"Not Here to Make Friends"

The morning fog still clung to the trees as Mira stepped onto the gravel lot near the bridge, a rolled-up set of sketches tucked under her arm. The wooden skeleton of the structure loomed ahead, damp with dew and half-shrouded in mist. Workers were already hauling beams into place, their boots crunching softly over the dirt.

She adjusted her jacket and walked toward the makeshift table near the site, where Darian stood, checking a clipboard. Slate-grey eyes flicked up as she approached, unreadable.

"You're late," he said, though the clock on the table read 7:57.

Mira raised a brow. "We start at eight."

"We work at eight," he corrected, flipping a page. "We plan before that."

She bit back a retort and unrolled her sketches. "Here's the preliminary draft for the support structure. I made a few adjustments so the frame can use more of the original foundation without risking stability."

Darian took the paper without a word, his gaze scanning over the lines with infuriating calm. His brow arched slightly. "You're assuming the foundation can still take weight after last winter's flood. Risky."

"Calculated," she countered. "Replacing the entire base would take weeks. You want a bridge before the next rainy season or not?"

His eyes lifted, cool and assessing. "I want one that doesn't collapse the first time a tractor crosses it."

Before Mira could reply, a cheerful voice cut through the tension.

"Morning, champions of infrastructure!"

Zuri strolled across the lot in a cream jacket and ankle boots far too clean for the mud, Elijah trailing behind her with two coffees and a grin that seemed permanently etched into his face.

"You're both alive," Elijah said, handing Zuri one cup. "I wasn't sure after yesterday's… productive energy exchange."

Mira crossed her arms. "We were discussing designs."

Elijah smirked. "Is that what they call verbal sparring now?"

Zuri nudged Mira with her elbow. "Don't mind him. He thinks he's funny."

"I am funny," Elijah said easily, leaning against the table. "Unlike your boy here." He gestured toward Darian, who didn't even look up.

Zuri grinned. "He's more of a silent brooding type. Adds mystery."

"Or ulcers," Mira muttered under her breath.

Darian set the sketches down, finally speaking. "We'll need exact measurements of the soil depth by noon. Mira, you're with me. Elijah, Zuri, make yourselves useful and check the storage inventory."

Zuri blinked. "Excuse me? Did he just—"

"Come on," Elijah said, chuckling. "Before Mr. Sunshine gives us more chores."

As the two wandered off, Mira fell into step beside Darian, who was already striding toward the riverbank. The air was damp, carrying the scent of moss and fresh earth.

"You know," Mira said, breaking the silence, "delegating with a smile doesn't cost extra."

Darian glanced at her, expression flat. "I'm not here to make friends."

She smirked despite herself. "Clearly."

They stopped by the edge of the water where the bank dipped sharply. Darian crouched, testing the soil with a metal probe, his movements steady and precise. Mira knelt beside him, pulling out her tablet to log readings.

"You're heavy on caution," she noted after a minute. "Most builders would jump straight to the quickest method."

"And most architects overestimate how forgiving the land is," he replied evenly.

She looked at him, his jaw set, the morning light catching in his dark hair. Strikingly handsome, annoyingly sure of himself. "You always assume people don't know what they're doing?"

He met her gaze briefly. "I assume until they prove otherwise."

Her lips curved in a tight smile. "Then I'll just have to make that list short."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the soft lap of water against the bank.

Finally, Darian rose, brushing the dirt from his gloves. "Get the readings logged. We'll finalize adjustments by tonight."

He started back toward the site, boots leaving steady prints in the mud.

Mira exhaled, glancing at the water one more time before following. He was infuriating. And yet… something about the quiet steadiness in the way he worked grounded her, even as it drove her mad.

---

Later that day

The sun was dipping lower when Darian finally stepped into the workshop, peeling off his gloves. Elijah was stacking tools nearby, still grinning from whatever joke Zuri had made before leaving.

"She's stubborn," Elijah remarked, nodding toward the bridge site where Mira was still reviewing notes. "Matches you beat for beat."

Darian said nothing at first, hanging his gloves on the rack. "She's determined. Determined can get people hurt if they're not careful."

Elijah tilted his head. "Or… it can get things done."

Darian glanced out the window toward the fading figure by the river. He didn't reply, but his jaw tightened just slightly.