Slade’s hands trembled as he pulled the faded photo from his pocket, his cloudy eyes narrowing as if the act of staring harder might make the image clearer. The shape beside him was only a blur, but the memory in his fingers was sharp—the edges worn soft from being held too many nights when the dark pressed too close.

Calico tilted his head, catching the shine of the photo, his voice quiet but edged with confusion. “You… kept this?” His words wavered like he couldn’t quite believe it.

Slade’s lips twisted into a faint smile. “Yeah… but I won’t need it much longer.” He lowered the photo, his gaze fixed in Calico’s direction though the boy was little more than shadow. “It’s been going faster. I can barely tell it’s you right now.”

Calico’s chest tightened, the echo of Slade’s words pulling at him. He stepped closer, his hands flexing like he wanted to take the photo but couldn’t.

“I came to make sure you were safe,” Slade said, curling into himself on the worn couch. “Once I’m blind… I’ll go back to Lockbane. I won’t be a burden.”

The word cracked between them, heavy and wrong. Calico’s jaw clenched, his dark eyes wide as his hand tightened over his chest. Burden? The thought burned through him, louder than the silence he lived in.

Slade bowed his head, but Calico didn’t move away. Not this time.