Chapter 531: Confession I

Helena handed him the communicator, her smile softening into something gentler.

"Take your time with this one." Her voice carried warmth. "And don’t worry about me hanging around listening. I’ll be outside if you need anything."

She moved toward the door, her steps unhurried, then paused with her hand on the handle.

"Oh, and Squad Leader?"

He looked up, the device still clutched in his hand.

"Whatever you’re about to say to her, don’t overthink it. Just talk."

The door clicked shut behind her, leaving him alone in the small room.

Damian stared at the communicator for a long moment, his thumb hovering over the small screen that showed an active connection.

’She’s waiting on the other end.’

The thought sat heavy in his chest.

’What do I even say? How do I explain myself?’

He lifted the device slowly, bringing it close to his ear.

But no words came out and his throat felt tight, constricted by things he couldn’t name.

The silence stretched, broken only by the faint static of the open line.

On the other end, Luna said nothing either.

Two people connected across thousands of kilometers, neither speaking, just breathing into the quiet space between them.

Damian’s hand tightened on the communicator, his knuckles going white.

’Say something.’

But what came out wasn’t what he’d planned.

"Luna... I’m sorry."

The words tumbled forward before he could stop them.

"I should have talked to you before leaving. I should have explained instead of–"

"Damian."

Luna’s voice cut through his spiraling apology, soft and calm.

"Have you eaten something?"

The question hit him like cold water, derailing everything he’d been building toward.

’She–’

"You probably haven’t."

She continued before he could respond, her tone carrying the same gentle certainty.

"You always forget to take care of yourself when things get difficult. Your body needs fuel to heal properly, even with your self-healing skill."

’Why is she–’

Damian’s mouth opened but nothing emerged, something twisting in his chest.

"You’re probably trying to act like everything is fine. But did you at least drink water? Or are you dehydrated on top of everything else?"

Her voice remained steady and measured, like she was reading from a checklist.

"What about sleep? When was the last time you actually rested? Not just collapsed from exhaustion, but real sleep where your body could recover properly?"

"Luna."

His interruption came out strangled.

"Why aren’t you angry with me?"

The caring questions stopped as silence fell between them again.

"I left you alone."

His voice gained strength, frustration bleeding through.

"I disappeared in the middle of the night with nothing but a note. So why are you asking about food and water instead of yelling at me? Why aren’t you–"

"Do you want me to be angry at you?"

Luna’s interruption carried something lighter, almost teasing.

"Don’t tell me you’ve developed some kind of interest in that? Should I start yelling to make you feel better?"

Despite everything, Damian’s lips twitched fractionally.

But Luna’s voice shifted, the teasing fading into something more serious.

"I was angry at first."

Her admission came quiet but honest.

"I’m not stupid, Damian. I saw through the lies in that note immediately. Safe? The northern training center? Everything about it felt wrong."

She paused, breathing audible through the connection.

"I understood why you did it. You were trying to protect me from worrying, trying to handle everything alone like you always do."

Another pause, longer this time.

"But understanding your reasons doesn’t change the fact that it hurt."

Her voice cracked slightly on the last word.

"Waking up and finding you gone, reading those empty reassurances, knowing you’d chosen to face whatever was coming without even saying goodbye..."

She stopped, breath hitching audibly.

"That hurt, Damian. It really hurt."

Damian let out a long breath, his eyes closing.

"I know."

The words came out barely above a whisper.

"And I promise... from now on, I’ll always tell you the truth. There will be no more notes, no more lies and no more disappearing without explanation."

Silence stretched between them, weighted and heavy.

Then Luna’s voice emerged, carrying something fragile.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Alright then."

Her tone shifted again, gaining an edge that made warning bells go off in his head.

"Let’s test it, shall we?"

’Oh no.’

"Luna, what are you–"

"Tell me, what were you doing right before I called Mrs. Crane?"

The question landed like a trap snapping shut and Damian’s thoughts scattered.

’How does she–’

"I..."

His voice faltered.

"I was just..."

"Tsk tsk tsk."

Luna’s voice carried playful disappointment.

"Damian, you really are growing more and more bold, aren’t you? Getting drunk with married women now? Should I be concerned about this new development?"

"You–"

His thoughts caught up, pieces clicking together with terrible clarity.

"Are you stalking me using Gia? And why is she even–"

"Are you feeling better now?"

Luna’s interruption cut clean through his building complain, her tone shifting back to genuine concern.

"Is there any pain still? Should I send some treasures? I have access to better healing resources now, things that could help with recovery."

Damian fell silent, his prepared argument dissolving into nothing.

A long sigh escaped him, the sound carrying exhaustion mixed with something that might have been fondness.

"Forget about me, Luna."

His voice softened despite himself.

"Tell me about yourself. How are you?"

"I’m... fine."

The answer came too quickly, the control in her tone speaking louder than the words.

Silence crashed between them, heavy with everything left unsaid.

Damian’s hair fell forward, obscuring his face as he stared at the floor.

"It’s alright if you don’t want to tell me what you’re going through right now."

The whisper barely carried across the connection.

"But know this... Just like you’re there for me, I’m always here for you as well. No matter what. Okay?"

"Hm."

Luna’s response came soft and noncommittal.

Damian’s hands clenched on his knees, his throat working.

"Hey..."

He paused, the next words requiring more effort than they should.

"Ever since I gained the memories, I haven’t really been looking after you the way I used to, have I?"

The question hung between them, weighted with guilt he’s been carrying for months.