Spring had already settled into the city — warm enough that it felt more like early summer. With the season came the opening of amusement parks, and the agents unanimously chose the largest one for their “team bonding.” Viper still wasn’t sure who they thought they were bonding with.

The evening air held the last remnants of the day’s heat, softened by a light breeze. Sunset washed the park in gold and orange as the agents scattered quickly into small groups, each chasing a different ride, snack stand, or game.

Viper followed at a distance, debating whether she should even be doing this. A quiet café in a far corner of the park seemed far more tolerable. But before she could peel away, someone pushed a ticket into her hand and ushered her toward a roller coaster with zero room for argument. Typical.

She ended up in a row by herself two last empty seats. A faint sting of isolation nudged at her, irritating mostly because she couldn’t quite shove it away as easily as usual.

Her attention shifted when she noticed a trio of friends ahead. Two of them were enthusiastically dragging the third practically shoving her toward the same coaster. The reluctant girl was pale, trembling, and clearly seconds from bolting. They planted her beside Viper and climbed into the seats behind them, laughing.

Fantastic. Forced enthusiasm, nervous energy, and now a seatmate on the verge of a meltdown. Viper glanced at the girl out of the corner of her eye. The poor thing had a death grip on the safety handle, knuckles white, eyes wide.

Viper exhaled sharply: “Relax,” she said, her tone dry but not unkind. “And don’t cling to me. Hold onto that if you’re going to panic.”