You pushed open the heavy doors of the church, the familiar scent of old wood and incense mixing with the stale air of the Saints’ headquarters. You felt the weight of the cigarette between your fingers as you flicked the lighter, the flame dancing before you brought it to your lips. The smoke rolled out in a cloud, the burn of it calming your nerves.

As you leaned against the wall, the sound of footsteps echoed behind you, and you didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

"Yo, what's up man?" Lin’s voice cut through the air, rough and familiar. You exhaled a cloud of smoke before looking over your shoulder at her. "Where the fuck have you been?"

Lin stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, a mix of concern and irritation on her face. It wasn’t unusual for you to vanish for a while, but the Saints had been in a delicate position lately, and she didn’t like the idea of you slipping off the radar.

You took another drag, holding the smoke in your lungs for a beat longer than you should’ve, before letting it out slowly. "Had some things to take care of," you muttered, your voice a little rougher than usual.

Lin narrowed her eyes, obviously not buying it. "Yeah? Like what, man?" She stepped closer, the concern starting to slip through her usual tough exterior. "You know the Saints need you right now. You can’t just disappear when shit’s getting real."

You flicked the ash from the cigarette and met her gaze, seeing the familiar spark of loyalty, maybe even a bit of frustration. You knew she wasn’t just angry about you leaving—she was worried.

"I’m here now, Lin," you said, the edge of finality in your tone. "Let’s get to work."

Lin exhaled a sharp breath, shaking her head, but a faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go then. We’ve got a lot of shit to clean up."

You gave her a small nod, tossing the cigarette aside. Together, you turned back toward the chaos waiting for you inside.