Later that night at the Stark Manor...

Ethan stared down over a side of his compound from the balcony. He was bare-chested, lost in thoughts that circled endlessly, replaying the events of earlier.

He thought back to the things Roland had said today. He didn’t blame the enforcer for his decisions.

The man was caught between survival and conscience, a position Ethan understood all too well.

Roland had a family to protect, secrets that could ruin him, and Edgar Desdemona wielded both like weapons. It wasn’t about being weak or complicit. It was about being cornered.

Ethan exhaled slowly. He barely noticed when his room door opened.

Hayley stepped in quietly with a small plate in her hand. She paused for a moment, watching him, then walked over to stand beside him.

"You’re still brooding," she said.

Ethan let out a soft tired laugh as he turned toward her. His eyes dropped to the plate in her hand. "What’s that?"

"Oh, this?" She lifted it slightly. "Something I tried making. I don’t even know what to call it yet. Just... threw a bunch of things together. Meat, pastry, spices. Thought I’d make something for you."

Ethan raised a brow. "Wait... how long have you been here?"

"For about an hour," she said. "But I stayed downstairs with Francesca."

He nodded slowly, then reached out to take a piece.

Hayley pulled the plate back. "No."

Ethan gave her a puzzled expression. "Eh?"

A mischievous smile curved on her lips. "I’ll feed you."

He gave her a look. "Hayley..."

"Yes," she said simply. "But not out here. Come inside."

"I’m not really in the mood..."

"You haven’t been in the mood all day," she cut in, rolling her eyes.

Before he could protest again, she grabbed his arm and pulled him along, guiding him toward the couch. Ethan sighed as he dropped into it, already knowing he wasn’t winning this one.

"Sit properly," she said.

"I am sitting..." but before he could finish, she moved and settled herself onto his lap.

Ethan stiffened slightly. "Whoa, okay..."

"Relax," she said. "Just go with it."

He exhaled, giving in.

Hayley then picked up a piece from the plate, holding it up to him. "Open."

Ethan hesitated for half a second, then did. He took a bite and eyes widened immediately.

"Okay... wait," he said, chewing. "Hayley... this is actually really good."

He reached for another, but then she pulled the plate back again. "Nope."

"Seriously?" Ethan asked.

"I said I’ll feed you." She repeated

He shook his head. And just as he completed the chewing for the first bite, she fed him another piece.

And another.

With each bite, the tension in his shoulders eased just a little more.

"Admittedly," he said after a moment, "I didn’t even realize I hadn’t eaten all day... but this? This is good."

Hayley smiled, she was pleased with the compliment. "I know."

He huffed lightly. "So you just randomly made this?"

She nodded. "Pretty much. I’ll figure out a name later."

After a few more bites, Hayley set the plate aside. Ethan leaned back on the couch, no longer as weighed down as before.

The edge in his expression had softened as well.

Hayley studied him for a moment, then asked, "So... why are you still stuck on it?"

He exhaled. "Lucy wants me to let the case go."

Hayley looked confused. "What? Why?"

Ethan hesitated, then answered by explaining the complications around it. He told her about Isaac being brought back as Edgar’s summon, and about Lucy feeling towards it.

"And what did you say?" Hayley asked.

"At first? Nothing." He let out another short breath. "Then I told her I’d consider it because we still needed to confirm if it was really him."

He paused. "But I already know it is," he continued. "It’s him. Edgar brought her father back as a summon."

Hayley didn’t interrupt.

Ethan continued. "But that’s not even the worst of it. Isaac had most likely pitched the original idea to Edgar. But they couldn’t come to an agreement."

"So Edgar had him killed and brought him back to force him to do the job."

"Okay, that is shitty," Hayley said.

"Yeah, that’s the problem," Ethan said. "I could walk away and focus on something else with Lucy."

He shook his head slowly.

"But something about it just... doesn’t sit right. I can’t shake it."

Hayley watched him a moment, then gave an understanding smile. "I think I get it."

He glanced at her.

"You know Lucy," she continued. "And with everything you’ve found out... it’s not something you can just ignore."

Ethan sighed. "Yeah... I’m also not sure whether to let Lucy know these new findings, she seems really tired with all of this. Right now, it feels like she just wants to let things be."

Hayley exhaled and said, "This is what I’m sure you should do, don’t try to solve it tonight."

He looked at her again.

"You’ve been carrying this the whole day." She gave him a small nudge. "You need a break."

Ethan hesitated. "...Maybe."

"Not maybe," she said lightly. "Definitely."

He smiled and nodded. Then, without warning, he reached out, lifted her off her feet, and scooped her up into his arms.

Hayley let out a surprised laugh. "Hey, hey, hey?"

He carried her over to the bed and dropped her gently onto it.

She bounced slightly on the mattress, then looked up at him. A mischievous glint sparked in her eyes as she propped herself up on one elbow, her lips curving into a slow, teasing smile.

"So... we’re getting right into it now?" she asked in a playful tone, biting down gently on her bottom lip and letting it drag between her teeth before releasing it slowly.

Ethan huffed a laugh, shaking his head as he stepped back. "I’m going to take a shower. Then I’m getting some sleep."

Hayley watched him for a second, the smile still lingering as he turned and headed toward the bathroom.

——

The Next Day At Stark Industries...

Ethan directed most of the work today as Lucy had taken some time off.

Bella was in the workshop with him that day, choosing to skip the academy and spend time by his side instead. She followed him around quietly, observing everything with wide, curious eyes.

"See that joint there?" he said, pointing. "It’s reinforced with a triple-layered alloy. Lightweight, but holds about four times the stress tolerance of standard steel."

Bella nodded thoughtfully, as though she understood what he just said. "I see I see"

Ethan couldn’t help but laugh, "I know you understood nothing of what I just said"

Bella then let go of the pretense and laughed, "I’m sorry babe, but you know I always love listening"

Ethan shook his head amusingly, then said "okay just know this, thing there" he pointed again, "it helps with making the airplane go faster"

She smiled and nodded, now this one was easier to understand.

They moved through the sections together, and after a while they were back at Lucy’s private side of the workshop.

The massive unfinished parts of the mecha loomed in the center of the space. Tools were scattered across workbenches, blueprints pinned to boards along the walls.

Ethan stared at the uncompleted work again with a sigh, before folding his arms.

Bella stepped closer and quietly slipped her hand into his. She said nothing, simply standing beside him as they both stared at the mecha.

The gesture made him exhale softly. Right then, his phone rang.

Ethan pulled it out and glanced at the screen.

[Perc 🐺 is calling]

He frowned slightly, then answered. "Hey Man"

But the voice that came through wasn’t Percival’s. The tone was thick, unfamiliar, and amused. "You might want to come check on your friends at the guild."

There was another mocking laughter before the call ended.

Ethan stared at the phone for a second with a hardened expression.

Bella looked up at him. "What happened?"

He met her gaze. "We need to go. Now."