Marcus came back to awareness slowly.
His first sensation was weight. Not just physical, but everywhere at once, like his body had decided it wasn't done being tired yet. His chest ached when he tried to breathe too deeply, and his arms felt heavy, uncooperative. Stone pressed against his side, rough and cold.
He opened his eyes.
Broken debris surrounded him, but it wasn't a collapse. The rubble had been moved, shifted just enough to clear space around his body. Above him, the sky was visible through the open plaza, calm and empty.
Quiet.
That was what stood out most.
"…Did we win?" Marcus asked, his voice coming out rough.
"Yeah."
Roberto was sitting a short distance away, back against a broken slab, one knee drawn up. He looked calm.
Marcus tried to push himself upright. His body protested immediately, pain flashing through his side and shoulders as his arms gave out and he sank back with a sharp breath.
"What happened?" he asked.
