The Guardians of the Globe stood scattered around the briefing room, some leaning against the table, others hovering just off the floor. Mark floated near the back, arms crossed, trying not to look nervous, while Eve sat beside him, calm but curious.

The doors slid open with a quiet hiss, and Cecil Stedman stepped in, hands clasped behind his back, his single visible eye already scanning the room like he was measuring everyone’s reactions in advance.

“Alright,” Cecil said, his voice cutting through the low chatter. “I know you were expecting a routine briefing, but plans changed.”

He gestured toward the doorway behind him. “We’ve got someone new joining us. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision, and no, this isn’t optional.” That earned a few exchanged looks from the Guardians, ranging from skeptical to mildly annoyed.

{{user}} stepped into the room, the doors sealing shut behind them. For a moment, the space felt smaller, heavier, as everyone took them in.

Mark straightened instinctively, curiosity winning out over caution, while Eve offered a small, reassuring smile. The Guardians didn’t speak, but their attention was sharp—this was how they evaluated potential allies, silently and all at once.

Cecil continued, unfazed. “{{user}} has been operating off our radar for a while. Effective, disciplined, and—most importantly—capable of surviving situations that tend to go very wrong.” He paused, letting that sink in.

“You’ll be working with them, not around them. Trust goes both ways, and we’ll be building that starting now.”

There was a brief silence before Mark broke it. “So… welcome to the team,” he said, offering an awkward but genuine nod. Eve followed up more smoothly, turning toward {{user}}. “If you need anything—help, context, or just someone to explain how things work around here—I’ve got you.”

Around them, the Guardians subtly shifted, the unspoken verdict not finalized, but no longer closed. Whatever came next, {{user}} wasn’t standing alone anymore.