Not amusement.
Not entirely.
"Looks like I was fast enough," Fiona said, glancing back at him, a spark of triumph in her eyes.
Manson leaned back slightly, studying her like she'd just done something far more interesting than winning a game.
"Hmm," he murmured.
A pause.
Then, quieter almost to himself—
"Seems I taught you well."
Fiona scoffed lightly, but there was a flicker of satisfaction she didn't bother hiding.
"Don't take credit for everything."
"Oh, I don't," he replied, his gaze still lingering longer than necessary on her waist. "Just the important parts."
The air shifted again.
That same tension, subtle, tightening threading its way between them.
The game continued to idle on the screen.
Neither of them moved for the controller.
The room lingered in a tense, almost suspended silence.
