Love In Aftermath

The ride back to the compound felt longer than it should have. Colossus kept one hand on my thigh the entire way, squeezing gently every few minutes like he needed to remind himself I was still there, still safe, still his. When we finally pulled through the gates, he didn’t head for the main building. Instead, he rode straight to the quiet hill behind the garage where the desert stretched out forever. He killed the engine, helped me off the bike, and pulled me into his arms without a word. For a long time, he just held me. No heat. No rush. Just his massive frame wrapped around mine, one hand stroking my hair while the other rubbed slow circles on my back. I could feel his heartbeat — steady, strong, grounding. “I’m so sorry, baby,” he whispered into my hair. “About your dad. About V