the beginning after the end perfect duo

Laws of Power and the Pain of Babysitting

I was leaning against the cave's walls with Lilia still laying on my lap, still asleep, arms crossed, as Sylvia finally came into view. Her steps were slow but deliberate, like she was daring anyone to comment on how long it took her to get here. Behind her, Mira and Lucas trudged along, looking like they'd just survived a marathon. Mira was drenched in sweat, her hair plastered to her forehead, while Lucas looked like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Finally decided to show up, huh?" I called out, unable to resist the jab.

Sylvia stopped a few feet away, her arms crossing over her chest. "Not my fault you got here first, Tom. And, as you can see, I've been a little busy playing babysitter," she said, jerking her head toward Mira and Lucas. Her gaze lingered on Mira, who was bent over, hands on her knees, gasping for air.

I raised an eyebrow. "Babysitter, huh? Looks like you've got your hands full." I paused, my stomach growling loudly enough to remind me why I'd been waiting for her in the first place. "Speaking of which... you wouldn't happen to have any food, would you?"

Sylvia's eyes narrowed, and that familiar smirk of hers appeared. "Let me guess. You forgot your backpack again?"

I winced, scratching the back of my neck. "Yeah, I... might've left it behind. Look, I know it's stupid, okay? But I'm starving."

She rolled her eyes, and I could practically hear her mentally adding this to the long list of my failures. "Of course you did. Honestly, for someone with an eidetic memory, you're surprisingly bad at remembering the basics." She glanced at Mira, who was now rummaging through her bag. "Well, don't look at me. I already ate mine."

Mira froze mid-motion, her eyes widening as she looked up at Sylvia. "Wait, what? You gave me your food earlier and told me to hold onto it for you. I thought it was weird, but I didn't ask questions." She pulled out a wrapped sandwich and held it up, her expression a mix of confusion and guilt.

Sylvia's face flushed, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Mira, I swear—"

I couldn't help but grin, cutting her off. "Well, well, looks like someone cares about me more than she lets on."

Sylvia shot me a glare that could've melted steel. "Say one more word, and I'll make sure you don't eat a single crumb today. Got it?"

I held up my hands in mock surrender, but the smirk on my face didn't fade. "Loud and clear, boss."

Sylvia handed me the sandwich after a moment of hesitation, her fingers brushing against mine briefly before she sat down beside me. I unwrapped it slowly, the smell of bread and whatever filling was inside making my stomach growl louder. I was about to take my first bite when she spoke again, her voice cutting through the quiet like a knife.

Mira was sitting a few feet away, sipping water from her bottle. She was probably eavesdropping, but I didn't mind. If anything, her presence felt harmless—like background noise. Lucas, on the other hand, had planted himself farther away from the group, his back turned to us. He'd always been like that, distant and detached, as if he couldn't stand being around any of us for too long. I didn't take it personally; that was just Lucas.

"So," Sylvia began, her tone casual but with an edge that made me pause mid-bite, "since when is Lilia asleep?"

I lowered the sandwich, glancing at her. She wasn't looking at me, her gaze fixed on the horizon, but I could tell she was waiting for an answer. Sylvia always seemed to know more than she let on, and that was what made her so intimidating. I'd always feared her a little, wondering what she wasn't saying. But lately, she'd been... different. Nicer, maybe. Or maybe I'd just been too quick to judge her before. Still, a part of me couldn't shake the feeling that she was holding something back.