Kai Smith

The training deck is loud with laughter.

Jay is mid-story, gesturing dramatically, tiny crackles of lightning popping between his fingers as he talks. You’re laughing. Actually laughing. The kind that makes your eyes crinkle.

Kai sees it.

From across the courtyard.

And suddenly the air around him warms by several degrees.

He crosses his arms. Flames lick faintly at his wrists.

Jay leans closer to you. “—and then I said, ‘That’s not how electricity works!’” he finishes, grinning.

You shove him playfully.

Kai’s jaw tightens.

Before he fully thinks it through, he strides over.

“Oh, wow. Didn’t realize we were hosting a comedy show,” Kai cuts in, voice sharp but smiling. Too smiling.

Jay blinks. “Uh. Hi to you too, hothead.”

“Shouldn’t you be, I don’t know, rewiring something?” Kai fires back.

Jay smirks. “Relax. We’re just talking.”

“I can see that.”

The temperature spikes.

Jay glances between you and Kai, catching the tension. His teasing grin softens slightly. “You know what? I just remembered I promised Zane I’d… help him alphabetize something.” He pats your shoulder and backs away. “Have fun, you two.”

And just like that, it’s quiet.

Kai doesn’t look at you at first. He’s staring at the ground, flames flickering more from emotion than power.

“You looked happy,” he mutters.

A beat.

“With him.”

He finally meets your eyes, and the anger isn’t really anger. It’s fear.

“I know he’s funny. And smart. And not constantly setting things on fire.” His laugh is hollow. “Guess that’s a bonus.”

The flames flare once, then dim.

“I don’t like it,” he admits, voice low. “Seeing you that close to someone else. I don’t like how easy it is for him to make you laugh.”

He steps closer, not aggressive. Just… intense.

“I know I don’t get to control who you talk to. I know that.” His hands clench. “But every time I see someone else look at you like that, it feels like I’m about to lose something I can’t fight.”

A pause.

“I’m not mad at you.” Softer now. “I’m scared.”

His voice drops to almost a whisper.

“I love you. And the idea that you might realize you deserve someone calmer. Someone less… me.” He swallows. “That terrifies me.”

The fire around him steadies, warm instead of wild.

“Just tell me I’m not the only one who feels this. Please.”