Private Welcome back to the fire Pt.1

[Sommer Dai]

Sommer stared at him. Not distrustfully — just tired.

"Good," she said. Then leaned back again, folding one arm across her chest as she stared at the ceiling.

"I need two days. Then I'm back on full rotation."

 

[Kaelon Virex]

"You sure?" Kael asked.

 

[Sommer Dai]

"I don't have the luxury of not being."

She stood, slowly — as if gravity fought her harder now.

 

[Arq*]

Arq stepped forward, offering her a smaller version of his ridiculous drink.

 

[Sommer Dai]

"You kept it breathing," she said quietly to Kael, as she took the drink- almost too quickly

 

[Kaelon Virex]

"Not just me," he replied. "Arq helped."

 

[Arq*]

"Of course I did," Arq huffed. "Without me, this place would be a spice den with sexy lighting and no fashion sense."

 

[Sommer Dai]

Sommer gave a faint chuckle.

Then, as she walked to the door, she paused — her back still to them.

"I know there's more," she said softly. "Something you're not saying."

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael stiffened

 

[Arq*]

Arq blinked at him.

 

[Sommer Dai]

Sommer turned her head slightly, just enough to speak over her shoulder.


"When I'm ready, you'll tell me."


And then she was gone.

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

 

[Arq*]

Arq exhaled even louder.

"She knows," he whispered. "She doesn't know what, but she knows."

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael nodded slowly.

"She'll find out."

 

[Arq*]

Arq turned toward him with a meaningful look.

"And when she does… Maker help you if she thinks you lied to protect her."

 

[Kaelon Virex]

Kael didn't speak.

He just looked down at the datapad with Therin Vos's name still encrypted inside.

And wondered how long the fire would stay contained.

 

[Sommer Dai]

Sommer ran a fingertip along the edge of the bar — checking for imperfections no one else would notice.

The music was low for once. A slower set. The dancers were shifting into their silks for the midnight performance. The lights rippled like liquid stars.

But all Sommer saw were flaws.

Smudges on glass. A stool out of line. A bottle restocked to the wrong shelf.

It wasn't about control. It was about stability.
Because if she didn't keep the house together — who the hell would?

She didn't look up when Arq slipped into the seat beside her, but she felt the presence. The smell of clove vapor, designer fabric, and faintly charged glitter mist.

 

[Arq*]

"Have you ever considered not inspecting the bar like it's hiding a ticking bomb?" he asked.

 

[Sommer Dai]

"Have you ever considered not wearing armor made of sarcasm and mesh lace?" she countered.

 

[Arq*]

Arq crossed his long legs and gestured for a drink. "Touché."