Lilith's footsteps disappeared down the corridor, swallowed by the noise of the department. The door closed softly behind her, as if nothing strange had ever passed through it.
Sebastian did not move.
Julian noticed first.
"You're going to burn a hole in the floor if you keep staring like that," Julian said, leaning against his desk. His tone was casual, careless. The kind he always used when he wanted to pretend nothing scared him.
Sebastian finally turned.
"You almost died," he said.
Julian blinked.
"…That escalated fast."
Sebastian walked closer. His voice did not rise. That was worse.
"You were shot in a hospital ward," he continued. "A place where people are supposed to survive."
Julian opened his mouth, ready with a joke.
Sebastian cut him off.
"I stood outside that room thinking I was about to lose you."
The office noise seemed to fade.
Julian straightened.
"Seb—"
"You almost died," Sebastian repeated, slower this time. "Do you understand that?"
Julian's smile cracked.
"I'm still here," he said quietly. "See? Alive. Annoyingly so."
Sebastian shook his head.
"That's not the point."
He clenched his fist once, then let it go.
"I've seen people disappear," he said. "Not dramatically. Not heroically. Just gone."
Julian frowned. "You're talking like—"
"I don't want to see you end up buried," Sebastian said.
The words fell heavy between them.
Julian froze.
Sebastian looked away, as if he had already said too much.
"I don't want to stand in front of another grave," he added. "Listening to people say it was unavoidable."
Julian swallowed.
For once, he didn't joke.
"…Is this about your sister?" he asked softly.
Sebastian did not answer.
That was enough to answer.
Julian exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"You never talk about it," he said
.
"I don't need to," Sebastian replied. "It's always there."
A pause.
"That's why I'm telling you this," he continued.
"Don't trust people too easily. Don't assume familiarity means safety."
Julian leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk.
"You think Lilith is dangerous."
"I think," Sebastian said carefully, "that I don't know who she is."
Julian laughed weakly. "That didn't stop you from interrogating her with your eyes."
Sebastian did not deny it.
"I've spent seventeen years with you," he said. "I know when something doesn't belong."
Julian looked down.
"You're scared," he said.
Sebastian's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
The honesty stunned them both.
"I am," Sebastian continued. "Because you laugh at death like it's a joke, and one day it might stop laughing back."
Julian looked up.
"You think I don't know that?" he asked quietly. "You think I don't feel it every time a bullet misses by an inch?"
Sebastian met his gaze
.
"Then stop acting like it doesn't matter."
Silence…
Wendy passed by the corridor, slowed her steps, sensed the tension, and wisely decided to disappear without a word.
Julian finally sighed.
"…Alright," he said. "I'll be careful."
Sebastian studied him.
"Not for me," Julian added. "For us."
Sebastian relaxed, just a fraction.
"My dearest friend, Julian," he said softly, "I'm terrible at losing people."
Julian gave a small smile.
"Then I'll try not to die," he replied. "No promises, though."
Sebastian shook his head.
"Idiot."
Julian grinned.
Outside, sirens echoed faintly in the distance.
Inside the office, two men stood side by side, pretending the world was not quietly closing in.