Lunara pushed off the counter at last, boots thudding softly against the lab floor.
"Enough," she said under her breath—but it carried.
They all looked at her.
"We've got work to do," Lunara continued. "Standing around letting teachers get weirded out isn't it."
Rex raised a finger. "Minor detail—Miss our presentation."
She scoffed, already turning toward the door. "Yeah. That too."
She paused, glanced back over her shoulder, eyes sharp. "After that, we work. And Eliot—"
Her gaze pinned him.
"Don't disappear again."
Eliot straightened instinctively. "I won't."
He stood up, a little too fast.
His chair scraped softly, and his hair fell forward, curls brushing his glasses.
He pushed them up with the back of his hand, movements slow, almost hesitant.
"Um," he added, "I—I forgot to submit my math homework."
Theo groaned quietly. "Of course you did."
Before anyone else could react, Leon stood.
"I have to submit mine too," he said simply. "We'll go together."
Eliot blinked up at him, surprised—then nodded. "Fine. Sure. Okay."
Leon waited without rushing him.
Eliot gathered his things, careful, deliberate. As he stepped beside Leon, Lunara watched closely, arms crossed, eyes never leaving them.
"Be quick," she said. "And don't take detours."
Leon nodded once.
As they headed for the door, Eliot glanced back.
Theo gave him an exaggerated thumbs-up. Rex whispered, "Survive math."
Lunara met his eyes again, serious this time.
"I mean it," she said quietly. "Together. Always."
Eliot swallowed—and nodded.
Then he and Leon stepped out into the hallway, side by side, the noise of the lab fading behind them.
Leon handed in his book quickly. Efficient. No hesitation.
Then—he didn't leave.
Eliot noticed only when he turned away from the desk and saw Leon still there, leaning against the wall near the door, arms folded, watching him.
"…You already submitted yours," Eliot said quietly.
Leon didn't answer.
Eliot swallowed, walked up to the counter, and slid his math homework across to the office aide.
A stamp. A nod. Done.
When they stepped back into the hallway, the door clicking shut behind them, Eliot stopped.
He adjusted his bag strap, then turned to Leon. "You can go back now."
Leon stared at him for a long second.
Then he exhaled through his nose and ran a hand through his hair. "I knew it."
Eliot froze.
"You were planning to go see Mira," Leon said, voice low but firm.
Eliot's shoulders dropped. His gaze fell to the floor. "…I was just going to ask her about the camera."
Leon stepped closer—not threatening, just present.
He reached out and lightly caught the strap of Eliot's backpack, stopping him from moving.
"Eliot," he said, quieter now. "Look at me."
Eliot hesitated, then did.
Leon's expression wasn't angry. It was worse.
Concerned.
"You don't go alone," Leon continued. "Not after what we saw. Not when you already know something's wrong."
"I wasn't going to stay long," Eliot said softly. "I just thought if I asked calmly—"
Leon shook his head once and placed a hand on Eliot's shoulder.
Not tight. Just grounding.
"That's exactly why this is dangerous," he said. "You assume people will meet you halfway because you would."
Eliot pressed his lips together. "I don't want to accuse her."
"I'm not asking you to," Leon replied. "I'm asking you not to walk into something blind."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The hallway buzzed faintly with distant voices and lockers slamming.
Leon sighed again, heavier this time, and squeezed Eliot's shoulder once before letting go.
"If you're going to talk to her," he said, "we do it together. Or with Theo. Or we don't do it at all."
Eliot nodded slowly. "…Okay."
Leon tilted his head, searching his face. "You promise?"
"I promise."
Leon stepped back, finally giving him space. "Good."
They stood there a beat longer.
Then Leon gestured down the hall with his chin. "Let's go back. Lunara's going to bite someone if we take too long."
Eliot let out a small, breathy laugh. "Yeah… probably."
They turned and walked back together—side by side this time.
And Eliot didn't try to break away again.
--
Theo's living room was a mix of chaos and focus.
Mrs. Groove appeared from the kitchen with a tray of cookies, eyes twinkling.
"Fuel for my little researchers," she said.
Rex lunged for one immediately, crumbs threatening to fall everywhere.
He grinned, cookie in hand, and slammed the door closed with his hip. "Perfect!"
Cassian was already at Theo's desk, laptop open, fingers flying.
Theo and Eliot were on the floor beside him, notebooks and papers scattered like a battlefield.
Leon and Lunara stood, silent, serious, like statues carved from vigilance.
Rex paused mid-bite, wagging a cookie-covered finger. "Wait—didn't we say project first? Helping you today doesn't mean you get to slack off."
Leon's brow arched. "Since when do you care about the project?"
Rex shrugged. "I don't.''
''I just like taking videos and making a mess. And—if we don't finish the project—everyone's going to blame Eliot and Theo. Because they're smart. Obviously supposed to do it." He added.
Eliot blinked, then smiled faintly. "Don't worry. They won't."
Rex finished his cookie with a flourish. "Good. That's what I like to hear."
Cassian, scrolling through his laptop, looked up.
"Lunara, her processing is… unusual. Slow in some areas, fast in others. Unpredictable."
Lunara tilted her head, eyes sharp.
"You know what?" she said, low and deliberate. "We deal with this… now. Eliot—be very careful. She's targeting you."
Eliot frowned. "Targeting me?"
"She isn't cruel," Lunara said, slow and measured.
"Not cruel. But she wants you to do what she can't. She's testing you—pushing limits she can't face herself. Don't underestimate her."
Theo, sprawled across the floor with a notebook open, glanced at Eliot. "So… we're really in this together, huh?"
Eliot's smile was small but steady. "Yeah. Together."
Rex leaned back, already eyeing another cookie. "And if we survive this… cookies for everyone."
Leon shot him a flat look. Lunara smirked faintly, half-amused.
The room fell into rhythm—laptops glowing, pens scratching, quiet strategizing, sharp glances at Eliot, the center of attention.
He felt the weight of it, the danger—but also the resolve.
They were ready.
And whatever she was planning, Eliot wouldn't face it alone.