(POV: Kai)
Amelia Thorne was the one thing I had never been able to control.
And now—after ten years— she was back. Right in my flight path.
Like the sky itself had decided to put us here again.
Like whatever this was between us… had never really ended.
The morning sky was too calm.
I've never trusted skies like this.
Too quiet. Too clean.
It usually means something's about to break.
Thousands of feet above the ground, the F-35B cut smoothly through the air, responding to every movement like it was an extension of me. The engine's vibration was steady—familiar. Almost comforting.
Everything was perfect.
And that was exactly the problem.
I adjusted my grip slightly, eyes fixed on the horizon.
But my focus wasn't where it should've been.
It hadn't been since the briefing.
Since her name.
Amelia Thorne.
Not just a name.
Something that never really left—just buried deep enough to ignore.
Until now.
"Shadow-1 in position. Awaiting instructions."
My voice came out calm. Flat. Professional.
Exactly how it should be.
"Shadow-1, maintain course. Atlas-1 will enter the sector in two minutes."
Atlas-1.
That was all it took.
I didn't react. Not outwardly.
But something tightened in my chest—sharp and sudden, like a string pulled too far.
I already knew.
I'd known since this morning.
And still…
It didn't feel real.
I exhaled slowly.
Focus.
This is just a mission.
Nothing more.
Yeah. Right.
That lie didn't even sound convincing anymore.
I tilted the aircraft slightly, adjusting course on instinct.
Then I saw it on the radar.
A single dot. Large. Steady.
Atlas.
My gaze lingered a second longer than it should have.
Not on the aircraft—
On who was inside it.
"Atlas-1, this is Shadow-1. Visual on your six."
Steady voice. Controlled.
Like nothing had changed.
Silence.
Short—but heavy.
Then—
"Shadow-1, copy."
Her voice.
I'd know it anywhere.
Even after ten years.
Colder now. Sharper. More controlled.
But still her.
A small smile almost slipped through.
I stopped it.
"So it's true…" I muttered under my breath. "Amelia's flying the Atlas."
Yeah. I shouldn't have said that.
Didn't matter.
Some habits don't die.
"Focus on your task, Dawson."
There it was.
Sharp. Clean. No room for anything unnecessary.
I almost laughed.
Still the same.
"Always," I replied lightly. "Just making sure you don't get lost again."
The second it left my mouth—
Yeah. That was a mistake.
Too familiar.
Too… us.
The radio went quiet again.
But this time it wasn't empty.
It was tension.
Thick. Unspoken. Sitting right between us.
I exhaled slowly, trying to pull myself back—
But my mind was already gone.
Drifting.
Back to where this all started.
Home.
Morning light. Warm air.
Or at least, it should've felt warm.
I stood in the kitchen, holding a cup of coffee I hadn't touched.
My father's voice cut through from outside.
"You need discipline, Kai! The Air Force will make you a real man—not someone who just talks!"
Academic.
He said it like it was something shameful.
Something weak.
I didn't argue.
Never did.
RAF felt distant back then.
Unreal.
But also… like a way out.
Two days later, I saw her.
From my window.
Amelia.
Carrying a box almost too big for her arms.
I didn't need to read the label twice.
RAF Entrance Preparation Guide.
I let out a quiet laugh.
Of course.
She was already there.
Already ahead.
Or maybe—
She just never planned to let me get there first.
I leaned against the window, watching her.
"So we're doing this again, huh…"
The war never ended.
It just changed arenas.
Cranwell.
First day. Cold air. Wet ground.
She was already there.
Of course she was.
We stood on opposite sides.
People around us talked about honor, about the future.
We didn't care.
We just looked at each other.
No smile.
Just a small nod.
A silent agreement.
This isn't over.
And it never was.
Equipment line. Fast movement.
And like always—
She was right in front of me.
"Thorne, try standing properly."
She turned, eyebrow slightly raised.
"I was here first, Dawson."
Yeah. Still the same.
I stepped closer.
She didn't move.
She never did.
Then—
A stupid move.
My hand brushed her bag—she shifted— I lost balance—
And suddenly—
We were down.
Impact.
Too close.
Way too close.
Not enough space to argue.
Not enough distance to pretend.
I remember her breath.
Her eyes.
And something I never said out loud—
I didn't want to move.
"Shadow-1."
Her voice snapped everything back into place.
Sharp. Precise.
Like nothing had happened.
"Yeah, Atlas-1?"
"Keep your distance. I don't need a shadow."
A faint smile pulled at my lips.
Still the same.
But not entirely.
There was something new now.
Distance.
A wall.
And for some reason—
It made me want to push closer.
"Unfortunately," I replied lightly, "that's my job today."
I adjusted position smoothly.
Right behind her.
Close enough.
Always close enough.
"So you'll have to deal with it, Thorne."
No answer.
Didn't need one.
I could already picture her—
Jaw tight. Eyes forward. Holding everything in.
Like always.
But still…
Something had changed.
I looked at the Atlas ahead.
Steady. Solid.
Like her.
And for the first time—
I stopped pretending.
This isn't just rivalry.
It never was.
This is something else.
Something that never really left.
I took a slow breath.
My heartbeat was just a little faster than it should be.
The sky was still calm. The aircraft steady. Everything looked perfect.
But inside—
It wasn't.
Amelia Thorne was back within reach.
And this time…
I had no intention of staying away.
That had always been my biggest mistake.
But maybe—
For the first time—
I didn't care.