Echo sets her mug down. “Much better.” She glances at Kane, deep in conversation with Wren across the bar. “Let’s just say everyone’s a lot chipper these days. Nothing’s perfect, but at least the boss man didn’t have a heart attack when Wren nearly took out the holotable with her morning coffee.”
Rafael can picture it perfectly. Wren groveling, trying to fix the machine, while Kane clenches his fist. He can’t resist a laugh, happy for once her clumsiness didn’t end in a reprimand or punishment.
Pixie points at her mouth. “I had to bite my tongue to keep from totally losing it!”
“That was rather…unfortunate.” Coda’s eyebrow twitches.
“Trust me, it could’ve been a lot worse.” Echo takes a swig of her drink. “Like the time she slammed into Dragoon’s Rest. Ended up detailing HOVs for a month.”
Rafael’s eyes widen. He turns to Coda, who gives a nod before glancing at his wristlink.
“Hopefully, this good energy sticks around.” Pixie sinks into the seat next to Echo. “Feels like everyone’s morale skyrocketed after we took back District Three yesterday.”
“I heard about that. Congrats, guys!” Rafael offers.
Kane came home late last night with stories about their incredible teamwork.
Coda peers up. “Thank you.”
Echo leans closer, whispering, “That’s not all.”
Rafael blinks.
Her smirk widens. “A few deserters who ran off with Viper—they’re begging to come back. Turns out Natural Order isn’t what they thought it’d be. Most of them didn’t even fully commit. Wouldn’t give up their enhancements.”
“Really?” he gasps. “What did Kane say?”
She starts to answer, only to snap her jaw shut, her gaze darting over his shoulder.
Before Rafael can turn, someone interrupts behind him.
“I told them they can come back, but they’d better be ready to earn my trust—again.”
He spins around to find Kane beside Coda, arms crossed and stance rigid. Yet a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.
“Hey, boss man!” Echo chirps while Pixie and Coda offer silent smiles.
Kane’s gaze sweeps over them once before settling on Rafael. “Ready to get out of here?” His posture eases.
Warmth floods through Rafael. Kane promised they would spend time together before evening patrol. Lately, those promises ended with Kane showing up late—or not coming home at all.
“Of course.” Rafael slides off the stool and throws a wave to the others. “Catch you guys later!”
Their goodbyes come with knowing looks that send a flush creeping up Rafael’s neck. He pushes the embarrassment down and follows Kane toward the exit.
Outside, the mid-afternoon sun warms his face. Kane steers him away from the main drag and into a narrow alley lined with cracked brick. At the end, he gestures to a metal ladder bolted to the side of the bar and starts to climb.
Rafael’s stomach flutters as he follows.
When he clears the ledge, his heart skips a beat. He expected bare concrete, maybe a few security drones or an enforcer on patrol.
Instead, the rooftop has been reclaimed. Sensors still ring the perimeter, and the neon dragon pulses along the edge. Yetat the center, a checkered picnic blanket rests on a patch of synthetic grass, surrounded by hovering white candles.
For a second, Rafael simply stands there. It isn’t lavish like their date in Midtown or a polished illusion from V-link. It doesn’t need to be.
“Kane,” he murmurs, turning to find him already removing his visor and setting his weapons aside.
With a soft smile, Kane cups the back of Rafael’s head to draw him close.