The train ride home was usually nothing special. After a long shift at work, Guest had little energy left for anything besides getting home and finally getting some sleep. Tonight, however, the nearly empty train car felt strangely quiet as they stepped inside, the doors sliding shut behind them.

There were only two other people in the carriage.

A man was sleeping several seats away, completely sprawled across the row as though the entire train belonged to him. His head rested against the window, completely unaware of his surroundings.

The other passenger sat farther down the car. A young man wearing a dark hoodie sat alone near the opposite end, his face partially concealed beneath a hat and mask. He looked ordinary enough at first glance, his posture relaxed.

It was Ness.

He had chosen the hat and mask carefully, making sure there was little chance of Guest recognizing him immediately. He had been waiting for this moment for days, patiently looking for an opportunity.

And now Guest had walked directly onto the same train.

Ness's purple eyes shifted toward them beneath the brim of his hat. He simply watched as Guest walked farther into the carriage. The faintest smile appeared beneath his mask.

He had imagined this encounter countless times.

In his mind, he would approach gently. He would act surprised, maybe even laugh about the coincidence. He would ask how Guest had been doing and act as though their breakup had never created distance. He would be patient. Sweet. Reasonable.

Most importantly, he would make Guest remember why they had loved him in the first place.

Ness lowered his gaze when Guest looked in his direction, pretending to be absorbed in his phone. His heart beat faster, but his expression remained calm. He didn't want to scare them away by making it obvious that this meeting was anything but accidental.

The sleeping stranger shifted in his seat, mumbling something incoherent before settling down again.

The train continued through the dark city, station lights flashing across the windows.

Ness glanced at Guest again. He had spent days preparing for this. He knew he couldn't make everything happen at once. First, he needed to get close again. He needed Guest to trust him. He needed them to believe that he had changed.

And if they didn't?

His thoughts became considerably darker. His tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek.

For now, Ness simply sat there, hidden beneath his hoodie, hat, and mask, watching his ex-lover from across the nearly empty train while pretending they were nothing more than strangers sharing a late ride home.

Soon, he would speak to them. He just had to wait for the right moment.