Aria noticed him again.
Same hallway.
Same quiet walk.
Same calm face like nothing ever bothered him.
But her eyes didn't go to his face first.
They went to his arm.
Bandaged.
Left arm.
Her steps slowed slightly.
"…that's weird," she muttered.
Yesterday, she was sure it wasn't that arm.
Maybe she remembered wrong.
Maybe.
"Aria?"
Ella's voice pulled her back.
"Hm?"
"You're staring again," Mira said, smirking.
"I'm not staring."
"You are," Mira replied. "At the same guy too."
Ella leaned closer.
"…what's going on?"
Aria hesitated.
Then lowered her voice slightly.
"…his arm."
Mira blinked.
"…his arm?"
"He had an injury before," Aria said. "But now it's like… different."
Mira stared at her for a second.
"…you're investigating someone's arm now?"
"I'm not investigating!"
"You are," Mira said. "This is how it starts."
Aria rolled her eyes.
"…relax."
But her eyes—
Went back to him.
"…hey," she called.
He stopped.
Turned.
Dylan.
Calm.
Quiet.
Sharp eyes.
"…you called me?" he asked.
Aria stepped closer.
"…your arm," she said. "What happened?"
He glanced at it briefly.
Then back at her.
"…football."
Simple.
No hesitation.
"You play?" she asked.
"Sometimes."
"…and it's that bad?"
"Looks worse than it is."
Aria narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…right."
A small pause.
She studied him for a second longer.
Then—
"…okay."
He tilted his head slightly.
"…anything else?"
She hesitated.
Then shook her head.
"…no."
"Then stop staring," he said calmly.
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
"…I wasn't staring."
"You were."
"…okay, go away."
He turned.
Walked off.
Just like that.
Mira stepped beside her.
"…you're gone."
"I'm not gone."
"You're questioning injuries now," Mira said. "That's deep."
Ella laughed softly.
"…maybe she's just curious."
"I'm just curious," Aria said quickly.
But even as she said it—
She watched him leave.
Until he disappeared into the crowd.
"…something's off," she muttered quietly.
But she couldn't explain it.
Not yet.
—
Dylan didn't go home immediately.
He never did.
Not anymore.
He walked past the busy streets, past shops closing down, past lights flickering in quieter parts of the city.
Until he reached a place most people ignored.
Old building.
Worn walls.
Faded paint.
He climbed the stairs slowly, one step at a time.
His hoodie hid most of it—
But underneath—
His right arm was wrapped tightly.
The real injury.
Not the one from school.
He opened the door.
"…I'm back."
The room was small.
Simple.
Quiet.
His mother sat on the couch, wrapped in a blanket.
She looked up.
"You're late."
"I had things to do."
She gave a faint smile.
"You always do."
He stepped closer.
"…did you take your meds?"
"Yes."
"You didn't forget?"
She shook her head.
"I wouldn't worry you like that."
He nodded slightly.
Then—
"Big bro!"
A small figure rushed out.
His younger sister.
Bright.
Full of energy.
Too bright for a place like this.
She hugged him instantly.
"You came late again!"
"…I know."
"You promised you'd come early today."
He paused.
Just for a second.
"…something came up."
She pouted.
"You always say that."
He looked at her.
Then—
"…I'll make it up to you."
Her face lit up.
"Promise?"
"…yeah."
She smiled and ran back.
Satisfied.
Dylan stood still for a moment.
Then—
His mother's voice came again.
"…you're hurt."
He didn't respond.
"I can see it," she said softly.
"…it's nothing."
"You push yourself too much."
"I'm fine."
She looked at him.
Carefully.
"…you remind me of him sometimes."
That—
Shifted everything.
His expression hardened slightly.
"…I'm nothing like him."
A small silence followed.
"…good," she said quietly.
Dylan looked away.
Toward the window.
The city lights in the distance.
"…he's still out there," he said.
His mother didn't ask who.
She knew.
"…then don't lose yourself trying to stop him," she replied.
Dylan didn't answer.
But his jaw tightened slightly.
Because this wasn't just a mission.
It was personal.
—
Night fell.
The city changed again.
Dylan stood on a rooftop.
Now—
VEX.
Mask on.
Armor in place.
His injured arm—
Hidden under reinforced support.
Stable.
Not obvious.
A presence landed behind him.
"You're late."
Aria.
Already suited.
Already ready.
"…you're early," he replied.
She crossed her arms slightly.
"…you got hit yesterday."
"It happens."
She looked at his arm.
The armored one.
Then back at him.
"…funny," she said. "…I saw someone with an injury like that today."
A very small pause.
Barely noticeable.
"…coincidence," VEX said.
Aria frowned slightly.
"…yeah… maybe."
Silence.
Then she shook her head.
"…whatever."
She stepped forward, looking out at the city.
"…just don't slow me down."
"I won't."
A small pause settled between them.
Then—
"…you fight like you don't care if you get hurt," she said.
"I don't."
"That's stupid."
"It's efficient."
She scoffed.
"…you're actually annoying."
"And you talk too much."
She almost smiled.
Almost.
Then looked away quickly.
"…let's just focus."
"Agreed."
But something had shifted.
Slightly.
Not clear.
Not understood.
But there.
—
Far away—
In the shadows—
A figure stood.
Watching the city.
Silent.
Still.
Slander.
His presence heavy, unmoving.
Eyes cold.
Calculating.
"…it's progressing," he muttered.