Page 89 of Us Dark Few

He recognized her deepest scars. Scars she didn’t show anyone else. The immense pain, anger, and regret for being powerless to stop your loved ones from being taken away resonated beneath their skin.

It didn’t weaken Takeshi, though. No, he was stronger because of it, ready to take on the world fighting.

“But I’m thankful,” she confessed. “Not just for trusting me with your story, but for being there for me earlier.”

Takeshi’s face tightened. “I was scared. I saw your body on the ground, and the first thing I thought of was my mother. I thought I’d failed you too.”

“I know...but you didn’t fail me. I’m okay,” Khalani insisted, but his troubled gaze shot to the red marks on her neck.

“I even did the squishy eye finger trick you taught me,” she added. “Freaking gross. You’re the only one who could convince me to do that.”

“I noticed. But you sound less badass when you call it the squishy eye finger trick, you know that, right?”

“Perhaps. But I just got you to admit that I’m a little badass.”

Takeshi rolled his eyes, but the tension slowly eased from his firm body. “Are you trying to distract me from being upset, Kanes?”

“Yes, is it working?”

Takeshi turned on his back, face still hard, but the barest hint of a smirk appeared. “Maybe.”

She laid on her back as well, smiling to herself. A gentle peace lay between them. A truce. Just for that one night. And after his story, Khalani was compelled to share a small detail of herself that no one else knew.

“You know, I wanted to be a gardener when I was younger.” She focused on the ceiling, imagining a whole array of flowers growing in the grey cracks.

“Really?” Takeshi’s deep voice softened as he stared at the ceiling with her.

Could he see the art too?

“Yeah. Every other kid in my class wanted to be a scientist, a Death-Zoner, or a councilman. Something grand. Not me, I drew myself watering flowers in Genesis.”

He chuckled. “I would’ve thought you wanted to be the first female Governor with your stubbornness.”

“I don’t like to be in the spotlight. I’m more inclined to fade into the background and the shadows. I guess Braderhelm was the perfect place for me, even though there are no flowers,” she joked, putting her arms over the covers and snuggling deeper.

Takeshi didn’t speak for the longest time. When she started to close her eyes, the weight of exhaustion hitting her, he whispered,

“I’ll find some flowers for you.”

Takeshi put his arms by his side, still lying on top of the covers. Then slowly, like there was static electricity trickling up the side of her body, his pinky grazed hers.

And stayed there.

Khalani breathed out, feeling like her heart was galloping at the small touch.

That was it.

They didn’t hold hands.

It was the most minimal connection, but those skin cells connected to his were like electrical rods, pulsing and beaming with energy.

She didn’t remember what purpose her pinky ever served before it was touched by his.

She swallowed, trying to slow her pulse. They didn’t move except for their chests, rising up and down with each breath. Khalani eventually closed her eyes as the soft sound of his breathing helped calm her erratic mind.

She soon found herself down a sleepy tunnel and sank further in its depths, the side of their fingers still connected, right till she fell asleep.

23

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