Evan decided the hospital ceiling had exactly three interesting cracks.
He was naming the fourth one when Noah walked in with a paper bag, two coffee cups, and the expression of a man who had argued with traffic and lost.
"You're late," Evan said.
Noah checked his watch. "I'm seven minutes early."
"That's emotionally late."
Noah sighed and handed him a cup. "Don't drink it fast."
Evan immediately drank it fast.
"…Ow."
Noah closed his eyes. "Why are you like this?"
"Because pain reminds me I'm alive."
"That's the dumbest philosophy I've ever heard."
"And you're a detective. That's impressive."
Noah sat in the chair beside the bed, pulling files from his jacket.
Evan watched him, calm. Comfortable. Something he hadn't been around anyone in a long time.
"You came again," Evan said casually.
"I had paperwork."
"You hate paperwork."
"…It followed me."
Evan accepted this.
That alone was new.
A nurse entered to check his IV. Her eyes flicked to Noah.
"Family?"
"No," Noah said quickly.
"Bodyguard?" she joked.
Noah didn't answer.
Evan did.
"He's my emotional support cop."
Noah choked.
The nurse laughed and left.
Noah stared at Evan. "I will discharge myself from existence."
"You'd miss me."
"No."
"You'd cry."
"I absolutely would not."
Evan smiled, soft and real, and looked away.
He didn't see how Noah's fingers tightened on the chair.
Kai and Rhea burst in twenty minutes later.
Rhea carried a bag of fruit. Kai carried absolutely nothing useful.
"Patient still alive?" Kai asked.
"Unfortunately," Evan said.
Kai beamed. "Love that spirit."
Rhea handed Evan the bag. "Eat properly."
Evan peeked inside. "This is all apples."
"Yes."
"Do you hate me?"
"A little."
Noah stood up immediately. "Visiting hours are limited."
Kai blinked. "Did the building promote you to hospital boss?"
Rhea squinted. "You're acting weird today."
Noah crossed his arms. "He needs rest."
Evan blinked. "I literally just woke up."
"You need more rest."
"I slept for six hours."
"You blinked too hard."
Kai laughed. "Wow. He's nesting."
Noah pointed at the door. "Out."
Rhea mouthed what is wrong with him to Evan.
Evan shrugged, smiling. "He's dramatic."
They left, still laughing.
The door clicked shut behind them.
Silence returned, soft and familiar.
Evan shifted against the pillows. "Hey… Noah?"
"What."
"How come those two are always together?"
Noah didn't look up from his phone. "Kai and Rhea?"
"Yeah. They move like a package deal."
Noah shrugged. "Same department. Forensics. They get paired on most cases."
Evan hummed. Then, casually, "They look… close."
Noah snorted. "That's because Rhea has a massive crush on him."
Evan blinked. "Seriously?"
"Painfully."
He finally looked at Evan. "And that idiot has absolutely no idea."
Evan smiled. "How can someone be that blind?"
Noah deadpanned. "Kai once searched for his phone using his phone's flashlight."
Evan laughed—quiet at first, then real.
It surprised both of them.
"That explains everything," Evan said.
Noah allowed himself a small smile.
Somewhere, far away, tragedy was learning how to wear a human face.
But in this room, for a moment, everything was simple.