Under a Dimmed Sun [UNCENSORED]

Extra/Alternate Universe 2: Martin, Alice, and Isabel -Episode 1

The morning light filtered through the small window of their modest Parisian flat, casting a golden glow on the simple furnishings. It was a far cry from the grand chambers Alice once called home, but the warm smell of fresh bread wafting in from the bakery below gave the place an undeniable charm.

Alice stirred awake, her body still wrapped in the soft warmth of the quilt and Martin's arm draped lazily around her waist. She smiled to herself, listening to his steady breathing. It had been months since they arrived in Paris, but waking up beside him still felt like a small miracle. She gently turned to face him.

"Good morning," he said, his voice still husky with sleep. His eyes, though lined with the years of hardships, held a gentleness that made her heart flutter.

Alice smiled, her voice barely above a whisper. "Good morning."

It was their first morning as a couple, and though they were no longer young, the moment carried the shy excitement of first love. Martin reached over, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, his fingers lingering just for a moment.

"I did," she replied, though her smile turned teasing. "Though someone kept stealing the blanket."

Martin chuckled softly, a sound so warm it filled the modest room. "That someone was just trying to stay close to you."

She rolled her eyes playfully but couldn't hide the blush rising in her cheeks. "Is that your excuse for kicking me, too?"

He laughed again, and it was a laugh she realized she wanted to hear every morning. "Perhaps. But I promise to make it up to you."

"Oh?" Alice raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan to do that?"

Martin shifted closer, the lines of his face softened by the early light. "I'll start by saying thank you," he murmured.

"For what?"

"For being here. For choosing me," he said, his voice quiet but filled with meaning. "I know I don't have much to offer compared to the life you left behind."

Alice's smile faltered for just a moment, but she quickly leaned closer, her hand resting on his cheek. "Don't you dare say that, Martin. You've given me everything I didn't even know I needed. A chance to breathe, to be myself. To love without fear."

His hand covered hers, and for a long moment, they simply looked at each other. The weight of their pasts—his heartbreak, her escape—hung in the air, but it didn't feel heavy anymore.

"You make it sound like I'm some kind of savior," Martin said with a soft chuckle.

Alice smirked. "I think you'd make a terrible knight, to be honest."

"Oh, absolutely," he replied, his grin widening. "I'd rather wield a brush than a sword any day."

"Good," she said, settling back into the pillow. "Because I'd hate to have to patch you up after some foolish duel."

Martin laughed, the sound rumbling low in his chest as he reached for her hand again. "No duels, I promise. Just this."

He brought her hand to his lips, pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles. Alice's heart fluttered, and she couldn't stop herself from leaning forward and kissing him on the forehead.

"Come on," she said after a moment, though she made no move to get up. "Isabel will be awake soon. We'll need to make breakfast."

Martin groaned dramatically, flopping back onto the bed. "Do we have to? Can't we just stay here forever?"