Sarai knew something was up the moment Virek said, "Be ready at six."
He didn't explain what for.
He didn't give details.
He didn't even look like he thought it required explanation.
Which, unfortunately, had become very on-brand for him.
She stood in her room an hour later, staring at her reflection like she was negotiating with it.
"…okay," she said slowly. "We're not doing too much."
She smoothed her hands down her outfit.
Simple. Fitted. Effortless.
At least that was the goal.
"…this is not a date," she added, narrowing her eyes slightly at herself. "We're not calling this a date because nobody said it was a date."
She paused.
"…but if it is a date, we're not about to look unprepared."
By the time she stepped into the living area, she had mostly convinced herself she was being reasonable.
Mostly.
Virek was already there.
Of course he was.
He stood near the door, one hand resting loosely at his side, dressed the same way he always was—simple, clean, like he didn't need anything extra to be noticed.
Sarai stopped.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
"…okay," she said under her breath. "We're not reacting."
His gaze lifted.
Moved over her once.
Steady.
Aware.
Sarai felt it immediately.
And absolutely refused to react to it.
"You're ready," he said.
"I've been ready," she replied.
A faint shift at the corner of his mouth.
She caught it.
"…don't start," she said.
"I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to," she replied. "Your face said enough."
Silence settled briefly.
Not awkward.
Just… there.
"Come on," he said.
Sarai grabbed her bag.
"…you're still not going to tell me where we're going?"
"No."
She walked past him toward the door.
"…that's actually insane."
"You'll see."
"That is not comforting," she said.
"It's not supposed to be."
Sarai paused at the door, turning slightly toward him.
"…you enjoy being difficult."
"I don't."
"You do a little."
He didn't answer.
Which—
of course—
answered it.
They stepped outside.
The city was quieter than usual.
Not empty, just… settled. The kind of early evening where everything felt like it was in transition, not quite day, not fully night.
Sarai walked beside him, matching his pace without thinking about it.
"…if I end up somewhere illegal," she said, "I just want it on record that I did not agree to that."
"You're not."
"That was fast."
"It's accurate."
She glanced at him.
"…you're very confident for someone who refuses to explain anything."
"I know where we're going."
"That doesn't help me," she said.
A slight pause.
"It will," he replied.
Sarai narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…we'll see."
They walked a few more blocks before the city started to shift.
Less crowded.
More industrial.
The buildings changed. Fewer lights. More space between things.
Sarai slowed slightly.
"…okay," she said. "Now I'm concerned."
"You're fine."
"That's easy for you to say," she replied. "You look like you belong here."
He glanced at her.
"…you don't?"
She blinked.
"…no."
That earned it.
A small, quiet reaction.
Sarai caught it immediately.
"…there you go again."
"Again what?"
"That," she said. "That almost-smile thing."
"I didn't smile."
"You did internally," she replied. "I felt it."
That actually pulled something closer to real.
Still subtle.
But there.
They stopped in front of a building that looked even less welcoming than the others.
Sarai stared at it.
Then at him.
Then back at it.
"…absolutely not," she said.
"It's fine."
"It looks like the beginning of a bad decision," she replied.
"It's not."
"You said that already," she said. "I don't trust it."
Virek stepped toward the door.
Then paused.
Looked back at her.
"Come on," he said.
There was something in the way he said it.
Not forceful.
Not dismissive.
Just… certain.
Sarai hesitated.
Then exhaled.
"…okay," she muttered. "If I die, I'm haunting you specifically."
"That's fair."
She pointed at him as she followed.
"I mean that."
"I know."
Inside—
it was completely different.
Bright lights.
Clean space.
Structured.
Sarai stopped.
"…oh."
A training facility.
Her eyes moved slowly across the room.
Equipment. Open space. Targets set up in the distance.
Everything felt intentional.
Controlled.
"…this is what you do," she said quietly.
"Yes."
She stepped further inside.
"…you brought me here on purpose."
"Yes."
She turned toward him.
"…why?"
A pause.
"You wanted to understand," he said.
That landed.
Sarai blinked.
"…okay," she said softly. "That's…"
She exhaled.
"…actually thoughtful."
Virek didn't respond.
She looked around again.
Then back at him.
"…so what now?"
He stepped past her, grabbing something from the side table.
"You try," he said.
Sarai froze.
"…I'm sorry?"
He handed her the gear.
She stared at it.
Then at him.
"…you want me to do this?"
"Yes."
Sarai laughed.
Short.
In disbelief.
"…you're serious."
"Yes."
She looked back at the equipment.
Then back at him.
"…okay," she said slowly. "Okay. We're doing this."
And just like that—
everything shifted.