Sunrise Reckoning

The desert sky was bleeding orange and pink when we rolled out at sunrise. I rode behind Colossus, arms wrapped tightly around his waist, cheek pressed to his back. The new vest felt warm against my skin, his name on it a constant reminder that I wasn’t facing this alone. Every so often his big hand would leave the handlebar to squeeze my thigh — not possessive in that moment, but reassuring. I’m here. I’ve got you. We stopped half a mile from the meeting spot — an abandoned gas station in no-man’s land. Colossus killed the engine and turned on his seat to face me. He cupped my face with both massive hands, thumbs gently brushing my cheeks. “Look at me, baby,” he said softly. His gray eyes were full of love, not just fire. “No matter what happens in the next hour, you are the best thing