Ethan Knox- July 2120
"I really don't think it's necessary," Kai murmurs, trying to downplay it. But the way he flinches as I pout the water on his burn tells me otherwise.
I look up sharply at him. His calm tone only makes the anger flare hotter in me. He's hurt, and he's trying to act like it's nothing? My chest tightens.
"Kai," I snap gently but firmly, "look at me. You're hurt. I don't care if it's small or big you cannot just ignore this."
He exhales, the fight draining out of him as I crouch closer to him. The heat from his burn rises, but I force myself to stay calm. "It's okay," I murmur, opening the water bottle and tilting it gently over the scorched skin. Steam hisses up immediately. He winces, but he doesn't pull away.
"Hold still," I say softly, brushing my thumb over the worst of the blistered skin. My hand is careful, precise, because I can't afford to make it worse. I see him tense, but he doesn't move. I glance at his face, eyes flicking to mine, jaw tight and I know he's trying not to let me see him falter.
"You're tougher than I remember" I say, trying to lighten it, but my worry seeps through despite my tone. His gaze meets mine, and for a moment I see him, really see him. He's exhausted, raw, not from the fight but from... life. But he is still so focused on protecting everyone else.
"I'm fine," he murmurs quietly.
"Kai," I say, firmer this time, a little sharper. "You're not fine. You can't just push through this. You're hurt, and I'm not letting you pretend otherwise."
He finally relaxes slightly, letting the tension drop from his shoulders. I dampen a cloth and press it gently to the worst part of the burn. He flinches at the sting, but I keep my hand steady, letting him know it's okay to let me do this.
Ray leans in. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine now," I say quickly, never taking my eyes off Kai. Because in this moment, I can't.
I let my hand linger on his for a moment, gripping gently, silently reminding him he's not alone. He looks down at me and gives the faintest nod, but his eyes flicker to the burn again. I know he's trying to act brave, to push the pain aside.
"You're going to be okay," I whisper, still holding his hand.
He doesn't respond, just exhales and lets the shadows around his fingers ease slightly. For a brief moment, the chaos of the forest, the lava, the fight, all of it, fades away.
His jaw tightens, shadows swirling faintly around his fingers like a warning, but his body relaxes against my presence. I can feel the heat radiating off him, not just from the burn, but from the fight, from everything he's carried. And I… can't stop looking at him. His quiet determination, his focus on protecting everyone else even when he's hurt, it hits me harder than it should.
I dab at the worst of the burn, then gently press a layer of antiseptic cream over it, careful not to make him flinch too much. "Okay… now a bandage," I say, tearing a strip carefully. My fingers brush his skin, just a little, and I freeze for a heartbeat, he's so warm.
He doesn't move, doesn't stop me, and I realise he's trusting me. I press the bandage over the wound and wrap it carefully, making sure it's snug but not tight. "All done," I smile. "Pretty good job if do say so myself."
He exhales slowly. "Thanks," he says quietly, voice low and rough from adrenaline and exhaustion. I nod, forcing a small smile, though my chest still races.
Then Ray's voice cuts through the clearing. "Time to move!"
I glance up to see him carrying the unconscious lava man over his shoulder, Daniel walking beside him. Relief washes over me they've secured him without any more chaos.
"Ready?" I ask Kai, sliding a supporting arm around his back. He leans slightly into me, his weight heavier than he looks, and I realise just how much the burn took out of him.
Being hit my lava is no laughing joke. I surprise there wasn't more damage.
"Yeah," he mutters, his voice quiet, almost hesitant.
I move slowly, matching his pace, careful to keep him steady. "We'll get you back to the school, Sophie will patch you up properly," I say softly. His hand brushes mine briefly as he adjusts, and my chest tightens.
The forest around us is scorched and quiet, still steaming in patches. But moving with him, supporting him, I feel… purpose. Protective, yes, but more than that. I can't stop thinking about keeping him safe, making sure nothing else touches him.
I glance over at Kai as we walk, keeping an eye on him. He's got one hand over the bandaged burn, like he's trying to steady it as we move. His face is calm, but I can see the sweat starting to bead on his brow.
I grin, trying to lift the mood. "That was seriously cool back there," I say, waving my hands around dramatically. "The way you just whoosh! and a massive black wall appeared out of nowhere!"
Kai glances up at me briefly. But I can't read his expression.
"I totally could've handled it myself," Daniel pipes up behind us, voice full of bravado.
I spin my head toward him, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, sure! All your precious vines were melting into nothing. So please, tell me again how you would've handled it."
Daniel just huffs, clearly irritated, and turns his head away. Typical.
I look back at Kai. He's staring at the ground, fingers tightening slightly over the bandage. He seems… distracted.
I slow my pace and speak softly. "Hey… you saved us all back there, you know?"
His head snaps up, eyes locking on mine. Confusion flickers across his face.
"Not me," Daniel mutters from behind, oblivious to the moment.
I sigh, shaking my head with a grin. "Will you just shut up for two seconds, Daniel?" I mutter under my breath, then turn back to Kai.
"Seriously, Kai… you were amazing. Ignore Daniel, he's still bitter about your fight yesterday."
Kai's expression softens slightly, but he doesn't say anything. I can see him thinking, maybe processing, maybe just letting himself breathe a little after all that chaos.
And I can't help the little burst of warmth in my chest. He's okay.
When we reach the school, a small crowd is waiting. Sophie is there, nervous but her eyes immediately start assessing him, while Edmund looks calm, but relieved. Jack is in the front, breathless and animated, pointing toward the forest as he recounts the fight.
Sophie steps forward, her medical bag open and ready.
"I'll take it from here," she says, but I keep a gentle hand under Kai afraid to let go.
Miriam storms over, worry practically radiating off her. She plants herself in front of us, hands on her hips like an angry mum."Do you know how worried I was when I turned around and you were nowhere to be seen in the canteen?" she scolds, eyes stabbing at Kai.
Kai blinks, clearly confused. His mouth opens like he's about to apologise, or maybe explain, but before a single word can escape, Jack appears behind her.
"You!" he snaps, pointing a shaky finger at Kai. His eyes are still red from crying earlier. "Don't think that just because you saved me I'll go easy on you now."
Miriam groans and rolls her eyes, nudging me with her elbow like please handle these children.
I turn back to Kai and gods, the look on his face nearly makes me burst out laughing. He's standing there like someone dropped him into the wrong scene of the wrong movie: lost, confused, and trying so hard to make sense of all these emotions being thrown at him.
But then… something shifts behind his eyes.Just a tiny flicker. Like a spark trying to catch light.
It's so subtle most people would miss it, but I don't.
I start laughing, unable to help myself. I just feel so happy for him.
Kai's attention snaps straight to me, startled, but his eyes dart quickly to the group gathering around him, Miriam hovering, Jack still sniffling, people whispering, staring, fussing.
He doesn't know what to do with all this attention. He really doesn't.
And honestly? Watching him try to process it…It's kind of adorable.
But when Edmund walks over, I feel Kai tense beside me, it's subtle, but unmistakable. He's still carrying the weight of the conversation between them yesterday.
"I heard you saved my people" Edmund says, hands folded behind his back, giving Kai this calm, almost proud smile.
Ray pats Kai on the back as he walk past "You did good out there" he smiles.
Kai doesn't say anything, he just nods once. Typical Kai. Bare minimum words, maximum impact.
"I thank you for your help" Edmund adds gently.
Kai flinches. Actually flinches. People must not thank him often… or maybe ever. Something in my chest twists at the sight.
Sophie steps forward when Edmund gestures to her. "Sophie will fix you up well. If you would follow her to her office."
Kai hesitates immediately. "It's okay, it's pretty much patched up now anyway."
Sophie adjusts her glasses, cheeks pink. "Erm… please come with me," she says in that soft, careful voice of hers.
Kai looks at her… then at me. Those dark eyes practically asking, Do I have to?
I smile and pat his back, letting my hand linger for just a moment before I pull away. "She's a great healer. You'll be fine," I promise him.
He still looks unsure, but when I give him the lightest nudge forward, he doesn't push back, he just follows Sophie with that reluctant, quiet obedience that kills me a little.
A part of me wants to go with him. Make sure he's not uncomfortable. Make sure he's really okay. But Ray is already lowering the unconscious intruder to the ground, and duty wins out. For now.
As the man hits the floor, more people start gathering, but Ray raises a firm hand. "Stay back. He's dangerous."
The angle shifts, and some of the man's hair falls away from his face, finally giving us a clear look at him.
Tessa steps forward, head tilted. "Uhm. Interesting." She crouches a little. "I know this man."
We all snap our attention to her, Daniel sliding right in front of her like an overprotective guard dog. "You know him? How?" The jealousy is dripping, and he's not even trying to hide it.
Tessa folds her arms, unbothered. "He works at the bar in the village down the road," she says simply. "He's been there for years."
Silence falls.
I look from her to the unconscious man, then to the others.
A bartender. Just a bartender.
Then how did he get his hands on Lunex vials? Why attack us?
And from the way everyone else's expression shifts, I know we're all thinking the exact same thing.
Something's not adding up.
Not even a little.