" You will never change Canary. " She spoke.
Canary remained silent, his eyes cool, unreadable. Her words didn't hit him like she wanted them to. That only angered her more.
"You know what the saddest part is?" Regina continued, her voice lowering into something bitter.
"Somewhere in that stone heart of yours, I think you actually believe you're the victim."
He exhaled, steady and composed. " What exactly do you want?"
Before she could answer, Regina's eyes shifted just past his shoulder.
Lisa.
She had just exited the building and stopped in her tracks upon spotting the two of them.
She stood a few feet away, watching silently. Her expression was unreadable, but Regina saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes.
Canary hadn't seen her yet.
A sly, wicked thought surged through Regina's mind.
' Let her think he still wants me. '
Suddenly, Regina let out a soft, amused laugh the kind Canary had once fallen for. She stepped closer, brushing her fingers along his sleeve.
"You always liked to fight me just before you gave in," she said teasingly, her voice dropping, sultry. "Nothing's really changed."
But before she could press her hand against his chest, Canary reached out and caught her wrist gently but firmly.
His voice was low, sharp, and cutting. "Regina. What do you want?"
Regina blinked, caught off-guard by his restraint. His eyes weren't filled with longing they were distant, almost irritated.
Still holding her wrist, he glanced to the side and finally noticed Lisa standing frozen, half in shadow.
His expression shifted, just slightly.
Regina noticed the change in Canary's eyes as he spotted Lisa across the lot.
A slow, knowing smile crept across her face.
"Well," she said smoothly, tugging her wrist free from his grip.
"Looks like your little girlfriend's here. I'll leave you two to it."
She turned without another word, heels echoing against the pavement.
As she neared Lisa, she slowed just enough to lean in, her voice low and laced with venom.
"I told you… Canary is unpredictable."
Lisa didn't flinch, but her throat moved slightly just enough for Regina to know she'd hit the nerve.
Then she walked on, her exit graceful, head high.
Lisa stood still for a moment, collecting herself. Then, with a steady breath, she walked over to Canary, who hadn't moved from his spot.
He turned to her instantly, eyes searching hers. "Lisa, that wasn't what it looked like. You misunderstood."
But Lisa just smiled faintly. Calm. Quiet. A little too quiet.
"There's nothing to worry about," she said, her voice almost gentle. "Shall we go?"
Canary paused, reading her tone. It was polite, pleasant… and distant.
He nodded slowly and walked around to open the car door for her.
Lisa got in without another word.
And as the car doors shut, the silence between them said more than either of them was ready to admit.
The engine purred gently as Canary pulled out of the lot, the city lights casting soft flickers across the windshield. Neither of them spoke at first. Lisa gazed out the window, her face calm but unreadable.
After a while, Canary glanced at her, then reached over and took her hand gently.
Her fingers were still, but she didn't pull away.
"I missed being around you," he said quietly, his voice losing its usual firmness, softening into something almost vulnerable. "Everything feels off when you're not next to me."
Lisa turned her head slowly, meeting his eyes. That same smile played on her lips—small, restrained, but this time it warmed just a little.
"I'm here," she said softly. "And I'm all yours."
There was a pause.
No jealousy. No questions. No accusations. Just those words, honest and whole.
Canary tightened his grip on her hand slightly, like he needed to ground himself in her presence. The city lights flashed past them, but for a moment, it was just the two of them sealed away from everything else.
----
Regina pushed open the door to the apartment, stepping inside with a tight knot in her chest. The place felt strangely quiet—too still for Camilla's usual energy.
Then she saw them.
The bags.
Lined up neatly near the door. All zipped. Ready.
Camilla stood nearby, folding one last piece of clothing into her hand luggage, her face calm, her movements precise.
"You're really leaving?" Regina asked, her voice softer than she intended.
Camilla turned to her with a small smile. "Yes. I'm leaving Annetorz… for good."
Regina stood there for a moment, her mouth parting slightly as if to protest—but the words never came. She walked closer instead, her heels clicking quietly across the floor.
"I thought maybe you'd change your mind," she murmured.
Camilla's expression didn't waver. "There's nothing left for me here."
A heavy silence hung in the air.
Then Regina exhaled. Her voice dipped into something quieter, more fragile. "One last hug… from my little sister?"
Camilla blinked, then stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Regina.
The embrace was warm, long, and a little desperate on both ends. Neither of them said much. Neither needed to.
As they pulled apart, Camilla placed her hands gently on Regina's shoulders. "Take care of yourself. Please."
Regina nodded, swallowing hard. "You too."
And just like that, Camilla turned back to her bags, lifting the first one with graceful resolve.
Regina stood in the middle of the room, watching her go, a storm of emotions hidden behind her perfectly composed face.
___
Canary pulled into the parking spot just outside Lisa's building. The quietness of the evening surrounded them, the city softened under a silver sky.
As they stepped out of the car, Lisa paused at the entrance of her place. She looked up.
"The sky looks beautiful tonight," she murmured, almost to herself. "The moon's full."
Canary followed her gaze.
"Wanna go up to the rooftop?" she asked, a gentle smile on her lips. "It feels like a night to just… breathe."
He gave a small nod. "Let's go."
They made their way up the narrow stairwell, the cool night air greeting them as they stepped out onto the open rooftop. The city stretched quietly around them, bathed in moonlight. The stars glimmered like pinholes in a velvet sky.
"I'll be right back," Lisa said.
A few minutes later, she returned with two steaming cups of coffee. She handed one to him and stood by his side, shoulder to shoulder, her eyes lifted to the heavens.
Canary took a sip, then smiled faintly. "You were right. The moon really is something tonight. And those stars…"
Lisa nodded, her gaze still fixed upward. "When I was little, I used to lie on the roof at the orphanage and count them. I thought if I counted enough, something magical would happen. Like the sky would open up and talk to me."
He chuckled, watching her face glow under the moonlight. "Did it ever?"
She laughed, softly. "No. But I kept trying."
There was something in her smile that made the night even quieter.
Without a word, Canary bent down and set both coffee cups on the ledge behind them. Then he reached for her, pulling her gently by the waist and placing her between his legs as he sat down on a raised edge.
His arms wrapped around her from behind, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder.
Lisa leaned back into him, her hands resting over his.