Velric chose the café because it was public.
That alone told Aiven everything he needed to know.
The lunch crowd was thinning when the man walked in—tailored coat, calm stride, eyes that didn't wander. He didn't need to look around to know where Aiven was. His gaze locked on him immediately.
Draven stiffened near the counter.
Aiven felt it in his chest before he even recognized the face.
Velric.
He ordered a black coffee. No sugar. No cream.
"Take your break," Velric said mildly when Aiven placed the cup down.
Aiven blinked. "I—"
"I'll wait," Velric continued, checking his watch. "Five minutes won't hurt business."
The words were polite.
The tone was not.
Draven took a step forward. "He's working."
Velric didn't look at him. "And you're hovering."
That made Draven stop.
Aiven swallowed and untied his apron with stiff fingers. "I'll be back."
Draven's eyes searched his face. A warning. A question.
Aiven nodded slightly. I'll be fine.
They sat at the corner table.
Velric folded his hands neatly. "You know who I am."
"Yes," Aiven said quietly.
"That saves time." Velric smiled faintly. "You're very good at this job. Customers like you. You're… harmless."
Aiven didn't like the word.
Velric continued, "Unfortunately, harmless people sometimes get caught in storms they don't understand."
Aiven's hands clenched under the table. "If this is about Draven, you should talk to him."
"I am," Velric replied smoothly. "Right now."
Aiven frowned. "I'm not Draven."
Velric leaned back slightly. "You're exactly why this conversation matters."
The café noise hummed around them—cups clinking, laughter, the hiss of steam. It felt unreal, like Velric had dragged a private nightmare into daylight.
"You spend a lot of time together," Velric said. "People notice patterns."
"We're friends," Aiven replied.
Velric tilted his head. "Friendship is rarely the problem. Optics are."
Aiven's chest tightened. "I don't work for your company. I don't talk to fans. I don't—"
"You exist," Velric interrupted gently. "That's enough."
Silence stretched.
Velric lowered his voice. "ECLYPSE is preparing for a comeback. Millions invested. Do you know what ruins momentum?"
Aiven didn't answer.
"Distractions," Velric said. "Rumors. Emotional instability."
Aiven met his eyes. "Are you threatening me?"
Velric smiled again—thin, controlled. "I'm advising you."
Aiven's voice shook despite his effort. "Draven hasn't done anything wrong."
Velric's gaze sharpened. "He's close to doing something irreversible."
That did it.
Aiven stood abruptly. "If you're here to scare me, congratulations. But I won't be used to control him."
Velric looked up at him slowly. "You're braver than I expected."
Aiven's heart pounded. "And you're crueler than you pretend to be."
For the first time, Velric's smile faded.
"Sit," he said quietly.
Something in his voice made Aiven hesitate—but he didn't sit.
Velric stood instead.
"I don't need your cooperation," he said softly. "Just your absence."
Aiven stared. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Velric replied, "that accidents happen. Schedules change. Lives… get complicated."
Aiven's breath caught.
Velric straightened his coat. "Think about Draven. About what your presence costs him."
He walked away without another word.
Draven was already moving the second Aiven returned behind the counter.
"What did he say?" Draven asked lowly.
Aiven forced a smile for a nearby customer. "Nothing important."
Draven's eyes darkened. "That's a lie."
They didn't talk until later.
Draven walked Aiven home in silence, steps sharp against the pavement. When they reached the apartment building, Aiven finally stopped.
"He wants me gone," Aiven whispered.
Draven froze. "What?"
"He didn't say it directly," Aiven continued, voice trembling now. "But he made it clear. I'm leverage."
Draven swore under his breath, hands curling into fists. "I won't let him—"
"You don't get to decide alone," Aiven said softly.
Draven looked at him then—really looked—and something in his expression cracked.
"I never meant for this to touch you," Draven said.
Aiven stepped closer. "But it did. And now we deal with it together."
That night, Zenith listened quietly as Draven explained.
Raze sat beside him, jaw tight.
"He crossed a line," Zenith said when Draven finished.
Raze nodded. "He's testing boundaries."
Zenith's eyes hardened. "Then we stop reacting."
Draven looked up. "How?"
Zenith exhaled slowly. "By staying ahead of him."
Elsewhere, Velric reviewed his notes again.
Aiven wasn't panicking.
That was unexpected.
Velric didn't like unexpected variables.
Pressure would increase.
Soon.