Kael Voss dragged Ezra Kane to a safe place near The Pulse, the ground below them slick with moisture and blood seeping onto his sleeve. "Why did you do that?" Kael croaked as he cleaned up the cut on Ezra's arm, his hands shaking with a mix of rage and something more tender. Ezra flinched but managed a teasing grin, his pulse racing. "I couldn't just let you die." Their fingers brushed together, warmth spreading between them, the atmosphere thick with unspoken emotions. "This changes nothing," Ezra said unconvincingly, his voice wavering. Kael gently traced the line of Ezra's jaw with his thumb. "You're lying," he whispered, their lips just inches apart.
Just then, Nico's voice crackled through Kael's comms, cutting through the moment. "Blockchain's down—Veyra's code!" he announced, way too enthusiastic. Ezra pulled back, a pang in his chest as Kael's touch faded into memory.
At dawn, Talia confronted Kael outside the safehouse, the light glinting off her drawn knife. "You need to rein in your spy!" she accused, jealousy lacing her tone, trying to offer him some stability. Kael clenched his jaw. "Ezra's mine," he shot back defiantly. From the shadows, Ezra Kane heard those words, feeling a mix of pride and the mission gnawing at him. Nico casually strolled over from the office, where he'd been—let's say—"fixing" things, wearing a wide grin. "Alright, everyone, let's calm down!" he said smoothly. But Talia's threat hung in the air—a looming duel at The Pulse. Above them, Kael's drone whirred, keeping a watchful eye on Ezra as tension hung heavy between them.