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Scene One – Aftermath (Egwene and Theron)
Egwene moved quickly, rummaging through the supply kit on the shelf. Her hands were shaking, though she tried to hide it.
"Sit," she said gently, nodding toward the edge of the crate.
Theron didn't argue. He lowered himself onto it, breathing hard, sweat and blood mingling along his jawline. His gaze never left her as she knelt in front of him, dabbing at the cut on his lip with a strip of gauze.
"You didn't have to fight him," she said softly, her voice cracking.
"I didn't want to," he replied. "But I wasn't going to let him speak to you like that."
She paused, meeting his eyes. "This place… everything we've gone through… sometimes I don't know if I'm feeling what I feel because of the chaos or in spite of it."
Theron was quiet, letting her words hang in the air.
"But I meant it," she added. "Every word. I didn't say it because I felt cornered."
A breath he hadn't realized he was holding finally escaped him. He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"I know it's not simple. I'm not simple," he said. "But I'd never ask for more than what you're ready to give."
Egwene swallowed hard, her eyes stinging.
"I'm not running anymore," she whispered.
Neither of them spoke after that. She finished cleaning his wounds in silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable—it was intimate. A small pocket of peace in a world that no longer made sense.
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Scene Two – Fallout (Aaron's Perspective)
Aaron stood in the far end of the base, staring at the cracked wall of what used to be the armory. His fists throbbed. His chest felt hollow.
He hadn't gone there to pick a fight.
But seeing her like that—so close to him—had lit something inside him he didn't know how to put out.
He sank to the floor, back against the cold concrete, head in his hands.
She chose him.
The words echoed in his head like a death toll. No anger now. Just hurt. And regret.
He thought about all the things he didn't say. The times he held back, thinking he had time. That she'd just… figure it out. That she'd see him.
But she never had.
Maybe that was the part that hurt the most—not that she chose Theron. But that deep down, she'd never been his to begin with.
Footsteps passed by the hallway, but no one stopped. Everyone had heard. And that made it worse. Being alone was one thing. Being alone and seen was something else entirely.
He stared up at the flickering light overhead. He didn't know what came next.
But he knew one thing for sure.
He couldn't stay in this place forever.
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Scene Three – The Confession (Egwene and Aurora)
Egwene found Aurora sitting on the edge of her cot in the med bay, unbraiding her long hair with practiced fingers. The room was dim, lit by a single camping lantern, and smelled faintly of antiseptic and dust. Outside, the base had gone quiet, save for the hum of generators and the occasional distant thud from the shifting walls.
Aurora looked up the second Egwene stepped inside. Her brows rose in silent question.
Egwene shut the door behind her, leaned against it, and sighed.
"Oh no," Aurora said immediately. "What happened?"
Egwene crossed the room and dropped down beside her, burying her face in her hands. "Everything. And also… something I should have said a long time ago."
Aurora gently pulled Egwene's hands away from her face, eyes narrowing. "Okay, start from the top."
Egwene nodded, took a breath, and began. "Aaron walked in. Saw me and Theron… sitting close, talking. And he just—lost it. Said things. Accused me of sneaking around, of spending the night in Theron's room."
Aurora winced. "He didn't."
"He did. In front of Theron. In front of me. Like I was just a piece on a game board. Then they fought. I tried to stop it, but it all came pouring out."
She paused. Her voice dropped.
"I told Aaron I was in love with Theron."
Aurora blinked. "Oh, damn."
Egwene gave a bitter laugh. "Yeah. And then he walked out. Didn't say anything. Just… left."
Aurora leaned back, processing everything. "Well, first of all—he needed to hear it. And second—are you okay?"
Egwene stared down at her hands. "I don't know. I think I am. Part of me feels like I finally stopped hiding. Like I've been running from how I felt because I didn't want to hurt anyone. But now… I did."
Aurora nodded slowly. "You didn't do it to him, Eg. You told your truth. That's not cruelty—it's clarity. And it hurts now, yeah, but maybe that's the only way forward for everyone."
There was a long silence. Then Egwene looked up.
"I'm scared, Ro," she whispered. "What if I've ruined everything? With Aaron. With the team. What if it's never the same again?"
Aurora took her hand and squeezed it. "It won't be the same. But that doesn't mean it won't be okay."
Egwene felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She leaned against Aurora, letting herself fold into the comfort only a best friend could give.
And for the first time that night, she let herself cry.