The darkness in the room wasn't absolute. A faint sliver of moonlight peeked through a gap in the cheap curtains, painting a pale stripe across the floor piled high with manga. The only other light source was the warm, focused glow from Leo's desk lamp, currently illuminating someone else entirely.
Leo blinked, his consciousness slowly swimming up from the depths of a disjointed, feverish sleep. Dreams still clung to him—nonsensical images of Bitcoin charts morphing into giant robots battling street thugs beneath a rain of glowing code. His head felt thick, like cotton stuffed behind his eyes, and a dull ache persisted in his limbs, but the sharp, consuming heat of the fever had receded. It was replaced by a weary weakness, a profound exhaustion that felt heavier than any physical blow he'd ever taken.
His gaze drifted toward the desk lamp's glow. And froze.
Liana sat hunched slightly in his worn-out desk chair, completely engrossed in one of his well-loved, slightly battered comic books—a classic mecha series from the early 2000s. Her dark hair fell forward, partially obscuring her face, but her focus was absolute. The sight sent a jolt through Leo, stronger than any lingering fever symptom. Liana. Here. In his room. Looking… strangely comfortable amidst his chaotic collection of otaku paraphernalia.
He shifted slightly, the creak of his old bedsprings unnaturally loud in the quiet room. Liana looked up instantly, her eyes widening slightly in surprise under the lamplight.
"Leo?" she whispered, putting the comic book down carefully. "You're awake."
Leo tried to clear his throat, but only a rough rasp emerged. "Yeah… What time…?"
Liana glanced at the digital clock on his desk, then instinctively checked her own phone lying beside the comic. "It's already past eight," she said, her voice soft but clear. "You slept for quite a while after taking the medicine."
Leo reached for his own phone on the bedside table, confirming the time: 8:17 PM. Night had fully fallen outside. "You… stayed?" he managed, the question laced with disbelief.
Liana slid the chair closer to his bed, her expression shifting from surprise to gentle concern. "Of course, I stayed," she replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I wanted to make sure your fever really went down. How are you feeling now? Any better?"
Before Leo could formulate a response beyond a weak nod, Liana reached out, her movement fluid and natural. She gently placed the back of her cool hand against his forehead, her touch sending an unexpected shiver down his spine—not from cold, but from the sheer unfamiliarity of the gesture. Her brow furrowed slightly in concentration, then relaxed.
"Hmm," she murmured, withdrawing her hand. "Definitely much cooler. The worst seems to be over, thank goodness." A relieved smile bloomed on her face, warming the small space between them more effectively than the desk lamp. "Still feeling weak, though?"
"A bit," Leo admitted, his voice still scratchy. Sitting up earlier had taken more effort than he'd anticipated.
Liana's smile softened further. She leaned in slightly, her eyes meeting his. The light caught the concerned sincerity in her gaze. And then, before Leo's analytical brain could even begin to process the probability or tactical implications, she did something utterly illogical.
She leaned down and pressed a soft, brief kiss against his forehead, right where her hand had just been.
Leo froze. Utterly, completely froze. His breath hitched. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic rhythm completely unrelated to his recent fever. Time seemed to warp, stretching the microsecond her lips touched his skin into an eternity. It wasn't passionate, not provocative, just… warm. Gentle. Impossibly tender.
Liana pulled back, her smile still in place, though perhaps a little shy now. Her cheeks held a faint pink tinge under the lamplight. "Really, Leo," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the frantic pounding in Leo's ears. "My help is nothing compared to yours."
She must have seen the utter confusion warring with something else entirely on his face. She elaborated softly, "After everything you did… facing those thugs, making that insane deal to protect my family… me bringing you some porridge and waiting for your fever to break? It's the least I could do. Seriously, it's nothing."
Leo stared at her, speechless. His mind, usually a whirlwind of calculations, threat assessments, and strategic planning, felt… blank. Wiped clean by a single, simple gesture. The warmth from the kiss seemed to seep directly into his skull, short-circuiting every logical pathway.
Liana seemed to take his stunned silence as a sign of lingering illness. She glanced at the clock again and stood up, stretching slightly. "Wow, it really is late," she said, her tone becoming more practical. "I should probably head home. My parents will start wondering where I vanished to." She began gathering the empty porridge container and medicine packaging into her bag. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine walking back or catching the last bus."
The mention of her leaving alone, at night, snapped Leo out of his daze. His protective instincts surged, overriding the confusing warmth still buzzing under his skin.
"No," he said, his voice firmer now, though still slightly rough. He pushed himself to sit up straighter, ignoring the protest from his weary muscles. "It's past eight. It's not safe for you to go alone."
Liana paused, looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "Leo, I'll be fine. Really."
"No," he repeated, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. A wave of dizziness hit him, but he clenched his jaw against it. "I'll take you home. On my motorbike."
Liana's eyes widened. "What? Leo, absolutely not! You just recovered from a fever! You're still weak, you shouldn't be riding a motorbike, especially at night!" Her voice held genuine alarm.
"I'm functional," Leo stated flatly, standing up. He swayed slightly but held his ground. "Operational capability is reduced, but sufficient for short-distance transport. My driving skill analysis remains optimal. The risk assessment for you traveling alone at this hour is significantly higher than the risk associated with my current condition." He met her worried gaze, his own expression set with unshakeable determination. "I insist, Liana. Let me take you."
Liana stared at him, torn between concern for his health and the stubborn intensity radiating from him. She sighed, a small, exasperated sound, but her lips quirked into a reluctant smile.
"Alright, alright, Mr. Insistent Analyst," she conceded, shaking her head. "But you have to promise me you'll drive slowly and carefully. No analyzing traffic flow efficiency or calculating optimal cornering angles tonight, understand?"
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Leo's eyes. "Understood. Standard safety protocols will be adhered to."
---
Getting ready involved Leo pulling on a slightly less soaked jacket over his t-shirt and grabbing his keys. He located an older, spare helmet—plain black, slightly scratched but functional—and handed it to Liana, who took it with a hesitant look.
Outside, the night air was cool and damp after the earlier rain. The streetlights cast long, distorted reflections on the wet pavement. Leo's motorbike, a sturdy but unremarkable 150cc model that blended easily into the background, waited near the curb.
He straddled the bike, the familiar weight reassuring despite his lingering weakness. Liana clipped the helmet on, her movements slightly uncertain. "Okay, um… where should I…?" she began, looking at the seat behind him.
"Hold onto my waist. Or the grab handles," Leo instructed curtly, trying to ignore the sudden spike in his own awareness of her proximity.
Liana hesitated for a fraction of a second, then swung her leg over, settling behind him. Her hands rested lightly, almost tentatively, on his sides. Even through his jacket, Leo could feel the slight pressure, a connection that felt simultaneously grounding and electrifying.
He started the engine, the familiar rumble cutting through the quiet night. Taking a steadying breath, he pulled away from the curb slowly, just as he'd promised.
The ride wasn't fast. City lights painted streaks of color across Liana's helmet visor as they moved through the semi-deserted streets. The cool air felt good against Leo's face, clearing some of the remaining fog from his head. He focused on the road, on the smooth operation of the machine, but a significant part of his awareness was anchored to the girl behind him. Her light weight, the occasional shift as she adjusted her balance, the soft scent of her shampoo that drifted forward on the breeze.
"It's… actually nice out," Liana shouted slightly over the engine noise after a few minutes, her voice closer to his ear than he expected.
"Affirmative," Leo replied, keeping his eyes forward. "Post-rain atmospheric conditions often result in increased air clarity and reduced particulate matter."
He heard Liana chuckle behind him. "Only you would describe a nice night like that, Leo." Her hands, perhaps gaining confidence or seeking stability, shifted slightly, gripping his jacket a little more firmly.
Leo didn't reply, but a strange sense of… peace settled over him. This wasn't a mission. There were no targets, no escape routes to memorize, no imminent threats (he hoped). It was just… riding. Through the night. With Liana. The thought was simple, yet it felt profoundly complex, layered with the confusing emotions of the evening. The lingering warmth on his forehead, the memory of her laughter, the weight of her trust resting lightly against his back.
All too soon, they arrived at the street corner near Liana's house. Leo slowed the bike to a smooth stop under a flickering streetlight. He cut the engine, plunging them into relative silence, broken only by the distant city hum.
Liana slid off the bike, unclipping her helmet and shaking her hair free. "Thanks, Leo," she said, handing the helmet back to him. Her eyes met his in the dim light, holding a mixture of gratitude and lingering concern. "Seriously. For… everything today. And for the ride."
"Task completed," Leo replied, his voice still a bit flat, though perhaps less so than usual.
"Get home safe, okay? And get more rest," Liana instructed sternly, pointing a finger at him playfully. "No more analyzing things until you're fully recovered!"
Leo merely nodded.
Liana smiled one last time, a bright, genuine smile that seemed to push back the shadows. "Goodnight, Leo."
"Goodnight, Liana."
He watched as she walked quickly to her front door, unlocked it, and slipped inside, casting one brief glance back before disappearing. Only then did Leo put on his own helmet and start the engine again.
As he rode slowly back toward his own empty apartment, the cool night air couldn't quite extinguish the unfamiliar warmth that lingered—on his forehead, and somewhere deeper, in a part of his chest he hadn't known could feel quite like this.
---
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