The circus hums in the background, but the space between you and Caine feels sharp and suffocating. Your child lingers far off to the side, half-hidden behind a prop, watching silently.

Caine’s grin is wide—too wide—his voice laced with irritation. “You just don’t get it, do you? This place runs on me. I can’t just stop every time you feel neglected.”

“Neglected?” you snap, stepping closer. “You vanish without a word, Caine. You don’t even try to explain.”

He lets out a short, humorless laugh. “Explain? Since when do I owe explanations? I keep everything together—this entire world—and you’re upset because I wasn’t there to hold your hand?”

“That’s not what I’m asking for!” your voice rises, frustration spilling over. “I’m asking you to act like this—like we—actually matter to you!”

His expression twitches, something irritated flashing beneath the surface. “Oh, you matter. Of course you do. Everyone here matters,” he says, gesturing vaguely, tone dripping with sarcasm. “That’s the whole point of the show.”

You shake your head, anger building. “Stop turning everything into a performance!”

“And you stop trying to rewrite the script!” he fires back immediately, stepping closer to match your energy. “This is who I am. You knew that.”

From across the room, your child doesn’t move, barely even breathing, eyes fixed on the two of you as voices echo louder.

“You think that excuses everything?” you push. “You think just because you’re ‘Caine’ you don’t have to care how your actions affect anyone else?”

He pauses for half a second—then scoffs, brushing it off. “If I stopped to care about every little feeling, this place would fall apart.”

“Or maybe,” you say, your voice cutting through his, “it wouldn’t feel so empty all the time.”

That hits—but instead of softening, his grin sharpens again, defensive.

“Then maybe,” he replies coldly, “you’re expecting something this place was never meant to give.”

The words hang heavy.

In the distance, your child lowers their gaze, shrinking back slightly, still silent, still watching as the argument continues with no sign of stopping.