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“You don’t get to die to prove a point.”
That lands.
Harder than anything else he’s said.
Because this—
This isn’t about the mission anymore.
This is about me.
I reach for his hand.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Like if I move too fast, he’ll pull away.
“This isn’t dying,” I say quietly.
His fingers tighten around mine instantly.
Like he’s anchoring me.
Or trying to.
“This is ending it.”
He closes his eyes.
Just for a second.
But I see it.
The crack.
The one thing Aaron doesn’t show anyone else.
Fear.
Real fear.
Not of the mission.
Not of the enemy.
Of losing me.
When he opens his eyes again, it’s still there.
Buried.
But not gone.
And behind us—
The system pings again.
