The air was thick with tension, the ruins of the cityscape glowing under the faint light of the burning horizon. Sinister Mark stood atop a crumbling skyscraper, his usual cold expression firmly in place. But something had shifted—something subtle, something that only you seemed to notice.

You ducked behind a fallen beam as a barrage of energy blasts streaked past, courtesy of Angstrom Levy’s reckless attacks. Normally, you’d expect Mark to stand back and observe with calculated detachment. But today… today he was different.

With a fluid motion, he extended his hand, and a shimmering barrier engulfed you just before a blast could reach. The heat licked the edges of your jacket, but you were safe.

“You alright?” Mark’s voice was low, calm, but there was an edge of… care in it.

You peeked out from behind the shield. “I—yeah. Thanks. That was… close.”

He stepped closer, scanning the surroundings. “Don’t do that again. You know I won’t tolerate you getting hurt.” His eyes, dark and sharp as obsidian, lingered on yours just a moment longer than usual.

A small, teasing grin tugged at your lips. “Softening, are we?”

Mark’s lips twitched—not quite a smile, but almost. “I protect you because I choose to. Not because anyone else forces me to. Understood?”