The Five Evolution

『"You’re not yourself lately..."』

"Hiro..." Sophia hadn’t moved from her chair. "What the hell do you think you’re d—"

Hiro’s hand found the side of her face as he tilted his head, going in for a kiss.

In that split second of decision-making, she had two choices: back away incredibly fast, or let it happen... and then back away.

Hiro’s lips pressed against hers softly. Sophia sat still as the kiss lingered only for a moment before shoving him hard and shooting to her feet. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Hiro stepped back, collecting himself. A dazed, unnaturally confident smile spread across his face. "You kissed me first, remember?"

Sophia’s eyebrow climbed up. "I was trying to help you, dumbass." She rubbed her face with both hands and moved toward the door. "I thought you weren’t going to make this a thing."

Hiro sidestepped quickly, blocking her path. "It doesn’t have to be a thing if you don’t make it one." Before she could respond, he closed the distance and pulled her against him.

Sophia’s eyes widened. The anxiety she had been sensing from him earlier was completely gone, replaced by something raw and primal.

There was no nervousness, affection, or hesitation. Just pure hunger. The emptiness of it felt so unreal that it sent a chill down her spine.

She pulled away from him, shoving him back harder. "Hiro..." She swallowed. "I think you need to leave."

Hiro threw his hands in the air. "What are you so scared of... huh?!" He stalked over to her desk and picked up the textbook she’d been reading. "Scared you’ll mess up the group dynamic?"

He flipped through the book, then tossed it on the bed. "Or is it that you’re worried it will all blow up in your face if you gave this..." he gestured between them. "...us a chance."

Sophia backed toward the door now that he wasn’t blocking it. "All of the above? Neither?" She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I don’t know. But right now, I know exactly what I’m scared of."

Hiro’s expression flickered with a brief flash of clarity. "Soph... I’m—" He blinked rapidly, shaking his head. "What am I—"

...Hiro...

His eyes turned pink for a split second as the disembodied whisper echoed in his mind again.

This time, Sophia heard it too.

"Fuck me..." She sighed, everything finally starting to make sense. "...that jar."

Hiro grinned and nodded, the unnatural hunger returning. "I mean... I thought you’d never ask." He started moving toward her again, slow and deliberate.

"Sorry about this," Sophia muttered.

Her hands lit up with a golden-yellow hue, and Hiro flew backward out of her door.

His back slammed into the wall at the opposite end of the hallway hard enough to crack it, and he dropped to the floor with a groan.

"Ugh..." Hiro held his head, dazed. "...Sophia?"

A moment later, Sophia stepped out of her room, arms crossed. "Y’know what? I’m not sorry."

She stood over Hiro, arms still glowing faintly. "Stay down, Romeo. Whatever that jar did to you, I’m not playing along."

Hiro groaned, rubbing the back of his head as he tried to push himself up. "Soph... that really hurt. But also... kinda hot—"

"Shut up." She pointed a warning finger at him. "Stay. I’m getting help."

***

Meanwhile, in Central Command, Raj strolled in with his usual confidence. The moment his eyes landed on Maya, a slow, dopey grin spread across his face.

Maya was at her station, reviewing mission files on a tablet. Her auburn hair was tied back neatly, and her kind green eyes flicked up as he approached.

"Well, hello there, gorgeous," Raj said, leaning one arm on the counter. "You know, every time I see you, I forget how to breathe for a second. Must be that healing touch of yours."

Maya smiled politely, though there was a hint of amusement in her expression. "Raj, you’re sweet. But I’m on duty right now. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, everything’s perfect now that I’m looking at you," he said, completely undeterred. He flexed a little without realizing it. "You ever think about how good we’d look together? Big strong guy like me, pretty little Irish rose like you. I’d carry you anywhere. Literally. Just say the word."

Maya let out a soft laugh. "That’s very flattering, Raj, truly. But I don’t think that’s a good idea." She studied him. "You should probably head over to medic. You’re looking a bit... flushed."

Raj stepped closer, his grin widening. "Flushed? That’s just what you do to me, Maya. One smile from you and I’m done for."

Maya hid another laugh behind her raised tablet.

"C’mon, love, go out with me," Raj continued. "I’ll take you somewhere nice. Steaks. Candles. Whatever you want. I’m really good at opening doors. And... well, anything you need opened."

He waggled his eyebrows.

Maya’s smile remained gentle but grew a touch firmer. She placed a hand lightly on his forearm. "Raj, you’re a good man. A very big, very enthusiastic man..."

"Go on..." Raj leaned in closer.

"...but I’m not interested in dating right now," Maya went on. "Especially not with teammates. Let’s keep things professional, yeah?"

Raj blinked slowly, his eyes turning pink for a second. The rejection barely registered. "Professional? We can be professional and have fun. I’m excellent at multitasking. Watch..."

He grabbed Maya’s prosthetic arm and she lifted an eyebrow.

"I can flirt with you and let you check my blood pressure at the same time." He looked at her hand. "That way I don’t need to go to medic, and I get to just stay right here with you."

Before she could say anything, he pressed, still staring at her with open adoration. "You’ve got the prettiest freckles I’ve ever seen. Has anyone ever told you that? I could count them. With my tongue."

Maya exhaled, half-laughing, half-exasperated. "Raj, love, you’re really laying it on thick today." She removed her hand from his and tilted her head apologetically. "I seriously have work to do though."

He opened his mouth to double down when Yelena walked in, heading straight for the coffee machine in the corner.

Raj’s eyes lit up. Without missing a beat, he turned toward her. "Yelena! Looking sharp as always. You free later? I’ve been meaning to tell you how much I admire your... form in the field."

Yelena ignored him as she searched for a cup to use.

"Now that’s what I’m talking about." He walked over to her. "You look dangerous today. In the best possible way."

Yelena found a cup and started to pour herself a cup of coffee.

"You ever think about what a guy like me and a woman like you could do together?" Raj asked. "I bet we’d break beds. And walls. Maybe a training room or two."

Maya’s eyes widened slightly, a mix of secondhand embarrassment and concern flashing across her face. She took a cautious step back, watching the situation unfold.

Yelena paused mid-pour, slowly turning around with a cold stare. "Breastplate. Walk away. Now."

But Raj, riding the full wave of the Perfume, stepped closer instead. "Aw, don’t be like that. You’re always so serious. Let me loosen you up a little."

He reached out, his large hand boldly sliding toward her waist. "C’mon, I gat y—"

Yelena reacted immediately, moving like lightning. She grabbed his wrist, twisted it viciously, and drove her elbow into his solar plexus.

"Ow! What the—?"

As he doubled over with a grunt, she swept his legs, grabbed the back of his head, and slammed him face-first into the floor.

"Idiot," she muttered.

Raj groaned, still grinning dazedly even as he lay sprawled on the ground. "Worth it..."

Maya winced. "Yelena... maybe we should take him to the Medic Bay? He’s clearly not himself."

Yelena sighed, definitely irritated. She grabbed Raj by the collar with one hand and dragged him toward the door like a sack of potatoes.

"Fine," she said. "But if Breastplate here turns grabby on way to Medic Bay, I break other hand."

***

Ethan entered the Director’s office carrying an unconscious Amara in his arms. Her head rested limply against his shoulder.

"Sweet Dreams system worked a little too well," he said dryly.

Director Hale looked up from his desk, eyebrow raised. "What happened?"

Ethan looked down at Amara’s face, then he briefly summarized what had happened in the garage, ending with, "Certain urges seemed unnaturally amplified. That’s why I’m here."

The Director leaned back, rubbing his temple. "You didn’t happen to touch anything while you were down there, did you?"

Before Ethan could respond, hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.

"There you are!" Sophia burst into the office, breathing hard, staring at the ground for a moment. Then she looked up and gave the Director a quick nod of acknowledgment before proceeding.

"Hiro’s acting really weird. Like, really weird." She held up a finger and bent over slightly, catching her breath. "And I think it has something to do with that crazy jar we saw in the Library."

Ethan’s expression darkened instantly, slipping into something colder. "What crazy jar?"

Director Hale’s eyes sharpened. "Perfume of the Gods."

Sophia nodded. "Yeah. That’s the one."

Ethan exhaled through his nose and looked down at Amara again.

The Director stood up immediately. "This isn’t good. Take them both to the Medic Bay at once. We need to contain this before it spreads further."

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