Chapter 39: The Shadow That Stayed
Selene didn't sleep. She hadn't, not really, since the moment Aria reached for her with that impossible golden light — like some instinct had taken over, something deep and ancient, rooted beyond memory or reason. It had gutted her. That she could still feel it, even now, four days later, said everything.
She was still in the apartment. Against every plan she'd made. She hadn't meant to stay.
But here she was.
Curled into the corner of the living room, long legs tucked beneath her in worn black jeans, hoodie sleeves pulled past her palms, earbuds plugged in but not playing anything. The room was dark except for the soft blue light from the smart thermostat screen and the glow of city lights casting broken shadows through the blinds. The rest of the apartment was quiet. Except it wasn't. Not really.
Selene could feel Aria's presence like pressure in her chest. Even from down the hall.
They hadn't spoken much since that night. Not about what mattered. Aria had checked in with her like she always did — brought her tea without asking, rolled her eyes at Selene's refusal to use the guest bed — but the space between them buzzed with everything they hadn't said.
Selene hadn't left. Hadn't packed. Hadn't even untied the duffel still leaning against the wall by the door. She told herself she was just being cautious, waiting. That was a lie.
She didn't want to leave.
Which was the worst part.
She heard Aria before she saw her. Soft steps across the hardwood, the faint sound of bare feet on the cool floor. Selene didn't turn right away. She just pulled one earbud out and waited.
"You're in my thinking spot," Aria said, hovering in the doorway in a worn t - shirt and sleep shorts that should've been illegal on a weeknight.
Selene's lips curved. "Didn't see your name on it."
Aria crossed her arms, hip resting against the frame between the hallway and the living room. "You've been brooding in the same spot for three nights. I think that counts as squatting."
"Some of us reflect instead of scrolling through dumb cat videos."
"Excuse you. Those cats are genius."
Selene looked over at her then, eyebrows raised. "Sure. Nothing says 'mental clarity' like raccoon compilations and chaotic kitchen fails."
"Jealousy is an ugly color on you."
"Please. If I wanted your attention, I'd just take your phone"
Aria made a strangled sound. "You're a menace."
"And yet, here you are."
Aria rolled her eyes but stepped inside, walking past the couch to drop onto the armrest beside Selene without asking. Their shoulders brushed. Neither of them moved.
"You didn't disappear," Aria said, voice softer now.
Selene didn't look at her. "No."
"Why not?"
"I thought about it."
"I figured." Aria paused, then: "But you stayed."
"I did."
"Why?"
Selene hesitated. Her fingers traced the frayed edge of her hoodie sleeve. "Because every time I think about leaving, I remember how quiet it gets when I'm not near you. And I hate it."
Aria blinked, caught off guard. Her posture shifted. "That's… a lot."
"I'm not great at subtle."
"No kidding." She bit her lower lip, teeth catching the skin before letting it go. "I thought maybe I'd imagined it."
Selene finally turned, eyes sharp. "Imagined what?"
"That the way you looked at me meant something."
Selene leaned in, voice low. "It did."
"You've been acting like it didn't."
"Because if it does," Selene said, "it means I'm not in control anymore."
Aria studied her, the warmth in her chest flaring into something sharper. "You think control is what I want from you?"
"I think letting you see what's underneath this…" Selene gestured vaguely, "means you could break me."
"I wouldn't."
"I know." Her voice cracked. "That's the problem."
Aria reached out slowly, fingers brushing Selene's hand. Their skin met. It was such a small thing — simple contact — but Selene looked at it like she was watching herself unravel in real time.
"I'm not afraid of you," Aria said, barely above a whisper.
"You should be."
Aria shook her head. "You think I'm fragile."
"You are."
"And yet, you're the one hiding in a hoodie at 3 a.m. because you can't deal with the fact that I care about you."
Selene stared at her, stunned.
Aria shrugged. "Don't look so shocked. You're not subtle either."
Silence fell. The kind that had weight.
Selene's hand turned under Aria's, fingers curling slightly to hold hers.
"You make me dangerous," she murmured.
"I think you were dangerous before me."
"Not like this."
Aria looked down at their joined hands. "Then stay dangerous."
Selene laughed once — sharp, soft. She tilted her head. "You really don't care what I've done?"
Aria met her eyes. "I care who you are when you look at me like that."
Selene's breath caught.
"You're playing with fire," she warned.
"I'm not playing at all."
It would've been easy to back off then. To keep the distance. But Aria was so close, her mouth soft and parted, breath uneven, and Selene was so tired of pretending she didn't want this.
She leaned in and kissed her.
No warnings. No hesitation. Just heat.
Aria made a sound — surprise and need tangled into one — and kissed her back without pause. Her hands found Selene's face, fingers sliding into her hair, anchoring her like she never wanted to let go. Selene deepened it, tongue slipping past lips already parted in welcome, the taste of her addictive.
When they finally broke apart, Aria was breathless.
"That was —"
"Unfair?" Selene offered, a wicked grin tugging at her mouth.
"I was going to say inevitable."
Selene hummed. "Want to do something about that?"
Aria smacked her arm lightly. "God, you're smug."
"You like it."
Aria tried to glare. It didn't stick. "Do it again."
Selene's eyes darkened. "You sure?"
Aria leaned forward and kissed her again by way of answer.
This one was slower. Hungrier. Less shock, more intent. Selene let herself fall into it, one hand cradling the back of Aria's neck, the other sliding around her waist, pulling her closer until Aria was almost straddling her lap. Their bodies molded together like they'd done this a hundred times before. Like they already knew how to fit.
Aria gasped into her mouth when Selene's hand skimmed under her shirt to brush warm skin.
"Selene —"
"I'll stop," Selene whispered, eyes locked on hers. "Just say it."
Aria shook her head. "Don't. Not unless you want to."
Selene froze for a beat. Then she pulled her hand away, letting it rest over Aria's racing heartbeat instead.
"I want to," she said, "but not like this. Not while I'm still trying to pretend I'm not completely wrecked by you."
Aria leaned forward, pressing her forehead to Selene's. "You're not the only one."
Selene's laugh was quiet and pained. "You're dangerous too, you know."
"I hope so."
They stayed like that — pressed together, breathing in each other's closeness, like the silence between them finally meant something safe.
"I didn't know I could still feel like this," Selene said.
Aria stroked her fingers across Selene's jaw, featherlight. "Then don't run from it."
"I won't."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"You're staying."
It wasn't a question.
Selene nodded.
"For as long as you'll have me."
Aria leaned back just enough to look her in the eyes. "You should know I'm not letting you leave again."
Selene smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that."
And just like that, the weight that had been choking her for days loosened. She didn't need to keep her bag by the door. Didn't need to stay half in, half out. Because Aria had already chosen her. Without threats. Without promises she couldn't keep. Just… trust.
Selene could live with that.
Maybe even start over with it.
For now, she pulled Aria into her arms and let the tension bleed away.
She wasn't the shadow tonight.
Not anymore.