The Guardians had set up camp for the night in a small clearing just past the Ember Mountains. The rocky terrain was giving way to a dense forest, the canopy of trees casting cool shadows that were a welcome relief from the searing heat of the day.
Jasmine sat by the edge of a small creek that trickled through the clearing, her reflection rippling in the water as she traced her fingers along the surface. The gentle sound of running water helped soothe her mind, but it didn't erase the thoughts swirling inside.
She glanced over her shoulder, noticing Zane sitting a little apart from the others. He was tinkering with his ever-present pocket watch, his brow furrowed in concentration. Something about him always seemed so... distant. But lately, she'd seen cracks in his icy exterior, moments where he let her glimpse the pain he carried.
Jasmine hesitated for a moment before rising and walking over to him. "Mind some company?"
Zane didn't look up but nodded slightly. "If you want."
A Quiet Conversation
She sat beside him, keeping a small distance between them. "You always seem so focused on that watch. What's the story behind it?"
Zane paused, his fingers stilling over the intricate gears. For a long moment, he didn't answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet. "It was my father's. He gave it to me just before..."
Jasmine waited, sensing that he was choosing his words carefully.
"Before he and my mother were taken from me," he finished, his tone clipped but tinged with something raw.
"I'm sorry," Jasmine said softly.
Zane shrugged, slipping the watch back into his pocket. "It's a long time ago. It doesn't matter."
"It does," she insisted, her voice firm but gentle. "It shaped who you are."
He glanced at her then, his icy blue eyes meeting hers. "And who am I, Jasmine?"
"You're someone who acts like they don't care, but you do," she said without hesitation. "You're always watching out for us, making sure we're safe. You're not as cold as you want people to think."
His gaze lingered on her, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch.
A Shared Vulnerability
"You don't know what it's like," Zane said, his voice quieter now. "Losing everything that mattered to you. Being alone."
Jasmine shook her head. "You're wrong. I do know. My mom left when I was little, and my dad was always too busy with work to notice me. I spent most of my childhood feeling invisible."
Zane's expression softened, the usual wall in his eyes faltering. "I didn't know that."
"Maybe because you've been too busy shutting everyone out," she said with a small smile.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips. "Maybe."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the sound of the creek filling the space between them.
An Interrupted Moment
After a while, Jasmine reached out, her hand brushing lightly against Zane's. He didn't pull away. Instead, he turned his hand, his fingers curling around hers.
"I see you, Zane," she said softly. "You're not alone anymore."
He swallowed hard, his usual composure slipping as he leaned in slightly, his face close to hers. Jasmine's breath hitched, her heart pounding as the distance between them disappeared.
But just as their lips were about to meet, a loud voice shattered the moment.
"Hey, lovebirds! Am I interrupting something?"
They sprang apart, their faces flushing as Leo strolled into view, a cocky grin plastered on his face.
"Leo!" Jasmine exclaimed, her tone somewhere between exasperated and mortified.
"What? I was just coming to tell you guys that dinner's ready," he said innocently, though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.
Zane stood abruptly, his usual stoic mask snapping back into place. "We're coming."
As he walked past Leo, the fiery boy smirked. "Don't worry, clock boy. Your secret's safe with me."
Lingering Tension
Jasmine stayed behind for a moment, trying to steady her breathing. Her fingers brushed her lips absentmindedly as she replayed the almost-moment in her mind.
When she finally joined the others by the fire, Zane was already sitting with his back to her, his focus seemingly on the food. But she caught the subtle way his shoulders tensed as she sat down.
Leo, of course, couldn't resist a sly remark. "You two okay? You seemed pretty... close back there."
"Drop it, Leo," Zane said coldly, though his ears betrayed a faint hint of red.
Jasmine shot Leo a warning look but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Despite the interruption, something had shifted between her and Zane, and she couldn't help but wonder where it would lead.
