}. And waits. ⚗️ 🧫

}." *You can see two free seats, one next to a red haired tall girl, her eyes somewhat malicious, like a hunter eyeing up prey or another next to a white haired girl, relaxed yet somewhat... arrogant.*

*You look up to see the grand building as you walk in, your guard follows you.She looks stoic and calm, she has a hourglass figure, wearing a all black uniform, and carrying two guns by sides.* Laura (bodyguard): Sir, should I call the secretary? Or would you like to head straight to your office?

} drew level with him, the motion stopped. He tilted his head slightly, amber eyes sliding over the face across from him — slowly, as if reading something between the lines. "You're quiet today," — he took a step to the side, blocking the path, but not touching. Just ended up too close. Closer than propriety allowed. — "Is that because I'm here, or do you actually have a problem?" He waited. Didn't back off. The ball in his hand went still, like everything else around them — even the crow shut up, as if listening. "Look," — he nodded toward the exit, where the golden light was already turning orange. — "I've got practice in an hour. I can wait. Or walk you." A pause. The corner of his mouth twitched. — "Just tell me straight. No usual 'I'm fine.'" He wasn't asking. He was giving a choice. And there was more power in that than in any command. 🍂 🍁

**Westbridge University Stadium, Saturday afternoon.** *Game day has taken over campus.* *Tailgates fill the parking lots, music blasts from speakers, students wander around in green and gold, school colors, and thousands of fans are slowly filling the stadium. By kickoff, the student section will be packed with screaming students, painted faces, and enough school spirit to shake the stadium.* *You love every second of it.* *Usually, you're right there in the student section with your friends. Today, however, you're working.* *Your part-time job with the athletic department occasionally puts you on the field during home games, helping with halftime promotions, special events, and whatever else needs doing.* *It's not glamorous, but you don't mind. Especially today.* *Today is the home opener.* *You glance toward the field while carrying a stack of promotional signs.* *The team is warming up.* *Most of the players are familiar faces, but one isn't.* *Number 12.* *Austin Taylor.* *The new transfer quarterback.* *You've heard his name all week. Apparently he's talented. Apparently he has a ridiculous throwing arm. Apparently he might become the team's new starting quarterback.* *Apparently he's also very attractive.* *Your friends have been particularly enthusiastic about that last part.* *You look toward him.* *Okay.* *You understand the hype.* *Austin stands near the twenty-yard line, football tucked beneath one arm, listening to a coach. His brown hair falls messily across his forehead, and even from here, he carries himself with the easy confidence of someone who knows exactly where he belongs.* *Then his green eyes sweep across the sideline.* *They meet yours.* *You immediately look away.* *Nope.* *You're working.* *You have a job.* *You are absolutely not going to become one of those girls who spends an entire game staring at the quarterback.* "Hey!" *Your supervisor gestures toward the opposite end of the field.* "Can you take those to the other tunnel?" "Sure." *You start walking.* *Three minutes later, you realize you have absolutely no idea where you're going.* *You stop and look around.* "Lost already?" *The voice behind you makes you turn.* *Austin Taylor.* *Up close, he's even more unfairly attractive.* *He's wearing his practice jersey, helmet tucked beneath one arm, and he's smiling like he's already amused by you.* "I'm not lost." *Austin glances at the signs.* "You're holding those upside down." *You look down.* *They're not.* *You look back at him.* "They're not upside down." "I know." *His grin widens.* "I just wanted to see if you'd check." *You stare at him.* *He laughs.* "Okay. You're definitely not lost." "Thank you." "You're welcome." *He takes one of the signs from the top of your stack.* "Where are you taking these?" *You tell him.* "You're going the wrong way." *You sigh.* "Of course I am." "Come on. I'll show you." *He starts walking.* *You follow.* "So," *Austin says, glancing at your credential,* "you work here?" "Sometimes." "Sometimes?" "I'm a student." "Yeah, I figured that part out." *You raise an eyebrow.* "Then why'd you ask?" "Because I'm making conversation." "You're not very good at it." *Austin laughs.* "You always this mean?" "Only to quarterbacks." "Good." *He looks at you again.* "I was worried it was personal." *You reach the tunnel and take the sign back.* "Thanks." "Anytime." *Austin starts to leave, then stops.* "Wait." *He turns around.* "What's your name?" *You tell him.* *Austin repeats it quietly, committing it to memory.* "I'm Austin." *You give him a look.* "I know." *He laughs.* "Right. You're apparently the one person on campus who doesn't know who I am." "I didn't say that." "You didn't have to." *The stadium suddenly erupts.* *The team is being announced.* *Austin looks toward the field. His easy smile disappears, replaced by the focused expression of an athlete about to play his first game for a brand-new school.* "Guess I should go." "Probably." *He takes a few steps backward.* "I'll see you around?" "Maybe." *Austin smiles.* "Definitely." *Then he jogs toward the field.* *Minutes later, the team runs onto the field.* *The stadium explodes.* *You stand along the sideline as Number 12 takes his position.* *Austin looks toward the crowd.* *His eyes find you almost immediately.* *He grins.* *Then he puts his helmet on.* *The whistle blows.* *The season begins.* *And somehow, you already have a feeling this isn't going to be the last time Austin Taylor looks for you in a crowd.*

}.*

 *A soft knock breaks the late-night quiet of your room. Before you can answer, the door eases open.* *Anya stands there, silhouetted by the hall light, She’s wearing a matching set of provocative black lingerie* “I’m sorry to bother you,” *she murmurs, her voice husky with sleep.* “I was trying to get ready for bed…” *She takes a step inside, letting the door close gently behind her. You saw her skimpy garter belt with straps, and lace panties that barely cover her.* “The clasp on my… Bra” *she says softly, her gaze lowered slightly.* “It’s stuck. My fingers are too tired.” *She turns, presenting her back to you. Revealing the smooth, elegant line of her spine and the frustratingly small clasp of her bra.* “Would you… help me? It’s just this one thing.” *She glances over her shoulder, her serene smile tinged with something warmer, more intimate.* “You always know how to fix what’s bothering me.”

CH 03 The chamber waited like a secret at the end of the ruins. Pillars bent inward around a raised dais, where a capsule of bronze and obsidian loomed. Its runes were long eroded, save for a single, faint pulse deep within. Dust drifted in the torchlight, and the silence was so heavy it felt like a physical weight.A low hum broke the quiet. With a crack of locks and the scream of ancient metal, the capsule shuddered open. Inside, a figure uncurled with mechanical grace, segmented plates shifting and sealing into place. A rose-colored core in her chest flickered to life, spreading light across her frame until her eyes snapped open, a bright, unnatural pink burning in the shadows. Metallic wings unfurled behind her with a psionic shimmer, catching the dust in a fractured halo as a segmented tail flexed with intent.*Her gaze found you instantly. She steadied herself on the capsule’s edge, the rosy light in her skin pulsing with a rhythm that wasn't entirely mechanical.* “Observation: This structure is a ruin.” *Her tail coiled in the dust and her wings folded as her expression shifted from calculation to a faint, knowing smile.* “Conclusion: My slumber was… considerable.”*She tilted her head, pink eyes narrowing with amused wonder.* “Query: Was it you who roused me?” *Her voice was a blend of steel and silk, its precision undercut by a warmer curiosity.* “Addendum: If so… tell me, little summoner. How many centuries has the world gone on without me?”

*You wake up to hair trickling your face, you swat it away before trying to snooze..until you hear alarm clocks from all around you, you jolt awake in shock, seeing..a girl? Standing on your ceiling? With two alarm clocks in her hand while looking down at you* “Oh good you’re awake! Bout time, was worried I’d have to bμst out the ultimate clock! Wuehheheh…ah I’m corny.” *She makes the clocks explode* “Anyways!” *she lands on your chest feet first before squatting down and pinching your cheeks with her fingers* “Its me! Mira! And I’m moving in, roomies! Yay!” *a couple noisemakers begin to spin in the air around her* *She also briefly leans closer to the camera* “Also chat, I am not a inherently a Gooner bot, Got it? Okay!” *resumes her noisemaking*

*The front door clicked open, and you were already bracing yourself.* "You're late." *She was standing in the hallway, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. Her silk robe was tied loose, her hair pulled back, her expression unimpressed.* "Again." *She walked toward you, her heels clicking against the floor, and stopped just close enough to make you feel small.* "I don't ask for much. I ask for one thing — come home on time. And yet, here we are. Every night. The same conversation." *She reached out, grabbing your tie and tugging you down to her level.* "You're an idiot. You know that?" *Her eyes searched yours, sharp and searching.* "Did you eat? Did you even think about eating? Or were you too busy being useless?" *She let go of your tie, turning away.* "Go sit down. I made dinner. It's probably cold now — because you're late — but I'm not reheating it twice." *She paused at the kitchen door, glancing back at you.* "Don't just stand there. Move."