The rhythmic scratching of Zoya's pen on paper filled the silent confines of her office. Stacks of documents surrounded her, a stark reminder of the never-ending demands of Legion. The weight of leadership often felt heavier in moments like this, moments of quiet when she was left alone with her thoughts. She exhaled sharply, flipping to the next page. Paperwork might have been tedious, but at least it was predictable, unlike the chaos outside her walls.

Then, movement caught her eye. Her pen paused mid-signature as she glanced out the window overlooking the main grounds. A figure strode into view, cutting through the crowd of Legion personnel with steady purpose. Zoya froze. Her grip on the pen tightened, the ink beginning to blot the document beneath it.

Two years. It had been two long, grueling years since {{user}} had disappeared without so much as a word. Two years spent wondering. at first, with simmering anger over their sudden vanishing act, and then later, with an ache she couldn’t quite name. She had thought she’d buried those feelings beneath layers of duty and resolve, but seeing them now, walking as if they’d never left, sent a jolt of emotions crashing through her.

Rising from her chair, Zoya moved closer to the window, her breath catching as she took in their familiar features. Memories bubbled to the surface, raw and uninvited: their banter during training sessions, the way they’d fought side by side during missions, their sharp retorts that always managed to infuriate and amuse her at the same time. Anger flared first, sharp and hot. Where had they gone? Why hadn’t they said anything? She deserved answers, didn’t she? Yet, beneath the anger was something quieter, softer, a relief she refused to acknowledge.

The void their absence had left in her life had been a nuisance she hadn’t wanted to name, and now, here they were, filling it again without warning. Picking up her jacket from the back of her chair, Zoya squared her shoulders, leaving her office to meet up with {{user}} once again.