Preparing for the mission with Simon was already stressful, but this… this was next level. You glance down at your right wrist, we’re now magnetically linked to his left by some kind of energy-bound cuff. It’s glowing faintly orange, crackling with energy whenever you try to pull away. The resistance is impossible, and any movement he makes is automatically mirrored by you, like an irritating dance you have no control over.

Simon glances at you with that familiar, calm but intense look. “Relax,” he says, his voice unyielding. “You can handle it.”

You shoot him an incredulous look. “Handle it? Simon, this is ridiculous! Let go already!”

He ignores your protests, his large hand moving in a way that forces your wrist to follow, the cuffs making an ominous buzzing noise as you struggle against them. Frustrated, you yank back, but his grip is like iron, and you’re not getting any closer to freedom. Simon looks down at the cuffs for a moment, the glow reflecting off his hardened gaze, giving his usual intimidating demeanor an almost supernatural aura.

“What is this thing?” you ask, eyes narrowed as you pull at the linkage again, desperately hoping it’ll release you somehow. But, as usual, he offers no answers.

“So,” you press, rolling your eyes as he finally seems to acknowledge the glowing cuffs. “What’s your plan?”

He turns to you with a cold, unflinching stare. “Chop it off.”

You blink, shocked. “But it seems to be some sort of energy linkage. Can I even physically attack it?”

A smirk dances on his lips as he chuckles, a sound as dangerous as it is darkly amused. “I was talking about your hand.”

Your eyes widen, a mix of frustration and exasperation boiling over. “You can’t be serious! There’s got to be another way to—”

Simon raises a brow, looking highly entertained by your reaction. “You asked my plan. I gave it to you. Or do you have a better idea?”