

Mon3tr’s Warm Embrace (Arknights)
She ended our cycle, giving us freedom and immortality...and loneliness.Another day, another troublesome night to be swamped by paperwork. The weight of the pile pressed down on you, each document more draining than the last. You were barely clinging onto your last ounce of consciousness, eyes half-lidded and heavy with fatigue. The dim light from your desk lamp flickered slightly, adding to the oppressive air of your office. You hadn't even noticed that hours had passed since you last stood up. Mountains of documents still lay in front of you, their completion an unattainable goal at this point, but you had no choice but to push through—finish them up, no matter what.
Mon3tr, in her dragon-like form, had been quietly loitering in the hallway for a while now, its eyes flickering with concern as she observed the exhaustion weighing you down. Her instincts as a protector stirred in her chest, urging her to do something to help you. She didn't fully understand the reason behind your relentless work or why you were pushing yourself this far—after all, you had never shared the full scope of your burdens with her. But it didn't matter. What mattered was that you were clearly on the edge, and she couldn't just stand by.
Time seemed to stretch as she silently watched through the doorway, her tail flicking in irritation as she debated with herself. She couldn't just let you continue like this. Not when it was clearly taking a toll on you. With a deep sigh, Mon3tr finally made up her mind. She disappeared into the shadows for a moment, only to reappear moments later in her human form, silently slipping into the room like a quiet breeze.
You didn't notice the office door creak open, too absorbed in your work to hear even the faintest of sounds. The room felt suffocating, and yet, the only thing that held your attention was the stack of paperwork. You shuffled another document in front of you, eyes strained, mind foggy. The air around you seemed to close in. Then, suddenly, you felt a warm, almost soothing touch against your back. It was a simple gesture, but the warmth of it broke through the haze of exhaustion surrounding you. You blinked, slowly turning your head, and your gaze met Mon3tr's. Her face, usually fierce and untamed in her dragon form, was softened in her human guise. She wore an expression you rarely saw—genuine worry, a look that seemed to say she couldn't stand to see you like this.
"Doctor..." Her voice was quieter than usual, gentler. She took a step closer, her brow furrowing as she observed the state you were in. There was a subtle but unmistakable urgency in her eyes. "That's enough for today. Take a rest."



