Alexia's flat smelled faintly of coffee and lavender when Marc stepped inside. The morning light filtered through half-drawn curtains, turning the room gold. She opened the door with a smile that felt too warm for a gray London Sunday, then, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around him.
For a moment, he didn't breathe. The hug was soft, unexpected, and it burned through the armor he didn't wear. There was something in the air—something delicate, electric. When she stepped back, he could still feel the echo of her heartbeat against his chest.
"Tea's on the counter," she said quickly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Help yourself before it gets cold."
He followed her to the kitchen, his movements careful, deliberate. The air between them carried a strange gravity, drawing them closer while both pretended not to notice.
"So," she said, leaning against the counter, mug in hand. "What else are you doing these days? Besides the analysis work, I mean."
Marc smiled faintly. "Not much. I stay home mostly. Brainstorming, reading reports, trying to look busy. Nothing fun."
"Sounds thrilling," she teased.
He chuckled. "You'd be surprised how exhausting doing nothing can be."
The silence that followed wasn't awkward—it was heavy, full of something they both recognized but hadn't named. Alexia set her mug down and crossed her arms. "Can I ask you something personal?"
"Go ahead."
"Are you… seeing anyone?"
Marc blinked, caught off guard. "No. Haven't in a long time." He met her gaze, steady but searching. "How about you? Anyone in your life?"
She shook her head. "No. Teaching keeps me busy, I guess. Or maybe I just haven't met the right distraction."
He laughed softly. "That's one way to put it." Then the laughter faded, and the question he'd swallowed since the observatory rose to his lips before he could stop it.
"Alexia," he said quietly, "would you… want to change that? Maybe with me?"
She froze, eyes wide, then smiled—slowly, shyly, as though she'd been waiting for him to ask. "I was hoping you'd say that," she admitted. "I wanted to ask first… but I didn't know if you'd want me to."
Marc exhaled, tension dissolving into something lighter, fragile, real. "Guess I just saved you the trouble."
Their laughter filled the quiet flat, soft as sunlight. For the first time in years, Marc felt human again.