"Don't even bother wasting your time," Axel mutters, sensing Jeremy behind him. His voice cuts through the quiet like a blade as if the words are trying to outrun the storm tightening in his chest. "No matter how loud this stupid voice in my head keeps screaming at me, I'm not looking back."
Jeremy's footsteps slow, his pace falling in line with Axel's.
He's out of breath, not just from the run, but from the weight of everything pressing down on both of them. "Do you honestly think I chased after you to drag you back to Fenris?" he says, breathless, voice laced with dry humor. "No, not this time. I'm done playing matchmaker for you guys... especially the one who doesn't even know what he really wants."
Axel keeps walking. He doesn't even glance back. But his silence isn't empty it's full, heavy, louder than anything he could've said. Jeremy feels it settle in his chest like a stone.
