Ezra returned to work that summer, but something was off with Haru. The kid was quieter. More reserved. And most telling of all? Haru had been grounded from having his own cellphone. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why. The Silent Legion had a talk with his parents.

  Ezra had a bad habit of making the worst decisions against his better judgment—so naturally, he pulled out his cheap-ass burner phone and handed it over to Haru. "Here," Ezra muttered. "It’s shit, but it runs apps. Nobody’s gonna suspect a kid with a flip-phone-tier brick."

  Haru beamed like he’d just been given a million credits. "This is the worst piece of technology I’ve ever seen!" he grinned. "I love it!"

  Ezra rolled his eyes. "Just don’t get caught."

  Hours passed. Ezra was working on some basic calcutions, keeping his head down, when his burner phone rang. Before he could reach for it, Haru—being Haru—snatched it up.

  He accidentally put it on loudspeaker. "Yo, this is Ezra—”

  “give me that back, you little shit!" Ezra started after him, but stopped in his tracks after what came next.

  "-gasp- Hoi KI-KI!!" Ezra froze. Haru grinned at the phone. "It’s so good to hear you again! ?"

  The voice on the other end? Ciarra. And she sounded delighted. Ezra’s soul left his body. "Oh my, Haru!" Ciarra chuckled warmly. "It’s been a while. Have you been behaving?"

  "Eh," Haru mused. "I’ve been more or less Ezra’s responsibility, so I think you already know the answer to that." Ciarra ughed.

  Ezra snatched the phone back so fast Haru barely had time to react. He took it off loudspeaker, pressed it to his ear, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Auntie."

  Ciarra giggled on the other end. "Oh, don’t sound so defeated. I was just checking up on you." Ezra sighed.

  "Family’s good?"

  "Yeah, the family is doing well," she said. "Your dad, though? His cough’s gotten worse."

  Ezra’s grip tightened around the phone. Ciarra kept talking, as if she hadn’t just sent a knife through his chest. "I’m keeping tabs on him," she reassured. "But what about you, Ez? How are you holding up?"

  Ezra exhaled sharply. And that was all she needed to hear. Ciarra hummed knowingly. "Keep your chin up," she murmured. "The Silent Legion isn’t as ‘silent’ as they want you to think." Ezra blinked. "They’re easy to avoid if you know how."

  Ezra’s breath caught. He suddenly felt very, very aware of the b around him. His peripheral vision sharpened. His senses focused. Ciarra kept talking, her voice casual, slow. "The White Coats taught you, didn’t they?"

  Ezra almost scoffed. Taught him what? The White Coats didn’t teach him shit—Except how to py along. Except how to look deeper. Except how to—Oh.

  Oh, fuck.

  Ezra’s breath slowed. His muscles locked. His stomach twisted. Something was in the corner of the b. Something imperceptible. He hadn’t noticed it before. Hadn’t thought to look. But now that Ciarra had nudged him in the right direction? He saw it.

  A space where the air was just slightly dispced. Like someone was standing there. For too long. Ezra’s body went cold. Ciarra’s voice softened. "Now do you get it?"

  Ezra forced himself to breathe normally. He rexed his shoulders, forced a chuckle. "Yeah, Auntie," he said smoothly, "I get it."

  "Good boy."

  Ezra hung up. The game was afoot. Literally.

  His eyes flickered back to the untouched dust in the corner. There was a faint outline of footprints. Someone had been standing there for a long time. Too long. They were watching.

  Ezra needed to test his hypothesis. He motioned Haru over. "Never you mind how in the chicken-foot fuck you know Ciarra," he muttered. "I need you to do something for me."

  Haru tilted his head. "What’s up?"

  Ezra leaned in. He whispered in Haru’s ear, keeping his voice carefully yered with gibberish. Among the nonsense, he spoke clearly, precisely, in between the noise.

  "They’re watching…" gibberish"Go away…" gibberish"Go to the core elevator…" gibberish"Don’t enter…" gibberish"Come back in an hour…" gibberish"Make it look like I have a surprise waiting for you." gibberish

  Haru’s expression flickered between confusion, amusement, and realization. But the kid was sharp. He got the message. Breaking away, Haru grinned mischievously. "Race ya!" He bolted for the door, ughing.

  Ezra shook his head, smiling—pying the part.

  He turned back to his workstation, pretending to focus. And then—He waited.

  His peripheral vision locked onto the corner of the b. At first, nothing. Then—an ever-so-slight shift. A barely perceptible tuft of air movement. No sound of footsteps. No physical shape.

  But the dust in the air stirred. Someone was there. Someone was moving.

  And Ezra had just let them know that he knew.

  Ezra waited.

  And waited.

  And waited some more.

  An hour passed. Still no sign of Haru. Ezra’s stomach twisted, but he kept his movements calm, measured. He walked over to the dust spot from earlier, took a random crate, and pced it right in the middle of the footprints.

  If someone had been standing there—they’d have to move it to return. He waited a moment. Nothing. Good. Whoever had been watching him was gone. That meant only one thing. Haru was in trouble.

  Ezra made a beeline for the elevator, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. He wouldn’t have to go far. Halfway to the checkpoint, there she was. Clover. And she had Haru in tow, dragging the poor kid by the ear. Haru whimpered, trying not to squirm.

  "Apparently," Clover said smoothly, "you didn’t get the memo."

  Ezra tilted his head. "What memo?"

  "No cellphones. Around the core."

  Haru looked at Ezra, then at his own feet, too scared to talk. Ezra exhaled slowly. Right. Right. Time to py dumber than the time Ciarra drugged him up on painkillers.

  Auntie was a thoughtful woman. She had packed Ezra a lunch for his flight. And a little surprise. A THC vape. Perfect.

  Ezra pulled it out casually, took a long, slow hit, and exhaled directly in Clover’s direction. She didn’t even flinch. But her eyelid twitched.

  Gatcha, bitch!

  Hot damn, maybe White Coat University did teach him something after all. "Whaaaat?" Ezra asked zily, taking another drag. "I can’t watch my favorite cat videos while doing mundane tasks? Oh, this is so unfair."

  Clover stared at him. Then, without a word, she took his burner phone. And crushed it in her hand. Ezra barely blinked. "Oh no," he said dryly. "My phone." He paused dramatically. "Anyways. Is that all?"

  Inside? His heart was racing. Just as fast as when he put a taser to Clover’s neck. Outside? Oh, God bless weed and how much it helped him keep his shit together.

  Clover shoved Haru toward Ezra. "One more misstep," she warned, "and you’re going to need a voice box to even use a phone."

  Ezra whistled lowly, tilting his head. "Noooooo, not my throat…" he muttered deadpan. He pced a hand over his chest in mock despair. "I can’t lose my chances at being the world’s next deep-throat champion…" Took another slow puff. Clover’s brow twitched.

  Despite all their bravado, their animal parts, their mutations… They were still human. Somewhere, deep down.

  Clover took a step forward. Ezra realized something. She was shorter than him. About six inches. The thought made him grin internally. "Is this a game to you?" she asked, voice low, measured.

  Ezra pointed at Haru. "It’s a game to him." Clover’s nostrils fred slightly. "Where’d you find the lil’ gremlin anyhow?" Ezra mused. "I was looking for him all over."

  She knew damn well Ezra understood where she found him. Her eyes narrowed. "Do you have a death wish?"

  Ezra smirked. "Yeah," he admitted. Then, after a thoughtful pause—"…But Santa hasn’t replied to my letters yet. Or wait—" he tilted his head. "Was it Satan I wrote to…?"

  Clover breathed in deeply. Ezra had officially tested her patience. She snapped her fingers. Ezra didn’t even bother looking this time. He took another hit of weed, standing there unbothered like he was at the DMV.

  Inside?

  Holy shit.

  He could hear movement behind him. The Silent Legion guards were ready. Ezra held up a hand. "Wait, wait, wait…" He reached into his pants. Dear God. He pulled out his cup. His groin protection cup.

  Ezra was one for safety. After the st incident, he came prepared. But this time? He sniffed it. Haru gagged. Clover’s entire face contorted in disgust. Even the guards hesitated. Ezra pocketed it calmly. "Don’t wanna ruin someone’s steel toe, do we?"

  Clover exhaled slowly through her nose.

  "Okay," Ezra muttered, flexing his neck. "Back to business. Try not to hit the face. I still need to see when I’m in the core." He gestured toward the guards. "Which one of you lucky fels is tickling my pickle this time?"

  Haru’s entire soul left his body. Clover’s hand twitched. Then—A sound. A small, terrified voice. "Ezra…?" Haru.

  Ezra turned—And his stomach dropped. The guards weren’t going for him. They were going for Haru. Ezra had a choice. Grovel like a little bitchOr—Take one st incredibly insane gamble.

  Well. If the White Coats were insane… Maybe it was time to py along. Ezra exhaled, cracking his neck. "Ohhh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you," he muttered calmly. The guards paused. "Poor Haru’s gonna have to sit out duty," Ezra continued, voice smooth, casual. "Who else was gonna py hide-and-seek with him at the core?" He pointed at one of the guards. "You?"

  The skinnier of the two tensed. "Nah, you’re too dummy thicc," Ezra mused, grinning. "The cp of your ass cheeks is gonna spoil it."

  The guard shifted, uncomfortable. Something in the air shifted. They were tense. Ezra’s heart pounded. "Besides," he shrugged, "good luck repcing a guinea pig as brilliant as Haru."

  Haru’s entire world shattered. Had Ezra finally gone insane? Nope. -SCHWACK-

  Ezra colpsed instantly. Clover had personally kicked him in the nuts. Ezra gasped for air, wheezing. He fought to breathe, but not to beg. "Seems like you didn’t just miss the memo," Clover muttered, towering over him, "but also my note." Her eyes narrowed. "Tread carefully, Ezra Key."

  Ezra groaned. He looked up at Haru, his face a mix of pain and mischief. "She… kicked me…" Ezra wheezed, grinning. "Senpai.. noticed me!"

  Haru desperately fought ughter. Clover turned on her heel and left. The Silent Legion guards vanished.

  That…

  Just happened.

  Back at the b, Ezra was sprawled out in his chair, legs spread, head tilted back, ice pack firmly pressed against his crotch. Haru had fetched it for him, but the kid was struggling. Not because he was worried. Oh no.

  Because he was desperately trying not to burst into ughter.

  Ezra cracked an eye open. Haru’s cheeks were puffed out, his entire body shaking. His hands were clenched at his sides, his breath coming out in sharp little gasps, as if he were holding back a dam of hysteria. Ezra exhaled. "Just do it."

  Haru blinked. "H-Huh?"

  Ezra waved a zy hand. "Just ugh, already. I can see you about to die from internal hemorrhaging."

  Haru squeaked. Then—He wheeze-ughed so hard he fell over. "PFFF—" He colpsed onto the floor, kicking his legs, tears in his eyes. Ezra rolled his eyes, shifting the ice pack slightly.

  "Yeah, yeah, get it all out, you little gremlin."

  Haru gasped for air. "Y-YOU REALLY SAID—" He wheezed. "‘SENPAI NOTICED ME’—"

  Ezra smirked. "Well," he muttered, adjusting the pack, "she did."

  Haru spped the ground, howling. Ezra leaned back, groaning.

  "Goddamn, Haru," he muttered. "At least have some respect for the dead."

  "You're not dead!" Haru choked between gasps.

  "My future kids are."

  Haru died all over again. Ezra just sat there, ice pack pressed firmly against his pride, waiting for him to recover. Eventually, Haru wiped his eyes, grinning ear to ear. "You really are insane," he giggled.

  Ezra smirked. "Buddy, I just convinced a bunch of Silent Legion guards not to kill you by talking about dummy-thicc ass cheeks." He gestured to himself. "I think we’ve already established that."

  Haru just wheezed again. Ezra exhaled. "Now be a good minion and go fetch me some snacks," he muttered. "I just survived war crimes."

  Haru snorted and got up, heading toward the snack cabinet.

  Ezra just id back, ice still in pce, letting himself breathe.

  He won this round. For now.