Page 16 of 8-Bit & Cat

Zero rolled his shoulders. “I thought she’d be resistant. Second-guessing. Fighting it in ways that would make us work harder.”

Omnis took a step forward, tilting his head slightly. “And she didn’t.”

“No,” Zero admitted, jutting his jaw at him, waiting forhistake on it.

A quiet beat passed.

Omnis watched him closely. “You think she’s faking it.”

Zero flexed his fingers. “I think she’s playing along.” He met Omnis’ eyes. “I think shewantsto believe it. That’s different from understanding it.”

Omnis exhaled, his stance shifting. He wiped his palm over his shoulder where the last strike had landed, then met Zero’s gaze evenly. “Or maybe she understands more than you think.”

Zero’s expression darkened slightly. He didn’t doubt she understood more than she let on. Wouldn’t be much of a predator if she turned in a neat outline of her real intentions.

Omnis stepped forward, closing the space between them. “I saw how you watched her,” he said, voice steady. “You weren’t just looking for flaws. You were waiting for something. What was it?”

Zero clicked his tongue. “Waiting for her tocrack.”

Omnis lifted a brow. “And she didn’t.”

Zero let out a slow breath, rolling out his neck. “No.” He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “Not in the way I had expected.” She’d nearly jumped out of her body when his finger grazed her nipple. Not the break he’d wanted.

Omnis studied him. “What sort of break did you expect?”

Zero’s jaw flexed. “The break that means she’s incapable of any of this.”

Omnis nodded slightly, taking that in. Then, smoothly, “And that didn’t happen.”

Zero’s fingers curled into fists, but not with aggression—more like irritation. Not at Omnis. At something else. “Not yet,” Zero said, finally.

“So where’s the problem?” Omnis asked, dodging a direct punch.

“Shewantsthis too much.”

Omnis watched him a moment longer before stepping back, motioning for another round. Zero set his stance, moving in.

As they exchanged blows again, Omnis spoke evenly. “Desperation? Or motivation?” His next strike slipped past Zero’s defenses just enough to skim his ribs. “She knows she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.”

Zero stilled just a fraction too long.

Omnis stepped back, satisfied. “Lesson two should be interesting.”

Zero exhaled sharply, rolling his jaw. “Yeah,” he muttered, brushing a hand down his face. “Can’t fucking wait.”

The next round started slower, more calculated. Their movements sharper, each hit measured. But the tension between them hadn’t eased—more like shifted into something more jagged.

Zero’s elbow nearly clipped Omnis’ ribs before Omnis twisted away, stepping into his next question like it had been waiting for its moment. “How do you think she’ll take it?”

Zero barely hesitated, anticipating that exact question. “Giving pain?”

Omnis nodded, landing a controlled hit against Zero’s shoulder before stepping back.

Zero exhaled sharply, shaking his arm out. “Terrible.”

Omnis lifted a brow. “Really?”

Zero pushed forward again, feinting before shifting to a harder strike, knowing Omnis was baiting him. “Really.” He barely missed Omnis’ jaw. “She took nearly five minutes just to sit in a fucking chair. She’ll definitely burn up some minutes with this one. Five for hesitation, ten for overthinking, another ten forcrying.” All weaknesses Zero despised.

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