The soft glow of the bedside lamp bathed the room in a warm, golden hue, casting long shadows on the walls. The air was still, save for the faint rustling of fabric as Raelynn shifted slightly under the blankets. She sat propped up against the headboard, her injured foot resting on a pillow. Outside the window, the night stretched endlessly, the moon peeking through the thick curtains, casting silver streaks onto the polished floor.
The door creaked open without warning. Raelynn's eyes darted up, her fingers instinctively gripping the edge of the blanket. Her shoulders relaxed only when she saw who it was.
Elion.
Dressed in a dark, loose-fitting shirt and pants, he carried a small dical kit in one hand. His other hand lingered on the doorknob for a second before he stepped inside. His expression was unreadable, though his eyes softened as they t hers.
"I ca to change your bandage," he said simply, his voice calm and steady.
Raelynn nodded without hesitation. "Alright."
Elion moved to sit on the edge of the bed, placing the dical kit on the nightstand. His fingers brushed her ankle gently as he reached for her injured foot. Despite his usual composure, there was a quiet carefulness in the way he touched her—an unspoken tenderness that made Raelynn's chest tighten.
As Elion carefully unwrapped the bandage, Raelynn tried—really tried—not to think about last ti.
But of course, her mind betrayed her.
She could still feel the ghost of his lips against her skin, the warmth of that brief, fleeting kiss. Her face burned at the mory, and she clenched her hands into the sheets, silently scolding herself.
No. Stop. Don't even go there.
She shook her head, a little too hard, hoping to physically jolt the thought away. Elion didn't say anything, but she could feel his eyes flick up at her sudden movent, making her even more flustered.
He wouldn't do that again. Right?
Dear lord, she prayed, please let him just change the bandage like a normal person and do nothing else. Just this once, let him be predictable.
The bandage was already slightly loose, revealing the cut from the glass shard she had stepped on the night before. Elion's brows furrowed slightly as he peeled the fabric away, his movents delicate but efficient. The wound was healing, but the edges of the cut were still a little raw.
"You know what you're doing," Raelynn murmured, watching as he dabbed a piece of gauze with antiseptic.
Elion let out a small, amused breath. "I need to know how to do a lot of things."
Raelynn tilted her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Maybe you should be a doctor then. Work with Zake at the hospital."
Elion smirked but didn't look up. "I think I'll pass."
Raelynn laughed softly, the sound light despite the lingering ache in her foot. "You'd look good in a white coat."
Elion shot her a sideways glance, his lips curving slightly before he focused back on wrapping her foot with fresh gauze. "I'll stick to what I know."
She watched his hands move—steady, precise, careful. It was almost ironic. How many tis had those sa hands spilled blood? Yet here he was, tending to her wound like it was the most natural thing in the world.
A comfortable silence settled between them before Raelynn spoke again, her voice softer this ti. "It's kind of funny, isn't it?"
Elion glanced up. "What is?"
"That we keep taking turns taking care of each other." She let out a breath, shaking her head slightly. "It would be nice to stop getting hurt like this."
Elion didn't reply imdiately. He finished securing the bandage before resting his hand lightly on her ankle for just a mont—his thumb barely brushing against her skin. Then, he t her gaze, sothing unreadable in his expression. "Yeah," he said at last, his voice quiet. "It would."
Raelynn studied him. There was sothing off. The way his shoulders were slightly tense, how he wasn't eting her eyes for long. Then, her gaze dropped to his bandaged hand. "You should let change yours," she said, shifting slightly.
Elion stood almost imdiately. "It's fine."
Raelynn frowned. "Elion—"
"I can manage," he interrupted, reaching for the dical kit. He picked it up, closing the latch with a sharp click before straightening his posture. "Get so rest."
She wanted to argue. To insist. But sothing in his tone stopped her. Instead, she exhaled quietly, watching as he turned toward the door.
As Elion stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, he nearly ran into Sloane. She was leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, her sharp eyes already fixed on him.
"I was just about to check on Raelynn's bandage," Sloane remarked, arching a brow. "Guess I don't need to bother anymore."
Elion didn't respond imdiately. Instead, he subtly moved the dical kit behind his back, as if that would sohow hide the evidence. Sloane, of course, had already seen it.
She sighed, shaking her head. "You're not as smooth as you think you are."
Elion let out a small scoff but didn't engage further. He moved to walk past her, but she shifted, blocking his path slightly.
Sloane squinted at him, her sharp gaze zeroing in on his hand. Then, with a pointed gesture, she tilted her chin toward the bandage wrapped around it.
"And what exactly is that still doing there?" she asked, her tone laced with suspicion. "It was just a knife wound. Shouldn't it be gone by now?"
Elion's jaw tensed for the briefest mont, but he didn't answer right away. Instead, he shifted his grip on the dical kit, as if that would sohow make her drop the subject.
Sloane, of course, didn't.
She folded her arms, tilting her head. "Well?"
Elion ignored her, stepping around her without another word.
Sloane watched him go, her lips pressing into a thin line. Then, as he disappeared down the hall, she muttered under her breath, "Don't tell you're putting that up for performance."
Sloane stared down the hallway where Elion had disappeared, her lips twitching. He was avoiding the question, which only confird her suspicions.
With a quiet chuckle, she covered her mouth, shaking her head. "Oh, Raelynn," she murmured to herself, amusent flickering in her eyes. "What have you done to that man?"
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