Little Longer
The room was quiet.
Not empty quiet.
Lived-in quiet.
The kind that settled after exhaustion, where the world hadn't started moving yet but you could feel it getting ready to.
A faint glow from the early station cycle filtered through the window panels, soft enough that it didn't force anything awake, just enough to outline shapes—furniture, scattered gear, the edge of a datapad left on overnight, the faint reflection of the academy beyond.
Ryven was already awake.
He had been for a while.
Not fully moving. Not rushing. Just… there.
Listening.
Feeling the weight across him before he even opened his eyes.
Warm.
Heavy in a very specific way.
Familiar.
He exhaled quietly and shifted slightly—
And immediately—
"No."
The word came out half-muffled, half-asleep, pressed somewhere against his shoulder.
A second later—
the weight tightened.
Kael's arms wrapped more firmly around him, one leg hooking lazily across his waist as if to physically anchor him in place.
The full koala.
Ryven closed his eyes again for half a second.
"…it's too early for this."
"No, it's not," Kael mumbled, voice barely coherent, already drifting.
"It's exactly early for this."
"Mm… disagree."
Ryven let out a slow breath through his nose, something between a sigh and something softer.
"It's zero five thirty."
That didn't move him.
"The medics will be here soon."
Still nothing.
"…we need to get ready."
Kael shifted slightly, just enough to press his face further into the side of Ryven's neck.
"Ten more minutes."
It wasn't a request.
It was a decision.
Ryven stared at the ceiling.
Considered his options.
There weren't many.
He could try to move again.
He already knew what would happen.
Or—
He let out another quiet breath.
His hand moved almost automatically, settling lightly against Kael's back.
"…what am I going to do with you."
There was no answer.
Because Kael—
was already asleep again.
Ryven turned his head slightly, just enough to look at him.
Really look.
Messy hair falling wherever it wanted. Breathing steady, completely unbothered by time, by schedule, by the fact that in less than an hour they would be standing in front of people who had been on actual battlefields teaching them how not to die.
This—
was the same person who had stood in the arena a few days ago and pointed out something no one else had seen.
The same person who could break down a combat flow mid-motion and rebuild it into something sharper.
The same person who could look at a system—
and find the flaw in it before it fully formed.
And now—
this.
Completely still.
Completely at ease.
Clinging to him like letting go wasn't an option.
Ryven's expression softened without him realizing it.
"…you're ridiculous."
No response.
Of course not.
He shifted his hand slightly, brushing back a loose strand of hair that had fallen across Kael's face.
Kael didn't move.
Didn't even react.
Just breathed.
Steady.
Calm.
Safe.
Ryven watched him for a second longer than he should have.
Then—
something in his expression changed.
Just slightly.
"…and you're all mine."
The words came out quiet.
Not something he would say out loud anywhere else.
Not something he would repeat.
But here—
like this—
it felt natural.
He leaned forward just slightly and pressed a soft kiss against Kael's head.
Warm.
Simple.
Uncomplicated.
Then—
he tried to move again.
And immediately—
Kael tightened his hold.
"Mm… no."
Ryven paused.
"…you're doing that on purpose."
No answer.
Just a small shift, pulling him closer.
He stared at the ceiling again.
"…we're going to be late."
A pause.
"…they're going to notice."
Another pause.
"…Volkov will notice."
That—
that got a reaction.
Not much.
But enough.
Kael made a small sound, somewhere between a groan and protest.
"…she already doesn't like me."
"That's not true."
"…she absolutely does not like me."
"She respects you."
"That's worse."
Ryven almost smiled.
Almost.
"…get up."
"Five more minutes."
"You said ten."
"I adjusted."
"That's not how time works."
"It is if I'm asleep."
"You're not asleep."
"I am right now."
"…Kael."
Silence.
Then—
"…fine."
He loosened his hold.
Barely.
Just enough.
Ryven didn't move immediately.
Because he knew.
The moment he did—
Kael would grab him again.
So he moved carefully.
Slowly.
Shifting just enough to slide out from under him—
And—
Nothing.
No resistance.
Ryven blinked.
Looked down.
Kael had rolled slightly onto his side, still half-curled, still completely asleep.
Just—
let him go.
"…that's new."
He sat up slowly, running a hand once through his hair as he adjusted to being upright.
The room felt colder without the extra warmth.
Quieter.
For a second—
he just sat there.
Looking back.
Because no matter how many times this happened—
it never really felt routine.
Not completely.
He stood.
Moved quietly.
Picked up his uniform from where it had been left the night before, already set out, already prepared.
Because that part—
that part didn't change.
Discipline.
Routine.
Readiness.
He dressed quickly.
Efficiently.
Checked his gear without thinking.
Comms.
Active.
Loadout.
Ready.
Patches.
Blockers.
He paused.
Turned back.
Kael hadn't moved.
Still asleep.
Still exactly where he had left him.
Ryven walked back over.
Sat on the edge of the bed.
Reached out—
and checked.
Habit.
Patches in place.
Stable.
Blockers holding.
No irregularities.
Good.
He exhaled quietly.
Then—
"…you're going to sleep through first contact at this rate."
No response.
He nudged him lightly.
Nothing.
"…Kael."
Still nothing.
He watched him for a second.
Then—
"…medics."
Kael's eyes opened immediately.
"…what."
Ryven raised an eyebrow.
"…that worked."
Kael blinked slowly, processing.
"…you're evil."
"You were asleep."
"I was resting."
"You were unconscious."
"Strategically."
"That's not a thing."
"It is now."
Ryven stood.
"Get up."
Kael stared at him for a second longer.
Then groaned.
"…I hate mornings."
"You like mornings."
"I like winning."
"That happens in the morning."
"…that's a coincidence."
Ryven didn't respond.
He just watched as Kael sat up slowly, running a hand through his already messy hair, blinking like the world had personally offended him by existing too early.
Then—
Kael looked at him.
Really looked.
"…you're already ready."
"Yes."
"…overachiever."
"…we're not being late."
Kael sighed.
"…fine."
He stood.
Stretching once, arms over his head, posture loosening before snapping back into something sharper without needing to think about it.
The shift—
was instant.
From soft—
to ready.
From relaxed—
to focused.
Like flipping a switch.
Then he walked to the shower.
Came out, got dressed
Ryven watched it happen.
Not surprised.
Never surprised.
But still—
aware of it.
"…let's go," Kael said.
Ryven nodded once.
And together—
they stepped out of the room.
Into the day.
Into what came next.