Kai Langford - September 2120
Noah insists we walk off some of the alcohol before Ray shows up, and I don't argue. My head feels light, like someone loosened a bolt behind my eyes. The air is warm enough that the night doesn't bite, even with summer slipping away.
The town square is empty, just the four of us and the soft glow from the clock tower. Last time we were here, I barely glanced at it but tonight it looks like it's watching over us, the courtyard calm and still beneath it. Flowers, benches, nothing special, but it's peaceful.
Finn drifts closer, already snickering at nothing. I keep an eye on him out of habit, and maybe because Noah and Ethan are a few steps behind us, talking quietly. I can hear Ethan's laugh, soft and warm, and it steadies something in my chest.
"Ready to spar once we get back?" Finn throws a half-punch at my arm. He misses by… a lot.
"You can barely stand" I say, a little too blunt, but my filter's not exactly secure right now. "You'd use that as your excuse when you lose."
He shoves me in retaliation, not hard. Still, my balance sways the tiniest bit before I pull myself upright. Finn catches it, of course. He laughs like he's won some sort of competition.
"Says you."
We drift toward the grass, bumping shoulders and muttering nonsense, the alcohol warming every edge of the world. I'm aware of where everyone is, where the light falls, where the shadows stretch. A habit I can't seem to break, even when drunk. But it's quieter in my mind than usual.
Finn lunges for another playful hit, and I step back. He stumbles forward, but, to my annoyance, he catches himself immediately.
"Did you really think I'd trip over somethi-"
I flick my fingers.
A thin strand of shadow snaps up from the ground, catches his ankle, and tugs. Not hard enough to hurt him, just enough.
Finn yelps as he goes sideways, straight into a bush.
A laugh tears out of me before I can stop it. It's loud... full. Almost too much. It feels strange and good. I can't even pretend to hide it.
"You prick!" Finn's muffled voice comes from somewhere inside the leaves.
Noah and Ethan burst into laughter behind us. I steady myself and reach into the foliage, grabbing Finn's hand and hauling him out before he does something stupid like roll deeper in.
"You're such a cheat" he grumbles, picking leaves out of his hair.
Noah steps forward, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Maybe wait until you've both sobered up before you decide to spar."
Ethan joins him with that soft smile of his. "And no cheating, Kai."
I stare at him. Actually stare.
He's telling me not to cheat? Him? The guy who uses his vision every time a card leaves the deck?
Finn jumps on the opportunity. "Yeah, no cheating."
Noah nods like this is some kind of intervention.
"What!" I say, because apparently that's all my brain can produce. My voice comes out sharper than intended.
Ethan laughs and steps closer and my breath catches. He reaches up and cups my cheeks in both hands, gently squeezing them together. My face heats instantly.
I try to glare at him, but it probably comes out more like confused blinking. The alcohol makes it harder to mask the fluster creeping up my neck.
He just smiles at me like I'm something harmless.
I'm not... Not usually.
But with him… it's different.
Ray's van rolls up just as Finn starts recounting some exaggerated version of his fall. The headlights sweep over us, catching the four of us in various stages of wobbling.
Ray leans out the window, grinning. "Looks like you guys had fun."
That's… one way to describe it.
We make our way toward the truck in a cluster, and Ethan yanks open the passenger door. His footing slips and he nearly folds straight into the seat. I reach out instinctively, but he catches himself with a laugh.
"Thanks for picking us up, you're the best" he tells Ray, patting his shoulder like they're old war buddies.
Noah and Finn pile into the back with me, Noah taking the middle. The moment I shut the door, the open windows let in a cool rush of air. It cuts through the fog in my head enough that I can breathe a little deeper.
Ray has the radio playing something low and steady, soft guitar, almost hypnotic. As we pull out of town, the road stretches dark and quiet ahead of us.
A weight settles on my shoulder.
I glance down, half expecting Finn being an idiot again, but… it's Noah. Completely out. He's slumped against me, mouth barely parted, breathing soft and even.
Something in my chest goes warm. I bring up a hand and gently ruffle his hair. He doesn't stir.
Ever since we found each other again, it's been… a lot. A knot of things I didn't know how to handle. Relief, fear, hope, guilt, joy. Seeing him like this, still comfortable with me, still the same in all the ways that matter, quietly confirms the thing I've been afraid to believe.
He didn't turn into our father. Not even close.
He's still Noah.
And having him back… it feels like a piece of myself slid into place after being gone far too long.
Ethan's voice drifts from the front seat, soft laughter, that warm tone he gets when he's relaxed. Ray hums along to the radio. Noah's breathing steadies against my arm.
Between all of it, the gentle sway of the truck and the cool air brushing my face, my eyes start to feel heavy. I try to fight it for a moment, an old soldier habit, but the alcohol and comfort win.
My head tips back.
And before I realise it, I'm asleep too.
___________________________________
The voice cuts through the fog like a pebble breaking the surface of a still pond.
"Kai, wake up."
I try to move, but my eyelids feel weighted, like someone stitched shadows into them. The voice comes again, closer this time.
"Kai, we're going to be late."
My eyes crack open.
Noah is leaning over me. He's smaller... softer.... ten years younger. The school uniform makes him look like he's pretending to be grown-up, and failing in the most Noah way possible.
Confusion jolts through me.
I'm in my old bedroom.
The walls. The furniture. The way the morning light falls across the floor. I haven't seen any of this in years, and yet it all looks untouched.
Noah shakes my shoulder. "Come on, you know Father won't be happy."
Father.
The name hits like a cold blade, and I sit up fast, throwing the sheets off.
"Okay. Okay." My voice sounds younger too, unsteady at the edges. "Give me two seconds, I'll meet you downstairs."
With my uniform on I move on instinct, as if some old version of me takes over.
When I skid into the hall, Noah is already waiting with my bag in one hand and a breakfast bar in the other. He always did things like that. Tiny acts of kindness he didn't even think twice about.
"Master Noah" the maid says as she approaches. She checks her watch with clipped precision. "You seem to be running late today. Is everything okay?"
Noah waves her off politely, the gesture practiced. "We'll still arrive on time."
She glances at me. That sharp, assessing look I used to hate. "Dr. Langford will be unimpressed if you are late due to unnecessary circumstances."
I pretend not to notice the implication and step outside. Noah hurries after me, adjusting his backpack as he catches up.
"Are you not sleeping enough?" he asks. "You've been struggling to get up."
I bite into the breakfast bar. "Just trained with Uncle Owen longer than I should have."
"You do enjoy the training," he says quietly, "but don't let it affect your studies."
Something about his tone brushes too close to Father's expectations. The controlled concern. The careful phrasing. I stiffen automatically.
"I get it, Noah. You don't have to worry about it." Sharper than I mean.
Silence settles over us like a thin frost and guilt stirs almost immediately.
He didn't deserve that. He never did. He woke me up, waited for me and even grabbed breakfast for me so I wouldn't skip it.
I glance over. Noah's staring at the ground, gripping his bag strap with small, tense fingers.
I nudge him with my shoulder.
"I'm sorry" I say quietly. "I shouldn't have snapped. Thank you… for waking me, and the snack."
He lifts his head, and his smile is small but genuine. He nods.
Warmth flickers in my chest...
We're breathless by the time the school gates come into view. Miss Young stands there, stern as a statue, arms folded.
No other students in sight.
Perfect.
"Noah and Kai" she calls, stepping into our path. "You are late."
"Sorry, Miss Young." Noah bows his head so fast his white hair nearly falls over his face.
"You will both receive detention after school."
Noah doesn't look up. He hates this, being reprimanded, disappointing anyone.
I step forward before I can stop myself.
"Miss Young, it was my fault. I made him wait for me. Please don't punish him because of me."
Noah's head snaps up, eyes wide.
Miss Young sighs. "Kai, I know you mean well. But you were both late. School rules are school rules."
I swallow the frustration.
She waves us onward, and we start toward the buildings.
"Sorry, Noa," I murmur, ashamed.
"It's okay, Kai" he says softly. "It was my choice to wait."
That's the problem. He always chooses me. Even when it costs him.
The thought settles in my stomach like a stone.
Father will hear about this and he will not be happy...
Once detention spits us out and the sun starts sinking behind the school, Noah and I head home together. The walk feels heavier than our bags ever did. Every so often I catch him sneaking a glance at me, like he's checking if I'm about to crack. I pretend I don't notice.
By the time the house comes into view, the tension is practically humming. The front door barely clicks behind us before a maid appears, gliding forward to take Noah's bag with a warm smile. When she reaches for mine, that smile falters just a fraction. She still takes it, but it's clear she'd rather be handling anything else.
I'm kicking off my shoes when Father's voice cuts through the hallway.
"Noah. Kai."
The sound of it coils right down my spine. We exchange a look, then head to his office. Inside, we fall into position automatically, straight backs, hands behind us, eyes forward.
"I had a phone call today" he says, steepling his fingers as he watches us. "You were both late."
"Sorry, Father" we answer in unison.
"Explain."
Noah tenses beside me. Before he can open his mouth, I step forward.
"It was my fault. I wouldn't get up and Noah tried to wake me."
Father exhales slowly, then shifts his gaze. "Noah, you may leave."
Noah looks at me, worry written all over him. I force a small nod and he obeys.
The door hasn't even finished clicking shut before Father stands. He crosses the space between us in two long strides. I instinctively step back, but he's faster. His hand clamps around my wrist and yanks upward. Pain spikes through my shoulder as I'm dragged onto my toes.
"What have I told you," he says, voice low and precise, "about hindering Noah's progress?"
The pressure on my wrist is sharp enough to make my vision pixel at the edges. My heart is hammering. Tears prick at my eyes, hot and unwanted.
"I'm sorry" I manage, my voice cracking apart. My feet keep searching for the ground, but he holds me just high enough to make balance impossible.
"Noah will never become anything great if you keep interfering in his life. All you do it hold him back. You need to remember that you are just a flaw in our plan".
Then he lets go.
The drop is short but brutal. I hit the floor with a thud that punches the breath out of me. I curl around my wrist, rubbing it instinctively as tears spill down my cheeks.
"Get up," he says, already turning back toward his desk. "And stop crying."
______________________
"Kai…"
The voice pulls me out of the dream like someone cutting a rope. I jolt upright, breath catching in my chest. The office, the pain, the shouting... gone. Instead, I'm in the car, parked outside the school, night air drifting through the open windows.
Noah is leaning over me, older. His hand is still on my shoulder.
Ethan is twisted around from the front seat, eyes sharp with concern he tries to hide. "You okay?"
I rub my face, grounding myself in the present. "Sorry. Didn't mean to fall asleep"
"We're back now" Noah says, offering the faintest smile.
I breathe in slowly and nod. The dream still clings to me, but the weight of Noah's hand, steady and warm, pulls me the rest of the way out.
"Yeah," I say. "Let's go."
We climb out of the car together, and for the first time since the nightmare's grip loosened, the night feels real again.