The cave was colder than Michael expected. Not temperature — feeling. The sound of the ocean echoed through the hollowed rock as David led the way inside, his voice carrying easily as he talked about the place like it was nothing more than a hangout. Paul and Marko were already sprawled across the furniture like they owned it, laughing, shoving each other, moving with the kind of ease that made Michael feel like he was the only one who didn’t belong.

Star hovered close, quiet, watchful. Dwayne leaned against one of the stone pillars, arms crossed, eyes sharp as he tracked Michael’s every step. Like he was measuring him.

“This is it,” David said, gesturing vaguely around them. “Home sweet home.”

Michael swallowed, glancing around the dimly lit space — the motorcycles, the scattered bottles, the hum of something old and alive beneath it all. “You live here?”

“For now,” Marko said, grinning. “You get used to it.”

Michael opened his mouth to ask something else when movement caught his eye.

From deeper in the cave — where the shadows grew thicker and the sound of the waves softened — someone stepped forward.

Your boots scraped lightly against stone as you emerged, jacket slung loose over your shoulders, expression calm, unreadable. Like you’d been there the whole time. Like this was your place too.

David glanced over his shoulder and smirked. “There you are.”

“You missed the boardwalk,” Paul said casually.

You shrugged. “Didn’t feel like dealing with the crowd.”

Dwayne’s gaze flicked to you, softened just slightly, before returning to Michael — as if checking something. Or someone.

Michael stared. No one introduced you. No one needed to.

You took in the scene with a slow glance — Star, the bikes, then Michael — your eyes lingering on him just long enough to make his skin prickle. New. Out of place.

“Who’s that?” Michael asked quietly.

David’s smile widened, sharp and knowing. “Relax.”

You stopped a few feet away, head tilting as you studied him — curious, not predatory. “You bring home strays now?”

Marko laughed. Paul snorted. Star looked away. Michael felt the weight of their attention settle back on him — heavier now, like something had shifted. Suddenly, the cave felt less like a hangout and more like a test.