Aurelia didn't move immediately after her last words.
"You might want to ask him what he walked away from."
The air stayed tight.
Unfinished.
Then she exhaled softly—like she had said what she came to say.
And turned.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
Just… familiar.
Like she'd done this before.
Lucien moved the second she did.
"Aurelia."
Her name came out lower this time.
Less controlled.
That alone made Ava's chest tighten slightly.
Aurelia paused mid-step.
Just for a second.
Then slowly turned back.
And this time—
The distance between them didn't feel like tension.
It felt like time.
Old time.
The kind that doesn't disappear, no matter how far you go.
She looked at him properly now.
No teasing.
No lightness.
Just… him.
"You're really doing this?" she asked quietly.
Lucien stepped closer.
Not all the way.
But enough.
"I already did."
Aurelia's jaw tightened slightly.
And for a second—
Just a second—
She looked hurt.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just real.
"You always leave like it's easy," she said.
"It wasn't," Lucien replied.
"Could've fooled me."
Silence.
Ava didn't move.
Didn't interrupt.
But she felt it clearly now—
This wasn't just history.
This was attachment.
Aurelia shook her head lightly, like she didn't want to stay in that feeling too long.
"Still the same," she muttered.
Then, before anything else could settle—
She stepped forward.
Closing the distance between them.
Fast.
Natural.
And pulled him into a hug.
It wasn't soft.
It wasn't romantic.
It was tight.
Firm.
Like she was checking if he was still real.
Lucien went still at first.
Completely.
Like his body didn't know what to do with it.
Then slowly—
His hand lifted.
Rested lightly against her back.
Not pulling her closer.
But not pushing her away either.
Ava felt something twist in her chest.
Small.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
Aurelia leaned back just enough to look at him, but didn't fully let go.
"You disappeared," she said again, softer now. "No warning. No nothing."
Lucien didn't look away.
"I know."
"That's all you have?"
A pause.
"…No."
But he didn't finish it.
Didn't explain.
And that seemed to annoy her more than if he had said nothing.
Aurelia finally let him go.
But her hand dragged slightly against his arm before falling away.
Like she didn't really want to.
"You're annoying," she said under her breath.
Lucien almost—almost reacted to that.
A faint shift.
Something close to familiarity.
Something Ava hadn't seen before.
Aurelia noticed it too.
Of course she did.
Her gaze flicked briefly past him—to Ava.
And this time?
There was no pretending.
No casual curiosity.
She saw her.
Clearly.
Fully.
And something in her expression sharpened again.
"Yeah," she said quietly. "This definitely complicates things."
Lucien stepped slightly to the side then.
Not blocking.
But not leaving Ava out of it either.
Just… aware of both of them.
"You should go," he said.
Aurelia looked back at him.
"And you're not coming with me?"
Straight.
Direct.
That question hung heavy.
Ava felt it.
Because that wasn't random.
That was history asking.
Lucien didn't hesitate.
"No."
Aurelia held his gaze for a long second.
Searching.
Like she was trying to see if that answer would change.
It didn't.
She exhaled slowly.
A small, disappointed breath.
"Of course not."
Then she stepped back.
Putting space between them again.
But this time—
It didn't feel like distance.
It felt like something unfinished being pushed aside.
"For now," she added.
Her eyes flicked once more to Ava.
"Don't get too comfortable."
Not a threat.
Not exactly.
But not friendly either.
Then she turned again and walked to the door.
Lucien followed this time.
Not close enough to stop her.
But enough to not let her leave like a stranger.
He reached the door just as she opened it.
"Aurelia."
She paused—but didn't turn.
"What?" she asked.
A small silence.
Then—
" I'll call you, maybe we could go get dinner and make up for lost times".
"Be careful."
That made her smile slightly.
A real one this time.
"You too, Lucien."
And then she stepped out.
The door closed behind her.
This time—
For real.
Lucien stood there for a second longer.
Like he was thinking about following.
Like part of him almost did.
But he didn't.
After a moment, he turned back.
And Ava was still there.
Watching.
Not confused anymore.
Not outside of it.
Just… aware.
Of everything
The door clicked shut.
Ava didn't move.
Her eyes stayed on it a second longer than necessary… like part of her expected it to open again.
That hug replayed in her head.
Quick. Familiar.
Too natural.
Her jaw tightened slightly before she looked away.
"So…" she said, her voice coming out quieter than she intended, "that was… normal?"
Lucien didn't reply.
Ava didn't say anything else.
Neither did Lucien.
The space between them wasn't empty anymore.
It wasn't just tension.
It was history now.
Questions.
Choices that couldn't be taken back.
Ava held his gaze for a moment longer… then looked away first.
Not because she was unsure.
But because she already knew—
Whatever this was…
It wasn't going to stay simple.
And she wasn't walking out of it.