Karl stood in the cluttered workspace. His fingers twisted the frayed edge of his scarf as he glanced between the three figures before him: Iora, her green eyes steady and searching; Ryn, arms crossed, his goggles glinting with impatience; and Ryker, leaning against a workbench, his expression unreadable. Karl's chest tightened.
He didn't want to pick a side. Iora had crossed dangerous territory to find him, a sacrifice he couldn't ignore. Ryker had sheltered him in the underbelly, keeping him alive when he had nowhere else to turn. Both had earned his gratitude and splitting them apart felt wrong.
He took a deep breath, steadying his voice. "Look, I know this is messy, but I don't want to choose between you. Iora, you risked everything to look for me. Ryker, you've been taking care of me down here. I owe you both." He shifted his gaze to Ryn. "And Ryn, you're a tech genius. So is Ryker. I was thinking… maybe you two could work together. I could learn from you both, and it might help me figure things out."
The room erupted before he finished. Ryn's jaw dropped, and he jabbed a finger at Ryker. "Work with him? He's a junkyard scavenger pretending to know Cores!"
Ryker straightened, his voice low and sharp. "Scavenger? I've patched more systems than you've ever dreamed of, you goggle-eyed brat."
"Patched? With what—rust and prayers?" Ryn shot back, stepping closer.
"At least I don't rely on shiny gadgets that fry at the first glitch!" Ryker growled, his fists balling.
"Enough!" Iora's shout sliced through the noise. "Both of you, shut up!" She glared at them, her hands on her hips. "Karl's right. You are both good at what you do. Figure out how to make this work. Talk it out." She grabbed Karl's arm, her grip firm but gentle. "Come on."
She pulled him toward the partitioned corner of the workspace, a flimsy tarp hanging as a makeshift wall. Behind them, Ryn and Ryker's voices flared up again, their words a muffled tangle of insults about "amateur hacks" and "grubby hands." Iora yanked the tarp shut, dulling the sound, and turned to Karl. Her face softened, concern replacing her earlier frustration.
"Karl, I was so worried about you," she said, her voice quieter now. "What happened? Why did you run?"
He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, Iora. I panicked. I was scared and just… took off."
Her brow creased. "Scared of what?"
He hesitated, then met her eyes. "I thought you might bring trouble back to me. After everything went wrong, I didn't know who to trust."
Iora's expression flickered with confusion, then understanding. "Trouble? Karl, I'd never put you in danger. You're safe with me."
"I see that now," he said, his shoulders slumping. "I shouldn't have doubted you."
She stepped closer, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "What about Ryker? Can we trust him?"
Karl nodded slowly. "I didn't have a choice. He's been helping me since I got here. Kept me fed, and gave me a place to hide. He's rough around the edges, but he's solid."
A faint smile tugged at Iora's lips. Beyond the tarp, Ryn's voice snapped something about "calibration tolerances," followed by Ryker's gruff retort.
She chuckled softly. "They're still going at it."
Karl grinned despite himself. "Like two cats in a sack."
Iora's hand slid up to his chest. "I'm just glad you're here now." She leaned in, her lips brushing his in a slow, deliberate kiss. It lingered, warm and steady, and Karl felt the knot in his chest unravel. He kissed her back, his hands finding her waist, pulling her closer.
The kiss deepened as urgency crept in. Iora's fingers curled into his shirt, tugging it upward. Karl broke away just long enough to yank it over his head, tossing it aside. She mirrored him, her shirt hitting the floor as she pressed herself against him, skin to skin. Their breaths quickened.
His hands roamed her back, tracing the curve of her spine, while hers slid down his chest, nails grazing lightly. They stumbled toward the narrow cot in the corner, shedding the rest of their clothes in a hurried tangle.
Iora pushed him down onto the cot, her hair falling like a curtain around them as she climbed over him. Their mouths met again, hungry and unrestrained. Karl's hands gripped her hips, guiding her as she moved against him.
Heat surged between them, their bodies syncing in a rhythm of need and release. Her breath hitched, a soft moan escaping her lips, and Karl's own groan followed, raw and unguarded. The tarp muffled the outside world, leaving only the sound of their gasps and the creak of the cot beneath them. Tension built then shattered, and they clung to each other as it ebbed away.
When it was over, they collapsed together, limbs entwined. Iora's head rested on his chest, her breathing slowing as Karl traced lazy circles on her shoulder. The quiet stretched, comfortable and warm.
"I'm sorry again," he murmured. "For running. For not trusting you."
Iora propped herself up and looked down at him. "Shut up, Karl. I get it. We barely knew each other then. You were scared. It's okay."
He smiled faintly. "Still feels like I should've known better."
"Well, you know me now," she said, brushing a strand of hair from his face.
"Yeah," he agreed. "I do."
She sat up, reaching for her discarded shirt. "So, about Ryn and Ryker, are you okay with them working together on your situation?"
Karl pulled on his pants as he considered it. "I think so. They've got the skills. If they can stop sniping at each other, it might actually work."
Iora laughed as she dressed. "That's the trick, isn't it?"
Fully clothed, they stepped out from behind the tarp, hand in hand. Ryn and Ryker's heads snapped up from their heated debate, tools and half-assembled tech scattered between them. Ryker's eyes narrowed, and he palmed his face with a heavy sigh.
"You two couldn't keep it down, could you?" he muttered, exasperation dripping from his tone.
Karl's face heated, but Iora just smirked. "We managed," she said coolly.
Ryn adjusted his goggles, looking between them. "So, what now?"
Karl squared his shoulders. "You two figure out how to work together. I need your help… both of you."
Ryker grunted, and Ryn shrugged, but they exchanged a reluctant glance. It wasn't peace, not yet, but it was a start.
"Okay," Ryker grunted.
Ryn eyed him and shrugged again. "I guess that could work."