Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTR8XDY5J2A1CMJ6HD689DP

The Raven's Nest hummed with the low murmur of conversation, punctuated by the clinking of glasses and the occasional burst of laughter. The green neon sign outside cast a soft glow through the windows, painting the patrons in shades of emerald. Aurora Carter, known to most as Rory, slipped through the door, her eyes scanning the room with a practiced ease. She had just finished her shift at the Golden Empress and was looking forward to unwinding with a drink. The bar was a familiar sanctuary, a place where she could blend into the background and let the world fade away. She nodded to Silas Blackwood, who stood behind the bar, his presence as steady as the oak counter he leaned against. His hazel eyes met hers with a knowing glint, and he gestured towards an empty stool. "Evening, Rory. Usual?" His voice carried the weight of years, a deep rumble that seemed to resonate with the very walls of the bar. "Please, Si. It's been a long day." She settled onto the stool, her fingers tracing the edge of the bar. The wood was smooth and worn, a testament to the countless stories it had witnessed. Silas poured her a glass of whiskey, sliding it across the bar with a practiced flick of his wrist. "Anything interesting happen on your rounds?" "Just the usual chaos," Rory replied, taking a sip. The liquid burned pleasantly, warming her from the inside out. "You know how it is." Before Silas could respond, the door swung open, and a gust of cool air swept through the room. Rory glanced over her shoulder, her gaze landing on a figure silhouetted against the neon glow. The man stepped inside, shaking off the chill, and Rory's breath caught in her throat. It was Evan. He looked different, older. His hair, once a wild mane of curls, was now neatly trimmed, and his face bore the lines of someone who had seen too much. But his eyes, a piercing green, were the same. They locked onto hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. "Rory," he said, his voice a mix of surprise and something else—something she couldn't quite place. "Evan." Her voice was steady, though her heart raced. She hadn't seen him since she left Cardiff, since she had fled the life they had once shared. He approached, his movements cautious, as if testing the waters. "I didn't expect to see you here." "Likewise." She gestured to the stool beside her. "Join me?" He hesitated, then nodded, taking the seat. Silas, ever the silent observer, poured Evan a drink without a word, his eyes flicking between the two of them. "So," Evan began, cradling his glass. "How have you been?" Rory considered the question, the weight of it pressing down on her. "I've been... finding my way. London has a way of keeping you on your toes." He chuckled, a sound that was both familiar and foreign. "I can imagine. It's been a while." "Years," she agreed, her gaze drifting to the scar on her wrist. A reminder of a different time, a different life. Evan followed her gaze, his expression softening. "I see you still have that." "Some things don't change," she replied, her tone light but her eyes serious. He nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "I've changed, though. I hope you know that." "Have you?" The question hung between them, heavy with unspoken history. "I have," he insisted, his voice earnest. "I had to. After you left, I realized... I needed to be better." Rory studied him, searching for the truth in his words. "And are you?" He met her gaze, unflinching. "I'm trying. It's not easy, but I'm trying." Silas moved away, giving them space, his presence a comforting shadow in the background. The bar continued to buzz around them, a cocoon of noise that made their conversation feel intimate, private. "Why are you here, Evan?" Rory asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I came to London for work. But I also wanted to see you. To apologize." "For what?" Her voice was soft, but there was an edge to it, a challenge. "For everything. For not being the person you needed me to be. For hurting you." Rory looked down at her drink, the amber liquid swirling in the glass. "I appreciate that. But you know it's not that simple." "I know," he admitted, his shoulders slumping. "But I had to try. I couldn't let things end the way they did." She nodded, understanding the sentiment even if she couldn't fully accept it. "We were different people back then." "We were," he agreed, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "But I like to think we've both grown." "Maybe," she allowed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "But some things are better left in the past." Evan nodded, a resigned acceptance in his eyes. "I get that. I just... I wanted you to know I'm sorry." "Thank you," Rory said, the words simple but sincere. "That means a lot." They sat in silence for a moment, the past and present colliding in the space between them. It was a fragile peace, but it was something. "Do you think we could ever be friends again?" Evan asked, his voice tentative. Rory considered the question, the possibilities it held. "I don't know. But maybe we can start with this." He smiled, a genuine warmth in his expression. "I'd like that." Silas returned, his presence a gentle reminder of the world outside their conversation. "Another round?" Rory glanced at Evan, then nodded. "Why not?" As Silas poured their drinks, Rory felt a sense of closure, a chapter ending even as a new one began. The weight of the past lingered, but it was lighter now, less oppressive. Evan raised his glass, a silent toast to new beginnings. Rory mirrored the gesture, their glasses clinking softly in the dim light. The Raven's Nest continued to hum around them, a sanctuary in the heart of the city, a place where old friends could find each other again, even after years apart.