The medbay lights were low and steady, humming softly above them. Justin lay flat on one bed, arm wrapped and shoulder heavily bandaged. Braxton occupied the next bed over, chest taped, one leg elevated. Liza rested against the far wall on a reclined cot, wings folded carefully, eyes half closed.
A room that has become far too familiar to them far too fast.
"The city's clear," Evermend said from the foot of the room. "Every coordinated attack was stopped. The mercenaries involved were hired muscle. Paid through Kaine's network."
Justin opened one eye. "And Kaine?"
Evermend's expression didn't change. "Dead on arrival at the ISC prison. All of them. Kaine included." She paused. "Circumstances are unclear."
The room went quiet.
"That's Decay," Liza said finally, voice flat. "Bloody clean endings."
"Exactly," Evermend replied. "This isn't the time to spiral. The immediate threat is gone. You're alive. That matters."
Justin turned his head toward the ceiling. "This is on me," he said quietly. "If I hadn't taken Solomon down back then, none of this would've happened."
"No," Evermend said immediately. "If you hadn't done it, someone else would have. Solomon was unstable. His brother was worse. And Decay doesn't let assets fail without consequence." She shook her head. "This was inevitable. We live in a dangerous world; we can never prevent casualties, but we can do our damndest to lessen them, which is exactly what all of you did."
Justin didn't argue, but the guilt didn't leave his face.
Evermend looked at all three of them. "Once you're patched up, you're going home. A full week. No patrols. No training. Our med labs are good. They aren't miracle workers."
Braxton pushed himself upright. "What about probation? It ends in, like, a week."
Evermend raised an eyebrow. "Braxton, you lot fought high-ranking members of one of the most notorious criminal syndicates in the world to a standstill and won. Justin held Kaine long enough for backup to arrive. You went above and beyond."
She folded her arms. "I'm confident the ISC's already taking notes. Full status is coming. And if they don't see it that way, I'll make sure they do."
Justin sat up a little despite the pain. "Are you serious?"
Evermend nodded. "Very."
Braxton grinned. Justin did too.
"When it's official," Evermend continued, "do you still want to see out your contracts with Sage Archive?"
"Yes, of course," they said at the same time.
Liza smirked. "Welcome to the team, boys."
Evermend nodded once and turned toward the door. "Good. Now, I don't want to see any of you for a week."
She glanced back. "Get some rest. You've earned it."
Then she was gone, leaving the room quiet again.
The medbay stayed quiet once Evermend left. Braxton broke it first, glancing between the other two. "So," he said, "we're not splitting up after probation. Right."
Justin looked over. "Not a chance."
Liza nodded. "Good. Because I'm not interested in starting over with new people."
Braxton grinned wide. "Yeah. I like us." He pushed himself off the bed with a wince. "I should go. Gotta tell my dad the good news before he hears it from someone else."
Justin laughed. "Tell Lance I said hi."
"I will." Braxton paused at the door. "Seriously. This is gonna be fun."
Then he was gone.
Liza leaned back against the wall, wings shifting slightly. "Well," she said, "looks like we survived. For now. Guess that faith of yours worked out."
Justin smiled. "Sure did."
She shot him a sideways look. "Though the way you talked it up, it sounded more like you had faith you'd win. Not stall until Evermend showed up."
Justin shrugged. "I held my ground. Landed some solid hits."
"And," he added, "I got shot with a laser and fought like a trillion worms first."
Liza snorted. "Alright. That's fair."
Justin settled back on the med table, staring up at the ceiling. "I get it now," he said. "Why you're so wary of Decay. Their reach is insane. Their people aren't just strong. They're organized."
"Yeah," Liza said quietly.
"I was cocky," Justin admitted. "Calling them out like that. Declaring war." He exhaled. "I've got a long way to go before I earn that kind of confidence."
Liza waited.
"But," Justin continued, "I still believe I can get there. That we can." He turned his head toward her. "I want to train. Fight. Claw our way up until we're all strong enough to stand at the top of this job. Together."
Liza studied him for a moment. Then she smiled. "That's an even loftier goal than before."
She held out her fist. "Partners."
Justin bumped it with his own. "Partners."
They lay there for a bit, silence settling comfortably between them.
Then Justin glanced over. "You hungry?"
Liza blinked. "Yeah. I could eat."
"I hear the Chinese place two blocks down is the bomb."
She pushed herself upright. "Let's go."
They slid off the beds, nudging shoulders as they headed for the door. The medbay lights hummed behind them as they left, battered, exhausted, and still standing together.
They didn't make it far before the sound of metal clanking stopped them.
Justin glanced through the open doors of the training room and froze. Captain Fantastica stood inside, patched up, shirt off, lifting weights like nothing had happened. A thick bandage wrapped his midsection. Fresh blood spotted the gauze.
Justin walked in. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Fantastica finished the rep and racked the bar with a grunt. "Getting my workout in."
"You got stabbed through the stomach," Justin said. "Like. A few hours ago."
Fantastica shrugged. "Not a valid excuse to skip arm day. Gotta get them gains."
Liza leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "You're more insane than Kaine was."
Fantastica laughed. "I get that a lot. Especially from Evermend."
Justin shook his head. "She's gonna kill you."
"Worth it," Fantastica said easily. He grabbed a towel and wiped his face. "You two heading out?"
"Yeah," Liza said.
Fantastica smirked. "Look at that. Lovebirds calling it a day together."
Both of them froze. Justin opened his mouth, then closed it right back up. Liza stared at Fantastica. "What?"
Fantastica laughed again. "Relax. I'm teasing."
"Whatever," Liza said flatly. She turned to leave. "I'm glad you're not dead, old man. But I wouldn't be opposed to you pulling something mid-workout."
Fantastica grinned. "That's fair."
Justin followed her toward the door and glanced back. "Take it easy."
Fantastica waved him off. "Same goes to you two. Try not to start another war."
They left the training room behind, the sound of weights clanking resuming as if the day hadn't nearly killed all of them.