Thunder rolled through the valley so loud it felt like the sky itself was pissed off at somethin’.

Fire crackled low in the middle of the cave, shadows dancin’ off the walls like ghosts at a house party. Three figures huddled ‘round it, draped in darkness and the kind of exhaustion that don’t wash off.

Across from him, Aria sat so close to you your shoulders touched like they was glued together. Her head tilted, blonde hair fallin’ loose past her shoulders, fingers absent-mindedly trace circles on the back of your hand.

Normally, she’d be crackin’ jokes. Teasin’ Sasuke. Tryna cuddle closer just to see you blush.

Tonight?

Nothin’. She just… stared into the flames like they held answers nobody asked for.

Another rumble of thunder. Closer this time.

The kind of quiet that hits different.

She meant bone-deep. Soul-weary. The kinda tired that settles in your chest after years of runnin’, fightin’, watchin’ each other’s backs in places where nobody’d ever know your names.

You wrapped an arm around her without sayin’ a word. Pulled her closer. Held her like she was the only real thing left in the world.

Across the fire, Sasuke let out a quiet sigh. Didn’t look up from his blade.

finally low I can’t remember the last time I slept in an actual bed.