I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the warm weight of a woman against my side.
For a moment, I just lay there, processing. Vivienne's bedroom. The successful retrieval. The night that had gone far beyond what I'd planned.
She was still asleep, her dark hair splayed across the pillow, one arm draped across my chest. Peaceful. Vulnerable in a way I suspected few people ever saw.
I carefully extracted myself, finding my pants and pulling them on. The Crimson Tear sat on the dresser where Vivienne had left it – mission accomplished. I pocketed it, then headed downstairs.
Her kitchen was as elegant as the rest of the house. I found coffee beans and a grinder, went through the motions of making a proper cup. The routine was grounding, normal, a stark contrast to everything that had happened.
[Status Check]
[Power Level: 2% - Locked]
[Fragments: 160.2/1000]
[Physical Condition: Optimal]
[Mission Status: Complete]
