Jack bit down on his tongue, holding back a pained scream as his pinkie toe throbbed in agony.

  He clutched his foot, rocking back and forth while taking sharp, hissing breaths.

  The cool air from the open window wafted in, carrying the sounds of the outside world.

  *KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

  The pounding on his door was growing more impatient.

  "Hey, everything alright in there?" came the familiar voice of his speedy neighbor, Kai.

  Jack tensed. Damn it. This is all your fault! He glared at the door.

  *KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

  He scrambled to his feet, wincing as his throbbing toe protested. Slightly limping.

  Jack took a deep breath, stood up straight, trying to regain some dignity before opening the door.

  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted out, mingling with the scent of his injured toe's sweat and injured self-esteem.

  Lovely. Just what he needed.

  Kai stood there in his all-blond glory, hands in the pockets of his black hoodie, his blue sharp eyes scanning Jack up and down.

  "Took you long enough," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You fall or something?"

  Jack straightened up even more. "What? No. Pfft. Why would I—?" His voice cracked slightly, and he cleared his throat. "I'm fine."

  Kai hummed, unimpressed. He leaned slightly to the side, glancing behind him as if expecting to see something suspicious.

  The morning light streaming through the door highlighted the dust motes dancing in the air. "Mm-hmm. You sounded like you got tackled by a ghost."

  Jack stepped forward and stood just at the entrance of his door, subtly blocking Kai's view inside his apartment. "It was nothing. Just—uh—stubbed my toe."

  The guy blinked, then smirked. "Stubbed your toe? That bad, huh?"

  His face burned as he thought—Okay, fine, it was just a stub, but it felt like my pinkie toe got crushed! "Oh, shut up."

  Kai chuckled but didn't push further. He shifted his weight onto one foot, still watching Jack with an unreadable expression.

  "You seem... different today." Kai observed.

  Excitement ignited within Jack. His aura suddenly subtly changing, forgetting the now slightly pain in his toe.

  Yes! So, my physical transformation is really that obvious!

  "Different?" he asked, trying to keep his face nonchalant.

  "Yeah. Can't put my finger on it, but something's off. You finally get a decent night's sleep or something?" Kai's gaze roamed over his face, eyes lingering on the changes in Jack's appearance.

  Ha! If only he knew! But he hesitated, not knowing what to do. His palms began to sweat.

  He couldn't exactly say:

  Oh yeah, I woke up in a white void, found out I might have reality-warping powers, and now my body looks like it came with a free gym membership.

  How do you even open up if you are newly awakened to your powers? And he's already this old. He felt a bit awkward.

  "Uh... I guess?" Jack mumbled, scratching the back of his head. "I had a day off, so... yeah."

  "Oh yeah?" Kai said tipping his head slightly, still eyeing him in that way that made Jack feel like he was being examined under a microscope.

  Then, with a shrug, he leaned against the door-frame too. "Well, guess I came at a good time then."

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  They are just a hand away from each other. Making him feel a bit uncomfortable.

  Ugh, too close. He can smell his cologne. Jack narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

  Kai grinned. "Because you owe me coffee."

  He groaned, remembering that time when he asked for his help.

  Dragging a hand down his face, he said, "Dude, are you serious?"

  "Dead serious." Kai looked past him again, sniffing the air. "And I smell fresh coffee, which means you have no excuse."

  Jack exhaled sharply through his nose, knowing there was no escape. "Fine. But only because I don't want you breaking down my door next time."

  Kai smirked. "No promises." He strolled past him into the apartment, making himself at home like the few times that he did.

  He sighed, shutting the door behind him, still painfully aware of the fact that Kai was watching him like he had some big secret written all over his face.

  And maybe he did...

  Jack leaned against the counter, watching as his neighbor made himself comfortable in the kitchen, moving around with a familiarity that irked him just a little.

  Kai grabbed a mug from the cabinet like he owned the place, pouring himself a cup of Jack's freshly brewed coffee.

  "Man, you actually make decent coffee. Surprising." he commented.

  Jack scoffed, crossing his arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"

  Kai took a sip, humming in approval before shooting him a lazy grin. "Just saying. Didn't peg you as the 'put-effort-into-breakfast' kind of guy."

  He rolled his eyes, but deep down, he was grateful for the distraction.

  The throbbing in his toe had dulled to a mild ache, but his mind was still racing with everything that had happened that morning.

  His transformation, his power. His secret.

  Kai, however, seemed relaxed—too relaxed. Jack wasn't sure if it was just his usual demeanor or if there was something else beneath the surface.

  And he is letting him do so. His expression changing. Softening.

  I guess I really do look like an outcast. He said to himself.

  He's not that dense. He always felt like Kai is monitoring him or something.

  His speedy neighbor always seemed to appear at the most opportune moments, as if he had a sixth sense for when Jack needed someone to check in on him.

  But somehow, he feels grateful for it. I guess I'm too lonely, feeling like a beggar and craving even the fleeting attention of someone, anyone, who would notice me. It's crazy.

  Then Kai glanced at him, his expression shifting just slightly. "So, you doing okay?"

  He stiffened. There it was. The undertone. It was faint, but it was there.

  The question was casual, but the weight behind it wasn't. He is definitely stalking me or spying on me! But the question is... Why?

  Jack shrugged forcing his curiosity down, playing it cool. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

  Kai set his mug down, leaning against the counter with an unreadable look.

  "I don't know. Maybe because the store you work at got trashed? That's kinda big news." Jack clenched his jaw.

  Of course. Of course, Kai had heard. He should've expected this, should've prepared for it.

  He forced a chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "Oh, that? Yeah, it sucks. But hey, at least I get a forced vacation out of it."

  Kai tilted his head, studying him. "Mhm." He fought the urge to squirm.

  That sound—that skeptical hum—made his skin itch. He wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but it felt like he was looking at him differently.

  Like he was waiting for something. Jack shifted on his feet, his fingers twitching at his sides.

  Should he say something? Should he tell Kai?

  He could just casually slip it into the conversation. 'Oh yeah, by the way, I awakened yesterday. No big deal.'

  Yeah, right. Like that wouldn't be the weirdest thing to just drop into a conversation. Stupid move even.

  And he still did not trust Kai, this and that are different things.

  The guy took another sip of coffee, gaze flicking to Jack's hands. "You weren't at the store when it happened, were you?"

  Jack hesitated for half a second too long. "No," he said quickly, maybe too quickly. "I mean—yeah.."

  Kai's lips pressed together, as if he was weighing his next words. "Lucky."

  He swallowed, nodding. "Yeah. Guess so." Another pause.

  But Kai wasn't looking at him directly anymore, instead swirling the coffee in his mug.

  Jack could hear his own heartbeat in his ears, an annoying, persistent thud-thud-thud.

  He needed to change the subject before he noticed how stiff he was. Jack forced a smirk. "You worried about me or something?"

  Kai snorted. "You? Nah. Just curious how you managed to avoid the whole mess."

  Jack let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. It was a tease, a deflection.

  But something about the way he said it made him feel like he wasn't entirely off the hook.

  "I was lucky," Jack repeated, leaning back against the counter, mirroring Kai's relaxed stance. "What about you? Why are you suddenly so interested in my well-being?"

  Kai lifted a shoulder in an easy shrug. "Like I said, it's big news. And you're my neighbor. If something happened to you, who else am I gonna bum free coffee from?"

  He rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small laugh that slipped out.

  The tension eased slightly, but it still lingered just beneath the surface.

  Kai downed the rest of his coffee and set the mug in the sink. "Well, as long as you're good."

  He nodded, hoping that was the end of it. Hoping that his speedy friendly neighbor wouldn't push any further.

  Kai turned to leave, but paused at the doorway. "Oh, and Jack?"

  His stomach flipped. "Yeah?"

  Kai glanced over his shoulder; his blue eyes sharp. "You ever need anything, you know where to find me."

  Jack blinked. The words were simple, but there was something beneath them. Something unspoken.

  He forced a smirk. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get all sentimental on me."

  Kai huffed a laugh. "Right. Wouldn't want that."

  Then, just like that, he was gone, leaving him alone in the quiet apartment.

  Jack exhaled, running a hand down his face. That was too close.

  His fingers twitched again, and he stared down at them, his mind racing. He wasn't ready to tell anyone.

  Not yet.

  Especially not Kai.