Bayu flipped through his spread of notes, the papers scattered across the desk like the chaotic map of his thoughts. Isaac leaned casually against the desk beside him, balancing a pen on his upper lip like a mustache, clearly unimpressed with Bayu's focus.

Finally, Bayu set the pen he was holding down and turned to Isaac. "I think I've got something."

"Got what?" Isaac tilted his head, the pen falling off his lip.

Bayu gestured to a set of highlighted notes. "An artefact. Something ancient. The Tidecaller's Pearl. It's said to be hidden in the water lands of Ondale Reef, just off Antigua's southern shore."

Isaac's eyes lit up, leaning closer. "The Tidecaller's Pearl? Sounds magical and ominous. Is it cursed? Does it summon killer fish? Please tell me it's shiny."

Bayu ignored the comment and continued. "If it's what I think it is, it could help stabilize the wards and act as a failsafe against any monsters or black magic operating all over Antigua. But this is a last resort. I want to be clear—it's dangerous to retrieve, and there's no guarantee it'll work."

Bayu looked Isaac straight in the eyes, his tone earnest. "I need your help with this. Kai told me about your inventions, if it comes to it I'll need you to create a gadget that can access the magic stored in the pearl."

Isaac straightened up, Bayu noticed he looked uncertain. "Are you sure you want me to create something?"

"I'm certain you'll be the best man for the job."

"Will there be mermaids in Ondale Reef?," Isaac added dramatically, clasping his hands together in mock prayer. "Please, Bayu, tell me mermaids are involved. I've always known my romantic preferences skew towards aquatic beings who can sing."

Bayu stared at him, unamused. "If they are, you'd be the first human they drag underwater and leave for the crabs."

"Joke's on them," Isaac shot back with a wink. "I'm an excellent swimmer."

Bayu groaned, rubbing his temples as Isaac smirked triumphantly. Before he could retort, a sudden bang echoed through the airship, followed by the unmistakable sound of crashing furniture.

Isaac shot upright. "What the hell was that?"

Bayu put a hand on his arm, stopping him from rushing toward the noise. "Leave them. It's Kai and Tomoya."

Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You think they're, you know... working through something?"

"Control yourself, Isaac." Bayu shook his head, exasperated.

Another loud crash resounded, and Isaac's teasing expression faded. "You sure Tomoya's not... doing anything? To Kai, I mean?"

Bayu studied him for a moment, his dark eyes steady. "Did Tomoya do something to you?"

Isaac hesitated, frowning. "No. I mean, no! He saved my life, remember? You were there!"

Bayu raised a skeptical eyebrow, but after a moment, he sighed and pushed away from the desk. "You know what? Let's take a walk. I've been stuck on this airship all day, and I could use some fresh air."

Isaac blinked, then brightened. "Fresh air? With you? A date? Be still, my heart."

Bayu didn't dignify that with a response, but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Come on, clown. Let's go."

Bayu led Isaac down the gently curving path, the soft crunch of their boots muffled by the night's hush. The air smelled of salt and damp earth, and the moon hung low and luminous, painting the landscape in shades of silver and shadow. The stars, sharp and bright, seemed to cluster closer to the earth here, as if watching over them.

"Let me show you somewhere," Bayu said softly, his voice almost lost in the whisper of the night breeze. Isaac trailed after him, curiosity flickering in his green eyes.

They emerged from the path onto a breathtaking stretch of moonlit beach. The waves shimmered like liquid mercury as they kissed the shore, their rhythmic lullaby harmonizing with the rustle of palm fronds. The sand beneath their feet glowed faintly in the pale light, soft and cool to the touch. Crabs scuttled across the damp shore, leaving delicate trails behind them.

Bayu turned to Isaac, the corner of his lips lifting in a small smile. "Since coming to Antigua, have you ever had the time to go to the beach?"

Isaac stared at him incredulously, his eyebrows shooting up as he folded his arms. "Bayu, I've been fighting for my life. You think I have time to go for a stroll on the beach? You must be having a laugh."

Bayu chuckled, a rich, warm sound that blended with the soothing waves. Then, with a tentative motion, he held out his hand, palm up, inviting.

Isaac's eyes flicked to the offered hand, his freckled nose wrinkling slightly as he considered it. His pale fingers twitched at his side, hesitant. "Bayu, this isn't a date, right? Because I'll have you know—"

"Isaac," Bayu interrupted, his smirk lingering as he tilted his head. "Just hold my hand."

For a moment, Isaac stood frozen, his freckled cheeks faintly pink in the moonlight. Then, finally, he slipped his hand into Bayu's.

The contrast was striking—Isaac's pale, freckled skin meeting Bayu's warm, tan fingers. Bayu's grip was firm yet gentle, his hand slightly calloused from years of handling magical relics and crafting spells. Isaac's fingers were slender and cool, trembling slightly as though unsure of their place in the gesture.

They walked in silence, the wind brushing against Bayu's back, carrying with it the salty tang of the sea. Isaac's steps became slower, more languid, as if the serenity of the beach was sinking into him despite himself.

After a few moments, Bayu spoke, his voice low and thoughtful. "Why don't we play a game? I'll tell you one thing about me, and then you tell me one thing about you."

Isaac's face crumpled a little, his brow furrowing. "I don't know..."

Bayu gave his hand a light squeeze, a quiet reassurance. "I'll go first. My favourite food is nasi kuning."

"What's nasi kuning?"

Bayu kicked another clump of sand, his lips curving in a wistful smile. "It's a golden rice dish cooked in coconut milk and turmeric. I ate it all the time."

"That sounds really good," Isaac replied, his tone wistful.

Bayu nodded, letting his eyes drift to the horizon. "I miss it a lot. Okay, your turn."

Isaac shrugged. "Give me a question. I can't think of something on my own."

Bayu tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Why did you join the Aetherwing Brigade?"

Isaac hesitated, his ears twitching as the wind tousled his curly ginger hair. Bayu turned to fully face him, his dark locks whipping around in the rising wind, but Isaac avoided his gaze at first.

"Well," Isaac began, his voice edged with bitterness. "My life before... it wasn't all that great. I know you were basically a prince, and Kai made a living as a farmer. But me?" He shook his head, disgust coloring his tone. "I'm the dregs of society. I worked in factories—factories filled with smoke and heavy machinery. I've been close to death my entire life."

Bayu felt a pang of something deep and familiar.

Isaac continued, his green eyes shadowed by memories. "My father took every coin I earned and spent it on lithe fairies and pungent alcohol. I was nothing more than his personal gold mine."

As Isaac spoke, a memory surfaced in Bayu's mind, unbidden and vivid. It was from his first few nights in Antigua, when sleep had been a tenuous and haunted thing. He'd dreamt then—dreams that were not his own. At first, it had been his brother Jaya, snarling and striking him, over and over. But then, Jaya's face had shifted, warped into the hard, cruel visage of a man Bayu hadn't recognized. A red-haired elf with eyes like smoldering embers, fists clenched and relentless.

The dream had turned brutal. Punches to the gut, sharp and deliberate. Bayu had woken up in the early morning hours, drenched in sweat, the phantom ache of blows still lingering on his skin. He hadn't told anyone then, dismissing it as stress—or something darker he didn't want to name. But now...

"I think I've seen your father in my dreams," Bayu said, his voice trembling.

Isaac froze mid-step, a kaleidoscope of emotions flickering across his face—confusion, disbelief, and then a forced humor. "He really isn't that attractive, Bayu. I thought you had a fiancée anyway?"

Bayu took a step closer, his eyes soft with empathy. "He was hurting you."

Isaac choked on a breath and tried to step back, but Bayu held firm, his tanned fingers tightening around Isaac's pale, freckled ones.

"I've been hurt too," Bayu said quietly, his voice carrying the weight of his own grief. "My fiancée—she's my ex-fiancée now. We're no longer getting married."

Isaac's green eyes widened. "Bayu... I'm sorry."

Bayu turned his gaze to the shimmering sands. "It's okay. Kai helped me process it."

Isaac cocked his head thoughtfully, his brows knitting together. "Are you telling me I should talk to Kai about my father?"

Bayu lifted his eyes back to Isaac, his expression steady and kind. "I'm just saying there's no one else on this earth you feel safer with, is there?"

Isaac inhaled sharply, his chest heaving as he wrestled with the idea. "Maybe..." he admitted, his voice barely audible.

Bayu gave him a gentle tug, pulling him further down the moonlit shore. They walked in silence for a while, the rhythmic crash of the waves their only companion. Each lost in their own thoughts, until Bayu broke the quiet with a casual, "Oh, I forgot to mention. We've been invited to carnival tomorrow."

Isaac's head snapped up, his lips twitching into a grin. "And you're just telling me this now?"

Bayu laughed, the sound soft and warm against the night air. "Well, we've been preoccupied. But we'll be there on patrol, obviously. Still, I'm hoping to sneak in some Caribbean cuisine when we can. It'll be a great opportunity to talk to the locals and gather more information about... everything."

Isaac chuckled. "Let's just hope no monsters decide to crash the party."

Bayu tightened his grip on Isaac's hand, his dark eyes fixed on the elf's freckled face. The waves crashed softly in the background, but his voice was steady, cutting through the night like a beam of light.

"Isaac," he began, his tone gentle. "You're so much more than you give yourself credit for. You're not just an elf. You're not just someone with gadgets or quick fixes. You're in Aetherwing for a reason, you have a strength most people can't even imagine."

Isaac blinked rapidly, his lips parting as if to argue, but Bayu stepped closer, his warmth wrapping around Isaac like a shield against the cold night.

"I know you've been hurt," Bayu continued, his voice quieter now, almost a whisper. "And I know what it feels like to carry that weight. To feel like you're not enough, like everything you do is just... patching holes while the ship keeps sinking. But you're not sinking, Isaac. You're still here. And I see you—every piece of you. You don't have to carry that weight alone anymore. Not with me."

Bayu lifted their joined hands, brushing his lips across Isaac's knuckles, the touch featherlight but electric.

"You're extraordinary," Bayu said, his voice full of conviction. "And no matter what happens, I need you to know that you belong. With us. With me."

Isaac's breath hitched, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his eyes shimmered in the moonlight. For a moment, he seemed too stunned to speak, his freckles standing out starkly against his pale cheeks flushed with emotion. Then he swallowed hard and looked away, a shaky smile tugging at his lips.

"You're... really laying it on thick..." Isaac said, his voice cracking slightly.

Bayu chuckled softly, his grip on Isaac's hand unwavering. "It's the truth. And I don't mind repeating it, as many times as you need to hear it."

Isaac looked back at him, something raw and unguarded in his gaze. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice barely audible, but Bayu heard it, the quiet gratitude in those two words made his chest ache.