The Crystal Caverns were eerily silent now, the once-threatening whispers reduced to faint echoes. The artifact, a smooth crystal pulsating with soft blue light, rested on the pedestal in the center of the chamber. It seemed to radiate peace, as if it had been waiting for the chaos to end.
The group stood around it, their exhaustion evident.
"That was too close," Skye said, running a hand through her silver-streaked hair. "We can't keep pushing like this."
"But we did it," Leo said, the usual cocky grin on his face. "Another win for Team Guardian."
"We barely survived," Bruce countered, crossing his arms. "Next time, we need to plan better."
As the others debated, Zane stood a little apart, his gaze fixed on Jasmine. She sat on a fallen crystal shard, her hand resting lightly on her injured ankle. Though she wore a brave face, he could see the tension in her shoulders, the pain she was trying to hide.
Without a word, he walked over to her.
A Quiet Exchange
"You're hurt," Zane said, kneeling beside her.
Jasmine looked up, startled. "It's just a sprain. I'll be fine."
He shook his head, his icy blue eyes narrowing. "Let me see."
Before she could protest, he gently lifted her foot, inspecting the swelling. His touch was careful, almost reverent, as if he were afraid of causing her more pain.
"You shouldn't have been fighting like that," he said, his tone softer than usual.
Jasmine frowned. "What was I supposed to do? Just stand back and let you handle everything?"
Zane glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "You could've gotten killed."
"So could you," she countered, her voice firm. "But we're a team, Zane. We fight together."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The others' voices faded into the background, leaving only the sound of their breathing and the faint hum of the artifact.
"You're reckless," Zane said quietly, but there was no anger in his tone. "But you're also brave."
Jasmine's eyes widened slightly, and she felt her heart skip a beat. "Is that... a compliment?"
His lips twitched into the faintest smile. "Don't get used to it."
A Moment of Vulnerability
Zane shifted, leaning back against the crystal shard beside her. His gaze drifted to the ceiling of the cavern, where faint pinpricks of light resembled stars.
"I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Jasmine's breath caught, her chest tightening at his words. She turned to him, studying his profile—the sharp angles softened by the dim light, the vulnerability in his usually guarded expression.
"Zane..." she began, but the words caught in her throat.
He looked at her then, his icy blue eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. There was something in his gaze—something raw and unspoken, a depth of emotion he rarely allowed himself to show.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, he reached out, his fingers brushing hers. The touch sent a jolt through both of them, and Jasmine felt her cheeks flush.
"Jasmine," he said, her name lingering on his lips like a confession.
The Interruption
As if drawn together by some invisible force, they leaned closer, the world around them fading into nothingness.
But just as their lips were about to meet—
"Hey, lovebirds!" Leo's voice rang out, shattering the moment.
They sprang apart, both turning to glare at him.
Leo smirked, clearly enjoying himself. "Hate to break up the bonding session, but we've got an artifact to secure and an escape route to find."
Jasmine groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Of course it's you."
Zane shot Leo a withering glare before standing and offering Jasmine a hand. "Let's go."
She took it, her fingers lingering in his for a moment before they both turned back to the group.
As they rejoined the others, Jasmine couldn't help but glance at Zane. Despite the interruption, the warmth of his touch lingered, and she knew the moment they'd shared wasn't something she'd soon forget.
