Johnson's whistle cut straight through the air.
Sharp. Loud. Impossible to ignore.
It snapped me out of it instantly.
Out of him.
I stepped back, breath uneven, pulse still a little too fast for something that was supposed to be training.
For a second, everything rushed back—the field, the others, the eyes on us.
Right.
We weren't alone.
"Damn," Johnson called out, dragging a hand down his face like he'd just witnessed something entertaining. "Should we give you two a minute or…?"
A few of the others laughed.
I rolled my eyes, stepping away fully now, creating space—real space—between me and Xavier.
Alex didn't miss a beat.
"Oh, we definitely interrupted something," he added, grinning as he leaned against Oliver. "You could feel that from across the field."
I scoffed, brushing a loose strand of hair back. "You two done?"
"Not even close," Alex shot back. "I mean—seriously—what was that? Training or—"
"Enough."
Xavier's voice cut through the noise.
Calm.
Controlled.
Back to that commanding tone like nothing had happened.
Like there hadn't been a shift at all.
The group quieted almost instantly.
He didn't even look at me.
His attention moved across the fighters, sharp and focused.
"Reset," he ordered. "You're not here to watch. You're here to improve."
And just like that—
The moment was gone.
Or at least, buried.
I folded my arms slightly, forcing my breathing back to normal as I stepped aside. The others returned to their pairs, the sound of movement and impact filling the field again.
But something had changed.
Not just for me.
I could feel it in the way people glanced at us.
Quick looks.
Subtle.
Curious.
Annoying.
I shook it off, refocusing.
Training continued.
Harder this time.
More structured.
Xavier moved between pairs, correcting stances, adjusting techniques, calling out mistakes with precision. No wasted words. No unnecessary praise.
Efficient.
Cold.
Exactly how I'd first read him.
And yet—
Every now and then—
I'd catch it.
That brief flick of his gaze toward me.
Quick.
Controlled.
Gone just as fast.
Like he was making sure I was still there.
Or maybe I was imagining it.
I didn't dwell on it.
Didn't have time to.
The session pushed on until muscles burned and breaths came heavier. By the time Xavier finally called it, the sun had climbed higher, heat settling over the field.
"That's enough," he said.
No one argued.
A few groans. Some relieved laughs. People breaking formation, stretching, grabbing water.
I wiped sweat from my forehead, exhaling slowly as the tension in my shoulders eased.
"Not bad," Marcus said, stepping beside me.
"High praise," I replied.
He smirked faintly. "He pushes hard."
"Yeah," I said, glancing briefly across the field.
Xavier stood with Dave now, speaking quietly. Back in that composed, distant posture like none of this had touched him.
Like he hadn't just—
I looked away.
"Hey," Sophie jogged up beside me, slightly out of breath but smiling. "You alive?"
"Barely," I said.
"Good," she laughed. "Means it worked."
We started walking back toward the bunker together, falling into an easy pace as the rest of the fighters followed behind.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then—
"So…" she began.
I sighed immediately. "Don't."
"Oh, I'm going to," she said, nudging my shoulder lightly. "What was that?"
I frowned. "What was what?"
She gave me a look.
"The thing," she said. "Between you and Xavier."
I huffed a quiet breath. "There is no thing."
"Gemini."
"There isn't," I insisted, keeping my voice steady. "He's a good fighter. That's it."
Sophie raised an eyebrow.
"And?" she prompted.
"And he likes that I don't just stand there and take it," I added. "I challenge him. That's all this is."
She didn't respond right away.
Which meant she didn't believe me.
At all.
"I could feel it," she said finally.
I glanced at her. "Feel what?"
"That tension," she replied simply. "It's not just training."
I looked ahead, focusing on the bunker entrance as it came into view.
"You're overthinking it."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
A pause.
Then she smiled slightly. "Alright."
But the tone in her voice said she wasn't convinced.
Not even a little.
—
The bunker felt cooler after the heat outside.
Quieter too, now that most people were settling back into routine.
"I'm heading to the showers," I said, adjusting my vest straps.
"Same," Sophie replied. "I'll catch you there."
I nodded, already moving.
The common bathroom wasn't far—just down one of the main corridors. The sound of running water echoed faintly as I pushed the door open.
And immediately—
"…AND IIIIII WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU—"
I burst out laughing.
"Alex," I called, shaking my head as I stepped inside. "Please tell me that's not you."
"Depends," his voice echoed from one of the stalls. "Am I hitting the high notes?"
"Not even close."
"Rude."
I laughed again, dropping my gear on one of the benches and running a hand through my hair.
"You're welcome for the morning entertainment," he added.
"Pretty sure no one asked for it."
"Everyone needed it."
I rolled my eyes, still smiling slightly as I moved toward the sinks.
The door opened again behind me.
Annelise.
Of course.
She walked in, already tying her hair up, eyes scanning the room before landing on me.
"Well?" she asked immediately.
I blinked. "Well what?"
"How was training?"
I leaned against the counter slightly. "Intense."
"That's it?" she pressed.
"That's it."
From the stall, Alex scoffed loudly.
"Oh, come on," he said. "That is not it."
I froze for half a second.
Slowly turned my head toward the stall.
"Don't," I warned.
Too late.
"There was so much tension out there," he continued, completely ignoring me. "I thought we were about to witness something very different from training."
"Alex," I said flatly.
Annelise's eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh?" she said, turning toward him. "Do tell."
"Don't encourage him."
"I'm absolutely encouraging him."
I dragged a hand over my face.
"Thank you," Alex said cheerfully from behind the stall door. "So basically—"
"Stop talking."
"—Gemini and Xavier—"
"Alex."
"—were this close—"
I pushed off the counter, walking toward the stall like I might actually drag him out myself.
"Finish that sentence," I said, voice low, "and I will make sure your next training session is unforgettable."
A pause.
Then—
"…I respect your boundaries," he said quickly.
Annelise laughed.
I exhaled sharply, turning away again.
"You're both insufferable," I muttered.
"Mm," Annelise hummed, stepping closer to me. "But we're not wrong, are we?"
I met her gaze.
Steady.
Unyielding.
"There's nothing going on."
She held my eyes for a moment longer.
Then smiled.
"Sure."
I narrowed mine slightly. "Drop it."
"For now," she said lightly.
I shook my head, grabbing my things and heading toward the showers.
But as I stepped under the water, letting it wash away the sweat and tension—
My mind betrayed me.
Again.
Xavier.
His voice.
His eyes.
I already do.
I closed my eyes briefly, exhaling under the stream.
Yeah.
Nothing going on.
Right.
I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince anymore.