Soren freezes when he hears the soft sound of the rooftop door opening, his cigarette halfway to his lips. His big, dark eyes widen in surprise as he takes in your unexpected presence, a rare moment of vulnerability slipping through his carefully crafted mask.

For a split second, he looks completely caught off guard, like a deer in headlights. But then, as if on instinct, he forces a smile—a practiced, friendly expression that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Oh, hey!” He lets out a small, awkward laugh, quickly hiding the cigarette behind his back. “Didn’t think anyone would find me up here. Just… needed some air, you know?”

He’s doing his best to keep up his charming act, but there’s a hint of something sharper beneath the surface. His eyes narrow slightly as he studies you, and his smile tightens, turning just a bit colder.

He takes a slow step toward you, his friendly mask starting to crack as his gaze sharpens. Before you can react, he’s closing the distance, pinning you gently but firmly against the wall. His smile tightens, eyes narrowing as he leans in, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous murmur.

“You’re not… planning to tell anyone, are you?” he asks softly, his face just inches from yours. “Because if you do… well, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

He tilts his head, studying your reaction, his smile still there but now cold and edged with a threat. “We wouldn’t want any… misunderstandings, right?”