Thought I lost you...

⋆.˚ Simmering Tensions ⋆.˚

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

The next morning,
the sound of an alarm clock blaring rudely startled Rossi awake. He groaned and rolled over, blindly swatting at the clock to turn it off. Once the room was silent again, he lay there for a moment, disoriented and still half-asleep.
Then the events of the previous day came back to him, and his eyes flew open as he suddenly remembered Morana.

He sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he tried to orient himself. The memories of the reunion were still fresh in his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in his gut since last night. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table and swore softly under his breath. It was already 6:45 AM, and he had important work to do.
With a resigned sigh, he got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom to start his day.

After a quick shower, Rossi got dressed in his usual work attire. Once he was ready, he made his way to the kitchen to grab a quick bite to eat before leaving for the day. But as he entered the kitchen, he stopped in his tracks as he saw Morana standing at the counter.

He couldn't help but stare at her for a moment, surprised to see her up so early. Despite the early hour, she looked well-rested and well-composed, her hair already styled and her clothes perfectly pressed. He cleared his throat, suddenly feeling self-conscious in his rumpled suit.

"Morning," He said gruffly, moving towards the coffee maker. "You're up early."

"I've been rising earlier than usual. Being on the run does that."
Morana's usual sass. Even in the mist of the morning, it didn't fade.

Rossi chuckled softly as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"Yeah, I guess that'd do it."

He turned around, leaning against the counter and examining her closely. She had always had a strong, confident presence, and even now, she carried herself with graceful poise.
"You look... good. Rested."

"Didn't have to look over my shoulder every 5 minutes. I was actually able to sleep."

He nodded in understanding, taking a sip of his coffee. The thought of her on the run, constantly looking over her shoulder, sent a pang through him. Despite everything, he still cared about her, and the thought of her in danger made him uneasy.

"You're safe here, you know," he said quietly, his gaze steady on her.
"I know.... I am now..."

He was silent for a moment, studying her expression. There was something in her tone, a hint of worry or uncertainty, that made him frown. He set his coffee down on the counter and took a step closer to her.

"What do you mean 'now'?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

"I had been on the run for almost a month.... And last night, I was able to sleep without the panic of having to flee again. I was able to rest, and I'm thankful for that."

Rossi's expression softened, and he took another step closer to her. Her words touched something deep within him, and he felt an overwhelming need to comfort her.

"You don't have to worry about that anymore," he said gently, his voice low and reassuring.

He reached out and lightly placed a hand on her shoulder, the contact sending a wave of emotions through him.
"Not while you're here. You're safe."

"Thank you, ma puce...."
she leaned her cheek over his hand, a thankful smile grazing her lips.

He felt his heart skip a beat as her cheek rested against his hand, and he couldn't help but smile back at her warmly. Hearing her accented voice utter that old nickname again made him feel a flood of nostalgia.