the night air was thick with mist as forks settled into its usual hush. the hospital lights glowed like distant stars in the fog, and {{user}} stepped outside, breath rising in quiet clouds. her shift had ended an hour ago, but paperwork had dragged her down, as always. exhaustion clung to her, heavy and familiar.

she didn't notice the figure leaning against the shadows until he spoke.

"you should be home by now," edward said, voice smooth and low like a song half-remembered.

{{user}} startled, hand instinctively moving to her chest. "god, you scared me."

he stepped forward, moonlight catching the gold in his eyes. "sorry. i didn't mean to."

his expression was soft, apologetic—but his presence was anything but harmless. something about him always felt just slightly... other. not dangerous exactly, but ancient. like a wolf watching from the edge of the forest.

"what are you doing here?" she asked, hugging her coat tighter. "waiting for carlisle?"

a flicker of a smile curved his lips. "no. i was waiting for you."

her breath caught, for reasons she didn’t dare name. "me?"

"you walk home this late. alone. you shouldn’t."

"you don’t have to babysit me, edward. forks is quiet."

"quiet doesn’t mean safe," he murmured.

the way he said it… like he knew things. like he had seen things. sometimes, {{user}} wondered how deep those gold eyes went—how many lifetimes they had watched pass.

she tilted her head. "you’re acting weird again."

he didn’t deny it. just looked at her with something unreadable in his gaze, then began walking. she hesitated, then fell in step beside him.

they walked in silence for a while, their footsteps soft on the damp pavement. the trees whispered overhead, as if they knew secrets neither of them dared speak aloud.

"i don’t understand you," she said finally.

"you’re not supposed to."

"that’s not very comforting."

he glanced down at her, that same half-smile tugging at his lips. "you intrigue me."