They weren't sure if the world shifted toward Jaden…
Or if he had been holding it together the whole time.
The glitch storms began to settle. The fractured sky turned to twilight, and the ground smoothed beneath their feet. Memory took shape in the world around them half street, half memory space quiet, warm, still.
And at the center was Jaden.
Kneeling.
Alive.
---
No one moved at first.
Even Kael, usually the first to break the silence, stood still. Aya's hand hovered near her mouth. Niko's eyes were wide and unreadable.
Rowan said it first, his voice soft. "That's him."
Then they ran.
---
Aya reached Jaden first.
She dropped to her knees, close but careful. "Jaden."
He lifted his head.
Eyes tired, but aware.
"…Hey," he said quietly.
She leaned in and hugged him without asking.
This time, he didn't pull away.
"You scared us," she said into his shoulder.
"I know."
"I'm still mad."
"I know."
She didn't let go for a while.
Rowan crouched beside them. "Do you remember us?"
Jaden gave a small nod. "Your handwriting's still loud."
Rowan smiled, half-relieved, half-exhausted. "Good. Would've been awkward to reintroduce myself."
---
Kael dropped something beside him with a soft thuda familiar, dented thermos.
"Figured you might want this back."
Jaden picked it up, turning it in his hands. "You didn't clean it."
"Didn't want to mess with it."
Their eyes met.
"You're here," Kael said, like he was still testing the truth.
"You too."
Kael looked away, but only for a second.
Then he sat down beside him.
---
Niko came last.
She didn't say much. Just sat across from Jaden and rested her pinky beside his.
Whiskers flickered onto Jaden's lap
End of chapter.
Author notes:
I'm bored , I'll touch myself nalang( ◜‿◝ )♡