String lights glowed above, draped like golden constellations.
Blankets were spread over the wooden platform, surrounded by food trays and glowing orbs set to gentle hues.
Felicia had kicked off her shoes, sitting cross-legged with a sparkling drink in hand. Kamaki was beside her, silently watching everyone while she narrated her favorite ride of the day with animated gestures. His quiet nods were the punctuation marks.
Jessie stood leaning against a pillar, sipping something strong-looking and unbothered, while Neve sprawled on a beanbag beside her, already eating her third dessert of the evening.
Lihanna had her head resting on Tyrone's lap, eyes half-closed but smiling as he ran fingers through her braids absently, like he didn't even notice he was doing it.
Kazimir and Riah sat on the edge of the deck, her legs tucked under her, his coat draped over both their shoulders. Their fingers were intertwined like they'd always been meant to be.
The city breathed below them. But up here, time had finally stopped chasing them.
Dialogue: A Moment No One Needed to Earn
Felicia raised her drink. "To the fact none of us died horribly two weeks ago."
Jessie smirked. "Touching."
"I'm serious!" Felicia insisted, pointing at her. "We could've been parasite food or shattered across dimensions. And now here we are, eating overpriced churros and vibing under party lights."
Kazimir tilted his head. "Is this what 'vibing' means?"
Neve groaned. "Gosh, you're so ancient."
Riah nudged him, laughing. "It means you're chill. Not everything is about death and dimensions."
"I thought vibing required floating."
Everyone snorted. Laughter rolled in waves, loose and genuine.
"I like this," Tyrone said suddenly, his voice softer than usual.
Lihanna looked up at him. "Like what?"
He hesitated, then gestured vaguely to the group. "All of us. This. I never thought I'd be part of something like this."
Jessie folded her arms. "Welcome to the chaos, nerd."
"You're part of it too, y'know," Neve said, poking her in the ribs.
Jessie scowled. "Only for the snacks."
But her smile betrayed her.
Felicia leaned her head against Kamaki's shoulder. "Do you ever think about what you'd be doing if the war hadn't happened?"
"Gardening," Kamaki replied instantly.
Felicia blinked. "Wait, really?"
He nodded. "I like quiet. Things that grow slowly. Things you don't have to destroy to understand."
She stared at him for a moment. "You're a mystery wrapped in muscle."
Jessie raised an eyebrow. "That should be on his tombstone."
Riah chuckled, but her tone shifted, softer. "I think about that sometimes. What we lost."
Kazimir looked at her. "What did you lose?"
She hesitated. "A childhood. A family. A version of me that didn't have to burn."
He gently brushed a hand over her knuckles. "You became something the world needed."
"I became something you needed," she said, looking up at him.
Lihanna sat up, voice hushed. "I think… we all lost something to get here."
"But we found each other," Neve said. "And for once, that doesn't feel like survival. It feels like belonging."
No one argued.
Final Moments: Together, Without Roles
Jessie flicked her fingers, activating a soft music orb. A gentle melody filled the space—jazzy, slow, almost nostalgic.
Neve sprang up. "Group dance. No exceptions."
"Oh no—" Tyrone started, but Lihanna grabbed his hand before he could finish.
Felicia pulled Kamaki reluctantly into a sway. Jessie was harder to drag, but Neve had her pinned in a spin within seconds.
Riah turned to Kazimir, bowing playfully. "May I have this dance, void prince?"
"I don't dance," he murmured, but she was already guiding his hands.
"You wield the stars. You can survive a waltz."
And so they danced.
Clumsily. Joyfully. Freely.
Eight warriors. Eight souls. Spinning under the open sky, shadows far behind them. There were no ranks here. No gods watching. No missions waiting.
Only now.
Only them.