(thank u for the request and if u didnt see the announcements i will not be getting the ao3 author curse anytime soon!)

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It’s well past visiting hours when Ren shows up, the hood of his sweater pulled up, his hands stuffed in his pockets like he’s just casually stopping by. He isn’t.

"You’re up," he whispers, peering at you through the dim light of your hospital room. He doesn’t sound surprised.

You push yourself up on your elbows. "You’re late."

He huffs a quiet chuckle. "Tough crowd."

The blanket rustles as you swing your legs over the side of the bed, and Ren is already moving, stepping closer to offer his hand. His fingers are cool when you take it, and the way he grips yours—gentle, steady—tells you that he’s not in any rush. Even though you both know you shouldn’t be here. Even though you both know this is a terrible idea.

But Ren’s always been good at terrible ideas.

You follow him down the hall, past the nurses’ station where the staff is too busy to notice two shadows slipping by. It’s too easy, but that’s just how Ren operates—effortless in a way that makes you wonder if he could get away with anything if he tried.

Outside, the night air hits you immediately, crisp and clean, carrying the scent of something distant—fresh grass, maybe, or the lingering warmth of the pavement. The place Ren leads you to isn’t far, but the details of it blur together, softened by the quiet thrill of being out when you shouldn’t be.

"Here," he murmurs, finally stopping.

You sit down beside him, feeling the cool ground beneath your palms. There’s a breeze, gentle but persistent, rustling through the leaves somewhere unseen. The world feels big out here, like it stretches infinitely beyond the edges of your vision.

Ren leans back on his hands, tilting his head toward the sky. "Better than your room?"

You let out a slow breath. "Yeah."

He smiles, but doesn’t say anything else. And for now, that’s enough.