Silence fills the room again.
But now it hums.
Ronyn lets out a slow breath, rubbing a hand over his jaw. When he speaks again, the humor is gone. Completely gone.And that is new.
“You don’t take anything from anyone unless you control every moment of it.”
Jax’s eyes flick up sharply.
There it is.
Contact.
“Yeah, well, you joke through everything because if nothing is serious, nothing can hurt you.”
He goes very still.
But it doesn’t hit.
“You’re wrong—I laugh because in a world that wants us dark and despondent, joy is defiance.”
He finally meets her eyes fully now.
“I’m not joking now.”
No deflection.
No charm.
No twisting hurt into humor.
Just truth.
She scoffs. “You perform, Ronyn! Nobody laughs that much unless they’re trying to outrun something,” she stabs a finger in his direction. “Not in Aevryn. Not now. Who the fuck are you to question who I’m being when you can’t even be yourself?”
The words land like a blow.
He shakes his head. “At least my performance doesn’t hurt people, Jax. Can you say the same for your act? The one where you hurt everyone so they hate you as much as you hate yourself.”
Jax’s face falls. No more scowl. No bared teeth. Just stillness.
But Ronyn isn’t done.
“You think control keeps you safe, Jax? All I see is fear. Fear to feel. To receive. To let people in. All I see is a woman too scared to enjoy anything at all.” He pauses, weighing his words. “You are exactly what the world turned you into.”
Jax flinches like she’s struck.
She opens her mouth.
Nothing comes out.
But tears rim her eyes.
She wipes them away, baring her teeth like her tears are a sign of weakness.
But Ronyn watches.Good.
He wants real.
