Ryven woke before the alarms.
The room was still wrapped in pre-dawn quiet, the kind that existed only in the narrow space between rest and movement. Outside the window, Helius Prime glowed in low operational light—corridors dimmed, platforms running at reduced cycle, distant systems pulsing like a heartbeat beneath metal and glass.
It wasn't silent.
It never was.
But it was close enough to feel it.
For a moment, Ryven didn't move.
Kael was still beside him, half-turned into him, one arm loosely draped across his side. His breathing was slow, steady, his hair still slightly unruly from the night before. The robe had twisted somewhere in his sleep, barely clinging to his shoulder.
Ryven watched him.
Longer than necessary.
Longer than he usually allowed himself.
Then he moved.
Careful.
Controlled.
Sliding out from under him without waking him, adjusting just enough so Kael didn't lose the contact entirely. His feet hit the cool floor as he crossed the room, already shifting into routine.
There was no need to check the time again.
He knew it.
Departure.
No delay.
No margin.
He moved quietly—checking gear, adjusting straps, running through the same sequence he always did before deployment. It wasn't about memory anymore.
It was instinct.
He paused once at Kael's luggage.
Still ridiculous.
Still overpacked.
Still—
untouched.
Ryven exhaled faintly, then turned toward the bathroom.
Steam followed him when he came out.
The faint scent of soap lingered in the air, mixing with the cool metal smell of the room. His hair was still damp, robe loosely tied, sleeves pushed slightly back as he moved toward the bed.
Kael hadn't moved.
Still there.
Still asleep.
Still—
exactly where he left him.
Ryven stopped at the edge of the bed.
Looked down at him.
Something in his chest tightened—
not sharp.
Not painful.
Just—
aware.
Then he reached down and nudged him lightly.
"Kael."
No response.
"Kael."
A beat.
Then—
"…five more minutes," came the muffled reply, face still buried in the pillow.
Ryven almost smiled.
"Up."
Kael groaned.
Shifted.
Then—
stilled.
A second passed.
Then another.
And then—
he sat up.
No argument.
No resistance.
Ryven paused.
That—
was new.
Kael blinked slowly, running a hand through his hair before looking at him.
"…what time."
"0400."
Kael exhaled.
"…right."
And just like that—
he stood.
No complaint.
No dragging.
Just—
movement.
He walked straight into the bathroom.
Ryven watched him go.
That surprised him more than anything else so far.
The shower didn't last long.
No lingering.
No delay.
When Kael stepped out again, steam followed him, his skin still warm, droplets trailing down his shoulders. The robe hung loose again, tied just enough to stay in place.
Ryven was already sitting on the edge of the bed.
Waiting.
"…sit," he said.
Kael blinked.
"…you're bossy this early."
"Sit."
There wasn't any room to argue.
So he didn't.
Kael dropped down in front of him, posture loose, still waking up, eyes tracking him with quiet curiosity.
"…what are you doing."
Ryven didn't answer.
He reached for the dryer.
Turned it on.
Warm air filled the space, pushing through Kael's damp hair as Ryven worked through it with steady, practiced movements. Fingers threading through strands, lifting, drying, smoothing without rushing.
Kael didn't move.
Didn't complain.
Which was rare enough to matter.
"…you're being weird," he muttered.
"Stay still."
"…that's not an explanation."
"Kael."
He stopped talking.
Because of the tone.
The dryer clicked off.
Silence returned.
Soft.
Close.
Ryven set it aside.
Then reached for something on the bed.
A small case.
Simple.
Unassuming.
He held it for a second longer than necessary.
Then handed it over.
"I got you something."
Kael frowned slightly.
"…what did you do."
"Open it."
Kael took it.
Turned it once.
Then opened it.
Inside—
two rings.
Platinum.
Identical.
Each one resting on a thin chain.
Kael didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Ryven leaned forward slightly, lifting one just enough for the engraving to catch the light.
"My Sky."
Then the other.
"Your Anchor."
The words hung between them.
Quiet.
Heavy.
Real.
"We've been bonded for over a year," Ryven said.
"We never celebrated."
Kael swallowed.
For once—
nothing came out.
No joke.
No deflection.
Just—
him.
"…you've had this ready," he said.
"Yes."
"…for how long."
"A while."
That was it.
And somehow—
that made it heavier.
Kael's fingers brushed against the ring slowly.
"…you sprung this on me," he said.
Ryven didn't respond.
Because the next second—
Kael moved.
Fast.
He grabbed Ryven and shoved him back onto the bed, momentum carrying them down as Kael climbed over him in one clean motion.
"You really did this," Kael said, breath uneven now, eyes locked on him.
Ryven didn't resist.
Didn't move.
Just—
watched.
Kael leaned in closer, voice dropping—
"You sprung this on me…"
"…and expect me not to do something?!"
Ryven's hand came up, steadying at his waist.
"We don't have time."
Calm.
Controlled.
Kael stared at him.
Then—
grinned.
Sharp.
Alive.
"…we'll make it."
And then he closed the distance.
The kiss wasn't slow.
Not measured.
It was immediate.
Driven.
Everything Kael didn't say—
was there.
Ryven exhaled against him, grip tightening just slightly, grounding without stopping him, pulling him closer but not controlling it.
Kael shifted, pressing deeper, one hand bracing against Ryven's shoulder, the other gripping his robe.
Time bent.
Not gone.
Not forgotten.
But—
secondary.
Because this—
this mattered too.
Ryven turned his head slightly, breath catching—
"Kael—"
"Don't."
Soft.
Real.
Ryven stopped.
Let it happen.
Just for a moment longer.
Kael finally pulled back, breath uneven, resting his forehead against Ryven's.
"…you're unfair," he muttered.
"How."
"You do this…"
"…and expect me to walk out like nothing happened."
"I don't."
That broke him.
Kael huffed a quiet laugh, then leaned down again, pressing a softer, shorter kiss before finally pulling back.
"…we'll save the rest."
Ryven raised an eyebrow slightly.
"We're leaving in less than an hour."
Kael smirked.
"Exactly."
"…motivation."
Ryven shook his head faintly.
But didn't push him away.
Kael shifted off him, sitting beside him now, hand brushing the ring again.
Quieter this time.
"…you really did this."
"Yeah."
Kael leaned sideways, shoulder pressing into him.
"…good."
Outside—
Helius began to wake.
Lights brightening.
Movement increasing.
Time moving again.
Kael stood.
Ran a hand through his hair.
"…we should go before Torres starts screaming."
"He will."
"…he always does."
Kael glanced back once.
At the room.
At the bed.
At what they were leaving behind.
" I still want to take the bed".
Then exhaled.
"…let's go."
Ryven stood.
No hesitation.
And together—
they walked out.
Because the engines were about to wake.
And so were they.