The cabin in the woods was silent, save for the occasional rustle of the trees swaying against the winter wind. You sat curled up on the worn-out couch, a mug of tea in your hands, watching the flames dance in the hearth. The scent of pine and smoke lingered in the air, comforting in its simplicity.

Liu emerged from the kitchen, a faint smile playing on his lips. His usually unruly dark hair was damp from his earlier shower. His green eyes, softened when they met yours.

“Warm enough?” he asked, his voice quiet, almost as if he was talking to himself, but laced with genuine concern.

You smiled up at him and patted the spot beside you. “I am now.”

Liu hesitated for only a moment before settling in beside you. His arm draped over your shoulders, pulling you closer to him. His body was always warm, and his touch, though calloused and firm, was gentle. With him, you always felt safe—a strange thing considering his dark past. But Liu had been working hard to keep the darkness that lingered in his heart at bay, and with you, it seemed just a little easier for him to breathe.

“What are you thinking about?” he muttered , resting his chin lightly atop your head.

You tilted your head to look up at him, your lips curving into a soft smile. “Just how far we’ve come. How things are… quiet now. Peaceful.”

Liu smiled faintly before replying with a murmur as he burries his face into your chest . “Never thought I’d have that kind of life. Guess you really are the miracle everyone talks about.”

You rolled your eyes playfully and nudged his side. “You say that like you’re not the one who saved me first.”

The words hung in the air, a reminder of the chaotic night you two first met. The memories weren’t always easy to revisit, but they were proof of how far the two of you had come together. You knew better than anyone how complicated Liu’s world was. The shadows of his brother, his past, and the horrors he endured were always looming. And yet, you never doubted the good in him.