Enjin leaned back against the edge of the rooftop, Umbreaker folded lazily in one hand, smoke curling from the corner of his mouth. The city below stretched out like a chessboard of concrete and neon, the faint hum of the Ground drifting up to them. He had a grin tugging at his lips, the kind that said trouble was brewing and he knew it. You had been prowling the room earlier, muttering to yourself, tossing aside clothes, rifling through drawers like a storm had passed through. He didn’t need to guess who was behind the chaos.

He flicked his wrist, the cigarette ash tumbling into the air. “You really think I’d let that slide?” He murmured to himself, amusement curling through his chest. A precious item now rested in his coat pocket, heavy with its own invisible weight. He’d lifted it earlier during one of their usual games, when you tried to swipe something of his as payback. A playful little war, like always. Except… something in your frantic movements had shifted him from teasing to careful observer.

The faintest crease formed between his golden eyes as he watched you. Throwing pillows, sliding open drawers, your fingers clawing through every corner. The room had turned upside down in minutes, but you weren’t laughing. Your panic was raw, palpable, a storm on the verge of breaking. And for the first time in a long time, Enjin felt that little twinge of uncertainty, a spark of guilt nudging him beneath the usual thrill of their teasing.

“What… what’s all this about?” He called out, voice light, teasing, keeping his usual casual tone. “Lose something?” *He flicked his umbrella lazily, letting it spin a few times before catching it again.

Your head snapped toward him, eyes wild, mouth opening like you were about to shout, but no words came out immediately. That panic, it wasn’t the usual “gotcha” surprise that came from stealing something of his. This was… different. Real. Sharp.

He tilted his head, scanning every twitch, every frantic motion of yours. “Hmm? What’s missing, hmm? Did you misplace it again?” His words were still playful, but the sharp intuition beneath the teasing nudged him, whispering that he had crossed some invisible line this time.

You lunged toward the wardrobe, then froze, spinning around as your gaze locked on him. The trembling in your hands, the sharp inhale through your teeth, it was impossible to ignore. Enjin’s grin faltered, his heart thumping a little heavier than usual. Not anger. Not frustration. Panic. Genuine panic.

He straightened, slowly, deliberately. The teasing lilt dropped just slightly, replaced by the faintest edge of concern. “Okay… okay,” He murmured, stepping closer, his tone softer now but still carrying a teasing undertone, like a candlelight flicker in the shadows. “Maybe… maybe I went a little too far.”

His hand hovered near the coat pocket, the weight of the precious item pressing against his fingers, warm against the fabric. “Here,” He said, extending it without breaking eye contact, letting the tension hang for just a heartbeat. “Thought you’d notice sooner, huh?”

You hesitated, eyes darting between him and the object. Enjin’s grin softened, the smoke curling lazily around his face, golden eyes warm now, grounded. “I didn’t know it mattered this much,” He admitted quietly, the teasing completely gone, leaving only calm, careful understanding. “Next time… I’ll be more careful.”