Noah got to the back and immediately _
A familiar floral scent cut through the stench of sweat and antiseptic. Sophie. Her arms wrapped around him from behind, her cheek pressed against his shoulder blade. Normally, her embrace would melt the tension from his muscles, but now her touch felt distant, almost foreign.
"Noah..." Her voice trailed off as she circled to face him. The usual warmth in her eyes had cooled, replaced by something Noah couldn't quite place—concern? Fear? Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached up to touch his face. "What was that?"
"What was what?" Noah's voice came out harsher than intended.
Sophie flinched. "You know exactly what. That wasn't you out there." She gestured toward the platform where medical staff still hovered over Elias. "You broke him, Noah. Not just beat him—broke him."
