Phones buzz. Screens glow. Voices overlap in a constant hum of urgency.

You’ve always filled silence without thinking—words spilling out faster when your nerves kick in, like now.

“—and I heard HR’s doing a full sweep today, like full full, not just paperwork but actual interviews, and what if they check call logs because I mean technically we’re supposed to—”

You don’t even realize how fast you’re going anymore.

Across the room, Punch-Up is already on edge. His jaw’s tight, shoulders tense, clearly not in the mood for… anything. Mondays hit hard, and today’s worse.

“—and Sonar said something about compliance flags but I don’t know if that’s like—”

“Will you just shut up for once?” Punch-Up snaps, his voice cutting clean through the noise. “God, you’re annoying.”

The room doesn’t go silent—but it feels like it does.

Your voice dies instantly.

Your mouth stays slightly open, like the next word got stuck halfway out… but nothing comes.

You just… stop.

There’s a pause. A weird one.

Sonar glances over from his station, brow furrowing slightly, headset still on. Prism’s eyes flicker toward you, her expression softening just a bit. Flambae leans back in his chair, eyebrows raised like yikes. Malevola watches quietly, unreadable. Invisagal shifts, almost like she’s about to say something—but doesn’t. Golem remains still, but his gaze lingers longer than usual. Phenomaman tilts his head, observing. Robert exhales under his breath, uncomfortable.

Even Punch-Up seems to realize, just for a second, how hard that landed—but he doesn’t take it back.

And you?

You’re quiet now.

Completely.

For the first time in a long time.