Grey folded and the world let us through.
One step we were in Ouroboros—steel corridors, low lights, the hum of night crews still at their posts—and the next we were in my penthouse in Avalon City. The ward recognized me and set the rooms to night mode: soft gold along the baseboards, blinds lowered, temperature nudged warmer. The quiet here is different from headquarters. No runners. No paging tones. Just the city far below like a calm sea.
Rose's hand was still in mine from the jump. I felt the last of the mission-wire leave my shoulders as we crossed the entry hall. It smelled like fresh sheets and cedar. I had keyed the security to expect us; no chime, no handshake prompts. Tonight was supposed to be simple: arrive, wash, sleep.
"Stella's already down," I said, voice low without meaning to be. "Reika tucked her in after dinner. I told them we'd be late."
