Sam moved toward Aaron on the Balcony, his eyes cast into the bottomless expanse before them—a live-feed vista of the mortal world, projected like a celestial CCTV for BOH agents. The view shimmered into a crowded street somewhere on Earth: commuters rushing to their destinations, faces different yet strangely alike, all locked in the rhythm of finishing the day's demands.

"Watching strangers again?" Sam asked lightly.

Aaron shrugged, nonchalant. "No one in particular comes to mind, anyway. Please—go ahead."

At Sam's thought, the scene shifted: from the bustling street to a small roadside home, the one Aaron's team had been outside just an hour ago. Inside, fear had dissolved into tears of relief as a father returned and embraced his wife and daughter. The little girl clung to his work-stained shirt while her mother sobbed against his shoulder. Together, the three sat down to dinner, warmth and laughter filling the room.

Sam smiled—then glanced at the young man beside him, and his smile faded.

"Sorry, Aaron. Did my request put you and your team in a hard spot?"

The regret in his tone startled Aaron. He slid down from the balustrade to stand properly. Despite being more than a head taller than Sam, he looked small, uneasy, like a schoolboy before his teacher.

"I should be the one apologizing," Aaron muttered, avoiding his gaze. "I heard my actions went overboard. Cost you a lot of soul energy."

"It's fine." Sam clapped his shoulder. "I could handle it. You even offered half your own energy as compensation."

Aaron's shoulders sagged, breath escaping like a sigh held too long.

"I know it's selfish," Sam continued gently, "but I'm relieved you were there, son." He clasped Aaron's hands in his own, eyes gleaming with paternal pride. "You were recruited for your heart, just like the rest of us. With time, you'll do better, even better than anyone."

For an instant, uncertainty flickered in Aaron's eyes—hope, quickly extinguished.
"I'm not so sure, Gramps." His chuckle was thin. "Eight years here should be enough to prove I'm not suited."

Sam shook his head, frustrated.

Aaron dodged the moment with a grin. "Anyway. This month's your last, right? You ready for... retirement?"

"Right. Time flies." Sam's gaze lifted to the infinite sky. "My soul's cycle is complete. These last days I'm visiting old friends, leaving blessings to the children, and finally—finally—taking my long-awaited vacation. After that... a new adventure." His eyes sparkled with boyish excitement.

"That's wonderful," Aaron said softly. "You deserve it. Though... it's a pity. You won't remember any of this. And I'll never know who you'll become." His voice trembled. "So... this is goodbye, then."

"Oh, my dear boy." Sam wrapped his arms around the tall, thin figure with the affection and worry of a father leaving his child behind. "We'll meet again, bound by what we shared. I'm sure of it."

Aaron returned the hug, smile faint but eyes heavy. "What's the point if we won't be us anymore?" He swallowed the thought, burying it in silence.

"Promise me you'll be alright while I'm gone," Sam urged, voice firm, hands fixing Aaron's collar. "Be open to others. Your coworkers can be your friends and family too. Make good memories. When you find meaning in your service and enjoy it to the last day of your cycle, your forgotten past won't matter. That's why you bear the name Cross. Understand?"

"Yes..." Aaron answered, hesitant.

"Straighten up, agent!" Sam barked suddenly, all authority.

"Yes, sir!" Aaron snapped to attention with a salute, then they both grinned. At that moment, what Sam told him still sounded so distant. He only wished to see the kind elder off with peace of mind.

___

But once Sam departed, the light left Aaron's face. His features fell back into gloom as he trudged toward Henry's office. The trek through crowded halls didn't help—eyes followed him, whispers buzzed around him like a scandalous storm. At the door, he sighed and entered.

Henry sprawled on his swivel chair, legs propped on the desk, one arm thrown over his forehead, covering his eyes. A haggard wreck of a captain. Aaron braced himself. He knew this mood.

"Sorry, Captain," he said quietly, hoping contrition would spare him a storm.

Henry peeked out with dark-rimmed eyes sharp as knives. His laugh was bitter. "Well, if it isn't Mr. Cross—our star agent. Why apologize?" He loomed forward, staring straight at Aaron's lowered gaze, arms folded across his chest, a half smirk on his face. "Genius tactics like yours should put me to shame for trying to command you."

Aaron stiffened. "Please, sir. I'll accept any punishment from HQ."

Henry's brow arched. "Any punishment?"

"Yes, sir." Aaron's throat was dry. If that drugged driver had died, he might have to pay with his own soul. Poof. Gone from BOH's records like a disgrace. He prayed Sam would leave before hearing the verdict.

A long silence. Aaron's phantom heart hammered.

"Lucky for you, the guy survived." Henry's scoff was laced with contempt. "Some rich bastard with blessings to spare—stimulants and hypercars, life's so unfair." He clicked his tongue, leaning back against his desk. "Another team handled the request to save his ass. But the full energy for it? That's on you. Objections?"

"No, sir," Aaron replied quickly, relief washing over him.

"Look at you being so casual about losing soul energy," Henry's gaze burned. "That much could erase a level-U agent. But then, no level-U could cause that disaster to begin with."

Aaron shifted. "Um... I'll head to Storage, then."

"Not so fast." Henry's snarl froze Aaron. He circled his subordinate like a predator. "What you said earlier, that the driver was at fault—you think he deserved it?"

Aaron sweated cold. "N-no, sir. That's not what I meant."

"Don't lie." Henry's eyes pierced him.

Aaron swallowed, then exhaled. "I admit... I thought so. For a moment. I was agitated."

Henry sighed, long and weary. "Now this is the truth. I don't have to repeat the damn rule to you, right?"

Aaron's posture snapped taut. "Agents help, not judge. I remember, sir."

"Glad you remember," Henry pressed his temple to ease his headache. "You were this close to violating an ultimate law. I busted my ass to clean up your mess."

"I'm truly sorry," Aaron said quietly.

"Those who crossed that line only had one of two fates," Henry's voice turned grave. "Their souls were destroyed... or corrupted beyond salvation. None of those were pleasant."

The room fell into a chilling silence.

___

Leaving Energy Storage, Aaron's steps dragged. Two Charges saved—one from death, one from ruin. But every miracle took its toll. His face was pale, his core barely held. He steadied his breath, moving on. Henry would often grumble on about how lucky Aaron was, while his low energy and heavy workload made him feel like an old man. Well, the Captain just didn't know any better.

Then came Leo and Ray.

"Hey, Aaron!" Leo swooped in, too fast, too close. "You look awful. You okay, dear?"

"I'm fine," Aaron muttered, turning away slightly. He had nothing against his teammate's rich perfume, but now it only made him dizzier.

"Poor boy." Leo dabbed Aaron's sweat-beaded forehead with a coral handkerchief, like a worried sister. Aaron accepted with gratitude, though the scent nearly made him faint.

"Captain gave you hell again?" Ray asked, calm and sympathetic. "He's under pressure from the higher-ups, being a middle manager is tough. Don't resent him too much."

"I know," Aaron nodded. Ray had joined the team later than him, but he was older and more experienced in workplace politics.

"Enough talk. Work's over—let's go wild!" Leo grabbed their arms with a gleeful grin.

Aaron hesitated.

"Oh, right. We are going to a club," Ray turned, asking out of courtesy. "Wanna come with us?"

Aaron was about to say no.

But Sam's voice echoed in his mind: Be open to others. Make memories.

"...Yeah." His smile strained. "Let's go."

___

Thirty minutes later, he deeply regretted it.

The nightclub pulsed with neon and noise, bodies grinding under heavy bass.

"Come on, Aaron!" Leo, now inhabiting a drunk girl, transforming her into the party queen, shouted from the crowd.

"Uh... can we even use our powers like that?" Aaron whispered nervously to Ray.

"As long as we keep them safe." Ray reassured, already sliding into a tipsy man's skin with practiced ease. "Just for fun. Wanna try?"

He nodded at a group high on God-knows-what nearby. Aaron stared in panic and shook his head.

"Okay, it's your first time, so just chill, then." Ray shrugged and headed toward the DJ booth like a pro.

"What a boring kid," he sighed and muttered to Leo.

"Why'd you invite him?" Leo, now Lily, laughed.

"I thought he would refuse, like always." Ray winced, adjusting his console as the audience cheered wildly.

"Leave him." Leo set down his emptied wine glass and launched into a killer dance, following Ray's flawless beat, the crowd cheering even louder. "That's how a boy becomes a man."

Aaron endured the suffocating corner, soul nearly drowned by the tide of life force around him. Desperate, he slipped into a man passed out at the bar—but was instantly caught in a shower of kisses from the man's lover. Horrified, he left the man and bolted outside.

Breathless in the back street, he leaned against the brick wall, chest tight. Not even missions drained him like this.

Then he saw her.

A girl staggered alone down the empty sidewalk, long hair veiling her face, her skirt swaying. She looked drunk—oblivious.

Above her, an iron beam hung loose, dangling from a corroded scaffold, seconds from falling.

Seconds from crushing down on her.

___

Being a BOH agent isn't an easy job. You've got to endure your boss, stay under constant judgment, and force yourself to socialize at after-work activities! Sound familiar? - Alley