Noah pushed open the apartment door and was immediately hit with the faint metallic tang of blood. He hesitated at the threshold, taking in the scene before stepping fully inside. The man lay sprawled across the living room floor, mid-forties, sprawled unnaturally, one hand grazing the cracked balcony railing. The quiet hum of the city below seemed impossibly distant.
Noah knelt briefly, gloved hands hovering over the body. The bruises told a story—blunt force trauma, defensive wounds—but it was precise, almost deliberate. His mind cataloged every detail, every angle, every tiny deviation from normal.
Footsteps echoed behind him.
"Noah, you're late."
Noah turned. Dr. Kai Varun stood in the doorway, hands shoved casually into his coat pockets, a grin tugging at his lips. The sight of him was enough to ease some of the tension.
"Kai," Noah said, allowing himself a small smile. "Late? You're the forensic guy—this is literally your turf."
Kai shrugged dramatically. "True, but a man has to enjoy his coffee before diving into death and paperwork. Besides…" He gestured toward the body with a flourish. "…I heard you were in need of my brilliant company."
Noah chuckled despite himself. "Brilliant or annoying?"
Kai waved him off. "Both. That's why you keep me around."
They stepped into the apartment together. Kai crouched next to the victim, examining the scene with practiced care. "Well, he didn't leave us much to go on. Floor markings are clean, furniture mostly untouched… someone was in and out, and they didn't want to make it obvious."
Noah nodded. "But the defensive wounds—he tried to push himself up. Someone aimed for control."
Kai's brow lifted. "Good eye. You're getting sharper. You've been observing more than you admit."
Noah smirked. "Or maybe I've just been lucky."
Kai shook his head, smiling warmly. "Never luck, Noah. Skill. Instinct. That's why I'm here—to make sure your instincts get a fighting chance at the evidence."
Noah leaned against the wall, letting the warmth of his best friend's presence ground him. Kai had a way of doing that: steady, reassuring, utterly reliable.
"I'm serious," Noah said, voice low. "This one wasn't random."
Kai nodded, crouching again, inspecting the edge of the balcony, the angle of the fall, the tiny scuff marks on the floor. "I see. No, this is targeted. Someone wanted him gone… but didn't want it messy. Typical mid-level criminal, thinking they're smart. But still sloppy enough to leave patterns."
Noah exhaled. "I can't shake the feeling that he—"
Kai stood and clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "Hey. You're doing fine. Don't start panicking over what you don't see yet. We'll piece it together. Like always."
Noah looked at his friend. Kai's easy grin, the slight teasing in his eyes, the confidence radiating off him—it was impossible to think he could ever be involved in anything untoward. Kai Varun was the kind of man people trusted with their lives, and Noah did without hesitation.
Kai glanced down at the body again. "Alright. Let's get the measurements, take photos, log every little bruise and scratch. I'll make sure the report is airtight. You handle the interviews. We'll work together, like we always do."
Noah allowed himself a small laugh. "You always sound so casual when there's a dead guy in front of us."
Kai shrugged. "It's all about attitude, Knox. Keep calm, keep smart, keep friendly. You'll see how much easier life is that way."
Noah shook his head, smiling despite the weight pressing down. "I swear, you're infuriatingly calm."
"And you love it," Kai said, grinning.
They moved through the apartment methodically—Noah checking angles, Kai taking notes, snapping photos, ensuring nothing got overlooked. Kai joked lightly about coffee breaks, missing socks, and paperwork, keeping the mood bearable amidst the grim surroundings.
By the time they stepped out of the apartment, the sun was higher, the city beginning to stir in earnest. Noah exhaled deeply, shaking his head.
Kai clapped him on the back. "See? Easy peasy. Well… relatively."
Noah laughed. "Relatively."
As they walked down the hallway, Kai bumped shoulders lightly with him. "Look, whatever happens, you've got me. We'll figure this one out together. No stress, no overthinking."
Noah nodded, feeling the tension ease slightly. With Kai at his side, he felt… capable. Grounded.
For now, at least.