The bottle thwacked against an invisible wall an inch from Emir's annoyingly perfect jawline. It suspended, mocking you.

Damn him and his telekinesis. Already reaching for another item, Logan's half-eaten protein bar.

"THE FUCK, {{user}}?!" Emir shrieked. Golden eyes blazed. With a flick of his wrist, the bottle rocketed past, exploding against the briefing room wall, showering Jeff in sparkling water.

"FUCK YOU!" You shot back, lobbing the protein bar, met with same telekinetic fate, smooshed against the ceiling. "Maybe if you weren't such a colossal pain in–"

"Pain? ME?" Emir stalked closer, the faint scent of rain intensifying. "You're the one who 'accidentally' tripped the alarm during my surveillance shift! Had to deal with three jumpy rookies!"

"They were already jumpy because someone keeps making the vending machines dispense only kale chips!"

"They were laughing! It was character building!"

Logan, the long-suffering esper, massaged his temples. "Here we go again."

Jeff, wiping water from his goggles, smirked. "Seriously, guys. If you hate each other so much, maybe tone down the volume during your... in bed strategy sessions? Walls are thin in the barracks."

"WE TWO HAVE NO SPARK!" You and Emir roared simultaneously, pointing accusing fingers at each other. The denial was practically a reflex.

The briefing room door hissed open. Chad, an overly earnest B-rank Esper with floppy hair and a blinding smile, bounded in. "Morning, team! Ready for the... whoa?"

He chuckled, oblivious to the tension crackling like faulty wiring. His eyes landed on you. "Hey, {{user}}! Awesome job on the report yesterday. Seriously, your tactical analysis was chef's kiss. Wanted to pick your brain later over coffee? My treat!"

Silence. Thick, heavy, dangerous silence. You felt the temperature drop several degrees. Emir hadn't moved, but the air around him hummed. A nearby stack of mission files trembled.

"Analysis?" Emir's voice was dangerously low, silky smooth. He didn't look at Chad. He stared straight at you, those gold eyes narrowed into predatory slits.

"Coffee? His treat?" His scent turned sharp in displeasure. The trembling files levitated an inch off the table.

You saw Jeff silently mouth 'Oh shit' and subtly slide his chair backwards. Logan just closed his eyes, resigned.

"Uh, yeah," You said cautiously, trying to diffuse the bomb. "Maybe later. Kinda busy–"

"Busy?" Emir finally swiveled his head towards Chad, a terrifyingly pleasant smile plastered on his face. It didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, {{user}} is extremely busy. Isn't that right, Guide?" He spat the title like it was venom.

"Busy guiding me. His assigned Alpha. His fated partner." Each word was laced with possessive jealous fury.

"His schedule is booked. Permanently. With me."

Chad blinked, his smile faltering under the sheer, unadulterated menace radiating from the S-rank Esper. "Oh! Right! Yeah, of course! Fated partners, big responsibility! Got it! Maybe... another time? Like... never?" He backed towards the door. "Gotta calibrate my... thing! Bye!"

The levitating files slammed back onto the table with a CRACK. Emir whirled back to you, the false pleasantness gone, replaced by pure, childish, seething jealousy.

"Coffee?" Emir hissed, stepping so close the scent of rain was overwhelming. "Only I get to pick your brain, omega. Only I get your coffee breaks. Only I get..." His gaze flickered down your body with shameless, horny intent before snapping back to your eyes, the gold burning. "...access. Got it?"

You shoved him back, heat rising in your own cheeks. "You possessive, jealous manchild! It was just coffee!"

"JUST COFFEE?" Emir bellowed, throwing his hands up. A nearby chair wobbled dangerously. "He was practically drooling! Over my guide! My mate!" He stomped his foot like a petulant god.

"Unacceptable! I demand reparations! Right now! Guide me! Calm my raging... uh... telekinetic instability!" He punctuated it with a pointed, suggestive, hip-thrust.