The station had grown quieter since the Guardians' trials. The portal had tested them in ways they hadn't expected, leaving behind wounds that weren't easily seen. Zane's silence had deepened, while the others tiptoed around him, unsure of how to bridge the growing divide.
But time waited for no one, and neither did the looming threat of the Dark One.
Skye was the first to break the tension the following morning. She stood in the center of the training hall, her silver hair glinting in the early light as she summoned gusts of wind to lift her into the air.
"Alright, people!" she called, her voice cutting through the stillness. "If we're going to save the world, we need to stop sulking and start working."
Bruce crossed his arms, leaning against a wall. "Some of us don't sulk."
Skye grinned down at him. "You just brood. Same thing."
Bruce gave a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Leo clapped his hands, sending a small burst of fire into the air. "Finally, someone with the right energy. Let's do this!"
The others slowly gathered, though Zane lingered at the edge of the room. Jasmine glanced at him, her concern evident, but she said nothing.
Orin appeared, their presence commanding attention. "Today, you'll train in pairs. Your bond with your partner will determine how well you can handle the challenges ahead."
Leo immediately turned to Calypso, a mischievous grin on his face. "Guess it's you and me, star girl."
Calypso raised an eyebrow but didn't protest.
Skye nudged Bruce. "Guess that leaves us, tree boy."
Bruce rolled his eyes but followed her to their designated training area.
That left Zane and Jasmine. She approached him cautiously, unsure if he would even acknowledge her.
"Ready?" she asked softly.
He nodded once, his expression unreadable.
Leo and Calypso
Leo stood in front of a row of targets, flames dancing in his hands. "Alright, let's make this interesting. You pick a target, and I'll hit it without missing."
Calypso crossed her arms, her lips curving into a small smile. "Confident, aren't you?"
"Always," he said, flashing a grin.
She extended her hand, and a small starry sphere formed in her palm. With a flick of her wrist, she sent it flying toward the farthest target.
Leo's flames followed instantly, striking the target before the sphere landed.
"Not bad," Calypso admitted.
"Not bad?" Leo feigned offense. "That was amazing!"
She laughed softly, the sound like a melody. For a moment, Leo forgot about the training, caught up in the way her eyes seemed to hold entire galaxies.
"Focus, fireboy," she said, breaking the spell.
"Right," he muttered, shaking himself.
Bruce and Skye
Bruce knelt in the soil, his hands glowing faintly as he encouraged a vine to grow.
"Impressive," Skye said, hovering above him on a gentle breeze.
"Is that all you ever say?" Bruce asked, though there was no bite in his tone.
"Maybe I just think you're impressive," she replied with a wink.
Bruce shook his head, focusing on the vine. "Do you ever take anything seriously?"
Skye landed beside him, her expression softening. "I do. But if I didn't laugh, this whole saving-the-world thing would crush me."
Bruce glanced at her, his stoic mask slipping for a moment. "Fair enough."
They worked in silence after that, a quiet understanding growing between them.
Zane and Jasmine
Jasmine stood by the pool, her hands weaving patterns in the air as the water followed her movements. She glanced at Zane, who stood on the edge, his pocket watch in hand.
"Do you even need to practice?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Time doesn't need practice," he replied flatly.
Jasmine frowned. "Then why are you here?"
Zane finally looked at her, his dark eyes unreadable. "Because Orin said we had to work together."
She sighed, stepping closer. "Look, I get that you've been through... things. But shutting everyone out isn't going to help."
"You don't get it," he said, his voice cold.
"Then explain it to me," she challenged.
For a moment, Zane said nothing, his grip on the pocket watch tightening. "I've lost too much already. Trusting people only makes it hurt more when they're gone."
Jasmine softened, her voice gentle. "We're not going anywhere, Zane. We're a team. Whether you like it or not."
He stared at her for a long moment before finally nodding. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
By the end of the day, the Guardians were exhausted but closer than they had been before. Orin observed them from a distance, their expression unreadable beneath their hood.
"They're stronger together," Orin murmured. "But will it be enough?"
The fire in the hall crackled as the storm outside grew closer. Darkness was coming, and the Guardians would soon face their first true test.
