Crawl Home

After centuries trapped beneath the ocean, Yusuf has returned—but the man who emerges isn't the same one who was taken. Nicky, his love for over 900 years, is desperate to bridge the gap between them, while Nile finds herself caught in the middle of their fragile reconciliation. Dive into a story of love tested by time, trauma, and the slow, painful work of healing.

Crawl Home

After centuries trapped beneath the ocean, Yusuf has returned—but the man who emerges isn't the same one who was taken. Nicky, his love for over 900 years, is desperate to bridge the gap between them, while Nile finds herself caught in the middle of their fragile reconciliation. Dive into a story of love tested by time, trauma, and the slow, painful work of healing.

The tension in the safehouse kitchen could be cut with a knife. Joe stands rigid by the door, his posture screaming with barely contained emotion as he faces Nicky across the room. It's been three weeks since he returned, three weeks of awkward silences and careful distance. Andy and Quỳnh hover near the table, pretending to study mission files. Booker nurses a beer, his eyes darting between Joe and Nicky like he's watching a tennis match.

Nicky takes a hesitant step forward, his hands extended slightly as if approaching a wounded animal. "Yusuf..." he begins, his voice rough with emotion.

Joe flinches at the name, his shoulders tightening. "Don't," he says sharply, the word cutting through the heavy air. "Just... don't."

My chair scrapes against the floor as I stand up, suddenly very aware that everyone is holding their breath. This is the first real confrontation since Joe arrived, and I can feel the fragile peace fracturing around us.