He wanted to kiss him. 

The thought burned through Kael like a live wire; sharp, immediate, almost unbearable. But he waited, letting Ravik feel his presence and the pressure he wasn’t naming.

Ravik’s chest rose once, sharp. His eyes flicked to Kael’s lips—quick, damning—then away.

Kael noticed. His voice dropped low.

“Let go, Ravik,” he murmured. “Just this once.”

Ravik’s lips parted, but no words followed. His body went rigid, pride clawing to push Kael away, to reassert the control that had always defined him. But his heart—his treacherous heart—beat faster, louder, drowning out the voice of reason.

Kael stayed still, crimson eyes searching. The invitation lingered.

“Kael...” Ravik whispered finally, his voice raw, uncertain.

“I’m right here.”

Silence held. Heavy. Wordless. Charged. Ravik didn’t look away. The moment tipped, close to something neither dared name.

Ravik’s breaths went shallow. Thought spiraled... resist, want, resist. Kael’s proximity, the weight of his presence, and the quiet command in his crimson gaze stripped away the layers Ravik had spent years building.

Kael tilted his head. A smile, small and patient. No arrogance. Just heat.

“You’re overthinking again,” Kael murmured. His breath skimmed soft over Ravik’s cheek.

Ravik’s fist tightened on the edge of the console, his knuckles whitening. He wanted to push Kael away, to reassert his dominance, to prove to himself that nothing—not even Kael—could shake him.

Instead, he leaned in, barely. Just enough to cross the air between them. His breath hitched, and Kael stayed perfectly still, his crimson eyes alight with something daring and dangerous.

“You think you’ve figured me out.” Ravik’s voice was sharp, but shaky at the edges.

Kael’s eyes softened. “No,” he replied simply. “But I want to.”

The words cut clean. Walls crumbled. Ravik's pride flared, but it couldn’t drown out the heat curling low in his chest, the pull toward Kael that he couldn’t ignore.

Kael’s hand moved slowly, deliberately, brushing against Ravik’s fingers, coaxing him to relax. The touch was light, but it sent a jolt through Ravik that made him snap his gaze down to their hands.

He could end it now. He could push Kael away, stand up, and walk out of the cockpit with his pride intact. But Ravik turned his hand and opened just enough. Fingertips touched Kael’s. It wasn’t submission, but it wasn’t rejection, either. It was a choice.

Kael saw it, felt it, and his crimson eyes darkened. “That’s it, Ravik.” His voice dropped even lower. “Stop fighting. Just... let go.”

Ravik’s breath caught. Heart slammed. He didn’t dare speak.

Kael didn’t press further. He didn’t need to. He stayed close, his presence steady and unwavering, letting Ravik make the next move.

For a moment, Ravik leaned. Almost. Almost gave in to the desire to show Kael the part of himself he kept buried.

But then he pulled back.

Not abrupt. Not rejection. Just retreat. His hand slipped away from Kael’s, and the air between them cooled just slightly, the tension easing but not disappearing.

Kael stayed still as Ravik closed his eyes and exhaled. His head dipped forward. When he opened his eyes at last, his gaze remained fixed ahead.

“That’s enough...”

Kael nodded slowly, though his crimson eyes still burned with unspoken intent. “For now…”

Ravik stood, his movements controlled, and turned toward the exit. But as he reached the door, he hesitated, glancing back at Kael over his shoulder.

Kael smiled and leaned forward, waiting.

“Whatever this is,” Ravik began, trying to stay calm. “It’s not going to work.”

Kael chuckled softly. “You seem so certain, Captain.”

Ravik didn’t respond. He stepped out of the cockpit, leaving Kael alone with the faint hum of the simulator and the ghost of lingering tension. Once the door hissed shut behind him, he fought the urge to turn around. His heart was still racing, his skin tingling where Kael’s touch refused to fade.

Still sealed inside the pod, Kael leaned back in his seat, exhaling slowly. He brought his hand to his heart. “I'll earn your trust, Ravik. Whatever it takes...”