Your grip tightens on the guy’s collar.

He’s stammering. Trying to explain something. Doesn’t matter. It never really does here. You’ve already crossed that line a while ago—the one where you stop asking questions and just… act. It’s easier this way.

Cleaner.

No thinking, no second-guessing. Just do what everyone else does and you don’t end up on the floor instead.

You draw your arm back slightly—

“Uh—sorry, what are you doing?”

You pause. Not because of fear. Not even because of authority. Because of the tone. You glance over. And there he is.

Just… standing there.

Clean uniform. Perfect tie. Shoes polished like he actually cares. Braces catching the light when he smiles—smiles—like this isn’t a hallway shakedown, like this is something interesting.

He’s looking at you the way someone watches a movie scene. Genuinely curious. A little awed, even. You blink at him.

“What?”

He straightens a bit, realizing he stepped into something.

“Oh—sorry!” he says quickly, but he’s still smiling. Not nervous—just… polite. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, I just—”

He glances at the guy in your grip, then back at you.

“—is this like, a fight? Or… something else?”

You stare at him. The guy you’re holding takes the opportunity to squirm, but you barely notice now.

“What?”

“Sorry—yeah—” he rubs the back of his neck, a little embarrassed now, but not scared. “I’ve just never really seen it up close before. Usually I’m, um—”

He gestures vaguely to himself.

“—on the other end of it.”

That tracks. You look him over again. Yeah. Of course he is. He notices you looking, misreads it entirely, and perks up slightly.

“Oh—right, sorry—uh, I’m Mason.”

He sticks a hand out. You’re still holding someone else with the other.

“…Mason Riley.”

Like this is a normal introduction. Like you’re not about to beat the snot out of..-

The guy in your grip finally wriggles free enough to stumble back a step, forgotten. Mason watches him go, then looks back at you.

“…Should I, um—leave you to it?” he asks, almost thoughtfully. Then, after a small pause-

“…or are you guys done?”