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Kathlyn had been lying in bed for… well, she wasn't sure how long.
The emotions came in waves. Sobbing, hiccuping, rolling over, groaning into the pillow, then staring at the ceiling like it had betrayed her. Sometimes she'd clench her fists Sometimes she'd sniff aggressively like that would fix it sometimes she would sporadically moan Mostly she just existed in an emotionally fried loop with no exit.
Until she heard the soft hiss of her door sliding open.
Her first thought was please let that be food or
It was not
A few seconds passed before the room shifted.
A shimmer. A flicker of mana. Then
"Kaaaathlyn~" came a familiar voice, way too pleased with itself. "Awwww, were you crying because you missed me?"
She didn't move. "No."
Please no
"Because I missed you. I mean, I cried like three times, but you weren't there to busy not informing me of your whereabouts
"Kai."
"Yes, dearest?"
"Get the fuck out of my room."
"Not until you let me judge how soft your blanket is. This is important for your recovery."
He plopped down in the chair beside her bed, kicking his feet up like he owned the place. He had a little bag with him. A drink. Some wrapped snacks. A folded blanket slung over his shoulder like he was settling in for a long stay.
Kathlyn sighed and turned her face into the pillow.
"Did Professor Mallet let you in?"
"Technically? No. But also yes. I'm very persuasive when I ask absolutely no one and sneak in with ghostly Concealment
She didn't respond.
He pulled the blanket down off her face just enough to see her eyes. They were glassy, puffy, but not fresh with tears. She looked more… haunted than sad. Like someone who'd seen a horror film that wouldn't stop replaying inside her skull.
Kai's usual grin softened a little.
"Hey. You look like you went through alot
"I feel like I cried out my skeleton."
"Well," he said, digging through the bag, "then it's a good thing I brought some snacks."
He handed her a small piece of chocolate.
She blinked at it.
"…This expired two months ago."
He snorted
"It builds character."
She took it anyway.
They sat in silence for a bit. Kathlyn munched on stale chocolate. Kai unwrapped a drink and placed it on her nightstand like he was trying to stage the perfect recovery scene. She didn't ask for anything, but he still kept adjusting the blanket, checking if she was too hot or cold like some sort of overly fussy nurse who'd watched one too many soap operas.
"I'm still confused you," she mumbled.
"I know."
"You didn't tell me you were coming."
"You didn't tell me you were leaving," he countered, raising an eyebrow. "I show up to training and boom no Kathlyn. Just a confused Combat Scholar and an empty punching bag."
"I needed to try something growth it doesn't happen just lying around
". And here I am. Husband of the year."
Left alone worrying about my wife
She gave him a flat look. "You're not my husband."
"Not with that attitude."
A weak snort escaped her nose. She hated that she made the sound He caught it, though. Smirked. Didn't say anything about it. Just handed her a second piece of chocolate.
"You gonna keep doing this?" she asked.
"What, fussing over you Yeah Probably."
She turned her face away again.
But she didn't push him out of the room.
Eventually, her breathing slowed. The tension in her shoulders dropped just a little. She didn't look at him, but she spoke softly into her pillow.
"…You can stay."
Kai blinked. "Yeah?"
"But if you say the word husband again I will stab you."
"Noted."
Pause.
"…Still feel like I'd be a great one, though."
She threw the pillow at him.
And then...
Kai wasn't expecting her to cry.
But then out of nowhere she cried.
Not loud.
She turned her face toward him, eyes red, voice thin.
And Kai, as usual, was not prepared.
"I should've told you…"
Her voice cracked halfway through. Like the words had been fighting her throat, but her emotions yanked them out anyway.
"I should've told you I was going into the Prism."
Kai blinked.
"Oh."
That was it. That was all he managed. "Oh." Like he was reading off a grocery list.
"I didn't mean to just disappear," she went on, sniffling. "I was scared. I told myself it wasn't your business. That I needed to do it alone. And when I didn't bring you… didn't say anything…"
She covered her face.
"I thought I was making the right call. And now I just feel " she hiccupped, "like a complete ass."
Kai sat still for a second.
Then leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"…Wow," he said.
Kathlyn peeked through her fingers. "Wow?"
"I mean," he said, raising an eyebrow, "don't get me wrong, this is tragic, and you're clearly emotionally fried but this might be the most sincere apology I've ever gotten in my life."
She groaned and shoved her face into her pillow.
Kai waited a beat.
Then, casually, "I'm bottling this moment.im gonna replay anytime I think about which is aloooooot
"Kai."
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
"Understood."
There was a tiny, reluctant laugh from her side of the bed. Just a puff of air, really. But enough to make the weight in Kai's chest loosen.
He scooted his chair a little closer to the bed, propping his chin on the edge of the mattress with full puppy-dog eyes.
"…So. You're going back in."
Kathlyn nodded, barely.
Kai tapped the wooden bedframe with his knuckles.
"Then take me with you."
Her eyes widened. "What?"
"I want in," he said. "
"You don't even know what the Prism does.
I know much more than you he thought
"You didn't either."
She opened her mouth. Closed it again.
Kai gave a shrug. "Look, I'm not claiming I'll save the day. I'm not saying I'm strong enough to carry you through I'm not some one dimensional op boyfriend with a harem but, side note, I would be incredible at that."
"You are a delusional pervert
"I am a pervert with consistent loyalty and great taste."
"…Not denying that."
He leaned in slightly.
"But what I am saying is—you don't have to go through it alone again. I'm not letting you grow by yourself
She stared at him. Her lip quivered again, though she tried to bite it back.
"…You really want to go?"
"If the Prism is going to break us both down to our base components, we might as well bond over it. Think of it as… co-suffering. Builds chemistry."
Kathlyn made a face.
Kai grinned.
"I'll bring tea."
She didn't answer.
But she didn't say no either.
And Kai? Was just happy to see Kathlyn again