Matt stood in front of him, scalpel glinting in the tremble of fluorescent light.
Aaron's breath slowed. He knew this moment.
Not the place, not the context—but the feeling.
The line.
The one you cross when you decide who you really are.
"I'm not afraid of you," Aaron said quietly.
Matt looked up. That smile was still there, but it had cracked.
A flicker behind the eyes. Something drowning.
"That's the problem," Matt said.
He crouched again, placed the scalpel gently against Aaron's chest—just above the sternum. Didn't press. Not yet. Just let it rest.
Aaron didn't move.
"You remember the bridge?" Matt asked. "Nineteen degrees, no gloves, and you dragged me out of the car like I was a body, not a person."
Aaron's voice was gravel. "You OD'd in the passenger seat."
Matt's head tilted, birdlike. Curious. Distant.
"You didn't call 911."
"You had warrants."
"So did you."
Matt leaned in.
"I remember thinking you were a goddamn hero, man. You carried me across two lanes of ice, wrapped me in your jacket, sat there shaking, saying Don't die on me."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"You didn't even know I was already gone."
The scalpel pressed in just enough to break skin.
Aaron winced but didn't look away.
"You can do it," he said. "If you think that's who you are now."
Matt's hand shook. Just slightly.
"I don't know who I am."
"Yes you do," Aaron said. "You're scared. And you should be. Because Bishop doesn't kill people, Matt. He makes them watch."
Matt's breath caught.
Aaron leaned forward into the blade, blood trickling.
"But I'm still here. Which means he didn't win yet. And if you cut me now, you finish what he started. You stop being my brother. You start being his."
The scalpel trembled.
Matt's hand moved back.
Then forward.
Then—it dropped.
Clattered to the floor.
Matt staggered back like he'd been struck.
He put both hands to his face. Breathing hard. Breaking apart.
Aaron said nothing.
He knew the war wasn't over.
But for now—just for now—he'd pulled Matt back from the edge.
Even if only to dangle there beside him.