----
**Cont.
"Good," Kael replied as he accepted the steaming cup of coffee from her outstretched hands, taking a moment to savor the rich aroma that wafted up, wrapping him in a blanket of warmth and familiarity. "I want to make one thing very clear: I don't want her name mentioned within these walls again unless it is immediately followed by the words 'termination complete.'"
"Understood," she acknowledged, meeting his gaze with a steady expression.
Together, they strode down the executive corridor. The distant hum of computers and the rhythmic clatter of keyboards created a symphony of productivity that resonated around them—comforting, routine sounds that grounded him amid the chaos of recent events. As they approached the tech division, Kael paused, his gaze drawn to a small cluster of veteran employees—faces he recognized from the days before everything unraveled.
"Mr. Voss," Dr. Han greeted him, a seasoned systems engineer who had once been a mentor to Ezra when he first joined the company. "It's good to see you back in one piece."
Kael offered a subtle nod in response. "You too. Just make sure your security protocols are tighter this time around."
Dr. Han smiled—a weary, knowing smile that spoke volumes of his experiences through countless rebuilds and the challenges they had faced. "We'll ensure the firewalls remain up this time, sir. No more lurking ghosts in the system."
The mention of "ghosts" sent a slight pang through Kael's chest, bringing Ezra's image to the forefront of his mind—the wild, desperate look in his eyes when the chaos finally subsided, and the way Ezra had whispered, "You should rest too," moments before taking his leave. Kael hadn't fully grasped the weight of that simple expression of concern until this very moment, and it lingered like an unshakable shadow.
Turning his attention away, he made his way toward his office. The city sprawled below him, the sun glistening off the glass walls of the building, creating a stunning panorama. Lila placed a sleek tablet on his desk and began to move toward the door, pausing for a moment with an uncertain look.
"Sir," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ezra stopped by last night. He left a drive for you and told me you'd know what to do with it."
Kael's brow furrowed slightly as he picked up the small data drive that now rested beside his coffee tray. "Of course he did," he murmured, a hint of irritation because (Ezra refused to obey his words)threading through his tone.
Once Lila exited, silence enveloped the room once more, amplifying his thoughts. Kael leaned back in his chair, the vibrant cityscape reflected in the glass before him, and he turned the drive over in his fingers, feeling a familiar curl of his lips as he did so.
"Always one step ahead, aren't you?" he murmured to himself, a mix of admiration and frustration coursing through him. "A quick study, of course."
Yet, even as a smile flickered across his face, it failed to reach his eyes, for beneath the calm surface and the façade of control, Kael was acutely aware of one undeniable truth: whatever the connection between him and Ezra was, it had not finished its work on him.
Not yet.
----
As the city gradually emerged from the chaos of the previous night, the frantic energy began to shift into soft murmurs and digital records. Kael went about his day with the usual tasks—meetings, updates, and quiet debriefings—but his thoughts kept drifting back to Ezra. He remembered how the young man had quaked with fear before finding his footing, how he had clutched Kael's shirt as if seeking stability after a storm.
It had been two days since that moment—a brief enough window for New Avalon to act as if nothing was amiss.
At Apex Dynamics, the atmosphere returned to its sterile routine, with buzzing lights, gleaming floors, and glass walls mirroring the city's rhythm. As Kael walked down the upper corridor, his footsteps rang out—firm and deliberate, the mantle of leadership settling comfortably back over him like a protective shield. Lila was waiting by the elevator, tablet in hand, her demeanor a mix of brightness and caution.
"Good morning, sir. The tech team is asking for final clearance on the AI firewall rebuild. And by the way, Ezra's back in the lab."
Without looking up from his data slate, Kael responded, "Good. I need status updates every three hours."
"Of course, sir." Lila paused, glancing at him. "He seems… different."
At this, Kael's interest piqued slightly. "Different in what way?"
"He's more focused, but also quieter. He's been working with the junior engineers to fix the feedback loops manually, insisting the bots shouldn't do it."
Kael remained silent, but a subtle smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Meanwhile, down in the tech wing, Ezra was surrounded by a mess of cables and holographic displays. He wore a simple dark hoodie, sleeves rolled up, and his hair still damp from a morning shower. The old team members, who had once collaborated closely with him before his sudden absence, offered him tentative smiles.
"Feels like old times, right?" Tamsin, the programmer with lavender hair, said with an encouraging grin.
Ezra looked up, briefly pausing his coding. "Almost," he replied, a small smile breaking through. "Except this time, I'm not the one causing the issues."
Laughter spread through the group, the tension beginning to lift.
From his vantage point on the observation deck, Kael watched quietly. Although it wasn't his intention to linger, seeing Ezra in that space—alive, open, fingers dancing over data—brought him a sense of grounding. The ache in his chest felt more pronounced today, but he welcomed it.
Lila approached him softly. "Are you planning to stick around?"
Kael replied with a soft hum. "Just ensuring everything holds steady."
Down below, Ezra seemed to sense his presence. Their eyes locked across the glass—a heart-stopping moment where neither one looked away.
But then Kael's comm device buzzed, shattering the spell.
He straightened, his voice returning to its usual composed tone. "Get ready for the systems review at 1400 hours. I want everything in top shape before Veyra's board meeting."
Lila nodded, taking notes rapidly.
As Kael walked away, his reflection briefly overlapped with Ezra's in the glass—a reminder of two individuals caught between the remnants of conflict and the hopeful beginnings of something nearly resembling peace.