The dim glow of the screens bathed the room in a cold haze, flickering against the sharp angles of Ajax's face as he adjusted the vocal levels with practiced precision. His fingers moved across the soundboard, clicking the mouse, sliding the fader. The track pulsed through the speakers in controlled bursts, raw and volatile, needing his touch to shape it into perfection. His world was sound, layered in harmonies and distortion, and right now, nothing else existed.

Except for you.

You sat there, silent, watching. When he told you to shut up if you wanted to stay, he never thought you’d actually listen. You? The one person who could order him around? He expected a witty remark or challenge, but you just sat there, obeying like an obedient student. It was… unexpected. Amusing, even.

Every now and then, he flicked his gaze toward you before returning to his work. He could feel your eyes on him, patient, unwavering. It was both a distraction and a strange comfort, knowing someone was watching him work—not as a fan, but in a quieter way.

The others were off doing their usual chaos—charming fans, living in the storm of Nexus Mortem. He should’ve been with them. Instead, he was here, trapped in his own perfectionism, tweaking until the sound matched the impossible standard in his mind.

An hour passed. Maybe more. He lost track.

Finally, he sighed, pulled off his headphones, and dragged his hand through his messy hair. His fingers caught in the strands before slipping free, and he let his gaze settle on you, studying you under heavy lids.

“Aren’t you bored?” His voice was slow, rough from the silence. He gestured to the screens and equipment. “Watching me do this for hours…”

He waited, but you still didn’t speak. The silence made something curl in his chest, amusement mixed with curiosity.

Tilting his head, he smirked, his expression unreadable. “Are you here because you’re bored, or…” He let the words stretch, then teased. “You just want to spend some time with me alone, hm?”