The city thinned out behind them again, lights stretching into longer gaps, buildings turning into shadows, then into silence. The road leading toward the coordinates felt too familiar now, like déjà vu that had gone wrong. Aiden rested his elbow against the window, eyes scanning the dark landscape as it shifted past them, but his attention kept drifting back to Noah. The way his hands moved on the wheel, steady, precise. The way his posture barely changed no matter how tense things got. It was controlled, almost too controlled, like every reaction had already been rehearsed in his mind before it happened.
"You're doing it again," Aiden said quietly.
Noah didn't look at him. "Doing what."
"Shutting everything out."
"I'm focusing."
Aiden exhaled softly. "Same thing for you."
