They climbed together toward the upper floors, Erik peeling off with Vanya's group at the twentieth-floor stairwell landing, the whole party pausing there for a final round of goodbyes before continuing on.
Persephone caught Penelope's arm as the group prepared to split, leaning in with a grin that promised nothing good.
"I smell romance in the air," she said, delighted, glancing pointedly toward Erik and Vanya, who'd already begun making their way toward their own gate.
"You smell paint and blood," Penelope said, dry, though something complicated tugged at her chest regardless — not quite the old wariness, not quite comfort either, some unresolved middle ground she still hadn't found language for.
"Both things can be true." Persephone's eyes sparkled with obvious delight. "Come on, Penny. You've seen the way he looks at her. Tell me you haven't noticed."
"I've noticed," Penelope admitted, quieter now. "I'm still working out how I feel about it."
