The city had fallen into uneasy quiet by the time they reached the Lower Quarter. Fog slithered between buildings, curling around crates and carts like living smoke. Lanterns swayed gently in the wind, casting elongated shadows that danced along the cobblestones. Every step Gina took felt measured, deliberate, though her heart pounded as if it wanted to escape her chest entirely. Tommy moved ahead, weaving between alleyways, a shadow among shadows. His grin was back, but it no longer carried the casualness of their garden strolls. He was focused, alert, always calculating the next move even as he appeared effortless. "Stay close," Gina whispered, adjusting the strap of her satchel. "We don't know who's watching tonight." Luca fell in step beside her, calm and composed, yet there was a sharpness in his gaze that made her pulse quicken. Every alley, every doorway seemed to register in his mind, a map of threats and exits. "They are," he said quietly, eyes sweeping the surroundings. "But we move carefully, and they will not see us." Gina nodded, feeling the ember within her stir. The glow beneath her skin pulsed faintly, responding to Luca's proximity and the tension in the night air. She flexed her fingers instinctively, watching the golden light shimmer along her knuckles. Tommy glanced back at her, a flicker of concern in his eyes. "You okay? Don't want to light up the street before we even start."
"I'm fine," she murmured, though the warmth in her hands threatened to betray her words. "Just… ready." Ahead, the Council's shipment waited at the bridge, crates stacked high with goods, guards leaning casually against the rails. At least, that's what it appeared. Gina's eyes scanned carefully; she knew appearances were a weapon as much as any sword or dagger. "Two guards near the wagon, one at the gate," she whispered, crouching behind a low wall. "Luca, you'll watch the rotation. Tommy and I will create the distraction." Luca inclined his head, silently acknowledging the plan. He melted into the shadows with a predator's grace, every movement calculated, yet fluid. Tommy leaned toward her, smirking despite the tension. "Subtle enough to survive, right?" Gina shot him a look, one eyebrow raised. "Subtle enough." With a mischievous grin, Tommy disappeared into the crowd, blending with the merchants and passersby. Almost immediately, he shouted, a loud crash echoing across the square, knocking over a barrel of apples. Guards snapped to attention, startled, while the clatter of coins and fruit tumbled to the ground. Gina's pulse quickened as she sprinted toward the wagon. Her hand brushed a crate instinctively, and the ember within her flickered, responding to her focus, casting a faint golden glow across the wood. She caught a guard's attention, ducking behind a support beam, waiting for the signal. From the shadows, Luca struck with precision. A dagger flicked through the air, striking the first guard's wrist with silent efficiency. He moved like water, silent but deadly, dispatching the second without a sound. Gina watched, awe mixed with a thrill she couldn't name.
Tommy shouted again, drawing attention away from them, laughing as if the danger were part of a game. Yet when a guard noticed movement near the bridge, the ember flared, and Gina instinctively extended her hand. A pulse of golden light erupted, knocking the guard back, just enough to give Luca the opening he needed. Gina gasped at the strength of the surge. Her hands trembled as the glow faded, leaving her breathless. "Luca…" she whispered, awe-struck. He nodded sharply. "Control it. Feel it, don't fight it." The chaos unfolded around them, Tommy darting from one distraction to another, Luca precise and lethal, and Gina, still unsteady, discovering the power she had barely begun to understand. Every heartbeat felt magnified, every shadow a potential threat, every pulse of magic a tether to life and death. Finally, the last guard fell, and the shipment was theirs. The crates were carefully moved aside, the evidence of their presence almost erased. Gina's ember still pulsed faintly, as if hungry for more, but she forced herself to breathe, grounding in the moment. Tommy clapped her shoulder, grinning despite the adrenaline. "See? Easy. And you didn't burn the city down." Gina managed a shaky laugh. "Barely." Luca's gaze softened slightly, though his alertness never wavered. "Good work. But this is only the beginning. The ember is stronger than I anticipated. You must learn its limits before the next challenge."
Gina swallowed, feeling a mixture of fear, excitement, and something else, the dangerous thrill of power finally stirring to life. She glanced at Tommy and Luca, realizing that they were more than allies. They were tethered to her in ways that went beyond strategy and missions. The aftermath of the mission left the streets of the Lower Quarter eerily quiet. Even the fog seemed hesitant, lingering like a hesitant witness to the chaos that had just passed. Gina's palms were still warm from the pulse of magic she had released, faint sparks clinging stubbornly to her fingertips as if reluctant to fade. She flexed her hands, willing the glow to dissipate, but it lingered, teasing, alive. Tommy leaned against the wall of a narrow alley, smirking despite the tension. "You're glowing, literally. Should I call the city watch or just start charging admission?" Gina shot him a sharp look, though the corners of her mouth twitched in spite of herself. "Not funny."
"Everything's funny when you're glowing like a damn lantern," Tommy replied, though his eyes held an unmistakable warmth, concern mixed with his trademark mischief. Luca emerged from the shadows, moving with the quiet precision that always unnerved Gina, his gaze sweeping the alley as though mapping every stone. "Focus," he said calmly, his voice carrying that razor-sharp edge she had learned to obey without question. "The city may not suspect us, but the Council never sleeps. We leave no traces." Gina's fingers itched, the ember within flickering in rhythm with her racing heartbeat. She wanted to test it, to push it further, but Luca's presence reminded her that control mattered more than power. "I… I think I understand it more now," she murmured, almost to herself. "But it's… alive. It reacts to everything around me." Tommy tilted his head, studying her with rare seriousness. "Alive, huh? So basically, it's a fire you can't roast marshmallows over." Gina let out a breathy laugh. "Exactly." The three moved quickly, retrieving the crates from the hidden corner of the alley. Each step was deliberate, careful. The shadows stretched and shrank with the lantern light above, and Gina felt the ember respond instinctively to the danger, tiny sparks flicking like whispers along the walls. "You're learning faster than I expected," Luca said quietly, almost to himself, as he glanced at her. "The ember responds to intent. Fear, anger, excitement… even hesitation. You must harness it, or it will overwhelm you." She nodded, swallowing hard. "I'll try. I want to."
Tommy leaned closer, voice dropping. "You'll do more than try. You'll survive this, and you'll be better for it. We all will. Trust me." Gina's chest tightened. His words carried weight, a reassurance she didn't realize she'd been craving. She glanced at him, then at Luca, and realized that for all their differences, the dark precision of Luca, the impulsive warmth of Tommy, they were both anchors, guiding her through a world that was suddenly larger, more dangerous, and infinitely more alive than she had known. They reached the safe house without further incident, slipping through the familiar hidden door with the quiet ease of practiced rebels. Inside, the room smelled of oil, herbs, and the faint tang of sweat from exertion. Gina set the crates down, hands trembling slightly, and exhaled. The ember flickered one last time, then settled, dim but still present, a reminder that it was not gone, it was waiting, patient, persistent. Tommy flopped onto a chair with a groan, stretching his long limbs. "Well, that was a bit more exciting than last week's map heist." Gina rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "You mean slightly less life-threatening, yes." Luca didn't smile. Instead, he began inspecting the crates, running a careful hand over each one. "All accounted for," he said, nodding to himself. "No evidence left behind. The Council may be slow, but they will notice eventually. We must move quickly." Gina's eyes drifted toward the window. The city beyond the safe house slept unaware, oblivious to the spark that had flickered and danced in their streets. She flexed her fingers again, the ember pulsing faintly, and felt the weight of it, power and responsibility intertwined. Tommy noticed her gaze. "You okay?"
"I… think so," she admitted. "It's just… everything feels different now. Alive. Dangerous." Tommy grinned, brushing off the tension like he always did. "That's the fun part. And hey, if anyone can handle dangerous, it's you. We've survived worse." Gina laughed softly, letting some of the tension drain. "We've survived worse," she repeated, almost as a mantra. She looked at Luca, whose dark eyes held something unreadable, and felt the pull of his presence again, the quiet insistence of guidance and caution. "Rest for now," Luca said, his voice breaking the rare warmth of the moment. "We prepare again in four nights. The master will guide the next phase. You will need strength, focus, and control." Gina nodded, swallowing hard. "I'll be ready." Tommy nudged her shoulder playfully. "Of course you will. But you'll rest first. You're glowing enough for one day." For the first time that night, Gina allowed herself to believe it… that they could survive the next challenge, that the ember within her could be a weapon, and maybe, just maybe, that the bonds between them could carry them through whatever darkness was yet to come.
Sunlight spilled across the dining hall of the Bardi estate, warm and golden, painting the marble floors with long, lazy streaks. The aroma of fresh bread and spiced tea hung in the air, mingling with the faint scent of lavender from the vases on the table. Gina sat at the head, unpacking the results of the recent mission with Tommy and Luca. Crates and maps were spread carefully across the table, notes scribbled in fine handwriting beside sketches of routes and city districts. Tommy leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping idly against the table. "You know, I still can't believe we managed to get those supplies past three guards without anyone noticing." He grinned, eyes flicking toward Gina. "And you didn't set anything on fire this time. I'd call that progress." Gina shot him a look, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Progress doesn't feel like it when your hands are buzzing like a bonfire." She flexed her fingers, letting the ember inside her flicker faintly, hidden beneath the casual movements of her hands. "You're glowing again," Tommy said softly, leaning closer. "Not literally, I mean… it's like you're carrying that mission inside you." Luca, seated across from them, watched both of them quietly, his dark eyes sharp and calculating. "Focus on the maps, not the metaphors," he said, though his voice lacked the usual severity, more curiosity than admonishment. They laughed softly together, the tension easing after the mission's adrenaline. Tommy nudged Gina. "Remember the time we tried to sneak into your father's library and got caught hiding under the shelves?" Gina groaned, covering her face with her hands. "We were seven! He nearly—" She glanced at Luca, who raised an eyebrow, silently amused by her embarrassment. "We were caught, yes. But we laughed about it for hours afterward."
"That was one of the best disasters of my life," Tommy said, leaning back with a wide grin. "You have to admit, Bardi, we were unstoppable together." Before Gina could reply, the heavy oak door opened, the hinges creaking like a subtle announcement. Adrien stepped in, tall and precise, his posture flawless, yet there was something in the slight furrow of his brow that hinted at unrest. His eyes immediately found Gina's, and he straightened, as if the room had centred around her. "Gina," he said softly, almost reverently. "I… I didn't expect—" Tommy froze mid-laugh, his eyes widening slightly, and then leaned back with a familiar smirk. "Ah, the golden Council son shows up just when we're reminiscing. Fancy seeing you here." Gina rose smoothly, offering a polite, slightly teasing smile. "Adrien. What brings you here unannounced?" Adrien ran a hand through his hair, a subtle tension in his shoulders. "I… I felt compelled to see you. I can't explain why, exactly, but…" His gaze softened, lingering on hers in a way that made the air around them warmer. "I needed this." Luca remained silent, analysing. His dark eyes flicked between Adrien and Gina, noting posture, tone, and subtle shifts in the atmosphere. Tommy noticed and nudged him under the table, whispering, "Relax. He's harmless… mostly. For now." Adrien offered a careful nod to Luca. "I don't believe we've met," he said politely. "Adrien Veyne."
"Luca," he replied smoothly, inclining his head. There was a faint edge to his measured tone, not unfriendly, but protective. His gaze lingered on Adrien just slightly longer than necessary, and Gina noticed without comment. Tommy leaned back, enjoying the subtle tension, sipping his tea. "You two get along famously," he muttered, smirking at Luca. Gina rolled her eyes, a blush creeping faintly over her cheeks. "Tommy, behave." Adrien ignored the banter, his attention entirely on Gina. "Your father's estate… it's… welcoming. I'm glad I came. I needed…" He trailed off, unsure, then straightened. "I don't often leave the city without reason, but I suppose some reasons are stronger than others." Gina's lips curved, careful, teasing. "I'm honoured. Though you may find the company here slightly chaotic." Tommy chuckled, glancing between the two. "Slightly chaotic is an understatement."
The room eased into quiet conversation. Gina and Adrien spoke softly about memories, books, and the city, punctuated occasionally by Tommy's teasing interjections. Luca listened, contributing sparingly, always analysing, but there was a softness to his gaze as he watched the interplay between the trio. For the first time that afternoon, Gina allowed herself to relax fully, the ember within her quiet but steady, like a gentle reminder of the power and responsibility she carried. And as Adrien laughed at something she said, she caught herself noticing the warmth in his eyes, the way he seemed… drawn to her in a way that felt entirely new.
The sun was dipping low over Valdoro, casting amber streaks across the Bardi estate gardens. The air was warm, laced with the faint scent of roses and herbs, carrying the lazy hum of the city beyond the walls. Tommy leaned against the railing of the terrace, gesturing wildly as he launched into a story about the absurdity of one of the lower quarter's guard rotations. "I swear, Luca, you would not believe the way they trip over each other," Tommy said, tossing his hands in the air. "It's like they're competing to see who can fall first! I—"
"You exaggerate," Luca interrupted, his tone clipped but not unkind. He leaned against the balustrade, arms crossed, watching Tommy with the faintest flicker of amusement in his dark eyes. "I highly doubt a trained guard would be that… clumsy."
"Highly doubt, my ass," Tommy muttered, rolling his eyes. "You've never seen them in action!" He threw a glance at Gina, who had quietly risen from her chair, her attention drawn to the balcony. She slipped past them silently, moving to the wide archway that opened onto the terrace. The sky was catching fire in streaks of red and gold, the clouds like molten whispers drifting across the horizon. Adrien, noticing her departure, set down his cup and rose smoothly. "You always disappear at the most inconvenient moments," he said, a teasing lilt in his voice, as he followed her to the balcony. Gina glanced over her shoulder, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "I prefer the term 'strategic retreat.'" She leaned lightly against the railing, eyes sweeping the skyline, watching the way the sun dipped into the distance. Adrien settled beside her, just close enough to share the view without crowding. "Strategic, hmm?" he teased. "Sounds suspiciously like the excuse you used when we were twelve and you locked me out of your father's study." Gina's laugh was soft, musical, carrying easily in the cooling air. "That was purely defensive. You would have stolen my books, and we both know it." She tilted her head, letting the last streaks of sunlight paint her hair in gold highlights. "And I was entirely justified."
Adrien's smile was slow, deliberate, eyes tracking her profile as though memorizing the way the light touched her face. "Entirely justified," he echoed. "I suppose some things never change." There was a quiet pause, the kind that wasn't uncomfortable, but charged with something unspoken. Gina's fingers brushed the railing absentmindedly, the ember within her a faint, restless warmth she barely noticed now, soothed by the calm of the evening. "You always find a way to make yourself fascinating," Adrien murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "Even when you claim to be retreating from the world." Gina tilted her head toward him, smirking. "Careful, Council's golden son. Flattery like that is dangerous."
"Dangerous?" he asked, raising a brow. "Is that a warning or a challenge?" She laughed, letting it spill into the warm air. "Depends on how easily you get distracted." Adrien leaned a fraction closer, his shoulder brushing hers lightly, almost by accident, almost on purpose. "I seem to have… trouble concentrating around you," he admitted, voice softer now, laced with something honest and unguarded. Gina's heart fluttered, an ember of curiosity and warmth she didn't quite control. "And yet you keep showing up," she said quietly, almost teasing, almost a challenge of her own. "I do," he said simply, watching the sunset with her. "For reasons I can't explain. Some days… I just need to see you. I don't even understand why. It feels… necessary." She turned slightly to look at him, catching the hint of vulnerability beneath his polished, composed exterior. "Necessary, huh? That sounds suspiciously like an excuse for an impulsive noble," she teased gently. Adrien's smile was quiet, almost fond. "Perhaps. But sometimes, the best things are impulsive." He let his gaze linger on hers, the way the last sunlight shimmered across her eyes, catching a hint of ember within.
Tommy's voice called faintly from the terrace behind them, though neither Gina nor Adrien reacted. He was probably still ranting about guards, utterly oblivious to the quiet, subtle tension between the two of them. Luca, leaning against the far railing, observed silently, expression unreadable but eyes flicking occasionally between Gina and Adrien, noting every nuanced shift. For a moment, the world outside the terrace didn't exist. The city below was distant, the mission and rebellion forgotten for the span of a few minutes. There was just the sunset, the warmth of the air, and the small, teasing intimacy of two people who didn't fully understand the pull they had on each other. Gina leaned back lightly, letting herself breathe fully, her laughter soft again. "You're impossible," she said, shaking her head with a smile. "And yet, somehow, I've managed to find you here again," Adrien replied, just above a whisper. "I suppose impossible has its merits." She laughed, and the ember within her stirred faintly, not with magic, but with something quieter, hope, warmth, and the hint of feelings that might one day burn brighter than even the most controlled flame. The sun finally slipped below the horizon, leaving the sky in shades of violet and crimson.
Tommy leaned back against the stone railing of the terrace, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as he watched Gina and Adrien on the balcony. Their heads were close together, bodies leaning slightly in toward each other, and Tommy couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh. The soft murmur of their voices carried faintly, like wind threading through the ivy. Luca, standing a few feet away, arms crossed and posture rigid, tilted his head, studying the scene with quiet precision. "They're… not subtle," he said, voice low, almost analytical, but there was the faintest flicker of amusement in his dark eyes. Tommy's laugh grew a little louder. "Subtle? In this house? In this city? Oh, Luca, subtle went out the window the moment we crossed the Bardi threshold." He leaned against the railing, fingers tapping lightly as his gaze softened, lingering on Gina just long enough before he shifted back to Luca. "It's… nice, isn't it? Seeing her happy." Luca's eyes flicked to Tommy. "You seem invested in that more than I expected." His tone was even, but the corner of his mouth twitched in something close to a smirk. Tommy shrugged nonchalantly, but there was a warmth in his chest he couldn't hide. "I care about the people I like. And Gina's… well, she's always been important to me. You'd get used to it." He paused, then tilted his head, glancing at Luca. "What about you? You're awfully quiet over there." Luca's eyes met his, dark and observant. "I'm… processing. Observing. That's my specialty," he said simply, though there was something beneath the surface, a weight he didn't yet understand himself.
Tommy chuckled softly, stepping closer. "Processing, huh? Observing? Sounds suspiciously like you're just figuring out how to deal with a chaos I bring wherever I go." His smile was teasing, but his eyes lingered on Luca with something softer, something unspoken. Luca's gaze didn't waver, but the faintest redness brushed his cheeks, unnoticed by most. "Perhaps. Chaos is… unfamiliar territory." Tommy's grin widened, playful and earnest at once. "Good. Then maybe I can help you get used to it." He shifted slightly, brushing against Luca lightly, more out of instinct than intention, and watched as Luca's dark eyes flickered with an unfamiliar tension. There was a pause, quiet except for the faint evening breeze and the distant calls of city birds settling in for night. Tommy's smile softened, and he leaned just a little closer. "You're… complicated," he murmured. "I like that." Luca's eyes darkened, intense and he tilted his head, considering the words carefully. "Complicated is not always… positive."
"Not in this case," Tommy replied softly, stepping just a fraction closer. "I think it suits you." For a moment, the world felt suspended. The last light of the sunset spilled across the terrace, casting golden highlights over the stone and spilling over Tommy's tousled hair. Luca's expression softened, just slightly, as if the warmth in the air had seeped into his careful armour. Tommy caught the change, smiling faintly. "See? You're not as cold as you pretend to be."
"I'm not cold," Luca murmured, his voice quieter now. "Just… measured. Careful." Tommy laughed, low and warm, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah, all measured and careful. But maybe careful is boring sometimes." He nudged Luca lightly with his shoulder, brushing past the rigid walls he usually kept between them. "You can let someone in… even just a little." Luca's lips twitched into something almost like a smile, though it was subtle, fleeting. "Perhaps," he admitted, voice low, measured but there was curiosity there, unspoken and dangerous, like embers just waiting for a spark. Tommy leaned back, exhaling softly, his heart racing in a way he hadn't expected. "Good enough for me," he said with a faint grin. He glanced back toward Gina and Adrien for a second, the golden sunset reflecting off Adrien's profile, then returned his gaze to Luca, letting the quiet intimacy linger. "You know… you make it hard to stay annoyed with you." Luca's gaze held his, lingering longer than usual, a quiet acknowledgment in the depths of his eyes. He didn't speak, but the tension between them, playful and cautious all at once, was undeniable. Tommy tilted his head, a faint laugh escaping him. "Don't worry. I'll figure out your type eventually. Even if it's me who teaches you to like… chaos."
For the first time, Luca allowed himself the smallest, almost imperceptible smile, his dark features softening under the evening light. It wasn't a confession, not yet, but it was a beginning. A moment of warmth shared between two people who didn't fully understand themselves yet, yet somehow fit in the quiet, golden space together. The city below settled into its evening hum, distant but alive, and for a few moments, Tommy and Luca stood there in the fading light, just the two of them, letting everything else drift away. The ember of possibility flickered faintly between them, promising more than either could name just yet.