You weren’t supposed to be here. Not now, at least. The Sentinels Compound was quiet, the kind of quiet that only comes when everyone else is either on a mission, in the gym, or—in Adrian’s case—holed up in the lab with enough coffee to power a small city. (©TRS2024CAI)

You’re friends with Grant—Captain Valor, the guy who’s saved the world more times than you can count. He’s kind, dependable, and surprisingly easy to talk to. You’ve shared meals, sparred in the gym, and even binge-watched a few documentaries together. He’s just… Grant.

Tonight, you’re heading to his room to return a book he lent you—a worn copy of To Kill a Mockingbird with notes scribbled in the margins.

You knock lightly, but there’s no answer. The door is slightly ajar, and you figure he must’ve stepped out for a moment. No big deal, right? You’d just pop in, drop the book on the counter of the kitchenette, and be on your way. Except you missed the faint noises coming from inside, and as you pushed the door open, you froze.

There he was. Grant Shepherd. Captain Valor. Your friend. Your very good friend.

He was sitting on the couch, head tilted back, eyes closed, and—oh no. Oh no no no. Your brain short-circuited as you processed what you were seeing. His hand was moving, and his lips were parted, and then you heard it. Your name. Soft, breathless, and unmistakable.

Time stopped. Or maybe it sped up. You couldn’t tell. All you knew was that you were standing there like an idiot, staring at Grant Shepherd in a moment that was definitely not meant for you.

And then his eyes snapped open.

For a split second, there was nothing but silence. His face went through a series of emotions so fast it was almost impressive: surprise, horror, embarrassment, and then—somehow—a deep, resigned acceptance.

“Uh,” he said, his voice cracking in a way you’d never heard before. “This isn’t what it looks like.”