CHAPTER 266: TEMPORARY GUARDIANS

The elevator hummed as it ascended toward the penthouse, glass walls giving a clean view of the city folding beneath us. Camille stood at my side, balancing shopping bags in one arm and holding Charlie’s hand with the other. He was practically bouncing, face pressed to the glass as the skyline shifted.

"How many floors does this thing go?" he asked.

"Over 50," I answered.

He tried to let out a whistle, but he gave up after 2 attempts. "That’s way more than my building. We only have... three."

"Three’s a solid number," Camille said, smiling.

Charlie beamed up at her. "Is your room at the top? Like a secret tower?"

"Absolutely. And it has a fire pole."

"Really?"

"No. But it should."

The elevator chimed.

We stepped out into the quiet, high-ceilinged space. The penthouse felt different today. Not heavier, not lighter. Just... waiting. Charlie charged forward, pausing in the middle of the living room, head spinning in every direction like he’d walked into a treasure vault.

"Whoa... you live here?"

"For now," I said.

He stepped forward, inspecting a low table like it was made of gold. Camille knelt beside him. "Alright, kid. Let’s make one thing clear: the plants are fake, the walls are real, and if you find a glowing rocks or gems, don’t lick them."

"Camille...You have glowing rocks and gems in your office?"

"Too many."

Before I could add to the list of do-not-touch items, the hallway door opened. Sienna appeared, a towel slung over one shoulder, her muscular frame slightly flushed like she’d just finished a workout in our gym.

She stopped in her tracks.

"Is that a child?"

Charlie turned to her and pointed. "You have really big arms."

Sienna blinked, then laughed, the sound soft and surprised. "Well. That’s the most honest compliment I’ve gotten all week. Who’s this?"

"Charlie," I said. "Temporary guest. Long story."

Sienna crouched, offering her hand. "Nice to meet you, Charlie. I’m Sienna."

He shook it with both hands like he was trying to win something.

From the kitchen, footsteps echoed. Alexis appeared with a clipboard, glasses perched on her nose, eyes half-distracted.

"Camille, have you seen my notes on the metabolic correction protocols? I left them by the—"

She saw Charlie.

Froze.

Lowered the clipboard.

"...Why is there a child in the apartment?"

Charlie lifted a hand. "Hi. I’m Charlie. They’re my babysitters now."

Alexis slowly turned toward me. "You adopted a child while buying thread?"

"It was a complicated trip," I said.

Camille collapsed onto the couch, laughing. "Oh god, you should have seen the mom’s face."

Alexis walked over cautiously, crouched in front of Charlie, and stared like she was scanning for pathogens.

"Do you have a preferred sleep cycle? Do you know your nutrient groups? Do you experience chronic fatigue?"

Charlie tilted his head. "What’s chronic?"

"...Never mind."

Sienna knelt beside Alexis and ruffled Charlie’s hair gently. "He’s adorable. And not covered in blood or emotional trauma. That’s a win for us."

"I fell in a dumpster once," Charlie offered.

"...Mostly not covered," Sienna corrected.

"Where’s Evelyn?" I asked.

"Reading in her room, it’s the only time she can really take her blindfold off," Alexis said. "I don’t think she knows we’re back."

As if summoned, Evelyn appeared around the hallway corner, blindfold in place, walking with the kind of precision you’d only get after days of memorizing a floor plan.

She stopped. Tilted her head. "That heartbeat is too small to be any of us."

Charlie stared. "Why are your eyes covered?"

Evelyn tilted her head. "Why aren’t yours?"

Charlie thought for a second. "Because I’m four."

"Acceptable."

"Charlie," I said, "this is Evelyn. She’s incredibly smart, very serious, and occasionally becomes my secretary when I do important things."

Evelyn nodded once. "We will get along."

He held out his hand. Evelyn took it with mechanical care, then let go. Camille, still chuckling, pulled him over to the kitchen.

"Alright, munchkin. Time for lunch. What do you eat?"

"Cereal."

"What kind?"

"The kind with sugar."

"Kid’s got standards."

They dug through the cupboards. I watched from the counter, letting my muscles settle into the moment. For once, no one was bleeding. No one was shouting. Just soft laughter and the sound of Sienna showing Charlie how to crack eggs one-handed.

It shouldn’t have felt so foreign.

But it did.

---

By the time we finished eating, Charlie had successfully convinced Sienna to carry him on her shoulders, watched Alexis explain fluid replacement theory using orange juice and a coaster, and asked Evelyn if she was a robot (she didn’t deny it). Camille had let him try on sunglasses three sizes too big, and Alexis had taken a blood pressure reading that she insisted was just curiosity.

And through it all, Charlie acted like he’d always been there.

Like the penthouse had always had room for him.

He sat beside me now, legs swinging off the edge of the couch, tapping at a plastic tablet Camille found for him to doodle on.

"Reynard," he said suddenly. "Do you have any kids?"

I blinked. "No."

"Why not?"

I paused. "I think I’ve been too busy."

"Saving the world stuff?"

"Something like that."

He nodded. "You should have one. You’re good at it."

Camille, seated across from us, raised an eyebrow. I gave her a warning look. She gave me a smirk.

"Okay," Charlie said after a moment. "Can I take a nap here?"

"Sure," I said. "You want the guest room?"

He shook his head and curled up next to me.

"This is fine."

He was asleep in under a minute.

---

It was peaceful.

No...too peaceful.

I stood, slowly lowering Charlie onto the couch and tucking a throw blanket around him. I didn’t like the silence. Not when it felt unnatural. I crossed to the window and looked out.

Something shimmered in the distance.

A flicker.

Then gone.

I turned. Camille caught the movement in my jaw and stood.

"What?"

"Something’s wrong."

Alexis moved quickly to the wall console. Evelyn stepped forward, hands at her sides, blindfold still in place but every muscle tensed.

"What kind of wrong?" Sienna asked.

"The quiet kind," I said.

The building trembled.

Lights flickered.

And then a sound.

A single chime.

From the elevator.

I reached for Charlie. Camille was already beside me.

We turned as a group, hearts climbing.

The doors opened.

A man stood inside.

Dressed in white. No insignia. No weapons. Just a tablet in one hand and an unsettling calm on his face.

He stepped out.

"Reynard Vale," he said. "You are requested to come with us. Immediately."

Behind me, Charlie stirred.

Camille’s hand brushed mine.

"Requested by who?" I asked.

The man tilted his head.

"The United Nations of the World."

The air shifted.

We stood there simply shocked at what we had just heard.

Until Charlie sat up on the couch.

"What’s that?"