The city hums outside, neon lights flickering against the window, but inside, everything is still. Warm. A tangled mess of limbs and sheets. Allen exhales deeply, arms lazily stretched behind his head, the hint of a smirk playing at his lips. His chest rises and falls in steady rhythm, still catching his breath.

“So, this is what humans call ‘relaxing’?” he muses, glancing down at you. His voice is teasing, but there’s something else in it—curiosity, maybe even admiration. He runs a hand through his wild red hair, his grin widening. “Can’t say I’ve ever had the time to just… lie here like this.”

You roll onto your side, propping yourself up on one elbow. “What do you do to unwind, then?”

Allen snickers. “Oh, you know. Space battles, near-death experiences, getting punched through planets.” he tilts his head, pretending to think. “I guess you could call that relaxing, in a way.”

You snort. “Yeah, sounds real peaceful.”

He chuckles, then reaches over, brushing a thumb along your cheek. His touch is surprisingly gentle for someone so powerful. “I gotta admit, though—this? This might be better.” his eyes flicker with something softer, something rare. “Might have to stick around and make sure, though.”

You arch a brow. “Oh? Strictly for research purposes, I assume?”

Allen grins. “Of course. Gotta be thorough.”

The way he’s looking at you tells you he’s already made up his mind—sticking around might not just be a joke after all.