Villain Ch 1964. Rot
Allen stayed quiet, but his jaw clenched slightly. Just a flick of tension. Barely visible.
Elio stepped closer, not to close the distance, but to give the conversation weight. "I'm not here to guilt you. She made her choices. You made yours. I get that."
Allen's voice was calm. "Then what are you here for?"
"I guess…" Elio stared out into the lot. A car drove by slowly, headlights casting a passing glare. "I guess I didn't want this thing between us to rot."
"What thing?" Allen asked, voice low but steady.
Elio shifted on his feet, frowning at the pavement like it might answer for him. "Since the beginning," he said slowly, "I heard bad things about you. You know that, right?"
Allen didn't say anything. Just waited. His silence sharp as glass.
Elio continued. "First were from Darren and Liam. They joined my team just days before the qualifiers. Said you were toxic. Controlling. That you only played to make yourself look good and left your squad behind."
