"Deal."

A deal with the devil.

But who was Cillian Quinn making a deal with?

The fragment is clutched tight.

He does not move away, though, at first.

His free hand raises quick, does not touch Gavin as promised, but hooks a finger through the collar of his shirt. Pulls him down.

"You're going to hate him." Then he lets go, backs away, and the fragment is lifted to his mouth. Crystal grates on crystal as another large bite is taken.

Chu-e's done with him. So he simple turns around and goes back to sit at his desk.

Gavin reacts faster than could be expected. The office is drenched in miasma that curls around him as his hand snaps up to snatch the thin wrist of Chu-e Choi.

"Do. Not. Touch. Me."

He will never hate Chu-e. He will hate only what it turns him into.

He had made a promise, after all.

The grating sound of crystal scraping against itself is a trigger that worms deep into his psyche and threatens to shatter his carefully crafted composure. It reminds him of how it feels to be weak, vulnerable, dying.

Having relinquished his grip, Gavin turns, and walks out.

Chu-e Choi