The silence after Eiden's reveal felt thicker than smoke.
Nobody bothered to speak. Nobody even knew what to say.
Raizen sat on the crate a moment longer. His ribs ached just enough to remind him it wasn't a dream.
His wristband buzzed once, a soft vibration against his skin.
Tim.
He glanced down. The little green icon on the display blinked at him, patient.
"I should go" he said, pushing his hands against the crate. "My time's almost up."
Eiden flinched like he had forgotten the rest of the world had rules. He tugged his glove back on fast, covering the stone-dark skin and those thin golden lines before anyone could look too long.
For a second his fingers fumbled at the edge, then the fabric slid into place. Normal again. Pretend normal.
Kenzo took a half step forward, eyes still locked on Eiden.
"We aren't done" he said.
Obi moved before anyone else. He put a hand on Kenzo's shoulder, not hard, just enough to mark a line.
