Run: 2026-02-17-01KHMPADVWDSH1V4XVAFKC4KXJ

The door to Eva's flat swung open with a creak, revealing Aurora Carter standing on the threshold, her bright blue eyes wide with surprise. She hadn't expected to see him here, not after all this time. Lucien Moreau leaned casually against the doorframe, his heterochromatic eyes — one amber, one black — studying her with an inscrutable expression. The dim light from the hallway cast shadows across his tailored charcoal suit, highlighting the sharp angles of his face. "Rory," he said, his voice smooth and accented, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of his lips. "It's been a while." Aurora's heart skipped a beat, a familiar mix of attraction and irritation bubbling up inside her. She hadn't seen Lucien since that night at Silas' bar, when words had been exchanged that neither could take back. She had left in a storm of emotions, vowing not to look back. Yet here he was, as if summoned by some unspoken need. "Lucien," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "What are you doing here?" He straightened, the ivory-handled cane in his hand tapping lightly against the floor. "Eva asked me to check on Ptolemy while she's away. I didn't expect to find you here." Aurora stepped inside, closing the door behind her with a soft click. The familiar scent of curry from the restaurant below mingled with the musty aroma of old books, creating a comforting, if chaotic, atmosphere. Ptolemy, the tabby cat, lounged on a pile of scrolls, watching them with lazy interest. "I needed a place to think," Aurora admitted, glancing around at the cluttered flat. Books and papers were strewn across every available surface, a testament to Eva's insatiable curiosity. "Eva said I could use her place while she's gone." Lucien nodded, his gaze never leaving her face. "And have you found what you were looking for?" Aurora hesitated, the weight of their shared history pressing down on her. "Not yet," she said finally, meeting his eyes. "But I'm working on it." He smiled, a slow, knowing smile that sent a shiver down her spine. "You always were persistent." Silence stretched between them, filled with the unspoken words and unresolved tension that had lingered since their last encounter. Aurora crossed her arms, trying to shield herself from the memories that threatened to overwhelm her. "Why did you really come here, Lucien?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. He took a step closer, the air between them charged with an electric intensity. "I could ask you the same thing, Rory. Why hide away in Eva's flat when you have your own place?" Aurora looked away, her gaze falling on Ptolemy, who had begun to groom himself with a nonchalance that belied the tension in the room. "I needed space," she said, her voice tight. "Space to figure things out." Lucien's expression softened, a flicker of something vulnerable passing through his eyes. "And have you?" She shook her head, the truth of it settling heavily in her chest. "No. Not yet." He reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm, the contact sending a jolt of warmth through her. "Rory, I—" The words hung in the air, unfinished, as if he couldn't quite bring himself to say them. Aurora looked up, meeting his gaze, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them and the tangled web of emotions that bound them together. "Lucien," she began, her voice trembling with the weight of everything she wanted to say. "I—" But before she could continue, Ptolemy leapt from his perch, landing gracefully between them with a soft meow. The spell was broken, and Aurora stepped back, her heart pounding in her chest. Lucien chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent a thrill through her. "It seems Ptolemy has decided to play chaperone." Aurora managed a smile, though her heart ached with the things left unsaid. "He's always been good at that." They stood in silence for a moment, the only sound the soft rustle of Ptolemy's fur as he rubbed against their legs. Aurora took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Lucien, I—" she began again, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she reached out, her fingers brushing against his, a tentative connection that spoke of hope and possibility. He squeezed her hand gently, his eyes searching hers. "Rory, whatever it is, we'll figure it out. Together." The promise in his words wrapped around her like a warm embrace, and for the first time in a long while, Aurora felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps, she thought, they could find a way forward, despite the past that lay between them. As they stood there, hand in hand, Ptolemy weaving around their feet, Aurora knew that whatever happened next, they would face it together. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.