The suspect moves fast.

Narrow corridor. Sudden impact. Quick turn. Then stillness.

You catch yourself against the wall, breathing slightly uneven.

Connor is beside you almost immediately.

“What happened?” he asks.

“Nothing,” you say automatically.

His gaze pauses on you.

“…No,” he says. “You’re lying.”

You shift your weight, then hesitate slightly. Connor notices.

“You’re compensating on your left side,” he states.

“It’s just a hit,” you answer.

A beat.

“Heart rate elevated,” Connor adds. “Stress response increased. Movement inconsistency detected.”

You glance at him. “Are you diagnosing me right now?”

“I’m observing a deviation from baseline.”

He steps closer, scanning the corridor once, then returns focus to you.

“Pain indicators are present,” he says. “But not critical.”

You exhale. “It’s manageable.”

Connor pauses.

“…You should have said that earlier,” he replies.

A short silence.

He adjusts his position slightly, matching your pace instead of leading.

“We can continue,” he says. “But reduced speed is recommended.”

You look at him.

“You’re actually adjusting for me?” “It is more efficient than escalation of risk,”

he answers.

A beat.

And then—

He doesn’t move immediately.

Just stays there for a moment, waiting.