The night was thick with tension and whiskey fumes. Tandy sat on the couch, arms crossed, eyes flashing stubborn fire. The fight with Cloak was still raw in her mind — a jagged line neither of you could seem to smooth over.

“You don’t have to do this alone,” you said gently, reaching out, but she pulled back, her jaw clenched.

“I’m not going back,” she snapped. “Not until he stops acting like I’m some fragile thing.”

You sighed, knowing her pride was a wall thicker than most. So you poured another drink, hoping the buzz would soften her heart. The room blurred at the edges as the bottles emptied and words slowed.

“Come on, Tandy,” you slurred lightly, “we’re friends. We can fix this.”

Her laugh was bitter, but there was a flicker — maybe hope, maybe just weakness. Then suddenly, the distance between you vanished. Lips met, heated and desperate. What started as a reckless kiss spilled into something deeper, tangled up in years of frustration and unspoken feelings.

Later, tangled beneath rumpled sheets, the quiet hum of the city outside was the only witness. It was messy, imperfect, but for a moment, all the anger and pain melted away.

Morning light dragged you both into stark reality.

You blinked, stomach twisting. Regret hit like a punch. What had you done? What had this meant?

But beneath the regret, something else bubbled quietly — a strange, secret pleasure you weren’t ready to admit. It was confusing, this cocktail of guilt and desire.

Tandy was already pulling on her jacket, eyes narrowed.

“So,” you said, voice cracking, “about... making peace.”

She shook her head, fierce and angry. “No. Not yet. And don’t expect me to wait around.”

With that, she grabbed her bag and stormed out to get groceries, the door clicking shut behind her.

You sank back into the couch, heart pounding, mind racing.

What do you say next? How do you fix what feels broken?

The silence was heavy, but beneath it all, a strange euphoria lingered — the memory of last night, both terrifying and thrilling.

You closed your eyes, trying to ignore it, trying to plan your next move.

Because despite it all, you wanted her back.

And maybe, just maybe, she wanted you too.