Hours after the elves had left and the station's nighttime routine had begun, Noah sat alone with Sophie in their assigned quarters. The lights had been dimmed to simulate evening, and the usual background hum of the station's systems created a white noise that should have been comforting but only made the silence between them feel heavier.
Sophie sat on the couch with her knees drawn up, watching Noah stare at nothing in particular. He'd been like this since returning from his private conversation with Commander Beaumont, lost in thoughts he hadn't shared yet.
"Are you thinking about the elf princess?" Sophie asked, breaking the silence with a directness that was very much her style.
Noah's head snapped up. "What? No."
"Because she was pretty obvious about liking you," Sophie continued, a slight smile playing at her lips. "Seven feet of ethereal beauty following you around like a puppy."
