THE HEROS OF GODOLKIN | GEN V AND THE BOYS FIC |

12

After the intense situation that had unfolded, the group naturally splintered into duos. Cate and Andre headed to Indira's house, hoping to confront her when she returned, while Emma and Sam took off, determined to find a safe place to hide Sam from Vought. Jordan and Marie, wary of Indira's intentions and the tangled web of lies she spun, opted for stealth. They planned to sneak into her office, looking for any clues that might expose her real agenda.

Claire, however, was left behind. No one completely trusted her, not after everything she had done. Tension lingered like a thick fog, impossible to ignore. Every glance sent her way was filled with suspicion, each word dipped in distrust. It didn't help that her reputation was tainted by her manipulation of those around her. As a result, Max was reluctantly assigned to keep an eye on her, his presence an awkward reminder of what she had done.

The dimly lit hallway felt endless, its silence only broken by the faint sound of their footsteps. Claire walked ahead, her thoughts racing, while Max trailed behind. She could feel his gaze on her, warm and affectionate, which only twisted her insides further. Everything between them was built on a lie-a cruel manipulation that she had orchestrated-and now, the weight of that truth was suffocating.

"Max," Claire said suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence as she stopped in her tracks. She turned to face him, her heart pounding.

"Yes?" he replied, his usual smile flickering across his face. But it was too cheerful, too steady, considering everything that had transpired.

"No." Claire's tone was sharp, almost biting. "Stop it. Don't look at me like that."

His brow furrowed, concern replacing the smile. "What do you mean? I'm just-"

"I said stop!" Claire's voice rose in frustration, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She was done with the charade, done with the lies. "You know what I did. You saw the memory. I made you fall in love with me, Max."

Max's expression darkened, the hurt evident in his eyes. But he didn't look away, didn't falter. "I know what I saw, Claire," he said, his voice steady, but there was a trace of something vulnerable underneath-something that made her chest tighten.

"Come here," Claire said softly, her demeanor shifting as she pulled off her gloves, revealing the bare skin of her hands. She hesitated for a moment before reaching out, placing her hand on his cheek. The contact sent a faint warmth through her, but it also carried a heavy weight. "Any feelings for me that aren't your own will fade, leaving only what's real."

They stood like that for a moment, the hallway around them feeling smaller, the air between them heavier. Claire waited for the inevitable-waited for Max to pull away, to feel nothing for her anymore. She expected it, braced herself for it. But instead, he did the opposite. He reached up, gently grabbing her wrist and keeping her hand on his face. Then, without warning, he kissed her.

The unexpectedness of it caused Claire to gasp, her eyes widening in shock. His lips were soft against hers, warm and familiar, but filled with emotion that she didn't expect to still be there. When they finally parted, she blinked, trying to make sense of it.

"You see," Max said, his voice gentle, his gaze locked onto hers. "I still feel the same about you, Claire. You didn't change that. Now... can we just try? Can we have a real relationship?"

Claire was stunned into silence, her mind racing. She hadn't planned for this. She hadn't expected Max to still care for her, even after knowing what she had done. A part of her wanted to accept it, to let herself believe in the possibility of something real between them. And for a moment, she did. She smiled, a genuine one this time.

"Yes," she whispered.

Max's face lit up, his smile widening with hope. "Great," he said, relief evident in his voice.