STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

entryway, his bag hanging loosely from his shoulder. The darkness inside was thick, wrapping around him like a heavy blanket.

His muscles ached with exhaustion, but his mind was restless —fragments of the day circling endlessly in his thoughts.

He tossed his bag onto the counter and moved to the small bathroom. Normally, he would have gone straight for the shower, letting the hot water strip away the hours spent at the Bureau. But tonight, something felt different. There was an unfamiliar ache in his limbs, a deeper awareness settling in his bones. He craved stillness, something more than routine.

Turning the tap, he watched as water filled the tub, steam curling up in delicate tendrils that clung to the mirror. The surface rippled, rising slowly until it reached near the brim. Lucien undressed with deliberate motions, stepping into the bath and sinking down, the heat enveloping him completely. He exhaled, long and slow, letting the warmth seep into his muscles.

Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes. A thought drifted through him, slow and languid. I’ve never felt so relaxed.

The sound of the water lapping against the sides of the tub filled the air, blending with the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He let himself drift, his

breathing slowing as he sank deeper into the sensation. I can ’t see properly.

As his body floated, the boundaries between himself and the water blurred. The heat should have been comforting —but instead, it felt... neutral.

No warmth, no cold. No wetness. Just... there.

He slipped lower, submerging himself completely. Underwater, the world became muted —his breath, his pulse, the distant city outside. He held still, suspended, as if the universe had pressed pause.

And then, rising slowly, he emerged, dragging in a deep breath. He pressed a hand to his heart, feeling the steady thrum beneath his skin.

My heart, an earthquake through the world. My breath, a storm through empty space. My soul a rippled pool.

For a fleeting second, he felt weightless, disconnected from everything.

Eventually, he climbed out, drying off with mechanical efficiency and pulling on loose, worn clothes. Eating felt pointless; his stomach was hollow but indifferent. His body needed rest more than fuel.

He slid into bed, the cool sheets caressing his skin as he stared up at the ceiling. The familiar grid of lights from the city outside bled through the blinds, streaking faint patterns across the dark. His eyelids grew heavy, his body surrendering to exhaustion.

Just drifting... Everything is fine... Everything is going to work out...

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