Syn sank into the bathtub, the hot water enveloping him like a lover's embrace, its warmth seeping into his aching muscles and melting the tension that had knotted his shoulders since the shapeshifter chaos erupted. The steam rose in lazy curls, fogging the air with a humid haze that softened the harsh lines of the bathroom—its sleek metal walls and dim lights blurring into a cocoon of heat and quiet.
The water lapped gently against his chest, each ripple a soothing caress, the faint hum of the ship's engines a distant heartbeat beneath the surface. He tilted his head back against the tub's edge, his dark hair clinging wetly to his forehead, and let out a slow, contented breath, the warmth coaxing a rare peace through his veins. For once, the weight of the Kingdom, the pirates, and his tangled past slipped away, leaving only the primal comfort of the bath—a sanctuary he hadn't realized he'd craved until now.
