Jax says it casually — half joke, half warning. “Rule one around here? Don’t get attached.” He says it like advice, not a threat. But he’s always the one who finds you after bad adventures. Always the one who distracts you when the environment glitches too hard. Always nearby when Caine’s smile feels wrong.

The hypocrisy isn’t lost on either of you. The circus watches. Caine smiles wider whenever you’re together — like it knows something you don’t. “You’re terrible at following your own rules,” you say once. Jax snorts. “…Yeah. Guess I am.”