3rd person pov
The group walked down the hallway toward Mira's room, each lost in thought about their recent discoveries. As they approached the door, they all froze at the sound of an unfamiliar voice—cheerful, warm, almost musical.
"Aw, you're just too cute! I just can't get over how cute you are."
They exchanged stunned glances, unable to reconcile this voice with the cold, expressionless Mira they knew. The sound was followed by peals of childish giggles intermingled with lighter, feminine laughter that could only belong to Mira herself.
"Is that...?" Mikeal whispered, disbelief evident in his tone.
Catanlia shook her head slowly, a small smile forming on her lips. "That little girl brought out a side that Mira kept locked away," she said softly. "She only shows it to that child—who broke through all those walls she keeps up over us and others."
Briyah nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Mira wants to keep her most precious treasure close to her," she mused, "and away from the darkness of her own world."
"I'm starting to see why she ran away after almost three years without telling any of us about her child," Mikeal admitted. "She was just protecting her."
Jackson leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. "You all know how hard it was getting her to trust us when we first met her," he reminded them. "Trusting people is hard for Mira, especially after everything that happened to her in that hospital. It really broke her." He paused, listening to another burst of laughter from behind the door. "Her eyes used to be lifeless or blank around us, but with that little girl, her eyes show light and life."
He pushed himself off the wall with a sigh. "Looking into her past and files will take her some time to forgive, but as long as she and that little girl of hers are safe, I'm okay with that."
With silent agreement, they turned and headed back downstairs, leaving mother and daughter to their private moment of joy.
After playing with her daughter, Amiriah began packing the few belongings they had. She placed her hand over the wound on her side, allowing her darkness to heal it. They needed to leave this place and head to S City in secret.
Walking Lani to the bed, she sat her down gently. "Can you stay right here for a moment for Mama, please?"
Panic immediately flooded Lani's face, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mama, no go!" she cried, her tiny hands reaching out.
Amiriah's heart clenched at her daughter's fear. She leaned forward, kissing Lani's forehead softly. "I just need to say goodbye to them, and then we can leave, okay?"
Lani nodded hesitantly, her bottom lip still trembling. "Okay."
Walking out of the room, Amiriah created a darkness sound barrier and locked the door, knowing how sneaky her daughter could be. A small smile played on her lips at the thought, but as she moved down the hallway, her expression shifted back to the cold, expressionless mask she wore around others.
The group looked up as she entered the room, various emotions playing across their faces.
Jackson spoke first. "Mira, I'm sorry that I looked into your past without consulting you first."
Mikeal stepped forward, guilt evident in his eyes. "Mira, I feel guilty about how I hurt you and scared your daughter. I didn't mean to lose control of my emotions like that."
Briyah and Catanlia exchanged glances before Briyah said, "When you're ready to talk about anything, you can always talk to us."
Amiriah sighed, her eyes sweeping over the group. "I'm going to S City."
Their expressions shifted to shock. Briyah frowned slightly. "Are you sure?"
"Catanlia was right. I need to go see my so-called family," Mira replied, her voice flat.
Jackson stood quickly. "If you're leaving for S City, you're going to need a place to stay—a house, money, a car, IDs, passports for both you and KeLani." He became animated, already planning. "Let me make the IDs and passports. Catanlia and Briyah will help you look for a safe place. Mikeal will handle the money—we have plenty from past missions, so it should be enough."
Amiriah sighed again, nodding reluctantly at their offers of help before heading back upstairs.
When she returned to the room, she found Lani at the door, ear pressed against it, face scrunched with worry. The little girl looked up, pouting dramatically. "Mama, what took you so long?"
Amiriah poked at Lani's puffed-up cheeks. "Sorry it took Mama so long. Can you forgive me?"
Looking at her mother's pleading eyes, Lani's resolve crumbled. "Okay, I forgive you, Mama."
Amiriah picked her up and carried her downstairs where the group waited. They all smiled at the sight of the little girl in her arms.
Mikeal approached carefully. "Hello, little one. I'm sorry about scaring you the other night."
Lani looked at him with a stubborn pout. "Say sorry to Mama. You hurt her."
Turning to Amiriah, Mikeal's expression grew solemn. "I'm sorry for hitting and scaring you the other night. Can you please forgive me?"
Lani turned expectantly to her mother, waiting for a response. Amiriah nodded slightly. "I understand you weren't in control," she said, sitting on the sofa with Lani on her lap.
Briyah couldn't contain herself any longer. "Oh my god, I didn't notice until now, but she looks just like you—identical! Like a mini you! How cute!"
Catanlia joined in, laughing as she showed the little teeth marks on her arm. "She looks like Mira and fights like her too!"
Lani's eyes widened at the teeth marks, and she quickly buried her face in her mother's chest, embarrassed.
The room filled with laughter, but what shocked them most was the smile that appeared on Mira's face, followed by a soft giggle.
Jackson stared in disbelief. "Was that a smile and laugh I saw on your face, Mira?"
She looked at the others, rolling her eyes as she attempted to compose her features back to neutrality, but the damage was done.
Mikeal grinned. "You can't hide it now. We saw it."
"Aww, Mira, you look so adorable laughing and smiling like that!" Briyah cooed.
Catanlia quickly grabbed her phone. "Come on, Mira, do it again! I need to get a video of this, please!" She waved her arm with the bite marks, trying to provoke another smile.
Lani turned her head to look at the marks again, shaking her head in shame before looking up at her mother for help—only to find Amiriah struggling not to laugh. The little girl's face formed an exaggerated pout.
Amiriah couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into laughter, the sound light and genuine. Catanlia grinned triumphantly, phone recording the rare moment.
"Mama, that's not funny!" Lani protested, her pout deepening.
Amiriah's laughter subsided as she looked at her daughter's serious face. "I'm sorry, it's not funny," she said, though her eyes still sparkled with mirth as she pulled Lani closer.
The group watched in wonder at this transformation. For the first time, they were seeing the real Amiriah—not the deadly operative or the traumatized victim, but a mother who loved her child more than anything in the world.