Cobra left Eliana at her room and made his way to the mentors' private training room instead of going to sleep in his own room. Despite the late hour, he wasn't tired—only restless. As he entered the room, he caught the faint sound of movement and paused. But then he recognized the scent lingering in the air. Cinnamon.
"Why are you still up, Isaak?" he asked, his voice low as he turned toward the direction of their leader. Without his eyesight, Cobra relied on his other senses. Dane had once developed a medical enhancement—something that sharpened his hearing and sense of smell. It gave Cobra an edge, turning his greatest weakness into something advantageous.
"I couldn't sleep. Then I saw something interesting," Isaak's gravelly voice replied, commanding and calm. "You're training the girl now? Why?"
The others often questioned Isaak's leadership. Damon especially chafed under his authority. But despite the tension, Isaak had always held the group together through the years, ever since the five of them had started at the academy. Cobra respected him deeply—Isaak's opinion always mattered to him.
"Yes. Theo told me she asked to go to the library and requested me as her escort. I got curious. Then she asked me to train her." Cobra moved toward Isaak, and without further words, they began sparring. It was an unspoken tradition between them—a physical dialogue forged over years of trust.
Isaak threw a punch. Cobra dodged and countered with practiced ease.
"So, have you changed your assessment? Or is she still useless?" Isaak asked, ducking beneath a sweeping kick and slamming his shoulder into Cobra's chest, sending the larger man to the floor.
Cobra groaned but quickly got back on his feet, fists raised again. Isaak was just as strong, but his technique was unmatched. He always won, even so Cobra and the other mentors were already among the strongest.
"She's still shit," Cobra said, brushing off the dust. "But now I think there's room for improvement. Keith's been training her—if you can call it that. He's just been tormenting her. That guy's been here for years. I think we should look into him and maybe throw him out."
"Keith… the name rings a bell," Isaak muttered as he blocked an elbow strike and danced back. "He's been at the academy for over two decades. His father's influential—we can't just throw him out. And frankly, his methods helped weed out the weak."
"He's going too far with Eliana," Cobra argued, lunging forward.
"Why do you care? You falling for her like Dane is?" Isaak jabbed a fist into Cobra's jaw.
Cobra flinched—more from Isaak's words than the actual hit. He didn't want Isaak to think he was catching feelings for some naive little girl. The punch had come harder than usual, and Cobra could feel the jealousy simmering beneath Isaak's calm tone. Dane could have that girl if he wanted, though it was foolish to grow attached to anyone in this place. Cobra had learned that the hard way.
"Bullshit," Cobra spat, recovering quickly. "I just think she has potential. We shouldn't break her unnecessarily."
With a surge of energy, Cobra tackled Isaak to the ground and straddled him. But before he could land a hit, Isaak twisted, reversing their positions and pinning Cobra beneath him.
"Alright," Isaak said, breathless, his voice quieter. "We'll keep an eye on Keith. I trust your judgment."
They were both breathing hard now, sweat beginning to drip from their brows. Cobra could feel Isaak's breath warm against his skin. It had been years since he last saw Isaak's face—his dark skin, curly hair. That final day was one Cobra tried not to think about.
As if sensing his thoughts, Isaak brushed his fingers lightly across Cobra's closed eyes.
"I… I still can't forgive myself for what happened back then," Isaak said, voice raw.
Cobra's heart clenched. He hated hearing Isaak sound like this—so vulnerable.
Isaak never spoke about it, but Cobra knew. Knew that he still blamed himself for everything. He'd been their leader, the one meant to protect them all. And in his eyes, failure wasn't something you mourned—it was something you carried, silently, like a weapon pointed inward.
"We both know it wasn't your fault. It was either you or me. We all agreed we needed you more. You were more important."
Isaak shook his head, the pain etched into every movement. "Still… I'll make Lucifer pay for what he did. One day."
"Isaak… I think she could do it. Lucifer will underestimate her. But if we train her… maybe Eliana will finish what we started five years ago."
For a long moment, Isaak was quiet. Then he sighed. "We'll see. But don't get your hopes up. She'll probably die before she even gets close to him."
Cobra could feel Isaak's muscles pressing into his. It suddenly hit him how close they were. The heat between them. The weight of shared history. Desire flared up inside him, and he cursed it.
"Losing hope would be worse." Cobra's voice came out husky and deep, not able to ignore the effect Isaak had on him.
Isaak's hand brushed his cheek. "Maybe you're right..."
Their faces were now only inches apart but then Cobra shook his head.
No. Not again.
Cobra pushed Isaak off and cleared his throat. "I'm going to sleep."
He stood and left without another word, his footsteps echoing through the empty hall. Just as he reached the doorway, he heard the faint shift of movement behind him—Isaak, maybe stepping forward, maybe about to call out. But then the sound stopped. Isaak didn't follow. He stayed behind, silent, watching him go with a look of quiet longing in his eyes.
That chapter of their past was closed. Cobra couldn't afford to go down that road again.
Not in this world.
Not when love was a weakness someone like Lucifer would use against you without mercy like he once already did.