Blaze didn't sleep that night.

He managed maybe ten minutes here and there, but the moment he drifted off, his mind dragged him back with noises he didn't even hear. Whispers. Echoes. His teammates' voices. Mercer's smile. Jason's silence. The datapad sitting on Jason's desk like it was waiting to choose for him.

When the morning finally cracked through the blinds of his dorm, Blaze felt like he hadn't rested in a week.

He pulled on a training top, winced when the fabric brushed his healing rib, and headed out. He kept his head down walking through the academy paths. Students whispered around him. Some glanced too long. Some didn't look at him at all.

He wasn't paranoid.

The news was out.

Aurion had leaked the transfer request.

Of course they did.

He made it to the training hall doors, but paused before pushing them open. He wasn't scared exactly. Just numb. Like he knew whatever was waiting for him inside wasn't going to be easy.

He pushed the door anyway.

Inside, the team was gathered in a loose circle near the center turf. Lionel, Grim, Anastasia, Scarlet, Aya, Kenji, Diego, Mikhail, Ryuji and Zara. All of them. Every single one.

And the moment Blaze stepped through those doors, their voices cut off.

The silence hit like cold water.

Aya was the first to move. She walked toward him until she was close enough to touch his arm, but didn't.

Her eyes were soft. Worried. "Blaze… we need to talk."

Lionel came next, but he wasn't soft. His expression was storm-dark, jaw clenched.

"Don't walk away this time."

Blaze crossed his arms. "I didn't walk away."

"You shut down," Lionel shot back. "Same thing."

Grim's voice was low and steady. "We're not attacking you. But we're not pretending anymore."

Blaze's throat felt dry. "Pretending what?"

Scarlet stepped forward, arms folded across her chest. Her voice stayed level, but Blaze heard the hurt buried under it. "That nothing's wrong. That you're okay. That you're not thinking about leaving."

He opened his mouth, ready to deny it again—

but Anastasia cut him off gently.

"You hesitated yesterday."

Those two words were enough to silence him.

Because she was right.

They all saw it.

Lionel stepped closer. "You didn't look at Mercer like he was the enemy. You looked at him like he was offering something you've been craving."

Blaze's hands curled into fists. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"That you want more," Lionel said. "And maybe you think you can't get it here."

Grim added, "Maybe you think you're falling behind."

Aya's voice dropped to a whisper. "Maybe you think we're leaving you."

That one hurt the most.

Blaze took a sharp breath.

He wasn't angry at them. He wasn't frustrated with them. He was frustrated with himself. With the ache in his rib that wouldn't fade. With the slower recovery. With how fast everyone else was improving while he stood still.

He exhaled shakily. "I'm not trying to pull away."

Zara stepped forward this time. "Then let us in. Because right now, you're shutting us out and we don't know how to help."

He didn't answer.

He didn't know how.

Aya took his wrist carefully, mindful of his injury. "We can handle anything except losing one of our own."

"I'm not leaving," Blaze said quickly.

Lionel's eyes narrowed. "Then why can't you say it without looking away?"

Blaze froze.

He hadn't realized he'd looked away.

Scarlet sighed softly. "We get it. You're scared. You're frustrated. You're hurt. But us? We're terrified, Blaze. Because for the first time since we became a team, we don't know where you stand."

The room felt too tight. Too small. Too loud even in silence.

He didn't explode. He didn't shout. He didn't argue.

He just whispered, "I don't know where I stand either."

The team went still.

Aya's grip tightened. "Blaze..."

"Don't," he said quietly. "I'm not choosing Aurion. I'm not choosing Veridion. I'm not choosing anything because my head is a mess and I can't even trust myself to think straight."

He had more to say.

But he didn't get the chance.

Because at that moment, the hall doors slammed open.

A loud, sharp sound echoed through the entire space.

Everyone turned.

Two academy staff members rushed inside, both tense.

One called out, "Director Hale is ordering all Titan squad members to the primary briefing room. Now."

Lionel frowned. "What happened?"

The staffer swallowed hard. "Aurion escalated."

Blaze's stomach dropped. "How?"

"They filed a second claim," the staffer said. "Not for transfer."

Grim's gaze sharpened. "Then what?"

The answer was brutal.

"For breach of athlete development protocol. And they submitted it to the League Authority."

Anastasia's eyes widened. "They're attacking the academy?"

The staffer nodded. "They're accusing Director Hale of deliberately stunting Blaze's growth to protect Veridion's reputation."

Blaze felt the world tilt.

Aya whispered, "That's insane."

"Insane or not," the staffer said, "the Authority has to investigate it. And Hale is furious."

The room exploded into overlapping voices.

"They're going after Jason?"

"That crosses a line."

"They're trying to punish him to reach Blaze."

"This is dirty even for corporate investors."

Blaze stood there, frozen.

This was his fault.

They were targeting Jason because of him.

Lionel noticed Blaze's face and stepped in front of him. "Don't even say it."

Blaze didn't look up. "They're attacking the academy because of me."

"Because of themselves," Grim corrected. "Not because of you."

Scarlet touched Blaze's arm. "You didn't choose this."

Blaze said nothing.

Because whether he chose it or not, the storm was here.

And it was tearing through everything.

THE BRIEFING ROOM

If the training hall felt tense, the briefing room felt suffocating.

Staff filled the space. Coaches. Analysts. Admins. Everyone buzzing with anger or fear. Screens on the wall displayed the formal complaint Aurion had filed.

Jason stood at the front of the room.

He looked collected, but Blaze had known him long enough to see the truth beneath the calm.

He was holding himself together by force.

When the Titans entered, Jason's eyes went straight to Blaze.

But he didn't call him out. He didn't address the team separately. He continued the briefing with steady control.

"Aurion is accusing this academy of deliberately slowing Blaze's progression. They're backed by a panel of corporate-aligned evaluators. If the Authority entertains the claim, they can override academy rights."

Kenji raised a hand. "Meaning?"

Jason didn't sugarcoat it.

"Meaning they can legally force Blaze into Aurion's program."

The air left the room.

Blaze stared at him, stunned.

"That can't be real," Diego muttered.

Jason ignored the whisper and continued. "I already responded. I rejected the claim and requested an immediate counter-review. But Aurion expected that."

Ryuji crossed his arms. "They're playing long-term."

"They're playing dirty," Zara added.

Jason finally looked at Blaze fully. "They believe you're unstable right now."

Blaze's chest tightened. "Unstable?"

"They think the injury, the pressure, the rising expectations… have made you vulnerable." Jason's voice softened. "They think you're on the edge. And they're trying to push you."

Blaze looked away, shame crawling under his skin.

Aya stepped forward. "What do they want him to do? Break down? Walk out? Sign something stupid?"

Jason hesitated.

"Worse," he said quietly. "They want him isolated."

Anastasia froze. "Why?"

"Because isolated athletes panic," Jason said. "And panicked athletes make choices they never would've made with their team beside them."

Lionel swore under his breath. "Mercer planned this."

Jason nodded. "They want him overwhelmed. Cornered. Alone."

Blaze rubbed his face with both hands. "This is insane."

Jason stepped closer, his voice lower now, meant only for Blaze but loud enough the team could hear.

"I'm putting protection protocols in place. You don't go anywhere alone. Not meetings. Not evaluations. Not interviews. Not even off-campus walks."

Blaze stiffened. "Jason..."

Jason held up a hand. "This isn't control. This is defense. Aurion is escalating, so I am too."

Lionel stepped beside Blaze. "We're with him."

"So are we," Grim added.

"One hundred percent," Scarlet said.

Jason nodded once. "Good. Because I'm making this official."

He looked at Blaze.

Really looked at him.

Gentle. Steady. Unshakable.

"You're not going to fight this alone."

Blaze swallowed hard. "Then what do I do?"

Jason reached out and placed a hand on Blaze's shoulder.

"Let me protect you."

For the first time since this began, Blaze felt something crack in his chest.

Not fear.

Not anger.

Something closer to relief.

Something that hurt in a different way.

And yet…

Before Blaze could answer, the briefing room door opened again.

Mercer stood there.

Smiling.

Holding a new datapad.

"Blaze," he said softly. "We need to talk."

The Titans stepped in front of Blaze instantly.

Lionel. Grim. Anastasia. Scarlet. Aya. Kenji. Diego. Mikhail. Ryuji. Zara.

A wall of loyalty.

A wall Mercer hadn't expected.

Jason's voice shifted into something cold.

"You take one more step toward him, Mercer, and I'll file a harassment complaint on top of the counter-review."

Mercer's smile didn't fade.

He held the datapad up.

"This isn't for Blaze."

Jason frowned. "Then who..?"

"It's for the League Authority," Mercer said. "A request to suspend you, Director Hale, for obstruction."

The room froze.

Blaze felt everything inside him go quiet.

Mercer met his eyes.

"It's time to choose."

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