Description

Exhausted and drenched in sweat, Cass pressed herself against the building and slid down into a seated position. She felt her pulse in her extremities, and her hands began to throb as the adrenaline exited her system. The pain she would feel in the coming days was worth it: her city, the place she called home, still stood.

She just hoped Len had listened to her and made it out before the fighting started.

Emergency vehicles arrived, crowded around Cass' feet, so she leaned back and closed her eyes to escape the blinding blue and red lights. A familiar voice called out to her then and pulled her from her rest.

"I know you said you'd come find me, but I couldn't wait that long," Len called from an adjacent balcony. Cass glowered at him, and Len raised his hands defensively. "I left for the field HQ after you said goodbye, don't worry! They were kind enough to let me tag along with the recovery crew." Len gestured to the street below.

Cass exhaled through her nose, grinned warmly. "Persistent little thing." The thought of surviving to cuddle up with Len on their hand-me-down couch in their too-expensive apartment had propelled her through another harrowing battle. Cass sighed and leaned towards the balcony, heard the facade crumble against her back. She gazed at Len and thought about how he looked now compared to when she was her usual height.

"Don't we need to get you back? Isn't there a time limit?" Len asked. He was leaned on the balcony, delicate arms crossed as he looked up at her.

"There is, but I've got time," Cass said. "Let me look at you a little longer."