The locker room smelled like triumph sweat, metal, and the faint sting of ozone from exhausted aura cores. The team of Titan's Reach sat scattered across benches and the floor, wrapped in silver blankets, voices low and tired but full of warmth.
Scarlett was the loudest, of course. "Did you see that finish? Blaze literally set the field on fire!"
Aya rolled her eyes. "He almost burned your hair off, too."
Scarlett smirked. "Worth it."
Lionel leaned back against the wall, running a towel over his face. "I can't believe we actually took the Reavers. I thought Dravik was going to tear me in half."
Jason chuckled from his chair. "That's because he almost did. But you adapted. All of you did. That's what matters."
He paused, looking around the room at Aya's sharp grin, Lionel's worn composure, Scarlett's barely-contained energy. And finally, at Blaze.
