The morning sun crept through the blinds, warming Mika's face and coaxing her eyes open. Logan was already awake, tail thumping gently against the floor as he waited patiently by the bed. He knew the routine by now—breakfast, leash, and out the door. But today was different.
Mika yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Alright, buddy. Big day."
She dressed quickly, choosing her favorite black sweater and ripped jeans, then slipped Logan's collar over his head. Her stomach fluttered with nerves—not just about work, but about what she was planning to do before it. She had texted Lex the night before, asking if he'd be willing to watch Logan while she was gone for the day.
To her surprise, he had replied almost instantly: *Of course.*
Now, standing in front of his door, Logan at her side, Mika hesitated. She raised her fist to knock, then lowered it again.
"Stop being weird," she whispered to herself, then finally knocked.
The door opened before the second knock landed.
Lex stood in the doorway, looking annoyingly perfect in a dark hoodie and black jeans, barefoot, like he had been expecting her. His hair was damp, pushed back from his face, and his eyes seemed brighter than usual in the morning light.
"Hey," she said, trying not to sound too breathless.
"Morning," he replied. "Come in."
Logan stepped inside first, sniffing the threshold suspiciously before cautiously padding in. Mika followed, taking in the apartment for the first time. It was clean, too clean—sterile almost, like a staged model home. Minimal furniture, muted colors. The only thing that stood out was the rose on his desk. Black petals with deep red streaks. It looked freshly cut but not quite real.
"You sure you're okay with watching him?" she asked, glancing down at Logan, who was now inspecting Lex's boots.
Lex gave her a small smile. "I wouldn't have said yes if I wasn't. I like dogs."
Mika raised an eyebrow. "Really? Logan wasn't your biggest fan at first."
Lex crouched, offering his hand to Logan, who hesitated, then gave it a quick sniff before allowing Lex to scratch behind his ear. "We had to feel each other out," he said. "But I think we're good now."
Mika watched in mild disbelief as Logan wagged his tail and leaned into Lex's hand. "Okay, now I'm suspicious. What did you bribe him with?"
Lex chuckled. "Just a little patience."
Mika exhaled a quiet laugh, relieved. She knelt beside Logan and gave him a quick hug. "You be good, alright? Don't pee on anything weird. Or bark at ghosts or whatever."
Lex raised an eyebrow. "Ghosts?"
She smirked. "You tell me. This place feels like it has secrets."
Lex didn't answer. Instead, he watched her for a moment, then said softly, "You can trust me."
"I want to," she replied before she could stop herself.
There was a pause. A strange silence that hung between them, thick and charged. Logan let out a small bark, as if annoyed to be ignored.
Mika blinked and stood quickly. "Right. I should get going before I'm late."
Lex followed her to the door. "What time do you get off?"
"Six," she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "I'll come straight here."
"I'll have him ready."
She smiled. "Thanks, Lex. Really."
He opened the door for her, and for a moment, she hesitated on the threshold. Then, without thinking, she reached out and touched his hand.
It was cold. Always cold. But it didn't scare her anymore.
He held her gaze. "Be careful today."
Mika nodded, her stomach fluttering again. "You too."
And then she was gone, leaving Lex standing in the doorway with Logan staring up at him like a tiny, furry judge.
Lex closed the door and turned to face the dog. "Well," he said. "It's just you and me, huh?"
Logan huffed.
Lex walked toward the kitchen and opened a cupboard, pulling out a glass bowl. "I don't exactly keep kibble in stock, so we'll have to make do."
Logan followed him, sniffing the air.
Lex poured some water into a bowl and placed it on the floor, then grabbed a small package from the fridge—cooked chicken breast, unseasoned. Logan watched as Lex tore it into small chunks and dropped them into another bowl.
"Not too bad, right?" he asked.
Logan began eating immediately, tail wagging.
Lex leaned against the counter and watched him for a moment. "She cares about you," he murmured. "Which means I do too. For now."
The dog didn't respond, obviously, but Lex still felt the weight of his own words. He wasn't used to this—sharing space, being responsible for anyone or anything. But Mika trusted him, and that was dangerous. Not for him.
For her.
He sat down in the living room, watching Logan chew contentedly on the chicken, and let his thoughts drift to her. Her messy hair, the paint on her jeans, the freckles that danced across her cheeks. She wasn't perfect. And that made her real. Human.
And Lex knew, more than anyone, what it meant to lose humanity.
But around her? Maybe he could feel it again. Even if it was temporary. Even if it would hurt.
Especially then.