodded. “Reasonable.” Ace leaned back against the post beneath Reyes. Reyes’s hand dropped automatically to Ace’s shoulder. Ace smiled. No comment. Good. Inside, Brenda laughed. Ace’s head turned. Not sharply. Enough. Mai noticed. So did Reyes. Nyx opened one eye. Ace looked toward the open doors. Brenda came through first. Iris behind her. Brenda wore shorts and a loose top. Iris had changed into something lighter for the afternoon. Nothing remotely dramatic. Ace looked anyway. Brenda caught her. Ace did not look away. Brenda stopped. Her eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. Brenda looked toward Iris. Then back at Ace. Then slowly came onto the terrace. Iris followed. She had seen everything. Of course. Brenda stopped near Ace. “You know staring is rude.” Ace looked up at her. “You’re staring.” Brenda smiled. “I didn’t say I was polite.” Ace froze. Then slowly grinned. There it was. The line had finally found the right room. Iris’s mouth curved. Reyes looked down at Ace. Nyx sat up. Mai leaned lightly against the doorframe. Ace pointed at Brenda. “That one’s fucking yours.” Brenda looked delighted. “I know.” Ace laughed. Iris looked from Brenda to Ace. Then toward Mai. Then Reyes. Then Nyx. Her attention returned to Ace. “You two are becoming dangerous.” Ace looked offended. “Becoming?” Brenda laughed. --- Nobody suggested doing anything. That was important. The afternoon stayed loose. Panam and Shammy came outside and claimed another section of the terrace. Rhea and Sol arrived with Kiro between them. Marco and Lena drifted out last. People sprawled. Talked. Stole each other’s drinks. Ace ended up with her back against Reyes’s legs while Mai sat close enough that Ace could reach her ankle. Nyx lay beside Mai. Brenda sat near Iris. Again. Always gravitating. Nothing unusual. Until Shammy kissed Panam. Not long. Not particularly private. Just because Panam said something soft enough that nobody else heard, and Shammy’s answer was to lean over and kiss her. Ace looked. She did not think about it. That was the first difference. She simply stopped listening to whatever Kiro was saying. Kiro noticed immediately. “Ace.” No response. Kiro looked toward where Ace was looking. Panam and Shammy. Still close. Panam’s hand at the back of Shammy’s neck. Shammy smiling. Kiro looked back at Ace. “Oh.” Ace heard that. Turned. “What?” Kiro smiled. “Nothing.” Ace narrowed her eyes. Kiro lifted both hands. Ace stared. Then looked back toward Panam and Shammy. No denial. Good. Brenda saw. Not the kiss first. Ace. She followed Ace’s gaze. Then looked at Ace again. Ace felt it. Turned. Caught Brenda studying her. Brenda smiled. Ace raised one eyebrow. Brenda did the same. No words. Iris saw that. Again. The pattern from yesterday had become almost embarrassingly legible. Iris leaned close to Brenda. “What?” Brenda looked toward her. “Nothing.” Iris stared. Brenda laughed. “Fine.” She glanced toward Ace. Then Panam and Shammy. Iris followed. Ace saw. Her mouth curved. Iris looked toward Ace. Ace held the gaze. There. No pretending. Ace looked back at Panam and Shammy. Iris’s expression softened. Filed. Again. --- Panam finally noticed the audience. She broke the kiss. Looked toward Ace. Ace did not move. Panam’s eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. Panam looked toward Brenda. Brenda smiled too. Panam stared at both. Then at Shammy. Shammy looked over. Saw Ace. Saw Brenda. Her hair lifted slightly. Ace immediately pointed. “Do not make an innocent observation.” Shammy smiled. “I wasn’t going to.” Panam looked at her. “Yes, you were.” Shammy thought. Then nodded. “Yes.” Ace laughed. Panam leaned back. “So?” Ace looked at her. “So what?” “You two planning to fucking narrate?” Brenda looked offended. “No.” Ace nodded. “That would be rude.” Panam stared. Ace smiled. “Watching isn’t.” Silence. Small. Interesting. Brenda looked toward Ace. Ace looked back. Iris’s attention sharpened. Mai watched Ace from beside Nyx. Reyes’s hand moved once over Ace’s shoulder. Panam looked at Shammy. Shammy’s expression stayed warm. Then Panam looked back at Ace. “You comfortable?” Ace nodded. “Yes.” Brenda did too. Panam looked toward Shammy. Shammy smiled. “I don’t mind.” Panam’s mouth curved. “Yeah?” Shammy nodded. “Yeah.” No one turned it into a show. Panam pulled Shammy closer. Shammy settled in. They kissed again. Ace watched. Brenda watched. Nobody else pretended not to notice the fact that Ace and Brenda were watching. That changed the social room around them. Not dramatically. Enough. --- Ace felt Reyes’s hand against her shoulder. Still there. Grounding. Not pulling her away. Mai was close too. Nyx beside her. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai was watching Ace. Not Panam and Shammy. Ace. Ace smiled. Mai’s mouth curved. No problem. Ace turned back. Panam’s hand slid down Shammy’s back. Shammy laughed softly into the kiss. Ace’s breathing changed. Brenda saw. Ace caught her. Brenda grinned. Ace pointed without looking away from Panam and Shammy. “Don’t.” Brenda laughed. “I was silent.” “Your face did.” Iris looked at Brenda. “What did it say?” Brenda turned toward her. “That Ace likes this.” Iris looked toward Ace. Ace sighed. “Apparently subtlety is fucking dead.” Reyes looked down. “Long dead.” Ace glanced up. “You’re not helping.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “I’m supporting.” Ace smiled. “Good.” Then she looked at Iris. “Yes.” Iris’s eyebrows rose. Ace nodded toward Panam and Shammy. “I like this.” Brenda’s smile widened. Iris looked toward them. Then back at Ace. “What part?” Ace thought. Not because she lacked an answer. Because she wanted the right one. “They want each other.” Iris waited. Ace looked toward Panam’s hand at Shammy’s waist. Then Shammy’s fingers in Panam’s hair. “And I get to see it.” Brenda’s expression softened. Ace continued: “And nothing about seeing it means I’m outside.” Mai’s eyes warmed. Reyes’s hand tightened slightly. Nyx smiled. Iris held Ace’s gaze. “That matters.” Ace nodded. “Yes.” Brenda looked toward Iris. Then back at Ace. “That’s the part.” Ace looked at her. “What?” Brenda’s voice softened. “I like seeing Iris want someone because I’m not losing anything.” Iris’s expression changed. Brenda saw. Touched her hand. Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Brenda looked at Iris. “I’m getting more.” Iris held her gaze. Then leaned over and kissed Brenda. Ace watched. Immediately. Brenda knew. So did Iris. This time Iris did not break the kiss. Did not become self-conscious. If anything, knowing Ace watched seemed to settle her more fully into it. Brenda’s hand came up to Iris’s cheek. Iris touched Brenda’s waist. Ace watched. Openly. No apology. Panam and Shammy had slowed nearby. Now they noticed. Shammy smiled. Ace caught it. Pointed. Shammy laughed. --- Brenda drew back first. Looked at Ace. “You enjoyed that.” Ace nodded. “Yes.” Iris looked toward Brenda. Then Ace. “Did you?” Ace smiled. “You know I did.” Iris’s mouth curved. Brenda leaned closer to Iris again. “Want me to keep testing the theory?” Iris looked at her. “You don’t need a theory.” Brenda’s eyes warmed. Ace made a low sound of approval. Iris looked toward her. Ace held up both hands. “Sorry. That was good.” Brenda laughed. Iris’s expression softened. Then Brenda kissed her again. Longer. Ace watched. This time Brenda knew Ace was watching. That became part of Brenda’s enjoyment too. Not performance. Not posing. Just the pleasurable awareness that someone trusted was seeing. Iris felt it. Ace saw Iris feel it. That loop hit harder than expected. Ace shifted slightly against Reyes’s legs. Reyes noticed. No comment. Mai definitely noticed. Still no jealousy. Nyx noticed Mai noticing. She smiled. Good. Everybody had stopped making this difficult. --- Kiro, however, had been trying not to stare at Ace staring. That became impossible. She leaned toward Rhea. “Is this weird?” Rhea looked toward Ace. Then Brenda and Iris. Then Panam and Shammy. Then Kiro. “No.” Kiro frowned. “Objectively?” Sol laughed. Kiro looked at her. “What?” Sol touched Kiro’s knee. “You’re trying to quantify voyeurism.” Kiro froze. Ace heard. Turned. “Oh, sweetheart.” Kiro immediately: “No.” Ace smiled. “You absolutely are.” Kiro looked defensive. “I asked whether the social dynamic was—” Ace leaned toward her. “Hot?” Kiro stared. Brenda laughed. Panam barked a laugh. Iris smiled. Rhea covered her mouth. Sol leaned into Kiro. Kiro sighed. “I was going to say stable.” Ace nodded solemnly. “Also hot.” Kiro looked toward Rhea. Then Sol. Both women were smiling. Kiro closed her eyes. “Fine.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Kiro opened them. “Fine. It’s hot.” Brenda pointed. “Yep.” Kiro’s face warmed. Ace smiled. “Good girl.” Kiro stared. Rhea laughed. Sol’s eyes warmed. Kiro looked at all three. “Fuck all of you.” Ace leaned back against Reyes. “Sunday.” Reyes looked down. “What?” Ace smiled. “Nothing.” Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace laughed. “Okay, okay. Fuck. I was just thinking this is exactly what Sunday should feel like.” That landed better. Just Sunday. Reyes touched her shoulder. “Yeah.” --- The afternoon kept going. No one turned the terrace into a deliberate group fuck. That would have changed the shape. Nobody wanted that. Instead, intimacy remained porous. Panam and Shammy kissed again. Rhea rested her head on Sol’s shoulder while Kiro lay partly across both. Mai eventually moved to sit on the floor beside Ace. Ace reached for her without looking. Found her hand. Held it. Nyx leaned down and kissed Mai. Ace turned. Watched. Again. Mai knew. Nyx knew. Ace smiled. Brenda saw. Of course. She leaned closer. Ace looked toward her. Brenda nodded at Mai and Nyx. “Good view.” Ace grinned. “Excellent.” Iris looked between them. Her expression became thoughtful. Brenda saw. “What?” Iris shook her head. Brenda smiled. “You’re planning something.” Iris looked toward Ace. Ace caught it. Her eyebrows rose. Iris’s mouth curved. Brenda followed the gaze. “Oh.” Ace stared at both. “What?” Iris took a drink. “Nothing.” Ace groaned. “Fuck off.” Brenda laughed. But Iris had filed something. That much was obvious. Good. Ace liked that too. Maybe too much. --- Later, Panam stood. Shammy stayed seated. Panam looked down. “Coming?” Shammy shook her head. “Not yet.” Panam looked surprised for half a second. Then smiled. “Okay.” She leaned down. Kissed Shammy once. Ace watched. Panam caught her. Ace smiled. Panam raised one eyebrow. Ace said: “Still rude?” Panam grinned. “Yeah.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Panam continued: “But I don’t give a fuck.” Ace laughed. “Good.” Panam went inside. Shammy stayed. Ace looked toward her. Shammy looked back. Ace smiled. “Comfortable?” “Yes.” “Being watched?” Shammy thought. Then nodded. “Yes.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Shammy’s expression remained sincere. “When I know why.” Ace looked at her. “Why?” Shammy glanced toward Panam disappearing through the door. Then back. “Because you like seeing people happy.” That one hit. Ace froze. Reyes’s hand stopped briefly. Mai looked toward Shammy. Nyx smiled. Brenda softened. Iris watched Ace. Ace sighed. “There you fucking go again.” Shammy smiled. Ace pointed. “Emotional sniper.” Shammy’s hair lifted. “Sorry.” Ace immediately shook her head. “No.” Then smiled. “Don’t stop.” Shammy nodded. “Okay.” --- Brenda looked at Ace. “What about watching people who aren’t people you love?” Ace thought. Interesting. She looked toward the lake. Then back. “Depends.” Brenda waited. Ace shrugged. “Watching is still watching. Hot is still hot.” Iris listened. Ace continued: “But this?” She looked around. Mai. Reyes. Nyx. Shammy. Panam gone inside. Brenda. Iris. Kiro with Rhea and Sol. Marco and Lena sitting close at the far end. “This is different.” Brenda nodded. “Because you know us.” “Because I trust you.” Iris’s expression softened. Ace looked at Brenda. “And because if I see you enjoying something, I know what it means.” Brenda smiled. “Which is?” Ace’s mouth curved. “That you’re going to be fucking unbearable afterward.” Brenda laughed. Iris closed her eyes. Panam shouted from inside: “ACCURATE.” Ace laughed. Good. Not every answer needed to become profound. --- The next small test happened without planning. Lena leaned into Marco. Said something too low to carry. Marco looked at her. Lena kissed him. Slow. Ace turned. Watched. Brenda did too. Marco noticed. Stopped halfway through the kiss. Looked toward Ace. Ace froze. Then smiled innocently. Marco stared. Brenda started laughing. Lena looked toward Ace. Then Brenda. Then Marco. Her mouth curved. “Problem?” Marco looked at her. Then Ace. Then Brenda. “No.” Lena smiled. “Good.” She kissed him again. Marco stopped caring. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda leaned close. “That’s actually fucking sweet.” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Then: “Still hot.” Brenda laughed. Iris heard. Her expression sharpened again. Ace caught it. “Do not file everything I say.” Iris took a drink. “No.” Ace stared. Brenda laughed. “She absolutely is.” --- Mai eventually leaned against Ace. Ace immediately rested her head against Mai’s shoulder. Reyes remained behind her. One hand at Ace’s back. Nyx beside Mai. The geometry turned crowded. Nobody moved. Brenda saw. Smile. Ace caught her. “What?” Brenda shook her head. “Nothing.” Ace groaned. Brenda laughed. “Fine. You look happy.” Ace looked around. Then down at Mai’s hand in hers. Reyes behind. Nyx beside. Shammy nearby. “I am.” Brenda’s expression softened. “Good.” Ace looked toward Iris. Iris was already watching. Ace smiled. Then: “You too?” Iris nodded. “Yes.” Brenda turned. “What?” Iris looked toward her. “You look happy.” Brenda’s smile changed. Warm. “Yeah.” Iris touched her face. Brenda leaned into it. Ace watched. Again. Brenda caught her. This time neither woman made a joke. That was different too. Watching could be filthy. Watching could be affectionate. Watching could be both. Ace was beginning to understand that the distinction barely mattered when trust held. --- The terrace eventually broke apart because bodies needed food. And bathrooms. And movement. Panam returned. Shammy immediately leaned into her. Kiro got dragged inside by Rhea because she had forgotten to drink water. Sol followed. Marco went to check bread. Lena followed him with obvious intent to prevent another refrigerator reorganization. Reyes stood. Ace looked up. “Leaving me?” Reyes nodded toward the kitchen. “Water.” Ace considered. “Acceptable.” Reyes’s mouth curved. She touched Ace’s cheek. Then went. Mai looked down. “You’re very permissive.” Ace stared. Then laughed. “Fuck you.” Nyx smiled. Brenda stood. Iris did too. Ace looked toward them. Brenda looked at Iris. Then Ace. Something moved. Iris stepped closer to Ace. Stopped. Ace looked up. “What?” Iris’s expression was calm. Direct. “Tomorrow—” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Iris corrected: “Later.” Good. Ace smiled. “Later what?” Iris looked toward Brenda. Then back. “I may want to try something.” Brenda’s eyes warmed immediately. Ace sat straighter. “What?” Iris’s mouth curved. “You’ll find out.” Ace stared. “That is fucking cruel.” Brenda laughed. Iris nodded. “Probably.” Ace looked toward Brenda. “You know?” Brenda shook her head. “No.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda smiled. “Which makes it worse.” Iris looked between them. Very pleased with herself. Ace pointed. “You have become an absolute menace.” Iris smiled. “I adapted.” Ace stopped. Then laughed. Not the old catchphrase. Not because it was repeated. Because Iris had finally used it once where it actually belonged. Ace stood. Looked up at her. “Good.” Iris’s expression softened. Ace added: “Very fucking good.” Brenda put an arm around Iris. Mai stood beside Ace. Nyx too. The afternoon had changed something. Not dramatically. Nobody needed dramatic. Ace simply knew now, with no uncertainty left, that she liked watching. Brenda did too. Iris liked being watched. And Iris had just started planning. That was probably going to become everybody’s problem. Excellent. --- ## Chapter Nineteen — Observer-Only Iris waited until the house had gone soft around the edges again. Not quiet. Soft. Doors open. People moving without announcing themselves. The kind of afternoon where nobody cared whether someone was in the kitchen, on the terrace, in the shower, or halfway to the lake. Ace was on the floor by the sofa with Brenda beside her. That arrangement had happened naturally. Which was probably why Iris chose then. She stood in the doorway. Looked at both. Ace noticed first. Of course. Brenda noticed Ace noticing. Then looked up. Iris leaned one shoulder against the frame. “Busy?” Ace looked down at the cards spread across the floor. Then at Brenda. Then back. “Extremely.” Brenda held up one card. “We’re cheating at something neither of us understands.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Good.” Ace narrowed her eyes. “You have the face.” Brenda immediately looked interested. Iris raised one eyebrow. “What face?” Ace pointed. “The one where you already decided something.” Brenda looked between them. Then smiled. “Oh.” Ace turned. “You know?” Brenda shook her head. “No.” Ace stared. “Then why are you smiling like that?” “Because she does have the face.” Iris looked at both women. “Come upstairs.” Ace blinked. Brenda’s eyebrows rose. Ace slowly stood. “Both?” “Yes.” Brenda stood too. “Now?” “Yes.” Ace looked at Brenda. Brenda looked back. Then both at Iris. Ace smiled. “Well, fuck.” Iris turned. Started walking. Ace stared after her. Brenda leaned closer. “I love her.” Ace looked at her. “Understandable.” Then followed. --- They found Kiro upstairs. That was not accidental. Kiro stood near the hallway window with a mug in one hand, staring down toward the side house as though contemplating whether to join Rhea and Sol again or pretend she had something technical to do for another ten minutes. Iris stopped. Kiro looked over. Saw Iris. Then Ace. Then Brenda. Her whole expression changed. Suspicion first. Then calculation. Then suspicion again. Ace saw every stage. “Oh, sweetheart.” Kiro pointed immediately. “No.” Ace held up both hands. “I said nothing.” “You said sweetheart.” “That is a word.” “From you it’s a threat.” Brenda laughed. Iris looked toward Kiro. “Come with us.” Kiro froze. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda went very still. Kiro looked at Iris. “Where?” “Guest room.” Kiro stared. Then looked toward Ace. Then Brenda. Ace smiled. Kiro’s eyes narrowed. “What the fuck is happening?” Iris answered calmly. “I want you.” Silence. Ace’s mouth fell open. Brenda covered her own. Kiro stopped breathing. Iris waited. No smile. No rescue. No coy little turn away from what she had actually said. Kiro blinked. Then: “You—” “Yes.” “Iris.” “Yes.” Kiro looked toward Ace again. Ace’s expression had changed. Warm. Interested. Not mocking. Brenda looked much the same. Kiro looked back at Iris. “Why are they here?” Iris answered immediately. “Because I want them to watch.” Kiro froze harder. Ace exhaled softly. Brenda’s eyes warmed. Kiro looked at Iris. Then Ace. Then Brenda. Then back. “You mean watch.” “Yes.” Kiro’s face had gone red. Not embarrassed enough to flee. Affected. Very. Iris noticed. “You can say no.” Kiro looked at her. The sentence cut through everything else. No teasing. No group pressure. Just choice. Kiro took a breath. Then another. Ace stayed silent. Brenda too. Good. Kiro looked toward the guest-room door. Then at Iris. “Only watching?” Iris nodded. “Ace and Brenda stay observers.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda looked at her. Both women heard the firmness. No joining later because heat changed someone’s mind. No muddying the shape. Ace nodded. “Works for me.” Brenda smiled. “Me too.” Kiro looked at both. Then Iris. Iris waited. Kiro swallowed. “Yes.” Clear. Not whispered. Not dragged out of her. “Yes.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Good.” Ace looked at Brenda. Brenda looked back. Both women smiled. Kiro saw. “Do not start.” Ace lifted both hands. “Silent.” Brenda nodded. “Very.” Kiro stared. “Neither of you is capable of that.” Iris turned toward the guest room. “Then ignore them.” Kiro looked at her. Iris’s calm face. The directness. The utter lack of apology. Something in Kiro’s shoulders loosened. Then she laughed. “Fuck.” Ace smiled. “Called it.” Kiro pointed without looking. “Observer.” Ace immediately zipped her lips with two fingers. Brenda laughed. Iris opened the door. “Inside.” Kiro followed. --- The room had become familiar by now. Not because anyone owned it. Because the cabin kept using it as neutral ground. Wide bed. Low chair. Bench beneath the window. Enough room for choices not to feel crowded. Iris walked in first. Kiro second. Ace and Brenda stayed near the door. Iris looked at them. “Chairs.” Ace stared. Brenda’s mouth curved. Ace looked toward the two chairs against the wall. Then at Iris. “You planned seating.” “Yes.” Ace slowly smiled. “Fucking menace.” Iris’s mouth curved. Brenda laughed softly. Ace and Brenda moved the chairs. Not close to the bed. Not far. Enough to see. Enough that the boundary remained obvious. Observers. Nothing else. Ace sat first. Brenda beside her. Their knees touched. Neither moved. Kiro stood near the bed. Looked at them. Then Iris. Iris stepped closer. “You okay?” Kiro nodded. “Yes.” “Still want this?” Kiro’s eyes flicked toward Ace and Brenda. Then back. “Yes.” Iris touched Kiro’s face. “Good.” Kiro swallowed. Iris kissed her. --- Ace stopped smiling almost immediately. Not because anything was wrong. Because watching felt different when it was chosen this clearly. No accidental audience. No casual terrace kiss. No stumbling onto something and realizing she liked seeing it. Iris had wanted the room built this way. Wanted Ace there. Wanted Brenda there. Wanted Kiro at the center with her. Ace felt that. So did Brenda. Brenda’s hand found the edge of her chair. Ace looked over. Brenda’s eyes were on Iris. Of course. Ace leaned slightly closer. Not touching beyond knees. Grounding. Brenda noticed. Looked at Ace. Ace raised one eyebrow. Brenda smiled. Good. Then both turned back. --- Iris kissed Kiro slowly. Kiro tried to match her pace. Failed at first. Too much thinking. Ace could see it. The tiny hesitation. The way Kiro’s fingers touched Iris’s waist, then changed position as if optimizing. Iris felt it too. She broke the kiss. Kiro’s eyes opened. Iris looked at her. “Stop engineering.” Ace nearly made a sound. Brenda slapped one hand over her own mouth before anything escaped. Kiro stared. “I’m not—” Iris raised one eyebrow. Kiro stopped. Then laughed despite herself. “Okay. Maybe.” Iris touched her cheek. “You don’t need to solve anything.” Kiro looked toward Ace. Ace was visibly suffering from having to remain quiet. Kiro’s mouth twitched. Iris turned Kiro’s face gently back. “Me.” Kiro’s attention snapped back. “Yes.” “Good.” Iris kissed her again. This time Kiro gave up trying to manage it. That helped immediately. Ace saw. Brenda saw Ace see. Both smiled. No comment. --- Clothing moved slowly. Iris’s hands found the hem of Kiro’s shirt. Stopped. Kiro looked at her. Iris waited. Kiro nodded. “Yes.” The shirt came off. Kiro stood in front of Iris. Then remembered the observers. Her shoulders changed. Small. Iris saw. “Want them gone?” Kiro turned her head. Ace and Brenda were both watching. Openly. No smirking now. No cruelty. No need to pretend otherwise. Kiro looked at Ace. Ace held the gaze. Warm. Kiro looked at Brenda. Same. Then back to Iris. “No.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Good.” Kiro exhaled. Something settled. Iris touched her again. Kiro stopped thinking about where to put her hands. Mostly. The rest of the clothing went by degrees. Every choice visible. Every pause answered. No rush. Ace watched the way Iris asked without turning the room clinical. Brenda watched the way Kiro gradually stopped looking toward the chairs at all. That affected Brenda more than she expected. She leaned slightly toward Ace. Whispered: “She trusts her.” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Iris heard. Did not stop. Kiro did too. Her expression softened. Good. --- When they reached the bed, Iris sat first. Kiro stood between her knees. Ace recognized the shape from the previous day. Different people. Different energy. Iris looked up. Kiro looked down. Then Iris said: “Come here.” Kiro did. No joke. No resistance. Iris guided her close. Kiro’s hands settled on Iris’s shoulders. The kiss deepened. Ace’s attention sharpened. Not because of any single movement. Because Kiro was changing. The constant over-analysis dropped away. Her shoulders loosened. Her mouth stopped trying to anticipate. Her whole body began answering instead of planning. Iris noticed. Smiled. Kiro saw. “What?” Iris shook her head. Kiro narrowed her eyes. “Oh, fuck you. Not that word.” Ace made a strangled sound. Brenda elbowed her. Ace looked over. Brenda whispered: “Observer.” Ace nodded. Silent again. Iris smiled. “I was thinking you look better when you stop trying to understand everything.” Kiro stared. “That is extremely rude.” “Yes.” Kiro laughed. Then Iris kissed her again. The laughter disappeared into the kiss. Good. When sex began, Iris did not turn it into a performance for the chairs. She checked Kiro once more with her eyes, Kiro answered by closing the distance herself, and the change in their breathing made the transition unmistakable to everyone in the room. --- The room found a rhythm. Not fast. Not theatrical. Iris did not perform for the observers. That was the important thing. She simply knew they were there. Sometimes she looked toward Brenda. Sometimes Ace. Never for approval. For awareness. That made the entire room hotter without changing the core. Ace saw the moment Kiro realized that. Kiro looked toward Brenda. Caught her watching Iris. Then Ace. Caught Ace watching both. Kiro’s breath changed. Iris noticed immediately. “You like them watching too?” Kiro froze. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda’s smile softened. Kiro looked at Iris. Then toward the chairs. Ace. Brenda. Back. A long second. Then: “Yes.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Good.” Kiro swallowed. “That easy?” “Yes.” Kiro laughed softly. “You really don’t leave much room for overthinking.” “No.” Ace nearly applauded. Brenda saw. Grabbed Ace’s wrist before she could. Ace looked over. Brenda mouthed: _Observer._ Ace rolled her eyes. Stayed seated. Good. --- The pace deepened. Kiro’s breathing shortened. Iris stayed calm. Not detached. Focused. Ace watched Iris watch Kiro. Brenda watched Iris enjoy being seen enjoying Kiro. That was the loop. That was what Iris had wanted. Brenda felt it clearly now. Not competition. Not displacement. Iris chose this. Wanted this. Wanted Brenda to see. Brenda’s eyes went bright. Ace noticed. She touched Brenda’s hand. Brief. Brenda looked over. Ace smiled. Brenda squeezed once. Then returned her attention to Iris. No joining. No need. Watching was enough. Exactly enough. --- Kiro looked toward the chairs again later. Not nervous now. Interested. Ace saw. Held the gaze. Kiro’s mouth curved. Ace smiled back. Brenda saw that too. Then Kiro looked toward Brenda. Brenda’s expression was warm. Open. Kiro looked back at Iris. “You really planned this.” Iris’s mouth curved. “Yes.” “Why?” Iris touched Kiro’s cheek. “Because I wanted you.” Kiro went still. Iris continued: “And I wanted them to see me want you.” Silence. That hit the entire room. Ace breathed out. Brenda’s eyes softened completely. Kiro stared. No technical reply. No joke. Nothing. Iris smiled. “Still okay?” Kiro nodded. “Very.” Then kissed her. Hard enough to shut down language for a while. Good. --- The first release belonged to Kiro. It built slowly. Ace could see the signs. Rhea and Sol had taught her enough of Kiro’s patterns already. The quieter breathing. The way her hands tightened. The way words vanished. Iris saw too. Stayed with her. Did not rush. Kiro looked toward Ace once. Then Brenda. Saw them both still there. Still watching. Still not intruding. That mattered. Her eyes closed. Iris touched her face. “Stay.” Kiro opened them again. Looked at Iris. “Yes.” The final rise took her hard enough to empty every remaining thought. Her body tightened. Breath broke. Hands held Iris. Then release. Deep. Visible. Kiro softened against Iris. Iris held her. No teasing. No immediate comment. Ace watched Kiro come back slowly. Brenda watched Iris hold her through it. Both women went very quiet. Good. Kiro eventually laughed weakly. “Fuck.” Iris smiled. “Good?” Kiro nodded. “Very.” Ace’s mouth curved. Brenda saw. No comment. --- Iris took longer. That surprised Kiro. Not because she thought Iris was detached. Because Iris seemed so completely in control. Kiro looked at her. Then understood. The control was part of the pleasure. So was letting it thin. Especially with Brenda watching. Ace too. Kiro looked toward Brenda. Brenda’s eyes were on Iris. The look there was enough. Kiro looked back. Iris had noticed. Her expression softened. Kiro touched her face. “She loves watching you.” Iris’s eyes warmed. “Yes.” Kiro smiled. “You like that.” “Yes.” No hesitation. Kiro laughed softly. “Of course you do.” Iris’s mouth curved. Then the next wave interrupted the conversation. Kiro stayed close. Not performing. Not trying to show Brenda anything. Just holding Iris while Brenda watched. That mattered even more. Iris’s breathing changed. The calm thinned. Ace felt Brenda’s hand tighten around hers. Ace looked over. Brenda’s face had gone soft. No joke. No filthy grin. Just love. Ace squeezed back. Then looked toward Iris. Iris saw Brenda. Held the gaze. That was enough. The release came slowly. Deep. Iris’s body tightened against Kiro. Then softened. Kiro held her. Iris kept looking toward Brenda for one second longer than necessary. Brenda smiled. Iris smiled back. Ace felt something in the room settle. Not end. Settle. --- Afterward, nobody broke the observer rule. That mattered more now than before. Heat had passed through the room. Closeness had grown. It would have been easy to blur the boundary. Nobody did. Ace stayed in her chair. Brenda stayed beside her. Kiro and Iris remained on the bed. Iris rested against the pillows. Kiro curled close. Breathing slowly. Ace looked at Brenda. Brenda looked back. Then toward Iris. Her smile returned. Dirty now. Ace saw. “Oh, there you are.” Brenda whispered: “Shut up.” Ace grinned. Brenda leaned closer. “She looked fucking incredible.” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Brenda looked at Ace. “So did Kiro.” Ace smiled. “Also yeah.” Iris heard. Opened one eye. Brenda froze. Iris’s mouth curved. “You can say it louder.” Brenda stared. Ace covered her mouth. Brenda looked at Iris. “You are impossible.” Iris smiled. “Still here.” Brenda laughed softly. Ace looked at Kiro. Kiro had closed her eyes. Ace’s grin sharpened. “Oh, sweetheart.” Kiro’s eyes opened immediately. “No.” Ace held up both hands. “Observer finished.” Kiro stared. Ace smiled. “Now I can talk.” Kiro groaned. Iris laughed quietly. Brenda leaned back in the chair. “Good luck.” Kiro looked betrayed. “You were supposed to be on my side.” Brenda smiled. “I was watching.” “Exactly.” “That was my side.” Kiro stared. Then laughed. “Fuck.” --- Eventually they dressed. No hurry. Ace and Brenda remained seated. That was part of the shape too. No awkward turning away. No sudden modesty after the fact. Kiro dressed first. Iris second. Brenda watched Iris button the shirt. Ace watched Brenda watching. Brenda caught her. Ace smiled. Brenda smiled back. Iris saw both. Of course. Then: “You two are very easy to read now.” Ace looked offended. Brenda laughed. Kiro looked between them. “Now?” Iris raised one eyebrow. Kiro thought. “Fair.” Ace stood. Brenda too. The room loosened. Nobody collapsed into a communal heap afterward. No one needed one. Iris went to Brenda first. Touched her face. Brenda leaned in. Kissed her. Slow. Ace watched. Again. Kiro saw Ace watching. Smiled. Ace caught it. “What?” Kiro shook her head. Ace narrowed her eyes. Kiro laughed. “Fine.” Then looked at Iris and Brenda. Then Ace. “You really like this.” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Kiro smiled. “Good.” Ace’s expression softened. “Yeah.” --- They returned downstairs together. That was the mistake. Or gift. Depending on who you asked. Panam looked up first. Then Rhea. Then Sol. Then Mai. Then Reyes. Then Nyx. Then Marco and Lena. Shammy smiled immediately. Ace saw. “No.” Shammy tilted her head. “What?” Ace pointed toward Kiro. “Do not say she looks happy.” Shammy looked at Kiro. Then smiled wider. “She does.” Kiro closed her eyes. Panam laughed. Rhea stood. Sol too. Kiro looked toward them. Rhea’s expression warmed. Sol’s too. Just curiosity and affection. Kiro walked over. Rhea looked at her face. Then Iris. Then Ace and Brenda. Then back. “Good?” Kiro stared. Everyone waited. Kiro’s mouth slowly curved. “Really fucking good.” Panam barked a laugh. Ace slapped one hand against the table. “Beautiful.” Sol touched Kiro’s cheek. “Happy?” Kiro nodded. “Yes.” Rhea smiled. “Good.” Then Ace ruined the tenderness. Naturally. “She also discovered that being watched is hot.” Kiro’s head snapped around. “You absolute cunt.” The room exploded. Brenda doubled over. Iris closed her eyes. Panam shouted. Mai laughed. Reyes looked at Ace with immediate approval. Nyx covered her mouth. Rhea’s eyebrows rose. Sol looked toward Kiro. Kiro’s face went bright red. Ace grinned. “Accurate?” Kiro pointed. “You were supposed to be observer-only.” Ace nodded. “I was.” Kiro stared. Ace continued: “Nobody said observer-silent afterward.” Brenda slapped Ace’s arm. “Fucking loophole lawyer.” Ace smiled. “Diplomacy.” Reyes, immediately: “Center part of your body was seated the whole time.” Silence. Ace froze. The room detonated again. Ace slowly turned. Reyes smiled. Ace stared. “You are never letting that die.” Reyes shook her head. “No.” Ace laughed. “Cunt.” Reyes lifted one eyebrow. Ace smiled. “Mine.” Reyes’s expression softened. “Yeah.” Kiro looked around. Rhea beside her. Sol touching her hand. Iris with Brenda. Ace laughing against Reyes. Mai close to Nyx. Shammy against Panam. Marco and Lena together. Nobody judging. Nobody threatened. Nobody acting like what had just happened needed either shame or accounting. Kiro exhaled. Then smiled. Ace saw. “What?” Kiro looked at her. “Nothing.” Ace pointed. “Fuck you.” Kiro laughed. “Exactly.” And for once, Ace had no comeback ready fast enough to stop the whole room from laughing again. --- ## Chapter Twenty — No One Needs A Schedule By late Sunday afternoon, the cabin had stopped producing groups. It produced weather. People moved through rooms the way heat moved through the building. Accumulating. Dissipating. Reappearing somewhere else. Ace noticed because there was no longer any useful answer to the question _where is everyone?_ She stood in the kitchen with half an apple in one hand and looked around. Mai had been there three minutes ago. Gone. Nyx had been on the terrace. Gone. Reyes had said she wanted water. Also gone. Ace frowned. Panam walked through carrying two towels. Ace looked at her. “Where is everyone?” Panam stopped. Looked around. Then at Ace. “Fuck if I know.” Ace stared. Panam shrugged. “You asking professionally?” “No.” “Then why do you care?” Ace thought. Then bit the apple. “I don’t.” Panam nodded. “There you go.” She kept walking. Ace looked after her. Then: “Where’s Shammy?” Panam stopped. Turned. Ace smiled. Panam narrowed her eyes. “Fuck you.” Ace laughed. “Exactly.” Panam flipped her off and continued toward the sauna. Ace took another bite. Better. --- She found Mai outside ten minutes later. Not because she went looking. Because Mai was sitting on the dock with Lena. Bare feet over the edge. Talking. No operation. No obvious weight. Just two women who had spent part of the previous afternoon discovering something they both needed and who had apparently decided that did not require either avoiding each other or immediately repeating it. Ace slowed. Watched for a moment. Mai looked over. Saw her. Smiled. Ace smiled back. Lena followed Mai’s gaze. Her own mouth curved. Ace walked closer. “Am I interrupting?” Lena shook her head. “No.” Ace looked at Mai. Mai patted the dock beside her. Ace sat. Not between them. Beside Mai. Lena remained on Mai’s other side. Ace leaned against Mai’s shoulder. Mai’s hand found her knee. Lena watched. Ace looked toward her. “What?” Lena smiled. “Nothing.” Ace groaned. “Fucking plague.” Mai laughed. Lena looked at Ace. “You really hate that word now.” “I hate how everybody says it when they mean _I know something you don’t_.” Lena thought. “Fair.” Ace looked toward Mai. “You two behaving?” Mai raised one eyebrow. Lena laughed. Ace smiled. “Okay, stupid question.” Lena leaned back on both hands. “We were talking.” Ace nodded. “Good.” Mai looked at her. Ace caught it. “What?” Mai’s expression softened. “You mean that.” Ace stared. “Of course I fucking mean it.” Lena looked toward the lake. Ace continued: “You don’t have to be naked every time you’re in a room together.” Mai’s mouth curved. Ace paused. “Although apparently this cabin is trying very hard to disprove that.” Lena laughed. Mai shook her head. Ace grinned. There. Enough. No claim. No worry. Mai could have Lena for an afternoon. For a conversation. For sex. For nothing in particular. Ace lost nothing. She rested her head against Mai. Lena smiled. The dock held them. --- Reyes appeared on the shoreline later. Not summoned. Just there. Ace saw her. Reyes saw Ace against Mai. Then Lena. No reaction except warmth. Ace held out one hand. Reyes walked down the dock. Took it. Ace squeezed. No need to rearrange. Reyes sat on Ace’s other side. Now Ace was between Mai and Reyes with Lena on Mai’s far side. Ace looked around. Then laughed. Reyes looked down. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” All three women stared. Ace closed her eyes. “Fuck you.” Lena laughed. Mai kissed Ace’s hair. Reyes’s mouth curved. Ace sighed. “Fine. I was just thinking I am very comfortable for somebody who is technically outnumbered.” Reyes looked at Mai. Then Lena. Then Ace. “You usually are.” Ace smiled. “Correct.” --- The side house had developed its own rhythm. Kiro disappeared there with Rhea and Sol. Returned alone twenty minutes later. Went to the kitchen. Came back with water. Disappeared again. Ace saw the second return. Kiro saw Ace seeing. Paused. Ace lifted her apple in greeting. No comment. Kiro narrowed her eyes. Ace smiled. Kiro waited. Ace stayed silent. Kiro’s suspicion increased. “What?” Ace looked offended. “Nothing.” Kiro pointed. “You don’t get to use it.” Ace laughed. “Fine. Hydrate.” Kiro stared. Then looked at the bottle in her own hand. “You already said that yesterday.” Ace nodded. “And you’re still alive. Strong evidence.” Kiro sighed. Then smiled. “Thanks.” Ace’s expression softened. “Yeah.” Kiro turned toward the side house. Ace called after her: “Have fun.” Kiro looked over one shoulder. A grin. “Planning to.” Good. No accounting. No interrogation. --- Brenda and Iris developed their own version of wandering. They started on the terrace. Ended in the kitchen. Went upstairs. Returned separately. Brenda came back first. Hair wrong. Shirt changed. Ace saw. Brenda saw Ace see. They stared. Ace lifted one eyebrow. Brenda did too. No words. Then Iris walked in ten minutes later looking perfectly composed. Ace slowly looked from Iris to Brenda. Brenda covered her mouth. Iris saw. “What?” Ace smiled. “Nothing.” Iris stared. Ace cracked. “Fine. Brenda looks like she lost an argument.” Brenda looked offended. “I did not.” Iris sat beside her. “You did.” Brenda turned. “You cheated.” Iris’s eyebrows rose. “How?” Brenda opened her mouth. Stopped. Ace leaned forward. “Please explain.” Brenda looked at Ace. Then Iris. Then thought better of it. “No.” Ace’s grin widened. “Coward.” Brenda pointed. “You weren’t there.” Ace smiled. “Correct.” Iris’s mouth curved. Brenda saw. “Oh, don’t.” Iris touched Brenda’s thigh. Brenda went quiet. Ace stared. Then looked toward Mai. Mai had seen from the doorway. Ace pointed. “See?” Mai smiled. Brenda looked betrayed. “You’re all fucking awful.” Iris leaned close. “You like us.” Brenda looked at her. “Way too much.” Iris kissed her. Ace watched. Brenda caught her watching halfway through. Ace did not look away. Brenda smiled into the kiss. Iris felt it. Did not stop. Good. --- Panam and Shammy disappeared into the sauna. Nobody cared. Then Panam returned alone for water. Ace was in the kitchen again. Of course. Panam opened the fridge. Ace looked over. “Shammy alive?” Panam did not turn. “Very.” Ace smiled. Panam got the water. Then looked at Ace. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Panam stared. Ace held up both hands. “No, seriously.” Panam’s eyes narrowed. “You look smug.” Ace smiled. “Maybe I’m happy for you.” Panam stopped. Then softened. “Yeah?” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Panam closed the fridge. Ace looked toward the sauna path. Then Panam. “Go.” Panam smiled. “You dismissing me?” “Yes.” Panam laughed. Ace looked at the bottle in Panam’s hand. “Take one for her too.” Panam stared. Then laughed harder. “Fuck. Fine.” She grabbed another bottle. Ace smiled. Panam went. --- Marco and Lena produced perhaps the most surprising version of the day. They simply disappeared for nearly an hour. No announcement. No one noticed for twenty minutes. Then Panam came in. Looked around. “Where’s Marco?” Ace looked toward the kitchen. Empty. Then toward Lena’s usual chair. Empty. Reyes looked over from the sofa. Nyx raised one eyebrow. Ace smiled. Panam saw. “Oh.” Ace nodded. “Oh.” Kiro came in behind Panam. Looked around. “What?” Panam leaned toward her. “Marco and Lena vanished.” Kiro considered. Then: “Could be inventory.” Ace stared. Panam stared. Kiro looked between them. “What?” Ace smiled slowly. “Kiro.” Kiro frowned. “What?” Panam put one hand over her face. Ace leaned closer. “Sweetheart.” Kiro’s eyes narrowed. Then comprehension arrived. “Oh.” Ace nodded. Kiro’s face warmed. “Fuck.” Panam laughed. Ace patted Kiro’s shoulder. “Welcome back.” Kiro sighed. “I hate this cabin.” Rhea’s voice came from behind her. “No, you don’t.” Kiro turned. Rhea smiled. Sol stood beside her. Kiro softened immediately. “No.” Sol took Kiro’s hand. “Thought so.” Ace watched. No comment. Rhea noticed. “You’re being suspiciously quiet.” Ace looked offended. “I can be quiet.” Reyes called from the sofa: “Not reliably.” Ace turned. “Fuck you.” Reyes smiled. Ace looked back at Rhea. “See? Harassment.” Rhea laughed. --- Marco and Lena eventually returned. Marco looked normal. Lena looked normal. That disappointed Panam. Ace saw the disappointment. “Expected evidence?” Panam looked toward her. “Yes.” Ace nodded. “Same.” Marco stopped. “What?” Lena looked at both women. Then laughed. Marco closed his eyes. “No.” Panam grinned. Ace pointed. “He’s using it correctly.” Marco sighed. Lena leaned into him. Marco automatically put one arm around her. Ace saw. Smiled. No need for more. --- The cabin changed again after dinner. Not louder. Closer. Everyone had reached the point where getting up required negotiation with whoever had ended up leaning on them. Ace lay sideways on the long sofa. Her head in Mai’s lap. Feet across Reyes. Nyx sat on the floor beside Mai with one arm resting over Ace’s stomach. Ace looked down. Then around. “Am I furniture?” Reyes looked at her feet. “Yes.” Mai’s fingers moved through Ace’s hair. “Comfortable furniture.” Nyx smiled. Ace considered. “Fine.” Shammy sat in Panam’s lap. Brenda against Iris. Kiro between Rhea and Sol. Marco and Lena sharing the broad chair. Everything familiar. But not fixed. That was the difference. Half an hour later, Mai stood for water. Nyx took her place. Ace’s head ended up in Nyx’s lap instead. Mai returned and sat beside Reyes. No one treated this as notable. Then Shammy left Panam’s lap and came to sit beside Mai. Panam did not react beyond stretching her legs into the freed space. Ace watched Shammy lean into Mai. Smile. Then closed her eyes. No issue. The cabin did not need diagrams. --- Later, Ace woke from a brief accidental nap and found Reyes gone. She blinked. Nyx looked down at her. “Morning.” Ace frowned. “Fuck you.” Nyx smiled. Ace sat up. “Where’s Reyes?” Nyx pointed toward the terrace. Ace looked. Reyes stood outside with Panam. Talking. Ace watched. No tension. No sudden need to reclaim anyone. Just curiosity. Then Panam laughed. Reyes smiled. Ace smiled too. Nyx saw. “You like seeing her happy.” Ace looked toward her. “Yes.” Nyx nodded. “Same thing.” Ace thought. Then looked back toward the terrace. “Yeah.” The observer thing was leaking into everything. Not sex only. Maybe it never had been sex only. Interesting. Ace did not try to define it. That way lay speeches. Fuck speeches. --- Brenda sat down beside Ace later. Nyx had gone upstairs. Mai was in the kitchen with Shammy. Reyes still outside. Brenda looked around. Then at Ace. “You notice how nobody knows who’s with who anymore?” Ace frowned. “We know.” Brenda smiled. “You know what I mean.” Ace looked around. Iris talking with Lena. Marco helping Kiro with something at the counter. Rhea and Sol near Panam. Shammy with Mai. Nyx somewhere upstairs. Reyes outside. No pair map. No concern. Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Brenda leaned back. “Palace is going to be fucking impossible after this.” Ace turned. Brenda’s eyes lit immediately. Ace stared. Then slowly grinned. “Oh, Jesus.” Brenda laughed. “You thought it too.” Ace looked around again. Then at Brenda. “Next Palace visit?” Brenda nodded. Ace’s grin became dangerous. “We’re fucked.” Iris, from across the room: “You say that like it’s bad.” Silence. Ace stared at her. Brenda slowly turned. Iris looked completely calm. Panam, entering through the terrace door, heard enough. “Oh, fuck.” Kiro looked up. “What?” Ace pointed at Iris. “She’s already making plans.” Iris raised one eyebrow. “I said one sentence.” Brenda looked delighted. Ace laughed. “That’s all you need.” Mai came in carrying water. Heard the end. “What?” Ace looked at her. Then Brenda. Then Iris. Then around the room. Her smile widened. “Nothing urgent.” Mai narrowed her eyes. Ace laughed. “Later.” Good. Let future trouble stay future trouble. Tonight belonged here. --- The first quick disappearance happened after dark. Not Ace. Not Iris. Not Kiro. Panam and Shammy. They simply stood. Panam took Shammy’s hand. Shammy followed. No announcement. Ten minutes later, Ace walked past the hallway. Heard a muffled laugh behind a closed door. Stopped. Smiled. Kept walking. No need to know more. That was new. Or maybe just finally trusted. --- The second was Brenda and Iris. More obvious. Brenda stood from the sofa. Looked at Iris. Iris looked back. Brenda held out a hand. Iris took it. Ace watched. Brenda caught her. Ace raised one eyebrow. Brenda smiled. “Don’t wait up.” Ace grinned. “Wasn’t planning to.” Iris looked toward Ace. “Liar.” Ace laughed. “Fair.” They went upstairs. No euphemism. No pretending they were going for towels. --- The third was almost Kiro. She stood. Rhea stood too. Sol remained seated. Kiro looked at her. Sol shook her head. “Later.” Kiro nodded. No disappointment. No forced symmetry. Rhea took Kiro’s hand. The two disappeared toward the side house. Sol stayed by the fire. Mai sat beside her. They talked. Ace saw both choices. Liked both. This was what fluidity looked like when nobody treated it like an obligation. Sometimes three. Sometimes two. Sometimes one person stayed behind because they wanted to. Nobody counted. --- Ace eventually found herself alone with Reyes in the kitchen. Again. Not planned. Mai and Nyx had gone upstairs. Shammy and Panam still absent. Most of the others outside or elsewhere. Reyes opened the fridge. Ace leaned against the counter. Reyes looked over. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” Reyes stared. Ace smiled. “Actually nothing.” Reyes took water. Ace watched. Reyes caught it. “You’re doing it.” Ace’s eyebrows rose. “Doing what?” “Watching.” Ace smiled. “Maybe.” Reyes closed the fridge. Walked closer. “Like the view?” Ace grinned. “Yes.” Reyes stopped in front of her. Ace looked up. No urgency. No buildup. Just warmth. Reyes touched her waist. Ace leaned into it. Kissed her. Short. Then longer. Reyes’s hands settled at her back. Ace’s around her neck. The kiss did not need to become anything larger. It did not. They kissed. Touched. Laughed softly. Ace pressed closer. Reyes felt the shift. Looked down. “Want more?” Ace thought. Then smiled. “No.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace kissed her again. “I want this.” Reyes nodded. “Okay.” That was enough. They stayed like that another minute. Then Ace leaned back against the counter. Reyes kissed her forehead. Ace smiled. “Good.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Very.” They took water outside. No one asked where they had been. Because they had been in the kitchen. Because not every closed moment needed sex. And not every sexual moment needed a door. --- Rhea and Kiro returned eventually. Kiro looked calm. Rhea pleased. Sol smiled when she saw them. Kiro sat beside Sol immediately. Sol kissed her cheek. No report. No teasing. Ace saw. Decided not to ruin it. For once. --- By eleven, the cabin looked completely unplanned. Marco and Lena at the table. Panam stretched out with Shammy half across her. Rhea lying on the floor with her head against Sol’s leg. Kiro beside them. Mai in one chair. Nyx on its arm. Ace sitting on the floor between Mai’s knees. Reyes behind her on the sofa. Brenda practically horizontal against Iris. No room assignments visible anymore. No relationship chart. No need. Ace looked around. Then: “Who’s sleeping where?” Everyone stopped. Marco looked toward her. Panam stared. Kiro’s eyebrows rose. Brenda laughed. Mai looked down at Ace. Ace smiled. “I’m asking because I genuinely have no fucking idea.” Reyes leaned forward. “Does it matter?” Ace thought. Then grinned. “No.” Shammy smiled. “Good.” Ace looked toward her. “Don’t say cuddly.” Shammy’s smile widened. “I wasn’t going to.” Ace stared. Shammy leaned into Panam. “I was going to say nobody needs a schedule.” Silence. Small. Warm. Marco looked toward the kitchen. Then around the room. At the people who had ignored every useful organizational instinct he possessed for three days and somehow still eaten, slept, washed, touched, fucked, laughed, and survived. He sighed. “Apparently.” Panam looked at him. “You okay?” Marco considered. Then smiled. “Surprisingly.” Lena kissed his cheek. Ace looked around again. No one waiting for instructions. No one asking what came next. She leaned back against Mai’s legs. Reyes’s hand found her shoulder. Nyx touched her hair. Somewhere upstairs, a door remained open. Another closed. Nobody cared. Ace smiled. “Good.” And for once, nobody asked what she meant. --- ## Chapter Twenty-One — Still Cuddly Nobody answered Ace’s question because nobody needed to. That became the answer. The room stayed exactly as it was. Marco did not produce a list. Panam did not suggest moving outside. Kiro did not check the time. No one started deciding who belonged in which bed or whether somebody ought to leave before the evening became “complicated.” Complicated had lost most of its authority here. Ace remained on the floor between Mai’s knees. Reyes sat behind her on the sofa, one leg stretched beside Ace’s shoulder. Nyx occupied the arm of Mai’s chair in a way that made the chair technically a four-person object if one counted Ace as structurally attached to it. Ace did. She leaned back. Mai’s fingers moved slowly through her hair. Reyes’s hand rested against the side of Ace’s neck. Nyx’s foot touched Ace’s thigh. Ace looked down at herself. Then around. “I have been colonized.” Panam looked over from where Shammy lay half across her. “By affection?” Ace frowned. “That sounds worse.” Brenda laughed. Iris, beside her, said: “You’re enjoying it.” Ace turned. “Obviously.” No denial. No little joke to hide behind. Just obviously. Iris smiled. Ace looked back toward the room. Good. --- The fire had been reduced to embers. Nobody added more wood. The cabin was warm enough. People had started speaking more quietly without deciding to. Not tired exactly. Content. Different thing. Panam had one hand beneath Shammy’s shirt at her back, not moving much, just skin against skin. Shammy’s eyes were closed. Not asleep. Ace could tell because the faint silver lift in her hair changed whenever somebody said something funny. Rhea lay on the rug. Sol sat behind her. Kiro beside them, leaning sideways until half her weight rested on Sol and the other half had somehow ended up against Rhea’s shoulder. Marco and Lena had abandoned separate chairs again. Brenda’s feet were in Iris’s lap. Of course. Ace looked around. Then toward Shammy. Shammy’s eyes opened. Ace pointed immediately. “No.” Shammy smiled. Ace narrowed hers. “You were thinking it.” Shammy’s smile widened. Panam looked down at her. “What?” Shammy glanced around the room. Then at Ace. Ace sighed. “Fine.” Shammy’s expression softened. “Still cuddly.” Silence. One beat. Two. Ace slowly looked over her shoulder at Reyes. Reyes looked down. No smile at first. Then the corner of her mouth moved. “Still coincidence.” The entire room broke. Not the huge explosion from Thursday. Softer. Warmer. Laughter rolling through tired bodies. Brenda leaned into Iris. Kiro folded against Sol. Panam kissed the top of Shammy’s head. Mai’s hand stopped in Ace’s hair because she was laughing. Ace covered her face. “You lying bitch.” Reyes’s arm slipped around her shoulders. “Prove it.” Ace leaned fully back against her. “Fuck you.” Reyes kissed her temple. “Compelling evidence.” Ace turned her head. “You’re getting arrogant.” Reyes smiled. “Comfortable.” That changed Ace’s expression. She looked at her. Then smiled. “Yeah.” Reyes’s arm tightened. “Yeah.” Nobody made the moment bigger than that. Good. --- Thursday had been need. Ace could see that now. Not because anyone had been desperate. Because everybody had arrived carrying invisible distance. They had sat close because the body was trying to correct something the mind had spent weeks forcing. Sunday was different. Nobody was compensating anymore. They were simply where they wanted to be. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai looked down at her. Ace reached up. Mai took the hand. Linked fingers. No statement. Nyx leaned toward Mai and rested her head against her shoulder. Ace watched. Smiled. Then felt Reyes’s thumb against her neck. Four points of contact. No urgency. No ownership panic. No one asking which one mattered most. Ace breathed out. Mai heard. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing.” The whole room made some version of a groan. Ace looked around. “Oh, fuck all of you.” Brenda pointed. “You walked into that.” Ace laughed. “Fine.” She looked at Mai. Then Nyx. Then Reyes. Then the rest. “I’m good.” Simple. Mai squeezed her hand. Reyes touched her neck. Nyx smiled. Across the room, Shammy’s hair lifted. Ace saw. “You say one sweet thing and I’m leaving.” Shammy smiled. “You’re not.” Ace stared. Panam laughed. Ace sighed. “Correct.” --- Marco eventually stood. Everyone looked at him. He froze. “What?” Panam raised one eyebrow. “You’re standing.” “Yes.” “Why?” Marco looked toward the kitchen. Then at the room. Lena watched. He hesitated. That was new. Then: “Water.” Panam nodded. “Acceptable.” Marco stared at her. “I do not need authorization to drink water.” Ace looked up. “Apparently you do now.” Marco sighed. Lena stood too. Marco looked at her. “You don’t need to come.” Lena smiled. “I know.” She went anyway. Marco’s expression softened. They disappeared into the kitchen. Panam watched. Then looked toward Ace. Ace was already watching. Panam smiled. “Don’t.” Ace grinned. “I wasn’t going to.” Panam raised both eyebrows. Ace thought. “Okay, I was going to say they’re disgustingly domestic.” Panam nodded. “Accurate.” Shammy murmured against her: “You are too.” Panam looked down. Shammy’s eyes stayed closed. Panam stared. Ace saw. Then Panam smiled. “Yeah.” No fight. No fake outrage. Just yeah. Ace smiled too. --- Kiro shifted on the rug. Sol looked down. “Comfortable?” Kiro considered. “No.” Rhea immediately moved. Kiro stopped her. “Wait.” Rhea looked up. Kiro adjusted herself until her head ended up in Rhea’s lap and her legs across Sol’s. Then settled. “Now.” Sol smiled. Rhea’s hand moved into Kiro’s hair. Ace watched. Kiro caught her. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing filthy.” Kiro stared. Ace smiled. “I swear.” Kiro narrowed her eyes. Then relaxed again. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai had seen. Ace murmured: “She’s happy.” Mai nodded. “Yes.” Ace’s expression softened. “Good.” Kiro heard. Looked over. Ace met her eyes. No teasing. Kiro smiled. “Yeah.” Then looked up at Rhea. Then toward Sol. “Very.” Rhea leaned down and kissed her forehead. Sol touched her ankle. Kiro closed her eyes. Good. --- Brenda had become suspiciously quiet. Iris noticed first. “You’re thinking.” Brenda looked toward her. “So?” “That usually becomes everyone’s problem.” Ace called: “True.” Brenda turned. “You are not invited into this.” Ace grinned. “Too late.” Iris touched Brenda’s calf. “What are you thinking?” Brenda looked around. Then toward Ace. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Brenda smiled. “Today.” Ace waited. Brenda looked toward Iris. Then Mai. Then Reyes. Nyx. Kiro. The room. “I thought yesterday was going to be the big day.” Iris’s expression softened. Ace understood. Watching Iris with Ace. Reyes. Mai and Lena. All of it. Brenda continued: “But today feels bigger.” Nobody joked. Ace thought about it. Then nodded. “Yeah.” Brenda smiled. “Because nothing happened.” Panam looked offended. “Several things happened.” Brenda laughed. “You know what I mean.” Panam looked down at Shammy. Then around. “Yeah.” Brenda leaned back into Iris. “Yesterday everybody was choosing something.” Iris’s hand rested over Brenda’s ankle. Brenda continued: “Today nobody had to.” Ace looked toward Reyes. Then Mai. Nyx. The room. That was exactly it. No one had needed to prove openness. Or desire. Or trust. Or flexibility. Nobody had needed to demonstrate that the relationships survived being shared. They already knew. Sunday was what remained after proof became unnecessary. Ace smiled. “That’s why it feels normal.” Shammy opened her eyes. “Extremely.” Ace stared. Shammy smiled. Ace laughed. “Fucking thief.” Panam kissed Shammy’s cheek. Shammy looked pleased. --- Marco and Lena returned carrying water for half the room. Marco stopped when people started taking glasses. He looked offended. “I got these for us.” Lena laughed. Panam took one anyway. “Community property.” Marco stared. Ace held out her hand. “Mine.” Marco looked at her. “You have water beside you.” Ace looked down. There was, in fact, a glass. She frowned. “Who put that there?” Mai said: “I did.” Ace looked up. “Oh.” Marco shook his head. “Hopeless.” Ace picked up the existing glass. Drank. Then smiled at Mai. “Thank you.” Mai touched her cheek. “You’re welcome.” Marco stared. Panam saw. “What?” Marco looked toward Ace. “She can say thank you.” Ace turned. “Fuck you.” Marco nodded. “There.” Lena laughed. --- The conversation wandered. Not operationally. Nobody mentioned the staged rupture. Nobody discussed the specialist force. No one touched the Palace contracts or O’Sullivan business or Rogue or NC politics. For hours. That itself felt extraordinary. They talked about food. The farm. Whether Panam’s horse had once tried to eat part of a jacket. Whether Kiro could actually identify a bad capacitor by smell. She insisted yes. Ace said that sounded like witchcraft. Kiro said Ace was literally the worst person in the room to accuse anyone else of impossible bullshit. Ace conceded the point. Rhea told a story about Sol getting locked out of an apartment in her underwear. Sol objected to several details. Rhea corrected none of them. Brenda asked which underwear. Iris covered her face. Sol answered anyway. Kiro nearly choked. Good. The cabin kept producing laughter. Not manic. Not relief anymore. Just laughter. --- At some point, Panam got up. Shammy did not. Panam looked down. “You staying?” Shammy nodded. “For a bit.” Panam smiled. “Okay.” She kissed Shammy. Long enough to be affectionate. Short enough not to become anything else. Then walked to the kitchen. Ace watched. Of course. Shammy noticed. Ace looked toward her. Shammy’s mouth curved. “Still like watching?” Ace nodded. “Yes.” Shammy thought. Then: “I like being watched by you.” Ace went still. Not because the sentence was shocking. Because Shammy said it with the same sincerity she used for everything important. Ace’s expression softened. “Yeah?” Shammy nodded. “You don’t make it feel like taking.” That landed. Mai looked toward Shammy. Nyx too. Reyes’s hand stopped briefly at Ace’s shoulder. Ace swallowed. Then smiled. “Good.” Shammy’s hair lifted. Ace pointed. “Do not make me emotional twice in one minute.” Shammy laughed. Ace smiled. “Seriously.” Shammy nodded. “Okay.” No need to define it more. --- Brenda watched that exchange. Iris watched Brenda. Brenda eventually looked toward her. “What?” Iris shook her head. Brenda smiled. “Say it.” Iris’s mouth curved. “You like seeing her learn this.” Brenda looked toward Ace. Then Shammy. Then back. “Yeah.” Iris waited. Brenda leaned into her. “I like seeing all of them get more shameless.” Ace called: “HEARD THAT.” Brenda turned. “GOOD.” Ace grinned. Iris laughed. Brenda continued louder now: “Because half of you spent years acting like wanting something needed a fucking committee.” Kiro raised one hand. “That seems targeted.” Brenda looked toward her. “It absolutely is.” Kiro lowered her hand. Rhea laughed. Sol kissed Kiro’s ankle. Kiro sighed. “Fine.” Ace looked at Brenda. “And you?” Brenda smiled. “I was born without that problem.” Iris looked toward her. “Mostly true.” Brenda turned. “Mostly?” Iris’s hand slid higher along Brenda’s calf. Brenda’s voice changed. “Oh.” Ace saw. Pointed. “Committee adjourned.” The room laughed. --- Later, the seating changed again. Of course. Ace ended up on the sofa. Reyes beside her. Mai on her other side. Nyx on the floor with her back against Ace’s knees. Shammy had moved from Panam to the end of the sofa and leaned against Mai. Panam returned, saw the arrangement, and took the nearby chair. No problem. Ace looked around. “Okay, this is ridiculous.” Reyes looked at her. “What?” Ace gestured vaguely. “I’m in the middle of a fucking human knot.” Mai raised one eyebrow. “You’re complaining?” Ace considered. “No.” Nyx looked up. “Good.” Ace touched Nyx’s hair. Shammy’s head rested against Mai. Mai’s hand touched Ace’s thigh. Reyes’s arm lay along the back of the sofa behind Ace. Panam watched them all. Her expression softened. Ace caught it. “What?” Panam shook her head. Ace smiled. “Oh, no. You don’t get to use nothing either.” Panam laughed. “Fine.” She looked at Shammy tucked against Mai. Then Ace. Then Reyes. Nyx. “Looks right.” Ace’s face softened. “Yeah.” Panam nodded. “Good.” No one moved. --- Reyes eventually leaned closer. Ace turned. Their noses almost touched. “What?” Reyes looked at her. “You’re staring again.” Ace smiled. “At you?” “Yes.” Ace looked deliberately. Slow. Reyes’s expression stayed calm. Ace’s smile warmed. “Good view.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “You say that a lot.” “Because I have good taste.” Mai, beside them: “Questionable.” Ace turned. “Excuse me?” Mai looked toward Reyes. Then Nyx. Then Shammy. Then herself. Ace followed the sequence. Paused. Then grinned. “Okay, excellent taste.” Reyes laughed. Nyx leaned her head back against Ace’s knees. Shammy smiled. Mai’s mouth curved. Ace looked around. “Fuck, I walked into that too.” Reyes kissed her temple. “Frequently.” Ace froze. Slowly turned. Reyes smiled. Ace pointed. “You are recycling attacks.” Reyes nodded. “Efficient.” Ace laughed. “Bitch.” “Still.” Ace leaned closer. “Good.” --- Hours passed without anyone checking. That was probably the best part. The fire settled into a low red glow. Conversation thinned, returned, and thinned again. Nobody stood. Nobody announced bedtime. Panam stayed near Shammy without tugging her away. Kiro remained folded between Rhea and Sol. Brenda’s feet were still in Iris’s lap. Marco and Lena shared the same chair. Reyes stayed close enough that Ace could touch her without reaching. Ace looked around once more. Thursday had been bodies closing distance because they needed to. Sunday was this. Nobody proving anything. Nobody correcting anything. Just people staying where they wanted to be. Ace leaned back against Reyes and let Mai’s hand find her hair again. Nyx’s shoulder rested against her knee. Shammy smiled from the other end of the sofa. Ace smiled back. Nobody moved yet. For now, that was enough. --- ## Chapter Twenty-Two — Choose Your Bed Sunday night did not end with a vote. That was the first improvement. Nobody stood in the middle of the room asking who wanted what. Nobody tried to solve people like a seating chart. Nobody made jokes about vacancies. The cabin simply began to thin. Not separate. Thin. Panam had already gone upstairs once and come back down because Shammy was still with the Triad. Marco and Lena had disappeared early enough that no one doubted where they were. Rhea, Sol, and Kiro had drifted toward the side house in stages. Brenda and Iris had somehow managed to remain visible despite both looking increasingly uninterested in public company. Ace noticed all of it. Not because she was tracking. Because she liked knowing. Different thing. She stood at the bottom of the stairs with Mai beside her and Nyx behind them, listening to Shammy laugh from the sofa. Panam heard too. She came out of the kitchen. Stopped. Looked toward Shammy. Then Ace. Ace lifted one eyebrow. Panam folded her arms. “What?” Ace smiled. “You’re hovering.” Panam stared. “No.” Mai looked toward her. Panam pointed. “Don’t.” Mai’s mouth curved. Nyx laughed softly. Panam looked toward Shammy again. Shammy had one leg tucked under herself, talking quietly with Brenda. Iris sat beside Brenda, one hand resting over her knee. Ace followed Panam’s gaze. Then back. “You want her.” Panam looked offended. “I always want her.” Ace grinned. “Good answer.” Panam’s face softened immediately. “Yeah.” No pretending she was waiting because of logistics. She wanted Shammy. Shammy wanted Triad contact first. Both could be true. Ace liked that. She leaned slightly into Mai. Mai’s hand found the back of her neck. Nyx watched. No comment. Good. --- Kiro appeared from outside wearing one of Sol’s hoodies. Ace saw. Of course. Kiro caught the look. “What?” Ace looked down at the hoodie. Then up. “Nothing.” Kiro narrowed her eyes. Ace smiled. Kiro pointed. “No.” Ace sighed. “Fine. Nice hoodie.” Kiro looked down. Then toward the side-house path. Rhea stood there. Sol beside her. Waiting. Kiro’s face softened. Ace saw. No joke. Kiro looked back at Ace. “Night.” Ace smiled. “Night.” Kiro hesitated. Then walked over. Ace held out one arm. Kiro looked at it. Then went in. Ace hugged her. Short. Warm. Kiro hugged back. Ace murmured near her ear: “Sleep sometime.” Kiro laughed. “No promises.” Ace leaned back. “Thought so.” Kiro smiled. Then turned toward Mai. That beat mattered too. Mai stepped closer. Touched Kiro’s cheek. Kiro leaned into it. No long kiss this time. Just one. Soft. Familiar. Kiro’s eyes stayed closed for a second afterward. Then she smiled. “Night.” Mai nodded. “Night.” Nyx got a hug. Then Kiro headed toward Rhea and Sol. Rhea took her hand. Sol put an arm around her. They disappeared into the dark. Ace watched until the side-house door closed. Then sighed. Mai looked down. “What?” Ace shook her head. “Nothing bad.” Nyx smiled. Ace immediately looked at her. “Do not.” Nyx held up both hands. Ace laughed. --- Brenda stood next. Not because Iris asked. Because Brenda had reached the point where she had stopped pretending she could sit still. She stretched. Looked at Iris. Iris looked back. Ace saw. Brenda saw Ace see. Ace smiled. Brenda smiled wider. Iris raised one eyebrow. Ace said: “Go fuck your fiancée.” Silence. Brenda’s mouth fell open. Panam barked a laugh. Shammy laughed into one hand. Nyx turned away. Mai closed her eyes. Iris looked at Ace. Ace grinned. “What?” Brenda pointed at her. “That was not even pretending to be subtle.” Ace looked offended. “Why would I?” Iris stood. Brenda’s expression immediately changed. Ace saw. “See?” Brenda looked toward Iris. Then back at Ace. “You’re not wrong.” Iris stepped close. Brenda leaned in automatically. Ace watched. Of course. Iris looked over Brenda’s shoulder. Caught Ace. Ace smiled. Iris’s mouth curved. Brenda saw the expression. Turned. Caught Ace too. “Oh.” Ace raised one eyebrow. Brenda laughed. “Good night, voyeur.” Ace’s smile widened. “Good night, exhibitionist.” Iris looked between them. Brenda froze. Then slowly looked at Iris. Iris’s expression had gone warm. Interested. Ace saw. “Oh, fuck.” Brenda turned back. “You.” Ace laughed. “Go.” Iris took Brenda’s hand. Brenda went. Very willingly. Ace watched them disappear upstairs. Panam looked toward her. “Subtle.” Ace grinned. “Never claimed to be.” --- Shammy stood after that. Panam went still. Not dramatically. Enough. Shammy saw. Her expression softened. Ace saw that too. Shammy came over first to Mai. No uncertainty. Triad. Mai opened her arms. Shammy went in. Ace joined. Nyx stayed close, not inside the center. Panam stayed where she was. No pressure. The hug held. Longer than the earlier one. Shammy’s head rested against Mai. Ace’s arms around both. Mai held them. Shammy breathed out. Ace smiled against her shoulder. “Better?” Shammy nodded. “Yes.” Mai kissed her temple. Shammy turned and kissed Mai. Slow. Soft. Ace watched. No waiting for her turn. Just warmth. Then Shammy turned toward Ace. Ace smiled. “Hi.” Shammy’s mouth curved. “Hi.” They kissed too. No heat that needed escalation. Enough contact to say everything that mattered. When they drew back, Ace touched Shammy’s cheek. “Go.” Shammy looked toward Panam. Panam was still standing by the kitchen. Waiting. Ace smiled. “She looks like she’s trying not to climb over furniture.” Panam flipped her off. Shammy laughed. Then looked at Ace. “Tomorrow?” Ace nodded. “Always.” Shammy’s expression softened. Mai touched her hand. Shammy squeezed. Then went to Panam. Panam met her halfway. No words. Just one hand at Shammy’s waist. Shammy leaned in. Ace watched. Panam caught her. Ace smiled. Panam looked at Shammy. Then Ace. “Night.” Ace nodded. “Night.” Shammy smiled. Panam took her upstairs. She had come to Ace and Mai first because she wanted that too. Now she went with Panam. Both choices fit. --- The main room emptied until only Ace, Mai, Nyx, Reyes, and Iris’s abandoned glass remained. Reyes had come back from her room at some point. Not to join anything. Just because she was not tired yet. She stood by the window with water. Ace looked toward her. Reyes looked back. That was enough to make the room feel different. Not unresolved. Open. Ace walked over. Mai and Nyx stayed near the stairs. Reyes set the glass down. Ace stopped close. No joke first. Good. “You really taking your own room?” Reyes nodded. “Tonight.” Ace studied her. Not hurt. Just checking. Reyes touched her cheek. “You okay with that?” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Reyes’s eyes warmed. Ace looked toward Mai and Nyx. Then back. “You know where I am.” Reyes smiled. “Yeah.” Ace touched the front of Reyes’s shirt. Kept her there. One extra second. “Good.” Reyes looked down. Then at Ace. “You know where I am too.” Ace’s expression softened. “Always.” There. Not logistical. Not dismissive. Connection first. Ace leaned up. Kissed her. Long. No rush. No need to turn it into sex. Reyes’s hands settled at Ace’s waist. Ace held the back of her neck. The kiss deepened slightly. Then softened. When they separated, Ace stayed close. Reyes smiled. “Still good?” Ace nodded. “Very.” Reyes kissed her forehead. Ace leaned into it. Then stepped back. Not because she wanted distance. Because she did not fear it. That was the difference. Reyes looked toward Mai. Then Nyx. Both women smiled. Reyes nodded. “Night.” Mai answered: “Night.” Nyx too. Ace watched Reyes walk down the hall. No ache. No second guessing. No need to follow. The door closed. Ace breathed out. Mai came close. Touched her shoulder. Ace looked up. “Good?” Mai nodded. “You?” Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Nyx stepped closer too. Ace looked at both. The room had gotten very quiet. Then her smile sharpened. “Well.” Nyx laughed. Mai’s eyebrows rose. Ace looked toward the stairs. Then at them. “Upstairs.” No one misunderstood. Good. --- The bedroom looked softer at night. Window cracked. Low light. Three people who already knew exactly what the room meant. Ace closed the door. Turned. Nyx stood near the bed. Mai near the dresser. Ace looked at both. For a second nobody moved. Then Nyx smiled. “You’re staring.” Ace shrugged. “Yes.” Mai’s mouth curved. “Good view?” Ace looked at Nyx. Then Mai. “Very.” Nyx stepped closer. Ace met her. The kiss started slow. Sunday slow. No urgency. No feeling that the weekend would end if they did not consume every possible minute. Mai came close behind Ace. Hands at her waist. Ace leaned back into her. Nyx’s hands moved along Ace’s sides. Ace smiled into the kiss. “Crowded.” Nyx laughed softly. Mai kissed the back of Ace’s neck. Ace’s eyes closed. “Good crowded.” Mai’s arms tightened. “Better.” Ace turned enough to kiss her. Nyx stayed against them. No one left the shape. --- Clothing moved because skin felt better. Not as an event. Mai helped Ace out of her shirt. Nyx kissed Ace’s shoulder while the fabric came away. Ace laughed. “You two planned that.” Nyx smiled. “No.” Ace looked toward Mai. Mai’s face remained perfectly calm. Ace stared. “Liar.” Mai kissed her. Ace stopped complaining. Nyx’s shirt went next. Ace removed it. Slow. No performance. Just hands. Warm skin. Mai watched. Ace saw. Smile. “Your turn.” Mai raised one eyebrow. Ace stepped closer. Touched Mai’s shirt. Waited. Mai nodded. “Yes.” Ace lifted it. Nyx helped. Mai looked between them. Warm. Known. Good. The rest followed gradually. Shorts. Underwear. Nothing rushed. Nothing omitted. Every step carrying the quiet confidence of people who did not need to prove desire but still asked where asking mattered. Soon all three stood close. Bare skin. Ace between them. Nyx’s hands at her hips. Mai behind. Ace breathed out. “Fuck.” Nyx smiled. “Good?” Ace nodded. “Very.” Mai kissed her shoulder. Ace leaned back. --- The bed took them without ceremony. Ace settled on her side first, Nyx facing her, Mai close behind. The first shape lasted only until somebody wanted another. Nyx kissed Ace. Mai’s hand moved slowly along Ace’s waist. Ace turned and found Mai’s mouth without letting go of Nyx. Then Mai and Nyx found each other, and Ace eased back just enough to watch. No discovery this time. She already knew she liked this. Mai caught her looking. Ace smiled. “Keep going.” Nyx glanced toward her. “Sure?” “Yes.” Clear. Easy. Nyx kissed Mai again. Ace stayed connected with one hand over Nyx’s thigh and Mai’s ankle against her hip. Watching did not push her outside the shape. It was one of the ways she occupied it now. The warmth came quickly. Mai’s hand at Nyx’s waist. Nyx’s fingers in Mai’s hair. Their breathing changing. Ace watching until Nyx reached for her and pulled her back in because wanting to watch and wanting to touch were not competing choices. The three closed again. Hands. Mouths. Bare skin. Familiar pressure. Nothing turn-based about it. When Nyx became the center, Mai stayed connected to Ace. When Mai softened under both of them, Nyx never disappeared from the exchange. When Ace’s own breathing started to go uneven, she had already been building with them rather than waiting politely for some designated turn. Nyx lost the last of her composure first, held close between both women until the tension finally broke out of her. Mai followed later, quieter, her control thinning by degrees while Ace watched every one of them and Nyx stayed pressed close. Ace did not need a separate beginning. Mai felt where she already was. Nyx did too. They stayed with her. Ace stopped bracing, stopped trying to manage the pace, and let herself be held through the crest when it came. Her breath broke against Nyx’s shoulder. Mai’s arms tightened around her. Then all three slowed together. No one moved away. --- Afterward, they lay tangled. Not elegantly. Ace had one leg over Mai. Nyx’s arm across both. Mai’s hand resting at Ace’s stomach. Ace stared at the ceiling. Then: “Good room.” Nyx laughed. Mai closed her eyes. Ace looked toward them. “What?” Nyx smiled. “That’s your review?” Ace considered. “Excellent service.” Mai opened one eye. Ace grinned. “Would return.” Nyx laughed harder. Mai shook her head. “Hopeless.” Ace smiled. “Happy.” That stopped the teasing. Mai looked at her. Nyx too. Ace’s expression softened. “Very.” Nyx kissed her shoulder. Mai touched her hand. No speech needed. --- Much later, the room cooled. They found the blanket. Ace ended up in the middle. Of course. Nyx against her front. Mai behind. Ace looked toward the dark window. The cabin quiet now. Almost every door closed. Reyes alone by choice. Kiro with Rhea and Sol. Shammy with Panam after Triad contact. Brenda and Iris together. Marco and Lena. Nobody had tried to force the last night into one communal bed or make it prove anything. It did not need a spectacle. Ace smiled. Nyx felt. “What?” Ace shook her head. Then remembered. “Nothing bad.” Nyx laughed softly. Mai kissed the back of Ace’s shoulder. Ace closed her eyes. “Everybody chose.” Mai’s hand tightened slightly. “Yes.” Ace breathed. “And nobody had to explain.” Nyx smiled against her. “No.” Ace nodded. “Good.” That word had become enough. She fell quiet. Mai’s breathing slowed behind her. Nyx’s hand rested over Ace’s. Ace stayed awake a few minutes longer. Not guarding. Just listening. The cabin full of separate rooms. Separate choices. Connected people. Then she let go. And slept. --- ## Chapter Twenty-Three — No Evidence Is Safe Monday morning had consequences. Not emotional ones. Those were going suspiciously well. Physical evidence. Ace stood in the upstairs hallway holding a bra that was absolutely not hers. She looked at it. Then toward the open doors. “WHO THE FUCK OWNS THIS?” Several voices answered at once. None helpfully. Ace sighed. Mai came out of their room carrying folded clothes. Looked at Ace. Then the bra. “No.” Ace stared. “I didn’t ask if it was yours.” Mai’s mouth curved. “You were going to.” Ace looked at the bra again. “Fair.” Nyx appeared behind Mai with Ace’s jacket over one arm. She looked at the evidence. “Brenda?” Ace considered. “Too optimistic.” Brenda’s voice came from downstairs. “I HEARD THAT.” Ace leaned over the railing. “IS IT YOURS?” Pause. “WHAT COLOR?” Ace looked down. “BLACK.” Longer pause. “That does not narrow it down.” Ace closed her eyes. Mai laughed. Nyx smiled. Ace looked toward both. “This is why civilization fails.” Reyes stepped out of her room. Hair still messy. Already dressed. She looked at Ace. Then the bra. Ace held it up. Reyes shook her head. “No.” Ace frowned. “Everyone knows immediately except me.” Reyes walked closer. “You’re bad at bras.” Ace stared. “That sentence is fucking slander.” Reyes smiled. Ace looked down at herself. Then at Reyes. “Also demonstrably false.” Reyes laughed. Mai walked past. “Pack.” Ace pointed after her. “I am investigating.” Mai did not turn. “Pack while investigating.” Ace sighed. “Authoritarian.” Nyx kissed her cheek on the way by. “Very.” Ace looked toward Reyes. Reyes smiled. Ace held up the bra. “You want it?” “No.” “Know who does?” Reyes looked at it properly. Then: “Rhea.” Ace blinked. “How the fuck—” Reyes walked downstairs. Ace stared after her. “Sniper witch.” --- Rhea confirmed ownership. Immediately. Ace handed it over. Rhea took it. “Thanks.” Ace folded her arms. “How did Reyes know?” Rhea looked toward Reyes. Then down at the bra. Then back. “Observation?” Ace stared. Reyes drank coffee. Ace pointed. “You watched her take it off.” Silence. Rhea’s eyebrows rose. Sol slowly smiled. Kiro froze. Reyes looked toward Ace. “No.” Ace stared. “Then how?” Reyes took another drink. “Laundry.” Ace paused. Rhea laughed. Sol covered her mouth. Kiro looked relieved for approximately one second. Then realized Ace had noticed the relief. Ace slowly turned. Kiro immediately: “No.” Ace smiled. “I said nothing.” Kiro pointed. “You were about to.” Ace grinned. “Probably.” Rhea stuffed the bra into her bag. “Can we leave before Ace starts reconstructing everyone’s weekend through underwear?” Ace looked offended. “That would be invasive.” Panam entered carrying an armful of towels. “You literally shouted about a bra across the house.” Ace pointed. “Evidence management.” Panam stared. Then laughed. “Jesus Christ.” --- Breakfast was leftovers. Monday respected nobody. Steak became sandwiches. Fruit became whatever could survive the drive. Coffee became non-negotiable. Panam stood at the counter wrapping food while Marco attempted to create piles. Take home. Leave. Trash. Wash. Ace walked past and moved one item from one pile to another. Marco saw. “Why?” Ace looked at the towel. “Wrong pile.” “No.” Ace stared. “Yes.” “That’s clean.” Ace picked it up. Smelled it. Stopped. Looked toward Panam. Panam looked away. Ace looked toward Shammy. Shammy suddenly found the bread fascinating. Ace slowly put the towel into the wash pile. Marco stared. Then decided he did not want more information. “Fine.” Ace smiled. “Good call.” Lena laughed. Marco looked toward her. “You know?” Lena shook her head. “No.” Marco narrowed his eyes. Lena smiled. “I’m simply respecting the evidence.” Ace pointed. “See? Professional.” Marco groaned. --- Kiro had become obsessive about chargers. Not because anyone had lost one. Because she believed everyone was about to. She moved through the cabin holding cables. “Whose?” “No idea.” “Whose?” “Mine.” “Whose?” Panam looked over. “That’s not a charger.” Kiro stopped. Looked at the small black cable. Then frowned. “What the fuck is this?” Nyx glanced over. “Audio.” Kiro looked toward her. “You brought audio gear?” Nyx nodded. Kiro stared. Ace saw the look. “Oh, no.” Kiro turned. “What?” Ace smiled. “You’ve discovered a new category.” Kiro looked down at the cable. Then Nyx. Then Mai. Then Ace. “No.” Ace laughed. “I behaved.” Kiro shoved the cable toward Nyx. “Take it.” Nyx accepted. “Thank you.” Kiro walked away muttering. Ace looked after her. “She’s going to inventory the house by next weekend.” Marco, from the kitchen: “No, she isn’t.” Kiro stopped. Looked toward him. Ace smiled. “Oh, that sounded like a challenge.” Marco closed his eyes. “Please don’t.” --- Brenda found one of Iris’s stockings beneath the sofa. That should not have been remarkable. It became remarkable because she held it up in front of everyone. Ace looked. Then Iris. Then the stocking. Then Brenda. “Living dangerously.” Brenda smiled. “I know exactly where this came from.” Iris looked at her. Brenda’s grin widened. Ace leaned toward Reyes. “This is going to be filthy.” Reyes nodded once. Brenda looked toward Iris. “Terrace.” Iris’s eyebrows rose. Ace froze. Panam stopped wrapping food. Kiro looked up. Mai smiled. Brenda continued: “Second night.” Iris’s mouth curved. Ace leaned back. “That’s actually less filthy than expected.” Brenda looked toward her. “Want the rest?” Ace immediately: “Yes.” Iris said: “No.” Ace laughed. Brenda kissed the stocking. Iris stared. Brenda slowly lowered it. “Fine.” Ace pointed. “Coward.” Brenda threw the stocking at her. Ace caught it. Looked down. Then at Iris. Iris raised one eyebrow. Ace handed it back immediately. “No evidence handling without gloves.” The room broke. --- Some things were easier. Shammy’s clothes had migrated mostly into Panam’s bag. Neither woman cared. Panam held up one shirt. “Yours or mine?” Shammy looked. “Yours.” Panam frowned. “You wore it twice.” “Yes.” Panam looked at the shirt. Then Shammy. “Okay.” She put it into Shammy’s bag. Shammy smiled. Ace saw. Panam caught her. “Don’t.” Ace shook her head. “No filthy comment.” Panam stared. Ace smiled. “That was fucking adorable.” Panam’s expression betrayed her. Shammy leaned into her. Ace pointed. “See?” Panam flipped her off. Ace laughed. --- Mai found Kiro’s earring. Small. Dark metal. Under the chair in the upstairs room. She brought it downstairs. Held it up. Kiro’s hand went immediately to one ear. Then the other. “Oh.” Ace saw. “Where?” Mai looked toward her. Ace’s eyebrows rose. “Where did you find it?” Mai answered calmly. “Upstairs.” Kiro froze. Ace looked at Mai. Then Kiro. Then Rhea. Sol. Then back. The room went very still. Kiro stared at Mai. “You could have said beside the chair.” Mai’s mouth curved. Ace slapped one hand over her mouth. Panam turned away laughing. Brenda made a strangled noise. Iris looked toward Kiro. Kiro sighed. “Fuck all of you.” Mai handed her the earring. Kiro took it. Then looked at Mai. Softened. “Thanks.” Mai touched her wrist. “You’re welcome.” Ace saw that too. The teasing dropped immediately. Good. Kiro put the earring back in. Rhea kissed her cheek. Sol touched her waist. No need to reconstruct the night. Some evidence was allowed to remain unexplained. Even if Ace hated that on principle. --- Reyes packed in approximately six minutes. Ace considered this offensive. She stood in Reyes’s doorway watching her close the duffel. “That’s it?” Reyes looked over. “Yes.” Ace stared. “You arrived with more shit.” “No.” “You absolutely did.” Reyes zipped the bag. Ace looked around the room. Bed. Chair. Bourbon bottle. Nothing else. Ace narrowed her eyes. “You’re cheating.” Reyes lifted the bag. “How?” “I don’t know yet.” Reyes smiled. Ace stepped inside. The room felt different in daylight. Not emotional. Just ordinary again. That almost made Saturday feel more intimate. Ace looked toward the bed. Reyes saw. No teasing. She set the bag down. Ace looked at her. Reyes stepped close. “You okay?” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Then smiled. “Just remembering.” Reyes’s expression softened. “Good?” Ace looked up. “Very.” Reyes touched her cheek. Ace leaned into it. No need for a long reunion now. They already had it. Ace kissed her. Slow. Shorter than Saturday. Still full. When they separated: “Next time,” Ace said. Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace smiled. “No plan.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Good.” Ace touched the front of her shirt. “Still know where you are.” Reyes nodded. “Same.” Ace smiled. Then picked up the bourbon bottle. “This coming?” Reyes looked at it. “Yes.” Ace tucked it under one arm. “Evidence.” Reyes laughed. --- Nyx packed slower. Mostly because Ace kept stealing things out of the bag. Nyx watched Ace remove a shirt. Fold it badly. Place it on the bed. “What are you doing?” Ace looked at the shirt. “Helping.” Nyx stared. Ace smiled. Mai walked in. Looked at the bag. Then the shirt. Then Ace. “No.” Ace pointed. “Why does everybody keep saying that to me?” Mai picked up the shirt. Refolded it. Put it back. Ace stared. “This is oppression.” Nyx kissed her. Ace immediately forgot the argument. Mai saw. Shook her head. Ace looked over. “What?” Mai smiled. “Effective.” Ace grinned. “Diplomacy.” Nyx laughed. From the hallway, Reyes called: “Center part?” Ace froze. Mai closed her eyes. Nyx folded over laughing. Ace leaned toward the doorway. “GO PACK SOMEWHERE ELSE.” Reyes walked past without looking in. “Already done.” Ace stared. “Fucking witch.” --- By noon, the cabin had lost most of its weekend shape. Beds remade. Laundry bagged. Food divided. Trash out. Windows checked. Fire cold. The terrace cleared. That always hurt a little. Not enough to spoil it. Just enough to mark that something had ended. Ace stood outside with coffee. Mai came beside her. No shoes yet. Nyx behind them. Reyes farther down near the lake. Kiro with Rhea and Sol loading the side-house bags. Panam and Shammy at the vehicle. Marco and Lena arguing over the cooler. Brenda and Iris carrying bedding. Ace watched. Mai touched her shoulder. “You okay?” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Then: “I hate packing.” Mai smiled. “Not what I asked.” Ace looked up. Mai waited. Ace looked toward the cabin. Then everyone moving around it. “Yeah.” A pause. “Actually yeah.” Mai’s expression softened. Ace continued: “I thought leaving would feel like going back into armor.” Nyx came closer. Ace looked toward her. “It doesn’t.” Mai nodded. “No.” Ace smiled. “Good.” There. No grand recovery speech. Just truth. --- Reyes came up from the lake carrying something. Ace looked. A smooth stone. Wet. She stopped in front of Ace. Held it out. Ace stared. “What?” Reyes shrugged. Ace took it. Looked at the stone. Then Reyes. “This evidence?” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Maybe.” Ace looked down. Flat grey. Nothing remarkable. Which made it perfect. She put it in her pocket. “Keeping it.” Reyes nodded. “Thought so.” Ace smiled. “Still smug.” “Yes.” Ace looked toward the lake. Then Reyes. “No throwing today?” Reyes considered. “No.” Ace nodded solemnly. “Excellent growth.” Reyes’s eyebrows rose. Ace froze. Then both started laughing. Mai shook her head. Nyx smiled. Ace covered her face. “Fuck. Fine. I deserved that.” Reyes touched her shoulder. “You really did.” --- The cars began filling. Not according to original seating. Of course. Panam wanted Shammy with her. No surprise. Rhea and Sol had Kiro. Also no surprise. Marco and Lena together. Brenda and Iris. That left Ace, Mai, Nyx, Reyes. Ace looked around. Then at Reyes. Reyes looked back. Mai watched. Nyx too. Ace smiled. “Ride with us.” Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace shrugged. “If you want.” Reyes looked toward her own vehicle. Then back. “Yeah.” Ace’s smile widened. “Good.” Nyx took one of Reyes’s bags. Reyes looked at her. Nyx smiled. “No accounting.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Apparently.” Mai opened the rear hatch. Ace looked at the bags. Then at her own small pack. Then Reyes’s compact duffel. Then Nyx’s. Then Mai. “See? She packed suspiciously well.” Reyes sighed. --- Brenda came outside carrying a final pillow. Ace looked. “That ours?” Brenda looked down. “No.” Ace stared. Brenda looked toward Iris. Iris looked at the pillow. Then toward the upstairs window. A pause. Brenda’s eyebrows rose. “Oh.” Ace immediately smiled. “What?” Brenda shook her head. “No.” Ace stepped closer. “What?” Iris took the pillow from Brenda. “Nothing relevant.” Ace looked at both. “You found evidence.” Brenda’s face betrayed her. Ace grinned. “Evidence!” Iris walked past. Ace followed. “What is it?” Iris put the pillow in their car. Ace stared. Brenda was laughing. Ace looked between them. “Fuck you both.” Brenda kissed Ace’s cheek. “Some evidence is classified.” Ace looked offended. “Rogue would hate that.” Iris closed the hatch. “Good.” Ace stopped. Then smiled. “Fair.” --- Marco did the final walk-through. Of course. Ace followed him for entertainment. Kitchen. Clear. Water. Off. Windows. Locked. Back door. Locked. Bedrooms. Clear. Ace leaned in each doorway. Marco looked at her. “You are not helping.” “I am witnessing.” “You are obstructing.” “Different department.” Marco sighed. They reached the final room. Reyes’s. Marco looked inside. Ace looked too. Empty. Then something beneath the chair caught Ace’s eye. She stepped in. Marco stopped. “What?” Ace crouched. Picked up a small piece of paper. Folded. She opened it. Reyes’s handwriting. Ace read. **DON’T BE BORING.** Ace froze. Marco looked over her shoulder. Then laughed. Quiet. Ace stared at the note. Her own old joke returned. Reyes had reversed it. Ace smiled slowly. “Cunt.” Marco’s expression softened. “Keeping that too?” Ace folded it. Put it in her pocket beside the lake stone. “Yes.” Marco nodded. “Thought so.” Ace looked at him. “You all know me too well.” Marco smiled. “That’s generally the idea.” Ace stood. No joke. Just: “Yeah.” --- The final door locked behind them. Everyone ended up outside. For once. All of them. Vehicles loaded. Cabin shut. Lake behind. Monday sun bright enough to make the weekend look almost ordinary. Ace stood with Mai. Nyx on her other side. Reyes close. Shammy tucked beneath Panam’s arm. Kiro between Rhea and Sol. Brenda and Iris together. Marco and Lena. Nobody looked wrecked. Nobody looked cured. Better distinction. Ace turned toward the cabin. Then the lake. The dock. No speeches. Good. Panam eventually said: “We going?” Ace looked toward her. “No.” Panam’s eyebrows rose. Ace smiled. “In thirty seconds.” Panam laughed. “Why?” Ace looked around. Then took Mai’s hand. Nyx’s. Reyes stood close enough that Ace reached for hers too. Reyes took it. Ace smiled. “Because I fucking said so.” Brenda laughed. Marco shook his head. Kiro looked toward the vehicles. Then stopped herself. Good. Thirty seconds. Nobody counted out loud. Nobody needed to. Ace looked around at all of them. The cabin. The people. The evidence nobody had managed to completely clean away. She had a stone in one pocket. A note in the other. Probably someone else’s hair tie around her wrist. And absolutely no idea where one of her own shirts had gone. Perfect. Then she squeezed the hands she held. “Okay.” Mai looked down. “Now?” Ace smiled. “Now.” They started toward the cars. Home next. Not back to what they had been before. Just home. --- ## Chapter Twenty-Four — Same Place Next Time The engines had not started yet when Rhea said it. Everyone was loaded badly enough to count as ready. Marco had checked the cabin twice. Lena had checked Marco’s checking. Panam had somehow fit the remaining food into three containers that definitely had not held that much food on Thursday. Brenda and Iris were arguing over a pillow. Shammy stood beside Panam with one hand resting on the roof of the car. Nyx leaned against another door. Reyes had her bag over one shoulder. Ace was doing absolutely nothing useful. Mai had noticed. Of course. Rhea closed the side-house hatch and looked toward Kiro. “Next time—” “Yes.” Rhea stopped. Kiro stopped. Sol looked at Kiro. Ace’s head snapped around. Kiro saw her. “No.” Ace lifted both hands. “I said nothing.” Rhea looked at Kiro. “I didn’t ask yet.” Kiro glanced at Rhea. Then Sol. Her expression softened. “Still yes.” Sol smiled. Rhea did too. Kiro looked suddenly aware that half the property had heard her. Ace pressed both hands over her own mouth. Kiro pointed. “Keep them there.” Ace nodded violently. Mai looked away because she was smiling. Reyes did not bother hiding hers. Kiro turned back to Rhea. “So what were you going to ask?” Rhea’s smile sharpened. “Now I’m not telling you.” Kiro stared. “That’s cruel.” “Yes.” Sol took Kiro’s hand. Kiro sighed. Then smiled anyway. “Still yes.” Ace made a strangled sound through her hands. Kiro turned. “ACE.” Ace dropped them. “I lasted almost ten seconds.” “Seven.” Ace stared. Kiro’s eyes widened. Then: “Fuck.” Panam barked a laugh. Brenda doubled over against Iris. Reyes looked at Kiro. “Timed yourself.” Kiro closed her eyes. “I hate all of you.” Rhea kissed her cheek. “No, you don’t.” Kiro leaned into her. “No.” Then looked around at the cabin. The lake. The people. “Definitely not.” That quieted things for exactly long enough. Ace smiled. “Same place next time.” Panam looked toward the cabin. Then the group. “Yeah.” Marco nodded. Lena smiled. Brenda immediately said: “Yes.” Iris looked at her. Brenda raised one eyebrow. “What?” Iris’s mouth curved. “Nothing.” Brenda pointed. “Don’t start.” Ace laughed. Good. They were ready. --- The cabin vanished faster than it had any right to. First the building. Then the driveway. Then the trees closed. The lake stayed visible in fragments longer than everything else. A flash between branches. Silver. Then gone. Ace watched through the side window until there was nothing left to watch. She turned forward. Mai drove. Nyx sat behind Ace. Reyes behind Mai. Nobody said anything. Ace lasted five minutes. “This is fucking creepy.” Mai glanced toward her. “What?” Ace gestured vaguely. “This.” Nyx smiled. Reyes looked toward Ace. Ace turned partly in her seat. “We survived four days of constant verbal abuse and now everyone develops inner peace?” Reyes said: “You’ve been quiet too.” “That’s different.” “Why?” Ace stared. “Because I’m me.” Reyes nodded. “Strong argument.” Nyx laughed. Mai’s mouth curved. Ace settled back. “Better.” Mai glanced toward her. “You needed someone to insult you.” Ace looked offended. “I needed evidence of life.” From behind her, Reyes said: “Fuck you.” Ace smiled immediately. “There.” Nyx laughed harder. The road kept moving. --- Nobody was trying to make the drive part of the weekend. That helped. The cabin was over. Not erased. Over. There was a difference. People sent messages across the small convoy. Panam complained about Marco’s route choice. Marco replied with a map. Brenda sent a photograph of Marco’s map with several obscene annotations added. Iris sent: **Ignore her.** Brenda immediately answered: **SHE LIVES WITH ME SHE CAN’T IGNORE ME** Ace saw it. Started laughing. Mai glanced toward her. Ace showed her. Mai smiled. “Accurate.” A second message arrived from Iris. **I am aware.** Brenda: **THAT SOUNDED LIKE A THREAT** Ace typed: **IT WAS HOT** Three dots appeared. Stopped. Appeared again. Then Iris: **Drive home, Ace.** Ace stared. Reyes leaned forward. “What?” Ace showed her. Reyes smiled. “Effective.” Ace looked toward Mai. “I’m not even driving.” Mai nodded. “Still effective.” Ace sighed. “Fucking officers.” --- Marco and Lena split away first once Night City had swallowed the convoy properly. No roadside ceremony. No second goodbye. Just Marco’s vehicle pulling alongside long enough for Lena to lower the window. Ace looked over. Lena waved. Ace waved back. Marco lifted two fingers from the wheel. Mai did the same. Then Lena pointed toward Ace. Ace’s eyebrows rose. Lena called through the open window: “Eat something when you get home.” Ace looked offended. “I ate breakfast.” Lena stared. Ace thought. “Fine.” Lena smiled. Marco’s vehicle took the next turn. Gone into traffic. Ace watched it disappear. Then leaned back. No hollow space opened. Good. --- Rhea and Sol peeled away toward Japantown with Kiro. That separation took longer. Mostly because Kiro’s face appeared on Mai’s comm before the turn was even complete. Mai accepted. Kiro filled the display from somewhere in Rhea and Sol’s vehicle. “Hi.” Ace leaned toward the screen. “You’ve been gone six seconds.” Kiro looked at her. “I was calling Mai.” Ace stared. Mai’s mouth curved. Reyes laughed softly behind them. Ace leaned back. “Rude.” Kiro looked toward Mai again. “Message me when you’re home.” Mai nodded. “I will.” A pause. Kiro’s expression softened. “Good.” Then Ace leaned back into frame. “Still yes?” Kiro stared. Rhea’s laughter came from somewhere off-screen. Sol said something indistinct. Kiro closed her eyes. “I’m hanging up.” Ace grinned. “Love you.” Kiro opened one eye. The irritation disappeared. “Love you too.” Mai’s expression softened. “Home safe.” Kiro nodded. “You too.” The connection ended. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai kept her eyes on traffic. Ace smiled. No comment. Some things could survive without help. --- Panam and Shammy stayed with them. So did Brenda and Iris. That was not a detour. That was the route home. Ace thought about that somewhere near Watson and smiled before she could stop herself. Nyx noticed from behind. “What?” Ace shook her head. Then remembered what that word had become. “Home.” Nyx looked out the window. Watson was beginning to collect around them. Concrete. Neon. Traffic. People moving through streets that looked hostile even when nobody was actively shooting. Reyes looked toward the familiar district too. Ace glanced back at her. “Your natural habitat.” Reyes raised one eyebrow. “Concrete?” “Bad decisions.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “You’re here.” Ace stared. Nyx made a small delighted sound. Mai did not look away from the road. “She has a point.” Ace folded her arms. “This car is hostile.” Reyes leaned back. “Still riding in it.” Ace smiled. “Still.” The word carried more than the joke. Reyes knew. No need to say so. --- The Safehouse appeared without fanfare. It always did. No grand skyline reveal. No sentimental light through windows. Just the building. Familiar. Defensible. The door they knew. Ace looked at it. Something in her chest loosened. Not because she had wanted the cabin to end. Because she had not realized until that moment how much she wanted to arrive here without needing to pretend arrival meant returning to the weeks before. Mai parked. Doors opened. Everyone started getting out. Brenda moved first. She stood beside the car, looked at the Safehouse, then at Iris. Iris looked back. Brenda smiled. “Home.” Iris’s expression softened. “Yes.” No hesitation. No visitor posture. No looking around like she was entering somebody else’s shelter. Home. Ace heard. Looked toward them. Brenda saw. “Don’t.” Ace held up both hands. “I wasn’t going to.” Brenda narrowed her eyes. Ace smiled. “Okay, I was going to say something sweet.” Brenda looked suspicious. “That’s worse.” Iris laughed. Ace walked over and hugged Brenda before she could escape. Brenda made a startled sound. Then hugged back. Ace murmured: “Good to have you home.” Brenda’s arms tightened. “Yeah.” Ace leaned back. Then looked at Iris. Iris’s eyebrows rose. Ace opened one arm. Iris stared. Ace smiled. “Don’t make it weird.” Iris laughed once. Then stepped in. Ace hugged her too. Shorter. Still real. “Home,” Ace said. Iris’s expression warmed. “Home.” Ace smiled. Exactly. --- Shammy came through the Safehouse door carrying two bags and immediately changed the air. Not dramatically. Home knew her. Or maybe she knew home. Her shoulders dropped. The faint restless movement in her silver-white hair settled. Mai came in behind her carrying another bag. Ace followed with nothing. Panam noticed. “Of course.” Ace turned. “What?” “You are carrying absolutely fuck-all.” Ace looked around. Mai had a bag. Shammy had two. Nyx had one. Reyes had another. Brenda and Iris were dragging their own things in. Panam had a cooler. Ace looked down at herself. Then smiled. “Leadership.” Panam stared. Reyes handed Ace the bag she was carrying. Ace almost dropped it. “Fuck.” Reyes smiled. “Lead.” Ace glared. Then carried it inside. --- Safehouse did not look empty. That was the first thing Ace noticed. It looked paused. Thursday still existed in little places. A mug Ace had left wrong. A tool Brenda had been told to move and apparently had not. One of Shammy’s sketch folders on the table. Mai’s charger exactly where Mai had left it. Iris’s jacket hanging where it belonged. Not guest evidence. House evidence. Ace stopped. Brenda nearly walked into her. “Why are you standing there?” Ace looked around. Then stepped aside. “Nothing.” Brenda groaned. Ace laughed. “Fine. It looks good.” Brenda looked around. The Safehouse. Their mess. Their things. Then smiled. “Yeah.” Iris passed them carrying a bag. “Unpack first. Emotional attachment to clutter afterward.” Brenda turned. “See? This is what I live with.” Iris looked back. “Yes.” Brenda smiled helplessly. Ace pointed. “You chose her.” Brenda nodded. “Repeatedly.” Iris stopped. Looked over one shoulder. Brenda froze. Ace’s grin widened. “Oh, that was good.” Brenda’s face warmed. Iris’s mouth curved. Then she carried the bag toward their room. Brenda stared after her. Ace leaned closer. “You’re going.” Brenda looked at her. “Obviously.” Then followed Iris with enough speed to answer every remaining question. Ace laughed. Home. Definitely. --- Shammy took her bags upstairs. Not into a guest room. Not into temporary storage. Home. She returned several minutes later wearing a different shirt and carrying the cabin jacket she had forgotten she was still wearing over one arm. Panam sat on the edge of the table waiting. Ace saw that. Mai saw Ace seeing it. Ace looked toward Mai. Mai’s mouth curved. Ace whispered: “She has the face.” Mai nodded. Panam heard anyway. “What face?” Ace looked innocent. “The one where you want something.” Panam folded her arms. “I always want something.” Shammy stopped near her. Panam looked up. The whole defensive line disappeared from her face. Not completely. Enough. Shammy smiled. Panam reached out. Caught her hand. “Your stuff home?” Shammy nodded. “Yes.” “Everything?” Shammy thought. “One shirt may be in Ace’s bag.” Ace looked down at the bag Reyes had forced on her. “Why?” Shammy looked at her. “You wore it.” Ace paused. “Oh.” Panam laughed. Ace pointed. “Laundry is a hostile archive.” Shammy’s hair lifted faintly. Panam squeezed her hand. Then: “Want to come to my place?” Shammy answered immediately. “Yes.” No pause. No household vote. No Triad permission. Yes. Panam smiled. Ace looked at Mai. Mai looked at Shammy. Warm. Easy. Shammy came over first. Of course she did. Ace opened her arms. Shammy folded around her. Ace disappeared almost completely. Panam watched. Amused. Mai joined them. Triad. Home contact. Not goodbye. Shammy held both. Ace’s voice came muffled against her. “You are abandoning us.” Panam snorted. Shammy looked down. “No.” Ace leaned back enough to look up. “You’re literally leaving.” “Yes.” “With Panam.” “Yes.” “To probably do indecent things.” Panam pointed. “Careful.” Ace grinned. Shammy considered. “Probably.” Panam froze. Mai closed her eyes. Ace started laughing. “Fucking love you.” Shammy smiled. “Love you too.” Mai touched Shammy’s face. “Go.” Shammy leaned down and kissed her. Then Ace. Warm. Unhurried. Nothing in either kiss suggested separation threatened anything. Panam waited. Not outside the moment. Not inside Triad. Exactly where she belonged. Shammy stepped back. Panam stood. Ace looked at her. “Bring her back eventually.” Panam raised one eyebrow. “She knows the way.” Shammy nodded. “I do.” Ace’s expression softened. “Good.” Panam’s did too. Then Panam took Shammy’s hand. “Come on.” Shammy went. Gladly. The door closed behind them. Ace looked at it. Then at Mai. Mai came beside her. Ace leaned against her. “Good?” Mai asked. Ace smiled. “Very.” There was no gap where Shammy had been. There was simply Shammy somewhere else for the night. Different thing. --- Nyx had waited through all of it. No bag clutched nervously. No question about whether she had overstayed. She sat on the arm of the sofa drinking water like someone who knew nobody needed to authorize her existence in the room. Ace looked toward her. Nyx smiled. “Walking distance.” Ace nodded. “Yeah.” Nyx stood. Mai came closer. No belonging question. No awkward offer to stay because nobody knew how to end the weekend. Nyx was going home. Her home. In Watson. And she would come back because she wanted to. Ace liked that. Nyx stepped close to Mai first. Kissed her. Soft. Ace watched. Of course. Nyx broke the kiss and looked toward Ace. Ace smiled. “Still.” Nyx’s mouth curved. “Good.” Then Ace went to her. Arms around Nyx’s waist. Nyx held her. Long enough. Ace looked up. “Good weekend.” Nyx touched her cheek. “Very.” Ace smiled. “Come back soon.” Nyx raised one eyebrow. “You know where I live.” Ace stared. Then laughed. “Apparently everybody does now.” Mai smiled. Nyx kissed Ace once. Then leaned toward Mai. One more brief touch. “See you.” Mai nodded. “See you.” Nyx picked up her bag. Not a dramatic departure. Just the door. Watson outside. Home a walk away. She went. --- Reyes remained. Of course she did. She had been helping Mai put a few things away in the kitchen. Or pretending that was why she had stayed. Ace did not call her on it. That would have been rude. And less fun. When Nyx’s footsteps had faded beyond the entry, Reyes put the last container down. Looked toward Ace. Ace looked back. Mai saw. Then picked up another bag. “I’m going upstairs.” Ace stared. Mai’s mouth curved. Reyes did not smile. Ace pointed at Mai. “You are not subtle.” “No.” Then Mai went. Ace watched her disappear. Looked at Reyes. “Conspiracy.” Reyes leaned against the counter. “Probably.” Ace walked closer. No hurry. The whole weekend had trained that out of this particular moment. Reyes lived close. Watson close. Not cabin close. Not Triad-home close. Still real. Ace stopped in front of her. “You walking?” “Yes.” Ace nodded. “Good.” Reyes raised one eyebrow. “That all?” Ace looked offended. “No.” Reyes waited. Ace reached for the front of her jacket. Pulled her down. Kissed her. Reyes’s hands found Ace’s waist. Familiar immediately. No repair needed now. No fight sitting between them. Just want. Affection. A little reluctance to end a weekend that had already ended hours ago. They separated slowly. Ace stayed close. “You know where I am.” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Yeah.” Ace smiled. “And before you say it—” Reyes raised one eyebrow. Ace narrowed hers. “One lake throw per weekend.” Reyes smiled. “I wasn’t going to throw you.” “There’s no lake.” “There are puddles.” Ace stared. Reyes’s smile sharpened. Ace laughed. “You absolute cunt.” “Still.” Ace leaned into her. Forehead against her. “Good.” Reyes’s hands remained at her waist. Ace breathed. Saturday lived there. Not as damage. As something returned. Reyes touched her cheek. “Same place next time?” Ace looked up. “Cabin?” “Yes.” Ace smiled. “Definitely.” Reyes nodded. Then: “Maybe two throws.” Ace immediately: “Fuck off.” Reyes laughed. Ace kissed her again. Short. Then let go. That mattered too. Reyes picked up her bag. Ace walked her to the door. No ache. No acting like Reyes leaving meant the orbit had weakened. Reyes opened the door. Watson outside. Her own apartment not far away. She looked back. Ace stood just inside. “You coming?” Ace’s eyebrows rose. “To your place?” Reyes’s mouth curved. “Eventually.” Ace froze. Reyes stepped outside. Ace stared. Then: “FUCK YOU.” Reyes laughed without turning. Ace leaned through the doorway. “You have one fucking joke!” Reyes lifted one hand. Still walking. Ace smiled until she disappeared from view. Then closed the door. --- The Safehouse had become smaller. Not emptier. Panam and Shammy gone to Panam’s. Nyx walking home. Reyes walking home. Rhea and Sol delivering Kiro safely back into Japantown. Marco and Lena already wherever their own evening had taken them. The people still inside were the people who lived there. Ace. Mai. Brenda. Iris. And Shammy’s absence was temporary enough that her mug still sat by the sink waiting for morning. Ace looked at it. Then heard Brenda from down the hall. “I AM NOT UNPACKING ALL OF THAT TONIGHT.” Iris answered, perfectly calm: “You packed it.” “That was Thursday Brenda.” “You are still Brenda.” “Debatable.” Ace started laughing. Mai came down the stairs. Heard. Looked toward the hall. Then at Ace. “Home.” Ace smiled. “Yeah.” Brenda appeared around the corner. Hair loose. One bag apparently unpacked enough to have been violently rejected onto the floor behind her. Iris followed. Much calmer. Brenda looked at Ace. “What?” Ace shook her head. Brenda stared. Ace sighed. “Nothing bad.” Iris’s mouth curved. Brenda pointed. “See? She’s learning qualifiers.” Ace laughed. “Fuck you.” Brenda smiled. “Home.” Ace stopped. Brenda had not made it a question. Good. Iris came beside her. Ace looked at both women. Then Mai. Then the Safehouse. Same room. Same table. Same clutter. Different people than Thursday. Not because anyone had been repaired. Not because the weeks before the cabin had disappeared. The ugly public fight still existed. The specialist camp still existed. The separation still existed. The things they had said because they needed other people to believe them had still been said. Ace remembered the way Reyes had looked at her during the worst of it. Mai remembered watching Ace walk away. Brenda remembered fighting with Iris. Iris remembered leaving furious. None of that had been washed out by lake water, sex, wine, laughter, or four nights of choosing different beds. It did not need to be. Ace walked to the table. Reached into her pocket. Found the flat grey stone Reyes had given her at the lake. She put it down. Mai looked at it. Brenda came closer. “What’s that?” Ace touched the stone with one finger. “Evidence.” Iris raised one eyebrow. Ace looked at her. “The good kind.” Brenda smiled. Mai did too. Ace left the stone there. Not hidden. Not stored away. Just part of the house now. Mai came beside her. Ace leaned into her. Brenda leaned back against Iris. Iris put an arm around her automatically. Nobody had anywhere else they needed to be for the next five minutes. That felt enormous. Ace looked toward the door Panam and Shammy had gone through. Then toward the city beyond the windows. Everyone was already spreading back into their lives. Roads. Apartments. Japantown. Watson. Work. Ships. Contracts. Whatever ugly thing Night City decided to put in front of them next. Fine. They would deal with it. Later. Ace looked at Mai. “Same place next time.” Mai touched her cheek. “Yes.” Brenda immediately said: “Absolutely.” Iris looked at her. Brenda smiled. “You weren’t asked.” “I know.” Ace laughed. Iris’s mouth curved. Then: “Yes.” Ace looked at her. “See?” Brenda looked triumphant. Iris kissed her temple. “Do not make me regret it.” “No promises.” “Obviously.” Ace smiled. There they were. Not healed. Not reset. Not returned to what they had been before. Something better than that. Present. Touching. Laughing. Able to leave. Able to come back. Human again.