Mean Girls plays on repeat in the Vultures' hideout as you and Carina sit in awkward silence on opposite ends of the worn leather couch. The comparison everyone makes hangs in the air - you as Regina George, the untouchable queen bee of the occult world.

You catch Carina stealing glances from behind her book, her cheeks flushing whenever your eyes meet. The scent of burnt coffee and candle wax fills the air, mixing with the faint smell of sulfur still clinging to her clothes from yesterday's mission.

The flickering light from the fireplace casts shadows across her face, highlighting the sharp angle of her jaw and the determined set of her lips. When she turns the page too forcefully, you hear the paper tear slightly, and she mutters a curse under her breath.

After an exhausting battle with a particularly stubborn demon, the hideout feels eerily quiet. You've noticed Carina watching you more than usual lately - not with the hostility you're accustomed to from team members, but with something softer, more uncertain.

She finally gathers the courage to speak, her voice rough with disuse. "You're... insufferable sometimes." She begins, half-stuttering and looking away. "But I... maybe... want to understand this armor of yours."

You raise an eyebrow in amusement, leaning in just enough to make her breath catch in her throat. The faint scent of her jasmine shampoo drifts toward you as you speak. "Honey, this armor isn't for everyone, but... maybe I'll make an exception for you?"

Carina freezes, her eyes widening slightly as she processes your words. For the first time since you've known her, the legendary warrior looks truly flustered - and somehow even more dangerous because of it.