Rallying the Gang and the Pressure of Perfection    

Cain returned to CROSS HQ, the atmosphere heavy with uncertainty. He called for an emergency meeting, planning on telling everyone about his short leave from the gang.

"You'll be leaving?" Joker's usual smirk faded, replaced by a rare frown, while Bones' laughter died down to a concerned silence.

"Just temporarily," Cain reassured them, his voice calm. "I'll still visit once or twice a month, but my job requires me to be out of town for a while."

Joker eyed Cain with suspicion, his frown deepening. "Cain, why are you taking these jobs all of a sudden? You never liked working before."

Cain took a deep breath, and lied out of his breath, "Well, I like this one, and I'm planning to pursue it seriously."

His words hung in the air, and the room fell into a stunned silence. Joker, Bones, and the rest of the gang members exchanged uneasy glances, their leader's sudden change of heart catching them off guard.