Red and Betty boarded the plane with Tinie and Drake, all of them in the same cabin.

There were even more people inside than Betty had expected. She quietly winced, her facial mask crumpling, which she fixed.

Red scanned the cabin — mostly occupied by members of this faction of Dominion — then looked at Betty, who was doing her best to stay hidden. With this many eyes around, her cover could be blown before they even took off.

"Ahem!" Red cleared his throat and shot to his feet. "Excuse me — why are all of you in this cabin? Can someone make me understand this lack of manners?"

Every head turned, brows drawn together.

Red planted his hands on his hips and looked around with open contempt.

"Do you have any idea who is sitting in this cabin? It’s someone very important!" He jabbed a finger at the seat behind him. "Do you honestly think you deserve to be breathing the same air as her?"

Drake scoffed while a few others snickered. Tinie, on the other hand, frowned.

Red had been quiet until now, but here he was again. For them, it seemed Ashley had corrupted the man.

"You are in the presence of the Madam of Dominion," Red pressed on, "and all of you are just sitting here — breathing her air! It’s suffocating! Aren’t you ashamed you’re polluting the air?!"

Betty peeked at him from behind her seat. She bit her lip, caught his quick glance in her direction, and gave him a discreet thumbs-up before she could stop herself.

My facial mask is drying. If it starts peeling, they’d see my face.

Red’s expression said, I’ve got this, before he whipped back toward the others with full dramatic energy.

"What? Still not moving?" Red threw his hands.

"Hey, Red," Drake stood. "Calm down. We’re here to make sure she’s safe —"

"Safe?!" Red’s face scrunched. "Who exactly is going to attack her up here?"

He paused and pointed at the ceiling. "The angels?!"

Everyone: "..."

Betty: "???"

For a second, no one spoke just because of a ridiculous argument none of them had ever thought they’d come across.

"And what do you take me for?" Red slapped a hand to his chest. "You think I can’t protect her on my own? Or — wait. Don’t tell me you all want my protection but are too embarrassed to ask. Ah, if that’s the case, then be my guest."

The offense on everyone’s faces was immediate.

Even Drake deadpanned.

Red might be good at what he did. But so were they. Possibly better. At least, that was what they told themselves.

"Just calm down, Red," Drake said through his teeth. "There’s no need to —"

"If the Master wakes up and finds wrinkles on her face from all this stress, will any of you take responsibility?!" Red gasped. "Or are you already acting like the Master is as good as dead? Hah! Outrageous! Every last one of you!"

Even Betty had to press a hand over her mouth.

"If you want to protect her, then protect her by keeping people out of this cabin!" Red harrumphed. "You are suffocating our very delicate Madam!"

Delicate.

Sure, Ashley was delicate... not the flower kind of delicate, but grenade kind of delicate.

The furrows on everyone’s foreheads deepened. Just before Drake could fire back, Tinie rose from his seat.

"I apologize for the disruption, Madam," he said, cutting Drake a look.

"But —"

"He has a point," Tinie said, cutting Drake off cleanly. "We were ordered to escort the Madam. She’s here. There’s no reason for everyone to remain in this cabin."

His expression stayed neutral. "She is still the Madam of Dominion."

Drake looked like he had plenty left to say, but he swallowed it.

"Fine," he glanced at the others. "Move to the other cabin."

He stepped into the aisle, clicked his tongue at Red one final time, and left.

Tinie followed, but paused and turned toward Betty.

"I apologize for the lack of courtesy, Madam." He lowered his head. "If you need anything, I’ll be just next door."

Before he could say another word, Red waved him off. "Just go! If she needs anything, I’ll come find you! Shoo!"

Tinie frowned, said nothing, gave Betty one last glance, and left.

Red herded the stragglers out and finally dropped into the seat beside Betty.

"Damn," he muttered, checking that the cabin was clear. "I hope they suffocate over there."

"This is so nerve-racking," Betty whispered. "Thanks. The mask is almost completely dry — I can’t let them figure it out before we’re in the air."

Red looked at her, brow raised.

They’d been working together all day. Betty had been quietly trying to piece together how news of Lucian’s collapse had spread through the mansion so quickly. Red had been gathering information for Ashley, trying to ease her load. Neither of them had imagined their cooperation would end up looking like this.

"You’re holding up well," he said with a nod. "Honestly, I’m shocked you came up with this."

Betty scratched the back of her neck. "Me too."

A short silence passed between them, and then — almost at the same moment — the corners of their mouths curved upward.

The problem wasn’t solved. Not even close.

But this still felt like something.

"It wouldn’t have worked without you," Betty added. "I wouldn’t have gotten this far alone."

That much was true. With Red beside her, no one questioned her claim. He wouldn’t be here if she weren’t the real thing — and everyone knew it.

"Haha. Well..." Red shrugged.

Their smiles faded quietly as they leaned back.

The danger hadn’t gone anywhere.

Then the aircraft began to move. They both turned toward the window and watched the plane slowly leave the runway. Betty felt the tilt as it lifted, and she drew a slow breath, willing her heart to settle.

"Even if they figure it out now," she murmured, glancing at Red, "we’ve already bought enough time."

Red met her eyes. Then he looked back out the window and exhaled.

"Only one question left," he said quietly. "What does she do next?"