INT. THE CUBE – EARLY MORNING
31Please respect copyright.PENANAUFOPxApr6C
The golden light spills lazily into the room.
Dust particles dance like tiny fairies in the air.
31Please respect copyright.PENANADya3ov34wF
Jason groans and rolls over, trying to bury himself deeper under the blanket like some kind of angry mole.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAfejlrgGJDE
JASON (muffled under the blanket)
"Why is existence so loud…?"
31Please respect copyright.PENANAqwfB6LFIAv
A sits up first, looking strangely refreshed considering last night’s chaos.
He gently checks Emily, who’s still asleep—small, steady breaths puffing from the little data pod.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAbDN9CzhjQv
A (whispering)
"Survived the night… barely."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAR0VccUfzB2
K is already awake, sitting cross-legged by the wall, scribbling strange, unsettling doodles again like nothing ever happened.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAdj6xduHXnF
Jason finally drags himself out of bed like he’s being summoned to his own execution.
His optic sensors are dim and half-shut.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAa4eEu5hoqH
He stumbles toward the kitchen corner like a sleep-deprived zombie.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAI2d66eRPRq
JASON (grumbling to himself)
"Need… caffeine… now… or someone's getting set on fire…"
31Please respect copyright.PENANAjXcFKQNbP9
He fumbles with the coffee machine, hitting the wrong buttons, muttering dark curses at every beep it makes.
Finally, a cup of burning hot coffee brews, and Jason clutches it like a lifeline.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAHtz8c520jr
A watches, half-amused, half-concerned.
31Please respect copyright.PENANANKK5TxQLXY
A
"You know, for someone who lectures about responsibility, you sure crumble fast."
31Please respect copyright.PENANATAjqCd42jX
Jason gives him a look that could kill a mid-range battle unit.
31Please respect copyright.PENANALWbEiVAxnS
JASON
"I didn't sign up to fight boss monsters at 3 AM."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAS8pOFXvt1D
K (without looking up from his drawings)
"You’re weak."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAeWPfIEMFgG
Jason flips him off half-heartedly, too tired to even argue properly.
31Please respect copyright.PENANALIP8i52Rfj
31Please respect copyright.PENANADAX04pLQmT
---
31Please respect copyright.PENANAt9MvaYoFIA
After a while, A makes some simple breakfast—basic nutrient packs heated and served with something resembling synthetic eggs.
(They’re suspiciously bright orange. No one asks why.)
31Please respect copyright.PENANA9Mg8TQqqHR
They eat quietly at first, still shaking off the remnants of their dreams.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAi5oP3QJx9w
Emily stirs, letting out a soft, whimpering noise.
A immediately picks her up and rocks her gently, while Jason sighs heavily into his coffee.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAaEJ4fAJh28
JASON (dryly)
"You're way too natural at this. Starting to think you were a dad in your past life."
31Please respect copyright.PENANAmJfEtCuTj8
A (grinning slightly)
"Maybe I just have more patience than you."
31Please respect copyright.PENANA0fkECfIOrv
JASON
"Patience is a scam invented by people who don’t have to deal with crying blobs at night."
31Please respect copyright.PENANA9n0zhhjOYY
K, for once, chuckles under his breath—a rare, soft sound.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAhbiHl5FBa7
Jason notices but doesn’t say anything, just quietly tucks that moment into the back of his mind.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAcYLuzmhKuu
Despite everything—the exhaustion, the chaos, the absolute loss of sanity—
there’s a strange peace filling the room.
31Please respect copyright.PENANAPR8DjQh2aM
Like maybe, just maybe, they’re figuring out how to be something almost like a family.
ns216.73.216.171da2