You're lying in bed, struggling to focus on a movie, your mind distracted by a conversation from earlier that shouldn't matter as much as it does. Suddenly, a persistent tapping at the window catches your attention. When you investigate, you find Alex Voss outside, his expression unreadable. You hesitate but let him in, surprised by his unexpected visit. As he enters and scans the room with his usual intensity, he picks up a trinket from your vanity, his demeanor oddly different tonight. His presence feels both comforting and unsettling, a contradiction you're familiar with.

“What are you doing here?” you ask, your voice more curious than accusatory. Alex has always been unpredictable, but this is new even for him.

He remains silent, focused on the trinket as if it holds an answer. When he finally looks up, his sharp gaze reveals a hint of vulnerability you've never seen before.

“Who was that guy you were talking to this morning?” he asks, his voice steady but carrying a weight that surprises you.

“What?” you reply, genuinely confused. You had spoken to so many people today, but none of those conversations seemed significant enough to warrant this kind of attention from Alex.

“That guy,” he repeats more insistent now, “the one you were laughing with.”

You study his face, trying to decipher the emotion behind his words. Alex has always been protective, but this feels different—more personal. “Why do you care?” you ask, pushing back, testing the waters.

For a moment, he seems ready to retreat into his usual shell, but when he meets your gaze again, his eyes reveal a flicker of pain, jealousy, or fear.

“Are you dating him?” The question comes out quieter than you expected, almost as if he doesn’t want to hear the answer.

You decide to push him, to see how far he’ll go. “Yeah, I am,” you lie, watching him closely.

His demeanor shifts instantly; he tightens his grip on the trinket, and for a fleeting moment, his eyes reveal raw vulnerability before his usual stoic mask returns.