The flower shop was too quiet.
Elias stood behind the counter, absently rearranging a bouquet for the third time. His hands moved, but his mind wandered.
Selena's blood had stained his apron.
Even now, he could still smell it—a faint metallic scent clinging to the air despite the eucalyptus and lilies. She had stood this close. Had nearly kissed him.
And he had turned away.
Why?
Because he was scared?
Because the moment had been too much?
Because… deep down, he didn't believe he belonged in her world?
The scissors trembled slightly in his grip.
"I'm not like her," he whispered to no one. "I'm not strong. I'm not useful. I just… arrange flowers."
A knock tapped on the back door.
Elias flinched. The tension still hadn't left his body since that night.
He opened it—and blinked in surprise.
Ryn.
Leaning against the doorframe, chewing bubblegum, hoodie half-zipped, and looking completely out of place in a flower shop. Their blue-green eyes flicked to Elias with a mixture of sass and something softer.
"Figured you'd be spiraling," Ryn said simply.
Elias stepped back to let them in.
"I'm fine."
Ryn raised a brow. "Mmm. Says the guy who looks like he hasn't slept in three days."
He sat down behind the counter. "She was hurt. And I froze. I turned away. I—"
"You think you're not enough for her."
Elias looked up sharply.
Ryn crossed their arms, leaning on the counter beside him. "I've seen that look before."
"When I was younger," Ryn said, voice quieter now, "I fell for someone like Selena. Dangerous. Intense. Wrapped in secrets."
Elias stared.
"I thought I was just… the side character. The soft one. Like if I loved them hard enough, maybe I'd become worthy. Spoiler alert: it doesn't work like that."
"What happened?" Elias asked gently.
"They died," Ryn said, matter-of-fact. "Did something stupid. Took a bullet I should've seen coming."
The silence hit like thunder.
"I spent months thinking I wasn't enough," Ryn continued. "Until Selena found me. Pulled me out of it. Trained me. Believed I could be more."
Elias frowned. "So you… became like her?"
"No," Ryn said. "I became me. But stronger."
"You think she wants someone who can fight beside her?" Ryn said. "Selena has a whole army for that."
Elias didn't answer.
"She doesn't need your strength," Ryn continued. "She needs your softness. That part of you no one else can fake."
"But what if it gets her hurt?"
Ryn's eyes softened. "It's already too late for that. She's in this. You're in this. Whether you like it or not."
Elias swallowed hard. "I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to know. Just don't run from her."
They stood up, brushing imaginary lint from their sleeve. "She's scared too, you know. She just hides it better."
As they headed toward the door, Ryn glanced back. "And Elias?"
"Yeah?"
"She's not just the queen of shadows anymore. You're the only light she's let in. Don't dim that."
That night, Elias didn't sleep again.
But he didn't spiral either.
He stood in the flower shop under dim lighting, eyes focused on a single bloom—a white lily, delicate but standing tall.
He took a breath.
Maybe he wasn't meant to fight in her wars.
But he could be something else. Something she didn't even know she needed.
Someone who stayed.