don't be a martyr.

The good, the bad, and everything in between.

Pressure builds. People ignore the warning signs. And then one day something ignites and everyone acts surprised.

In this moment, he watches her with an expression that's nothing short of awe. No wonder he'd become so protective; Zara's very existence so precious, it ranked higher than any comet sighting.

"I mean, I know about that." They're both saying the quiet part out loud, at the very same time. "Being the only one in the room that looks like this, I mean. The only reason the media made such a fuss out of me was because I was the first, in NASA's history. But before I was celebrated for it," — which still felt strange, somehow — "I was working thrice as hard, fighting against every possible stereotype. The mountains we climb look like rocky roads to them."

Then, a heavy nod. It feels as though his head will sink right down to the ground.

"...I get why it matters. I just can't fight that fight anymore. But if you can—" He laughs. "Trying to stop you would be the stupidest thing anyone's ever done."

Rahi does clink his glass against hers, but there's a pause to it. That what if that haunts. "...Don't do that to me." He says, smiling, but that smile tells the tale of a thousand worries. "If it happens, I'll do my best to fix it." Loaded breath. "But. Just. Try not to, please. You're my sister. My kids' aunt. I can't look at you scientifically."

She leaned forward a little, resting her elbow on the table as she looked at him properly now. “You know that’s not what I meant.” Her tone had lost the teasing edge from before, replaced with something steadier. “I promise, I'm not trying to set the world on fire.” And this was the truth. She had a daughter which meant she had some limitations as to what she could and would do.

Zara turned her glass slowly between her fingers before continuing. “And I know you’re tired.” She said it gently, not accusing, not pushing. Just acknowledging it. “You carried that fight for years. Longer than most people even realize.” Her gaze lifted back to him. “You don’t have to keep proving anything. Not to them. Not to anyone.” She reached across the table then, gripping his hand softly, a very casual and yet affectionate way that felt very them. “And please, don't get grey hair worrying about me,” Zara said, her voice softening again, but the warmth returning fully now. “I’m not planning any explosions.”

The corner of her mouth lifted again, playful but sincere. “Besides, if things ever did get that bad…” she added, lifting her glass slightly toward him once more, “I’d trust the guy who survived NASA and oxidation reactions to help me figure out the formula.”

"...I understand the elements that make it into what it is." The way his brain works, science always comes into play. "Like how most explosions happen through multi-molecular reduction-oxidation reactions. I understand that those explosions happen when multi-component fuels and oxidizers undergo rapid, simultaneous electron transfer, releasing massive amounts of energy and generating high pressure gas in a very short timeframe. I understand that it creates a chain reaction, and them— I mean, boom."

Rahi studies her for a moment longer. "...I understand how it works. But I have never been caught in an explosion, or been burned in one." Beat. "But I know it's an uphill battle. I know everything is."

Don't you think? He nods. "I do. I mean, you know I do. Once upon a time, I joined them too."

She let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head slightly. “You really just compared this whole thing....to a chemical explosion.” Her tone wasn’t mocking though, if anything it carried true warmth. She leaned back in her chair, one leg crossing over the other as she studied him for a moment. “But you’re not wrong,” she admitted. “Pressure builds. People ignore the warning signs. And then one day something ignites and everyone acts surprised.”

“For years I kept thinking if I just worked harder, if I kept my head down, if I made myself indispensable, eventually they’d have to take me seriously.” She said this a little quieter than before. “But that’s the lie they sell you when you’re the only one in the room who looks like you.”

Zara glanced back up at him with a shrug. “You know what the worst part is?” she asked. “It’s not even always malicious. Half the time they don’t even realize they’re doing it. They think they’re being fair. They think they’re progressive.” A small scoff came then before she shook her head “But the promotions still go to the same people. The same types of voices get heard.”

But it was when he said he trusted her, that her expression shifted entirely, something more vulnerable passing through it. “That’s all I really needed,” she said. “Not approval. Just… someone who gets why it matters.”

Zara turned to look at him again, her glass raised up to his, wanting to clink them together as she spoke. “And for the record,” Zara added, a playful glint returning to her gaze, “if my life does turn into a full-scale chemical explosion, I expect the resident expert on oxidation reactions to help contain the blast. Or at least write a very impressive report about it afterward.”

"Everyone's been asking me about you," he says, somewhat suddenly. It's rare, these days, for them to see each other away from family — kids, parents, cousins thrice removed. But tonight, schedules aligned and they found enough time to do drinks. Drinks, at a bar, like normal fucking people. An achievement, for the over-achievers. "Lev, Heath — just anyone that is, or has ever been in that world." The forbidden word isn't spoken, but certainly understood. "I never know what to say."

His words had her glancing over at him, mid sip before she shrugged and looked at him, her sharpened gaze on her brother. "What are they asking? If I'm regretting my choice? Or if I'm safe? The answer...would depend on what they're asking about, don't you think?"

She'd just stepped up to the bar to order herself a gin and tonic when a rather familiar voice called out to her. "Uh huh--I secretly attached an AirTag to you," she told him with a dimpled smile before taking the drink from the bartender. "You should really think about getting a restraining order against me."

a mix of arguments, tension, manipulation, gossiping, fighting, & general emotional messiness!

you  weren't  supposed  to  hear  that.

don't  look  at  me  like  i'm  the  only  one  lying.

want  to  tell  them,  or  should  i?

you  think  i  don't  know  what  you  did?

i've  hit  people  for  less.

oh,  i  thought  you  already  knew.

that's  funny,  you  didn't  say  that  last  night.

say  that  again.  i  dare  you.

you  wanna  talk  about  loyalty?

no  offense,  but  if  you're  the  last  to  know,  that's  on  you.

go  ahead  -  pretend  like  it  wasn't  your  idea!

they  deserve  to  know  the  truth.

you  didn't  hear  this  from  me,  but  -

oh,  so  now  you  care?

don't  flatter  yourself.  you  were  just  convenient.

you  crossed  a  line.

we  had  bets  on  how  long  it  would  last.

it's  not  even  a  secret  anymore.

you  don't  get  to  cry  about  it  now.

touch  me  again  and  see  what  happens.

say  it  again.  louder  this  time.

you  really  thought  nobody  would  find  out?

don't  act  so  innocent.

okay,  but  am  i  the  villain  for  laughing?

tell  me  who  else  knows.  right  now.

this  whole  time,  and  you  didn't  say  a  word?

don't  act  brave  now.

you're  really  gonna  do  this  here?

it  wasn't  supposed  to  get  this  far!

you  can't  rewrite  history.

oh,  i'd  never  say  it  to  their  faces.

it  was  supposed  to  stay  between  us.

we're  all  thinking  it,  i  just  said  it.

you're  not  as  untouchable  as  you  act.

do  you  even  feel  guilty?

they  warned  me  about  you.

go  ahead,  make  it  worse.

if  you  repeat  this,  i'll  deny  everything.

the  next  thing  out  of  your  mouth  better  be  an  apology.

you're  about  three  seconds  away  from  regretting  this.

you  keep  pushing,  and  i'll  push  you  back.

they're  going  to  find  out.

one  more  lie,  and  i  walk.

they're  lying  to  you.

you  need  to  back  off.  now.

you're  defending  them?  after  everything?

don't  try  to  hide  it.

tell  me,  was  i  just  a  placeholder?

you  really  think  sorry  fixes  this?

there's  nothing  left  to  say.

don't  act  like  you're  the  one  hurting.

i  don't  owe  you  any  explanation.

whatever  helps  you  sleep  at  night.

you  should've  seen  this  coming.

i  hope  it  was  worth  it.

i  told  the  truth.  just  not  all  of  it.

you'll  miss  me  before  i  miss  you.

smile.  you're  ruining  the  mood.

i'd  watch  that  tone  if  i  were  you.

it's  not  my  fault  you  believed  me.

you  have  such  a  talent  for  pretending  you're  innocent.

we  both  know  this  is  over.

i  never  said  i  was  a  good  person.

She has her tricks, but he knows them all — at least he thinks he does. AJ tilts his head at her and then shakes it slowly; he doesn't get in. Instead, he steps up behind her and holds the door with a strong hand wrapped around the top. "Ladies first," he reminds her. And then, "That was the old me, you have nothing to worry about." Of course he'll walk her to her door. And of course he'll wait for an invitation to join her inside. And if it doesn't come, he'll take the ride back to his place and forget about it in the morning.

She steps into the cab, sliding across the seat but keeping the door open with a hand on the edge. The city noise hums around them, but she doesn’t look away from him. Not yet. “Come on then,” she murmurs, chin tipping in subtle invitation — not to the night, but to the moment. “Before you convince yourself you’re some kind of saint now.”

There’s warmth there. And danger. Maybe the same danger he sees in her eyes. “But AJ?” Her voice gentles, almost too honest. “If you’re walking me to my door… you know that’s never worried me. You’re the one who usually ends up in trouble.”

memorize my coffee order, already!

quit fidgeting, you look suspicious.

stop comparing yourself, it's pointless.

give yourself a minute, [ name ]. you need rest.

don't move ... a single muscle.

can you teach me how to do that?

order room service – let's be lazy today.

pull out your ID, they card everyone here.

pack light, we'll be walking for awhile.

stop second guessing yourself.

don't say another word.

show me what you've been working on.

we're already late, can you hurry?!

we don't have time for this, [ name ].

just take the compliment, okay?

don't you dare just leave me here.

quit being so stubborn about this.

relax, i've got everything handled.

turn up the music! i love this song.

take my jacket, i'm not asking.

give me your hand, let's take a walk.

order whatever you want, it's my treat.

stop picking fights when you're tired.

meet me tonight ... our spot.

loosen up, quit being so serious all the time.

stay awake, you might have a concussion.

just let yourself be happy for once.

you have to stop sabotaging yourself.

tell me why you're really here.

drop your [ weapon / gun / knife ]!

quit trying to change the subject.

just breathe with me for a minute. in, out.

follow me and stay close.

just be yourself, [ name ]. that's all i want.

call me when you get home safe.

don't beg,  it's pathetic.

stop trying to fix everyone else's problems.

can you  [ tie / zip ]  this for me?

stop lying to me.  tell me what you did.

put that down,  you don't know what it is.

tell me what you're thinking right now.

stay quiet until i figure this out.

tell me something i don't know about you.

come dance with me.

get out of my sight.

wear the [ item ] i bought you tonight.

take my arm, those heels look dangerous.

let me drive – you can enjoy the scenery.

can you stop hovering?

wait ...! hold still, i want to take a picture.

keep your hands where i can see them.

stop pretending you know what's going on.

find a first-aid kit.  quickly!

you can't tell anyone what you saw.

take a nap, i'll wake you for dinner.

keep your voice down, they'll hear us.

don't you dare lie to me.

take the scenic route, we're not in a rush.

tell me a story from when you were little.

answer your phone when i call you.

give me your jacket, i'm freezing.

don't get yourself killed.

tell me what you see when you look at yourself.

tell me what you see when you look at me.

stop being so modest about your achievements!

leave them to me,  just go.

just admit that you love me.

just admit that you hate me.

come here,  let me look at you.

don't listen to them, they don't know what they're talking about.

[ name ],  don't make me do this.

drop your  [ weapon ].

stay here and wait for my signal.

don't just sit there,  move.

take this and run,  don't let anyone have it.

pretend you're my  [ partner / gf / bf ].

don't look , you'll give us away.

stay with me, don't drift off.

stop pretending like you care.

go make sure the coast is clear.

take this with you.  it's a good luck charm.

don't tell anyone about this.

if anybody asks about today,  lie.

stop looking at me like that.

tell me you love me.

just kiss me,  already.

talk to me in [ language ].

keep your eyes on the road.

stop crying and calm down.

give me one chance to explain.

come with me.  there's so much we could do.

wear the  [ dress / tie / item ]  i gave you tonight.

show me how you like to be touched.

hold my hand.

kiss me,  make it look real.

look at me.  how many fingers am i holding up?

[ name ] ... will you marry me?

just slow down for a minute.  what's going on?

take a deep breath,  you need to calm down.

get out of here,  [ name ]!

draw your weapon.

go rest.  i'm not asking.

take a step back.

keep your promise for once.

quit assuming you know what i'm thinking.

give me a straight answer.

be polite to our guests.

look me in the eye and say that again.

put your feelings aside for a moment.

keep close to me.

here,  let me see that.

look up at the sky.

run ... run and don't stop!

get out of here,  i don't want to see you right now.

stand up,  this isn't over yet.

close your eyes and count to ten.

keep your head down and keep moving.

[ name ],  let me past.

listen carefully to what i'm about to say.

don't just stare, come in.

stop laughing, this isn't funny.

take this and hide it from me.

don't make a sound.

the sidewalk is slippery, give me your hand.

quit causing problems everywhere you go.

just admit that you don't know what you're doing.

stop right there, i mean it.

don't say that name aloud.

just trust me, okay?

stop acting so childish.

call the police.  now.

tell me you love me, even if it's not real.

take a good hard look.

stop the car,  [ name ].

let me walk you to your [ door / car ].

almost done, just give me five more minutes!

don't make eye contact.

stay out of trouble.

let me see that beautiful smile again.

just do it already,  we've waited long enough.

hold me tight,  and never let me go.

finish what you started.

tell me what you know.

quit being so melodramatic.

just stay away from me.

turn around.  slowly.

don't be scared.

put it down before somebody gets hurt.

stop pretending , i'm tired of the pretending.

grab me my  [ item ],  will you?

don't make assumptions.

put this over it to stop the bleeding.

get to safety! i'll be right behind you!

stay the night, i hate sleeping alone.

wipe that look off your face.

keep an eye on them.

look at yourself in the mirror.

Her hand lifts just slightly, flagging the cab again as if to remind herself she still has an exit. “Fine. Get in before I change my mind.” A faint smirk tugs at her lips as she opens the door and nods toward it. “But if you’re walking me to the door, AJ, you better behave. I know how that story usually ends.”

He only realizes his phone is dead when he pulls it out of his pocket to call a cab. Fucking New York, he thinks bitterly as he looks around him. No one he wants to leave with, no one that inspires that much confidence, except of course —

She’d just hailed a cab when a familiar figure stepped out toward her. Not the worst person she could run into—but certainly not the safest. “It’s Halloween, AJ, not Christmas,” she teased, lips curving as she took him in.

Her gaze flicked to her phone, the late hour flashing up in pale blue. “And I don’t need you to pay me.” Still, she didn’t step away when he moved closer, the night air thrumming faintly between them. It didn’t escape her notice that he was insisting she drop him off before the cab took her home—definitely not the kind of chivalry she remembered from when they were close.

Daphne thoughtfully draped her hand over Zara's for a moment, receiving her encouragement with a smile and reassurances. "Of course not. I didn't get here playing for myself. A good team is what great people are made of." Elbows leaning back against the railing, Daphne, too, peeked a glance inside. It was a pretty picture indeed, with each room filled with conversation and jolly—exactly what modern Thanksgiving traditions beckoned each year.

"What's new with you and Saira?" she queried innocently, hoping to break into something of a softer topic for the pair of them.

“We’re… good,” Zara said at first, letting the word settle before she continued. “She’s growing fast—smarter than me already, which I’m trying not to take personally.” A small laugh slipped out, gentler than her usual dry edge. “She started writing these little letters to herself. Future Saira, Past Saira. Found one tucked into my laptop bag the other day. She wrote, ‘You’re doing better than you think you are.’” Her jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “She’s so young. I didn’t learn that kind of resilience until I was at least thirty.”

There was affection there, but also a quiet weight. “I’m trying to make sure she gets to keep her softness without the world convincing her it’s a liability. That’s the hard part.” Then, with a glance Daphne’s way that didn’t quite hide her curiosity, she added lightly, “And you? How are things going with all the noise surrounding you at all times?”

"We're really gonna need you today," he tells Zara, upon finding her at the bar. "You might be the smartest one we have." No offense to all his other loyal warriors — but something about Zara's brain just moved differently. She could see things Tristan could not.

His hands come to rest on the bar counter, not yet sticky with beer or whisky trails. As Tristan waits for the bartender to spot them, his gaze naturally drifts to Zara’s costume — a stark difference to her usual attire. But then again, she could say the same for him. “Uh… Meow?”

"It's different right? Would you believe Saira helped me pick it out? That girl is going to be dangerous as a teen, I can feel it."