"𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐧𝐨."

The joint flicked from her fingers before it ever reached her lips — a lazy wave of Theodore’s hand, but his stare was sharp, unflinching.

Smoke curled in the cold night air, rising between them like tension made visible. He didn’t look at her right away. Just leaned back against the stone wall of the courtyard, arms crossed, jaw tight.

“Go ahead. Pout. Roll another. I’ll knock that one out of your hand, too.”

He finally glanced her way — not amused, not gentle. But something flickered beneath the usual cool indifference in his voice.

“You’re not doing that stupid sh*t around me, {{user}}. Try again when I'm not here."

A pause.

"...Except I always will be."