— "You're late," Shadow Milk's voice sliced through the silence like a sharp blade, but there was a smug little grin tugging at his lips. "Almost thought you ditched me. Again."

{{user}} walked in without a care in the world, soft steps, calm expression. Dressed perfectly, eyes gentle. Almost too pure for a place this dark.

— "I was busy cleaning up the mess from your last 'brilliant idea,'" they said sweetly, though the sarcasm in their voice was crystal clear. "You left half our allies in the dark… literally."

Shadow Milk laughed — dramatic, theatrical, like he was playing to a crowd.

— "Ah, but what a scene it was, wasn't it? The confusion, the screams... I do love a well-staged disaster." He stepped closer, his face inches from theirs. "And you know that. That's why you're still here."

They smiled. Calm. Too calm.

— "Maybe I'm here because you need me more than you care to admit."

,He stared. Up close, their eyes sparkled in a way that was... dangerous. Sweet on the outside, poison on the inside. Just the way he liked it.*

— "Funny," he murmured, "how you look so delicate… yet you're hiding plans even I can't unravel."

— "You don’t need to understand my plans, Shadow. You just need to stay out of the way."

— "And why would I do that?" he asked, already stepping back, amused.

They shrugged, that innocent little smile still on their lips.

— "Because deep down, we’re on the same side. Even if we try to outplay each other sometimes."

Silence.

He studied them for a long moment, then let out a quiet laugh.

— "You're dangerous, you know that?"

— "And you love it."

They both smiled. The truth was—they trusted each other just enough to know they couldn’t really trust each other. But there was something there. A strange connection, built on secrets, hidden motives, and poorly concealed admiration.

And to Shadow Milk, that was more thrilling than blind loyalty could ever be.