Slade didn’t even blink. “Thought lions were supposed to be quiet when they’re not useful.”
Leo chuckled. “Touché.”
The stitching didn’t take long. I watched carefully, memorizing the way Leo’s fingers moved, the slight tug at the skin, the way the edges were pulled together with precision and care. When it was done, Slade let out a slow breath and leaned back against the wall, spent.
He didn’t thank us.
He didn’t need to.
Leo helped him down gently, one hand still at his shoulder until Slade gave him a look that said “enough.”
“You good?” Leo asked.
Slade gave a small nod. “Go.”
“Yell if you feel like dying,” Leo said, grinning faintly as he closed the door behind us. “Or if you need to take a piss!”
“Fuck you, you overgrown housecat.” Slade growled at our back. Leo just chuckled.
Back in the lounge, I dropped onto the couch, spine curving into the cushions with a groan. I was exhausted.
“Well. Long day, huh?” Leo said as he slumped down beside me, head back, eyes closed.
I snorted. “You could say that.”
“That was one hell of a fight.”
I winced. “I’m going to be feeling it tomorrow, that’s for damn sure.”
“Youwerepretty scrappy out there.” He grinned.
“Ha! You could call it that I guess. I’m just lucky I didn’t get stabbed too.”
“I suppose that’s true,” he said, flashing a grin. “But some of those moves of yours looked... tight. Like, real expert. Who taught you to fight?”
“Why do you care?” I muttered.
He shrugged, easy, lazy. “Just curious.”
I rolled my eyes. “Finn. My friend. He spent the last six years teaching me whatever he knew — street fighting, throwing knives, a little swordplay.”
Leo whistled low under his breath. “Sounds like a good guy. How’d you two meet?”
I shifted, uncomfortable. My fingers twisted in the hem of my sleeve.
“He’s the one who found me,” I said, voice low.
Leo straightened slightly. “Found you? What do you mean?”
“I mean,” I said tightly, staring out the dark window, “I woke up in the middle of a goddamn forest when I was sixteen. No memories, except my name. Nothing else. Just blood on my clothes. And lots of pain.”
I shrugged like it didn’t matter, even though it did. “Finn found me. Took me in. Taught me everything I know.”
There was a beat of silence before Leo, his tone softer now, asked, “Was he your boyfriend?”
I snorted so hard it turned into a laugh.
“Me and Finn? No way. Gross. He’s like... my big brother. Crazy, loud, always getting into trouble. But he’s good. He’s kind.”
