The stairwell door groaned open onto the eleventh floor, and Kai immediately stuck his head through the gap like he expected something to jump out and personally greet him.
"Clear," he announced, sounding faintly disappointed.
"You wanted it not to be clear?" Ben asked, following him through.
"I wanted a little consistency. We just spent twenty minutes on twelve. I was building momentum."
"You swung an axe twice."
"Twice with feeling, Ben."
Penelope shouldered past both of them, katana still loose in her grip. "You two are the reason Erik drinks his coffee black. No sugar. Just spite."
"That's not spite," Kai said. "That's a man who's given up on joy."
"I can hear you," Erik said from the front of the group, not turning around.
"I know," Kai said cheerfully. "That's what makes it fun."
