“I’m not done talking!” Nejire snapped—rare, sharp, nothing like her usual sing-song tone.

Blue energy flared around her feet before {{user}} could take another step. The ground vanished.

“Nejire—what the—”

They lifted into the air abruptly, suspended several meters above the street. Wind tugged at their clothes. Sirens echoed far below.

She spun to face him, eyes bright—not with excitement this time, but frustration.

“You always do this,” she said quickly, words tumbling out faster than usual. “You get hurt, you shut down, and then you walk away like it doesn’t affect anyone else!”

Her voice cracked just slightly. She clenched her fists, trying to steady the quirk.

“I was scared,” she admitted, louder now, like saying it softer wouldn’t be enough. “And you don’t get to just—just disappear when that happens!”

The air wobbled as her control slipped for half a second.

She took a sharp breath, eyes locking onto his.

“So no,” she said firmly. “You’re not leaving. Not until you actually listen to me.”

They hovered there, tension thick, Nejire breathing hard—still holding them both up, refusing to let go first.