"Don't make me do it," the ski-masked man snapped, forcing bravado through a line of trembling.
He expected the usual reaction when he used his ability to acquire a hostage - tears, begging, a plea that could be used to save his boss. He expected bargaining and panic. He didn't expect Lenny's body to answer the heat with colour.
His skin was switching between light green and its usual pale shade.
The man tried to press the blade against his neck to draw a bead of blood and turn it into leverage. The steel met skin. The blade felt solid and mean. He expected the wet sting of victory. Instead, the metal seemed to meet a wall. His arm jolted with the shock of the tool on something that refused to yield easily.
Kai immediately acted, not wanting Lenny to run wild and switch to his lizard form, essentially wasting a dose of the special suppressant Elara made for him.
