His despair

Bryant and Oliver stared, uncertain.

This was not the Lav they knew. Not the one who once fought like fire, felt like thunder. The light in her eyes had dulled. No fury, no fight. Just a strange, quiet emptiness. "Why do you both look like I am falling apart?" She asked, still smiling faintly.

Bryant swallowed hard. He had not thought it would feel this wrong, seeing her laugh like that. Oliver reached for her hand, brushing his fingers against hers. Cold. Her skin felt like ice soaked in silence. "Lav," his voice low, concerned,

"where are you going... alone?"

Her eyes flicked to him, unreadable. And for a breath, she didn't answer. Lav glanced at their faces, a soft smile playing on her lips, detached, almost unrecognizable.