(POV: Kai)
Kai hadn't intended to follow.
At least, that was what he told himself as he stepped out of the officers' lounge.
Not following—just… not wanting to stay in that room any longer.
Too tight. Too crowded. Too full of things he shouldn't be thinking about.
Especially after seeing Amelia walk out first—her steps quick, decisive— and a few seconds later, Rhys followed with that same calm, controlled stride he used back at Cranwell.
Kai clenched his jaw.
Not his business. It shouldn't be.
He remained where he was for a few seconds after the door closed, pretending to focus on nothing in particular—as if his leaving had nothing to do with what had just happened.
The night air hit him immediately—cold, sharp, real.
So different from the suffocating atmosphere inside.
He walked without direction, following the concrete path beside the hangar, stretching under dim lights.
His hands stayed in his pockets, but the tension in his shoulders gave him away.
His pace wasn't fast. But it wasn't slow either.
Like someone trying to convince himself he wasn't looking for anything.
He just wanted distance.
From their voices. From his thoughts. From the questions that had started forming without permission.
But then—
his steps slowed.
Two silhouettes ahead.
Amelia. And Rhys.
Kai stopped instantly.
Pure reflex.
Not because he wanted to move closer— but because he knew he shouldn't be here at all.
This wasn't his place. Not his conversation.
He took a half step back, slipping into the darker shadow along the hangar wall—far enough to stay unseen, but close enough to—
"Ten years, Amelia."
Rhys's voice carried through the night air.
Clear enough.
Kai froze.
He should leave. Now.
Before he heard something he wasn't meant to hear.
But he didn't move.
His body stayed rooted in place, and his mind— his mind had already locked onto every word.
"You've been avoiding it."
Kai held his breath without realizing.
From where he stood, he couldn't see Amelia's face clearly—only her silhouette under the runway lights.
Still. Rigid.
Like someone holding something together that was starting to fracture.
"I never had the chance to say…" Rhys continued, his voice quieter now. "That what I felt back in Cranwell wasn't just an instructor noticing a talented cadet."
Kai lowered his head slightly, exhaling slowly.
Of course.
He knew where this was going.
Rhys would choose now— when there were no more boundaries.
And for some reason— that realization tightened something in his chest.
"I know you felt it too."
Kai closed his eyes for a second.
When he opened them again, his focus had sharpened.
He didn't move. Didn't leave.
Just stood there—listening to something he wasn't supposed to hear.
"And now we're equals. There's no boundary anymore."
Silence.
The wind moved softly between them.
"Rhys…"
Amelia's voice.
Quieter than usual. Heavier.
Something in Kai's chest pulled tight.
"I respect you. I always have. But—"
"But there's Dawson?"
Everything stopped.
Kai didn't move. Didn't breathe.
His name.
Not in a report. Not in a briefing.
But here.
Between them.
In a conversation that wasn't his.
He stared toward them, even though he knew they couldn't see him.
For the first time since stepping outside— his focus collapsed completely.
"Is that the problem?" Rhys continued. "An old rivalry that turned into something else?"
Silence.
A few seconds.
But it felt like far longer.
Kai swallowed.
Something tightened in his chest.
Not anger. Not irritation.
Something else.
Something like waiting— for an answer he wasn't even sure he wanted.
"…No."
Amelia's voice.
Soft. But certain.
Kai closed his eyes briefly.
Strange.
That didn't make it better.
"If anything… I wasn't being honest back then."
His eyes opened again—slowly.
Carefully.
"I chose the easier answer. One that wouldn't complicate things."
Kai frowned slightly.
What did that mean?
"I did feel something for you…"
His jaw tightened.
That shouldn't matter.
It was the past. It made sense.
Still—
he didn't like hearing it.
"But it was never enough."
Kai exhaled slowly.
Something in him loosened—just slightly.
Not enough.
"Then now?" Rhys asked.
Silence again.
Longer this time.
Without realizing it, Kai had stepped slightly closer to the edge of the shadows.
"I finally understand why."
His heartbeat shifted.
Faster. Heavier.
"There was always something there… I just never really saw it."
Kai's chest tightened.
"And it's not you."
Silence.
The wind moved again.
But Kai didn't feel it.
Not you.
The words repeated in his mind.
Over and over.
Then someone else.
Someone who had always been there.
Kai let out a slow breath, surprised by how heavy it sounded.
His hand clenched inside his pocket.
He didn't understand why it bothered him.
Why it felt… personal.
It shouldn't.
But it did.
Someone.
Always there.
Kai looked toward Amelia's silhouette.
And for a brief second—
he wanted to know.
Had he ever been that possibility?
Even once?
Or had he always just been—
nothing more than a rival?
He looked away, taking a steady breath.
This was ridiculous.
He shouldn't be here. Shouldn't be listening. Shouldn't be thinking about this.
He turned—
then stopped.
Movement.
Subtle.
But enough.
Kai's head snapped to the side.
Scarlett.
Standing in the shadows.
Not far from him.
Same position. Same silence.
She had been there long enough.
Long enough to hear.
Their eyes met.
No surprise. No guilt.
Just something sharper.
Deeper.
Heavier.
And in that moment—
Kai saw something he had never seen before.
Anger.
Not at him.
At something else.
At what had just been said.
At something from the past.
She knew.
Not guessed.
Knew.
Kai didn't say anything.
There was nothing to say.
Scarlett looked away first.
Her movements were controlled—but firm.
Her gaze returned to the distance.
Or maybe to something beyond it.
Then—
she turned.
And walked away.
Fast. Decisive.
Like she didn't want to stay any longer.
Kai watched her until she disappeared around the hangar.
And for a few seconds—
he forgot everything else.
Because now there was something new.
Scarlett.
And the fact that she knew.
Not just about Rhys. Not just about the past.
But something deeper.
Something no one else had noticed.
Kai finally turned away.
His steps grew heavier now.
Something pressing in his chest— something he couldn't shake.
One question remained.
Louder than anything else.
If it wasn't Rhys—
then who?
And why—
why did it matter this much to him?