ZZZ:Through the Frosted Mirror

The journey back to New Eridu had been tense but uneventful. Section 6's return was marked by silence, the group weighed down by the events in the Outer Ring. Ellen, bruised and battered both physically and emotionally, was finally back in her quarters. Mira lay sound asleep in her bed, her small frame curled into the blankets. The child's breathing was steady, a soft rhythm that contrasted sharply with the storm brewing inside Ellen's mind.

Ellen sat on the floor beside the bed, her shark tail stretched out behind her. She leaned her head back against the edge of the mattress, her sharp eyes fixed on the ceiling. For a brief moment, the silence felt suffocating. She closed her eyes and let her thoughts take over.

It felt like no matter what she did, she never caught a break. Every time she found herself standing on solid ground, the world found a way to drag her under. First, the Hollows, then Mira, then the Outer Ring—one thing after another. Ellen's fists clenched as she thought of everything she had endured. The weight of her choices bore down on her, and it felt as if she were sinking again.

Her breathing quickened as the memories surged—faces of people she'd fought, Mira's transformation, and Miyabi's worried expression when she found them in the cave. Her mind screamed for reprieve, for even a moment of peace. But no matter how much she wanted to, she couldn't let go of the fear that it would all happen again.

A soft knock on her door broke through her spiraling thoughts. Ellen opened her eyes, momentarily disoriented, before pushing herself to her feet. She walked to the door and opened it to find Miyabi standing there.

Miyabi's expression struck Ellen immediately—her ears drooped slightly, and her usual confident demeanor was replaced with something softer, more vulnerable. She looked upset, but Ellen knew it wasn't directed at her. It was something deeper.

"Miyabi," Ellen said, her voice quiet, but her tone carried a weight of understanding. "What's wrong?"

Miyabi hesitated, her gaze flicking to the ground for a moment before meeting Ellen's eyes again. "Can we talk?"

Ellen stepped aside and motioned for Miyabi to come in. She closed the door behind her and gestured toward a chair, but Miyabi shook her head. Instead, she stood by the window, her arms crossed tightly, as if holding herself together.

The silence stretched for a few moments before Miyabi finally spoke. "I... I've been thinking about everything," she started, her voice trembling slightly. "About you, about what you've been through, and about what I should have done sooner."

Ellen raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the wall with her arms crossed. She didn't interrupt, sensing that Miyabi needed this moment to let everything out.

"I'm supposed to be the leader of Section 6," Miyabi continued, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm supposed to protect people, to guide them. But seeing you out there, seeing what you've been carrying alone—" She stopped, her hands balling into fists. "It made me realize how much I've failed you."

"Miyabi—" Ellen started, but Miyabi held up a hand, shaking her head.

"Let me finish," Miyabi said, her tone firm but laced with vulnerability. "Ellen, I care about you more than I can even explain. I don't know what these feelings mean or where they'll lead, but I know one thing for sure—I can't stand seeing you like this. I don't want you to shoulder everything on your own anymore. I want you to rely on me, to let me help you."

Miyabi's voice cracked, and her ears drooped further. She looked down, as if ashamed to be showing this much of herself. "You've been through so much. And I hate that I wasn't there for you when you needed someone. I don't want to lose you, Ellen. Not to the Hollows, not to the weight of everything you're carrying. Please... let me be there for you."

Ellen was silent for a moment, her sharp gaze softening as she took in Miyabi's words. Finally, she pushed off the wall and stepped closer, placing a hand on Miyabi's shoulder—the one closest to her with her remaining arm. Her touch lingered, warm and grounding.

"You haven't failed me," Ellen said quietly. "You're here now. That's what matters." She hesitated before continuing, her own emotions bubbling to the surface. "I... I don't know what we are, or what we could be. But I know I feel the same. I trust you, Miyabi. More than anyone."

Miyabi's eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, the weight of her emotions seemed to lift. Ellen offered a small, genuine smile—rare and fleeting, but real. Ellen's hand slid from Miyabi's shoulder down to briefly graze her forearm, a simple but intimate gesture that sent a shiver through both of them.

As the moment stretched between them, Miyabi sighed, her shoulders relaxing. "Thank you," she said softly. "For letting me in."

Miyabi turned to leave, but before she could reach the door, Ellen's voice stopped her.

"Wait," Ellen said, her tone hesitant. "You can stay. If you want."

Miyabi turned back, her expression surprised.

Ellen gestured toward the bed, where Mira was still sound asleep. "There's enough room. And... I wouldn't mind the company."

For a moment, Miyabi hesitated, but then she nodded. "Okay."

She slipped off her coat and boots and carefully climbed into the bed, settling on the opposite side of Mira. Ellen joined them, her shark tail curling protectively around the two of them. As she shifted into place, Ellen's remaining hand brushed lightly against Miyabi's, the contact lingering for a second longer than necessary. Neither of them pulled away.

Miyabi's voice broke the quiet as she glanced at Ellen. "I meant what I said. About being there for you."

Ellen's lips twitched into a faint smile. "I know. And I'll try. Just... don't give up on me, okay?"

Miyabi's expression softened, her ears perking up slightly. "Never."

As the three of them lay there, the silence was no longer suffocating. It was comforting, a reminder that even in the midst of chaos, they could find moments of peace together. Ellen closed her eyes, the tension in her body finally easing. For the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to simply be.

And beside her, Miyabi stayed awake a little longer, her gaze soft as she watched over Ellen and Mira. Her hand hovered for a moment, as if tempted to reach out and brush Ellen's hair from her face. But she stopped herself, content with just being there for now.

The first light of dawn crept into the room, casting a soft glow over the bed. Ellen stirred, the haze of sleep slowly fading as her senses awakened. She blinked a few times, her sharp eyes adjusting to the dim light. Mira was still sound asleep, her small body curled into the blankets, a picture of peaceful innocence.

Ellen shifted slightly, her shark tail lazily flicking over the edge of the bed. It was then that she heard it—a strange, low purring noise. Her first instinct was to check on Mira, but the girl remained motionless, her breathing steady and quiet. Confused, Ellen turned her attention to the other side of the bed.

That's when she realized the source of the sound.

Miyabi had moved closer in her sleep, her arms loosely draped around Ellen's waist. Her usually composed demeanor seemed softened, and her expression, though peaceful, held a trace of vulnerability. The delicate rise and fall of her chest matched the faint warmth of her presence, and Ellen found herself captivated by the quiet intimacy of the moment. The way Miyabi's fingers lightly brushed against her side added to the tender stillness, making it difficult for Ellen to look away. Her head was nestled into the curve of Ellen's neck, and her ears twitched slightly as she made the soft purring noise. Ellen froze, her heart skipping a beat. She'd been so focused on everything else last night that she hadn't thought about how close they'd be in the bed. Now, with Miyabi practically clinging to her, Ellen felt her face heat up.

Ellen swallowed hard, trying to calm the sudden flutter in her chest. She told herself to relax, that it wasn't a big deal. But the warmth of Miyabi's breath against her neck and the gentle weight of her presence made it impossible to ignore. Just as she began to think Miyabi was still asleep, she felt something unexpected—a soft, deliberate nuzzle. Miyabi's head moved slightly, her nose brushing against Ellen's skin as she rubbed her head against her neck. The sensation was warm and featherlight, her soft breaths tickling Ellen's skin and sending a shiver down her spine. The faint scent of jasmine, likely from Miyabi's hair, mingled with the early morning air, creating an almost intoxicating closeness. Ellen's pulse quickened as she became acutely aware of the smooth texture of Miyabi's cheek grazing her neck, the intimacy of the gesture leaving her both flustered and rooted in place.

Ellen's grip instinctively tightened around Miyabi, her hand resting on her back. Her heart thudded in her chest, a mixture of confusion and something else she couldn't quite name. The purring sound deepened, and Ellen's mind raced. Is she really asleep? Or…?

The answer came quickly.

Miyabi suddenly stiffened, her ears perking up as she realized Ellen's hand had tightened its hold. Her blue eyes darted up, meeting Ellen's with a mix of surprise and embarrassment. A soft, almost imperceptible tremble ran through her, and her usually composed demeanor cracked ever so slightly. Her ears gave an involuntary flick, betraying her flustered state as she registered the closeness between them. Her purring stopped, and Ellen felt her tense against her. Slowly, Miyabi pulled her head back just enough to meet Ellen's gaze. Her face was flushed, her blue eyes wide with embarrassment.

"Y-You're awake," Miyabi stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her ears drooped slightly as she pulled away, though not completely.

"Yeah," Ellen replied, her tone calm but her face still warm. "You… uh, seemed comfortable."

Miyabi's blush deepened, and she looked away, her ears swishing slightly. "I didn't… I mean, I wasn't…" She trailed off, clearly flustered.

Ellen couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at her lips. "You were purring," she pointed out, her voice teasing but gentle.

"I-I wasn't purring!" Miyabi shot back, her voice rising slightly before she caught herself. She glanced at Mira, who stirred but didn't wake. Lowering her voice, Miyabi continued, "It's not purring. It's… it's just a Thiren thing. We do it when we're… comfortable."

Ellen raised an eyebrow. "Comfortable, huh?"

Miyabi groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is so embarrassing," she muttered, her ears twitching.

Ellen chuckled softly, the sound easing some of the tension in the room. She reached out and gently placed a hand on Miyabi's shoulder. "Hey," she said, her voice softening. "It's fine. Really."

Miyabi peeked at her through her fingers, her blue eyes searching Ellen's face for any sign of mockery. Instead, she found sincerity. Slowly, she lowered her hands, though her cheeks remained flushed.

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable," Miyabi said quietly. "I didn't mean to…"

"You didn't," Ellen interrupted, her tone firm but kind, her gaze steady on Miyabi. She softened the edges of her smile, her shark tail curling slightly at her side as if to signal her sincerity. Her hand gently rested on her lap, but the subtle shift in her posture—a slight lean forward—showed her desire to reassure Miyabi further. "If anything, it was… nice." She hesitated before adding, "I'm not used to it—someone being that close. But it wasn't bad."

Miyabi blinked, her ears perking up slightly. "Really?"

Ellen nodded, her smirk softening into a small, genuine smile. "Yeah. Just maybe warn me next time if you're gonna cuddle me in your sleep."

Miyabi's face turned red again, and she looked away, muttering, "No promises."

The two fell into a comfortable silence, the awkwardness slowly fading as the moment passed. Ellen leaned back against the headboard, her gaze drifting to Mira, who was still sound asleep. Despite everything, she felt a strange sense of peace. For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't alone.

And beside her, Miyabi couldn't help but steal a glance at Ellen, her heart beating just a little faster as she wondered what this new closeness meant for them both.