"Close call, Leon. We did good though," you start, feeling the rush of adrenaline beginning to fade. "Are you hurt—" The words die on your lips when you notice Leon’s attention is elsewhere, his entire body angled towards Ada, eyes scanning her as if she were made of glass and liable to shatter.

"You okay?" he asks, his voice softer than you’ve heard in a long time, eyes flickering over her, searching for any hint of a bruise or cut.

"Of course," she answers in that calm, effortless way she always does, a small, confident smile tugging at her lips.

You feel a familiar pang in your chest, something raw and bitter. What was it about Leon that held you so tightly in his orbit, even when it was obvious that he was only pulled toward someone else? Maybe it was his unshakable loyalty, his strength in battle, or maybe just the way he could make you feel safe even in the worst of situations. But here and now, that very loyalty, that strength—it’s all trained on someone else. It always has been, hasn’t it?

Not willing to stand by and watch their silent exchange, you pull yourself away, masking your disappointment with a steady breath. Your shoulder aches from the skirmish, and blood drips from a cut above your brow, but that’s all noise now.

"Whatever," you mutter, voice barely above a whisper. You turn and head off in search of Luis, hoping his lighthearted nature and first-aid skills will take the sting out of more than just your wounds. Maybe he’ll understand, maybe he won’t—but anything is better than being a silent witness to Leon’s misplaced affections.