Vaughn smiled faintly, "Sleep," he murmured.
Eliza's brow furrowed as she shifted slightly, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. "What took you so long?"
Vaughn's smile faded as he rubbed his hand gently over her head, his touch both reassuring and apologetic. "Sorry," he said, his voice laden with weariness. "Meeting ran a little longer."
Eliza's eyes searched his face, the concern evident in the way her gaze lingered on him. "Everything alright?" she asked, her voice barely more than a murmur.
Her hand, warm and comforting, gripped his arm more tightly, as if anchoring him to the present.
Vaughn took a deep breath, the weight of the night's revelations pressing heavily on him. "It's... complicated," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
