The sky was painted in soft shades of pink and orange as dawn approached, casting a muted glow over the empty streets. Axel drove in silence, one hand resting lightly on the steering wheel, the other propped against the car door. The radio humd quietly in the background, though he wasn't paying attention to it. His sharp eyes remained fixed on the road ahead, but his thoughts were scattered elsewhere, lingering on monts he couldn't quite shake.
As he pulled into the parking lot of his apartnt building, he glanced at the dashboard clock. 5:17 AM. "Damn," he muttered under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. He'd spent more ti than he'd intended—again.
What should have been a simple drop-off had turned into hours of unplanned conversations and distractions. Not that he entirely regretted it, but now the cost was clear.
He sighed, stepping out of the car and locking it with a soft beep. The chilled morning air bit at his skin, but Axel paid no mind. His boots echoed softly against the pavent as he made his way into the building.
Inside the quiet apartnt, the faint sll of beer and sothing faintly sweet lingered in the air. Axel pushed the door open and stepped inside, flicking on the lights. His sharp gaze scanned the living room, pausing when he saw a figure sprawled across the couch.
he didn't know better, he'd have grabbed the baseball bat stashed near the door or, worse, called 911 to report an intruder. But no. He knew exactly who dared to make themselves at ho in his apartnt without so much as a heads-up.
Axel let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Why is it always you?"
Without missing a beat, he walked toward the small kitchen area, his tone flat as he called out, "One day, I'm going to make you replace all the beer you drink."
The figure on the couch shifted, revealing a woman with striking features and a mischievous smile. Thalia. Her hair was tousled, and she looked entirely too comfortable in his space, one leg draped over the armrest and a half-empty beer bottle dangling from her hand.
Axel sighed, leaning against the counter as he watched Thalia make herself right at ho. She always did this—waltzed in like she owned the place, taking whatever she wanted as if it were her personal convenience store. It wasn't anything new; it was practically a habit of hers, one that had started years ago and sohow never stopped.
"Don't be so stingy," she shot back, her grin widening. "I'm your sister, after all. It's the least you could do."
Axel rolled his eyes, grabbing a glass of water from the counter. "Sister or not, you're a mooch. Do you even buy your own drinks?"
Thalia laughed, sitting up and resting her elbows on her knees. "Why bother when I have a big brother who's so responsible and boring? You always have beer stocked."
Axel raised an eyebrow, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Responsible? That's a first. Usually, I'm 'annoying' or 'no fun.'"
"Well, you are those things too," Thalia quipped, sticking her tongue out at him.
The two exchanged a few more playful jabs, the kind of light-hearted bickering only siblings could manage. Axel tried to maintain his aloof deanor, but the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips betrayed him.
The atmosphere shifted, however, when Thalia leaned back against the couch, her expression turning more serious. "So, how's everything?"
Axel, who had been absently swirling the water in his glass, paused. "Fine," he replied simply, his voice steady but guarded.
Thalia's eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him. "Including the woman nad Raelynn?"
The na hung in the air like a delicate thread, and for a mont, Axel didn't move. He stood near the window, his back to her, the early morning light casting faint shadows across the room. His grip on the glass tightened slightly before he finally answered, "Yeah. Everything's fine."
"Are you sure?" Thalia pressed, her tone casual but her gaze sharp.
Axel turned around, his eyes locking onto hers with a mix of annoyance and curiosity. "Just get to the point, Thalia."
She held up her hands in mock surrender, a smirk playing on her lips. "Wow, chill. I was just wondering if you've got everything under control. That's all."
His jaw tightened, but he forced himself to relax. "Of course I do. Who do you think I am?"
Thalia studied him for a mont longer before nodding slowly. "Okay. I believe you," she said, her tone softer this ti. She stood up, stretching lazily before grabbing her jacket from the back of a chair. "I'll see you around, then."
As she walked toward the door, she paused, glancing back at him. For a brief second, her usual teasing deanor was replaced with sothing akin to concern. "Take care of yourself, Axel."
He didn't respond, simply watching as she stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Left alone in the quiet apartnt, Axel set his glass down on the counter and leaned against the windowsill, staring out at the slowly brightening sky.
His mind churned, replaying the conversation with Thalia and the weight of her words. Was everything really under control? The question lingered, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. He thought of Raelynn—the way she carried herself, the monts of vulnerability she unknowingly revealed, and the inexplicable pull he felt toward her.
He clenched his fists, frustrated with himself. Love? Special feelings? It wasn't possible. He didn't have ti for such distractions. But no matter how much he tried to convince himself, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Raelynn was more than just a passing curiosity.
The faint hum of the city waking up filled the air, but Axel barely noticed. He stood there, lost in thought, the glass of water on the counter forgotten, as the first rays of sunlight spilled into the room.
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