Cyclops didn’t let go of Trixie for a long time—longer than he should’ve held her. Long enough that the adrenaline in his veins started to cool and the reality of what had just happened between them settled like a weight across his shoulders. She said she thought he wouldn’t come back, and he felt something in his chest crack clean in half.
Now she stood in his arms, breathing hard, trembling just enough that anyone else would’ve missed it. But he didn’t. He noticed everything about her, even the smallest flinch. The subtle shift of her fingers curling into his shirt like she was trying to anchor herself to something that wouldn’t disappear. He held her tighter.
She was halfway his already, and that terrified him in a way nothing else ever had. “Come on,” he said, pulling back just enough to look at her. “Let’s get you out of the hallway.”
She nodded, eyes still bright with leftover panic. He took her hand and guided her into her room—not locking her inside, not closing her off, just making sure she sat on the edge of the bed before he crouched in front of her.
“You’re safe,” he said. “Nobody got in.”
“You still ran out there alone,” she whispered.
“I never run alone,” he corrected. “Venom was with me. And so was Ink and half the damn club.”
“That’s not what I mean.” Her voice cracked on the last word.
He exhaled slowly. “I know.”
She stared at him with those dark, wounded eyes that made him want to burn down the whole world in her name. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
“This.” She gestured vaguely between them. “Feel things when I’m not supposed to. Care about someone who could?—”
“Don’t say it,” he warned gently. Her mouth snapped shut. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re allowed to care, Trixie.”
“No, I’m not.” Her fists clenched. “People leave. People die. People get taken. Caring about someone means giving them something they can use to hurt you. It was one of the first lessons that my father taught me.”
He didn’t move, didn’t push. Just held her gaze. “Your father taught you that?” he asked quietly. She nodded, and he stood slowly, extending a hand to her. “Come on.”
Her brows furrowed. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere you should’ve been brought the moment you set foot in this compound,” he said. “And somewhere I should’ve shown you last night.” She hesitated, but took his hand. He pulled her to her feet and led her out into the hallway—Venom and Ink were still stationed like two massive tattooed statues at the intersection.
Ink raised a brow. “Everything good?” Cyclops gave him a look that saiddon’t push it. Ink pretended not to see it, which was a small miracle.
Venom scanned Trixie from head to toe, like he was checking for injuries. “You all right, girl?”
“Yes,” she said automatically.
“No,” Cyclops corrected. “But she will be.” He guided her past them, down the stairs, through the common room, and into the back garage where the club kept their most secure equipment.
Trixie looked confused. “What are we doing here?” Cyclops let go of her hand long enough to punch a code into a steel door. It slid open with a hiss, revealing a reinforced room with maps, radios, encrypted tablets, and enough surveillance gear to track a small army.
“This,” he said, “is the panic room.”
Her breath hitched. “Why are you showing me this?”
“Because,” he said, turning to face her fully, “if anything ever goes wrong—anything at all—you come here.” She stared at him, stunned. He continued, his voice steady and low. “This is where you stay safe until we finish the fight. It’s reinforced, locked from the inside, and has a direct line to my radio channel. You don’t run into the woods. You don’t hide in a closet. You don’t try to fight alone.” He stepped closer, invading her space with intention, not intimidation. “You. Come. Here.”
Trixie swallowed. “Cyclops,” she breathed.
“I’m not giving you an out,” he said. “I’m giving you a damn lifeline.”
She sank against the metal table behind her, bracing herself with both hands. “Do you do this for every woman you bring here?”
He huffed a laugh. “I’ve never brought a woman here.”
“Why me then?” she whispered.
