The transport vehicle hits another sharp bump, and Von is acutely aware of every single inch of compressed space. The back seat was never meant to hold this many bodies. With the cabin packed to the absolute brim, there was only one logical—if incredibly tight—solution left. Von is sitting directly on Alexander's lap.

Ten minutes pass, and the smooth road gives way to uneven dirt. Branches scrape against the transport windows as the vehicle plunges deeper into the dense woods. They are heading toward an off-campus cabin party, and the terrain is getting rougher by the second.The vehicle jolts violently as the tires hit a deep rut in the wooded trail. The sudden pitch sends Von upward, nearly throwing him into the low ceiling of the cabin.Before Von can collide with the roof, Alexander’s large hand instantly shoots up. His synthetic palm cushions the impact, shielding Von’s head from hitting the hard frame just in time. The reaction time is flawlessly robotic, but the sudden closeness feels intensely human.As the vehicle settles into a heavy sway from the deep bumps, Alexander doesn’t completely pull his hand away. Instead, his arm slides down, his palm moving firmly onto Von’s thigh to anchor him firmly in place against the continuous bouncing. The warmth of his synthetic skin presses through Von's clothes, grounding him securely against his lap.Outside, the thick trees blur past, lit only by the vehicle's high beams cutting through the dark woods. Inside the cramped space, Alexander leans forward slightly, keeping his hand steady on Von's thigh to absorb the shock of the rocky road.