Empire of Nothing

Nova didn't cry.

Not after the fight.

Not when she slammed her bedroom door.Not even when the silence swallowed her whole again.

She was too used to being the villain in someone else's story.

Let Ryder hate her. Let him think she stole something that was never hers. She was tired of apologizing for breathing.

But anger only burned for so long.After that, it just… sat there. Cold and heavy.

Night fell. Dinner came and went. She didn't go down.

Let them eat without her. Let them whisper.

Nova curled up in bed, still wearing the hoodie from the sleepover. Zane's mom had said she was wanted. Chosen.

But that was there.

Here?

She was the crack in their perfect walls.

A reminder they couldn't fix.

She heard a knock.

Nova stiffened. "Go away."

The door creaked open anyway.

And there stood Darian.

Of all people.

Dark hoodie, sleeves pushed up. Quiet as always. His expression unreadable.

"…What?" Nova asked, too tired for another fight.

He didn't answer.

Instead, he walked in, slow and deliberate, and set something on her nightstand.

A mug.

Steam curled from the top.

Nova blinked. "Tea?"

"Helps with rage," he said simply.

She stared. "You… made me tea?"

"No," he said, deadpan. "The kitchen summoned it."

She almost smiled. Almost.

Darian turned to leave, then paused in the doorway.

"You shouldn't have to fight to exist," he said, voice low.

Nova looked at him, truly looked. "Then why do you all make it so hard?"

He didn't flinch. "Because we're all still bleeding. You just got here with clean hands."

And then… he left.

Just like that.

No big speech. No fix.

Just truth.

And the tea?

Still warm.