Morning came slowly.
Not with light—
But with sound.
Small feet against stone.
Soft, uneven laughter.
Aiden's voice, quieter than it used to be, guiding instead of leading.
Eirik stood just outside the den.
He didn't step in right away.
Didn't announce himself.
He just… watched.
Inside—
Aiden sat on the ground, back against the wall, one leg stretched out slightly as Lior leaned against it. Ryn was trying—unsuccessfully—to stack small stones, while Kael hovered close, more energetic now, but still drawn to Aiden like something in him needed constant reassurance.
Aiden's hand moved without thinking.
Always touching one of them.
Always checking.
Always there.
"…careful," Aiden murmured softly as Ryn's stack toppled.
Not scolding.
Just… gentle.
Ryn huffed.
Kael laughed.
Lior made a small sound, somewhere between both.
It looked normal.
Almost.
But Eirik saw it.
The small pauses.
The way Aiden's gaze would flick—sharp, fast—checking, counting.
The way his smile didn't fully reach his eyes.
The way his shoulders never fully relaxed.
And something twisted inside Eirik.
Tight.
Uncomfortable.
Wrong.
This isn't what I wanted.
The thought came fast.
Uninvited.
Too honest.
He stepped inside.
Carefully.
Not to startle.
"Aiden."
Aiden looked up.
There was recognition.
Familiarity.
Trust.
Still there.
"…Eirik."
A small nod.
Nothing more.
That hurt more than it should have.
"You should rest," Eirik said, stepping closer.
Aiden shook his head immediately.
"I'm fine."
Not true.
They both knew it.
Eirik crouched slightly, keeping his movements slow.
"They're safe," he said quietly. "I can watch them for a while."
Aiden's hand tightened slightly where it rested on Kael's shoulder.
A pause.
A hesitation.
"…I know," Aiden said.
But he didn't move.
Didn't step away.
Didn't let go.
Eirik swallowed.
"…you don't have to do everything alone."
The words came softer than he expected.
More careful.
More real.
Aiden looked at him then.
Really looked.
For the first time since he stepped in.
For a second—
Something flickered.
Not distance.
Not instinct.
Something older.
Familiar.
"…I know," Aiden repeated.
Quieter this time.
Silence settled between them.
Not heavy.
Not yet.
Just… present.
Eirik's hands curled slightly at his sides.
He could say it.
Now.
Right now.
I'm the reason things are getting worse.
I've been meeting someone.
There's danger coming and I—
His breath caught.
Aiden shifted slightly, adjusting Lior against his side.
Kael leaned closer.
Ryn reached for Aiden's sleeve.
Three small lives.
All depending on him.
All trusting him.
Eirik's chest tightened sharply.
If I tell him now…
His mind raced.
Fast.
Too fast.
Aiden will look at me differently.
He'll pull away.
He'll—
Lose him.
The thought hit harder than anything else.
Eirik's jaw tightened.
The words—
Stayed in his throat.
"…you're doing well," he said instead.
The lie tasted bitter.
Because it wasn't entirely a lie.
But it wasn't the truth either.
Aiden blinked slightly.
Caught off guard.
"…I'm trying."
Eirik nodded.
"…I know."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
He should say it.
He should fix this.
Before it gets worse.
Before someone gets hurt.
But then—
Nyx's voice echoed faintly in his mind.
"You've already crossed the line."
Eirik's stomach twisted.
Not yet.
Not fully.
I can still—
He exhaled slowly.
Forcing the thoughts down.
Locking them away.
"…I'll stay," he said instead. "Help with them."
Aiden hesitated.
Just a second.
Then nodded.
"…okay."
Trust.
Still there.
Still given freely.
And Eirik—
Stayed.
He helped Ryn rebuild his stack.
Let Kael tug at his sleeve.
Carefully held Lior when Aiden shifted position.
He did everything right.
Everything he was supposed to do.
And all the while—
That weight in his chest only grew heavier.
Because he could still fix this.
He knew he could.
All he had to do—
Was tell the truth.
But he didn't.
And somewhere deep inside him—
He knew that choice would matter.
More than anything else.