"Maybe he works for Orsini," Liam said, stretching back in the recliner and crossing his arms over his chest.

"I didn't get an Orsini vibe from him," Han said. Then he winced as Orion poked at the spot on his head that had been hit with the rock. "Ow! Do you mind? Could you stop prodding me?"

"You've definitely got a bump, but no bleeding, and no sign of a concussion. Should be fully healed in a few hours."

"Yes, that's exactly what I told you," Han said, frustrated. "You could just listen to me, for once."

"Just doing my due diligence."

"Maybe he's interested in Sidney too," Liam said.

Han leaned forward, which caused his head to throb. Orion began slowly pacing back and forth across the library. "It's possible," Han said. "But he didn't mention her. And he was there that night, with the witches. That was before my mission started."

"Maybe we should pull you off this case," Orion said thoughtfully.

"No!" Han protested, too quickly. Orion stopped pacing and looked at him. "It's just, I have nothing else to do with my stupid cast anyway. And I think I'm getting somewhere."

"A name that could mean nothing," Orion said, finally taking a seat.

"Or it could mean something. I want a chance to see this through. That guy didn't kill me. He could have. Maybe. And he helped me that night, with the witches, I think. He saved my life."

"I don't feel good about it," Orion said. "There's too much unknown."

"That's why we have to make it known," Han argued.

"I agree," Liam said with a shrug. "Not that I get a vote."

Han gave him an appreciative nod. 

"You don't, but I value your input," Orion said. "You can stay on the case for now, Han. But be extra cautious. Any sign of danger, you're out. Got it?"

Han nodded his obedience. He wasn't looking to get himself into any trouble. But he did want to see this through.

"I'd better get going," Liam said, standing. "Got a case with Easy Squad."

"What is it?" Han asked. He found himself more curious about everyone else's business even more now than he was before, since he was out of commission.

"That kidnapped vampire, remember? With the Wasawasa demons? We're looking into it."

That was the kind of case Han would have been on were he not wounded. It sounded interesting. "How's it going?"

"So far, nothing much to report. But maybe if you showed up for the morning meetings you wouldn't have to ask."

Han scowled. "I can't. I have to go to school."

Liam cracked a smile and winked at him. "I know. I just wanted to hear you say it." He rushed out before Han could say or do anything to retaliate.

Han glanced at Orion, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. For some reason, Orion was irritating him more than usual. 

"You'll tell me if anything feels off, right?" Orion said, twisting his hands with worry. 

"Yes, I already said I'd be careful." Han stood, but then winced, putting his hand to his side as he felt a stabbing pain.

"You okay?" Orion asked, rushing to his side.

"Uh, I don't know. Telekinesis man might have broken a rib." He sat back down with a hiss. 

Orion moved Han's hand and pushed at his ribs, causing Han to hiss again. "I don't think it's broken," he said, gently feeling the area. "Just bruised, maybe."

"Excellent." Han felt foolish for letting the man get the best of him, even if he did have telekinesis on his side. Between this, and the almost-broken nose, and the witches.... He was surprised the gorilla didn't just abandon him for someone else more worthy of his power.

"I'm sorry this happened," Orion said, perhaps sensing some of Han's distress.

But his sympathy just annoyed Han more. He looked up at Orion, suddenly feeling bold. "Do you love her? Rand, I mean. Do you love her?"

Orion looked away from him and took a breath. Han could tell he was trying not to give away any kind of reaction to his words. They had all been trained at the Collective how to respond to things not with their emotions, but with their minds, even if some of them seldom chose to use this skill.

"Because she loves you," Han continued. "You must know that."

Orion shook his head. "There's a lot you don't understand. It's not that simple."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Orion didn't say anything, just glared down at the floor, his expression unreadable. Han didn't know why he had even asked. The question had just burst out of him in his irritation. He shouldn't be annoyed, he knew. It was none of his business. 

"Look, whatever, I'm not going to say anything. I know it's not my place, like, at all, but just, please... take care of her."

It was Orion's turn to give an obedient nod. "I will."

Han got up and left without another word.

 ***

"What's up with you?" Sidney asked the next day as she and Han walked out of English class together.

"What do you mean?" Han asked.

"You're acting weird. Is something wrong?"

Had he been acting weird? He didn't think so. "No, everything's fine."

Sidney looked sideways at him, unconvinced. "Are you sure? You seem upset about something."

"Just tired I guess." That seemed true enough.

"Hm. Okay, if you say so."

"Hey, you wanna hang out today?"

Sidney shrugged. "Sure, I'm not doing anything. What'd you have in mind?"

"I don't know. Wanna go catch a movie or something?" Han tried to remember the last time he had gone to the movies. It had to have been years ago. Then he kicked himself for even making that suggestion. It wasn't a good setting to get any more information out of Sidney or get any closer to the truth. But he wanted a break. 

Normally Han liked keeping his mind busy with work or other things. He liked mysteries and solving them. He liked helping people. But now, with the prophecy and the strange man who attacked him and the stuff going on with Rand and the Sidney investigation, he was just tired. Tired of all the things he didn't know. 

Sidney agreed to the movie and they decided to meet up later at the theater. There was an action comedy playing that was just the right kind of mindless entertainment that allowed both of them to just enjoy themselves. Han could tell by the effortless way Sidney was laughing on the way home.

"Thanks for hanging out with me," Han said as he pulled up her driveway and put the car in park. He expected her to get out right away.

But she didn't. She took her seatbelt off and turned to face him. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine. Why?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. It's like...you're not quite being yourself. I mean, you are, but it's forced, you know? Like you're thinking about something else. It's just... it's not like you."

Looking over at Sidney and seeing her concerned face staring back at him, Han felt like telling her everything. But he couldn't do that. At least, he couldn't tell her everything. "I'm just under a lot of pressure I guess. And, I'm kind of fighting with a friend who sort of... lied to me about something." Was he fighting with Rand? Did avoiding her like the plague and inappropriately questioning the apparent love of her life count as fighting? 

"I'm sorry." Sidney said it with such sincerity in her voice, that it made him feel better despite everything.

"It'll be okay. It's not that big of a deal, really. I don't know why I'm so upset by it, honestly."

"Well, no one likes being lied to. You probably feel betrayed. I think you have every right to be upset."

Han looked over at her, feeling a little guilty at her words. No one likes being lied to. "Thank you. But I'm okay. Really."

"Okay. Well, you can always call me if you want to talk, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks."

Sidney got her keys out of her purse, but they slipped out of her hand and fell between her seat and the middle council. "Crap." She attempted to reach down and get it, but she couldn't get her hand through.

"Move the seat back," Han said, looking down and seeing where her keys were. "You'll be able to get them then."

"How do I do that?" she asked, reaching for a lever under the seat that wasn't there.

"It's mechanical," Han explained. "You have to do it on the side."

Sidney fumbled around with the buttons for a while, only managing to get the back of the seat to lean forward and back. "I have no idea how to do this," she said with a laugh. "You and your high-tech car."

"Here." Han leaned over and grabbed the mechanism himself, pushing the button back so that the seat moved. Only then did he realize that his arm was leaning completely across Sidney's torso, and his face was very close to her shoulder and neck.

Han glanced up at her. It was a mistake. He should have learned his lesson from before at his apartment with the necklace, but he didn't. She stared down at him. His hand let go of the button against his will, and the seat stopped moving. And then Han was leaning in slowly. His face stopped for just a second, millimeters away from hers, staring deep into the golden flecks in her eyes. And she finished it, moving forward ever so slightly so that their lips touched.

It had been a while since Han had kissed anyone. Over a year, to be more exact. And he wasn't necessarily full of experience. Han had kissed a total of two girls in his lifetime. But, even though he didn't have much experience, Han had to admit, this felt different. Sidney's lips were amazingly soft and... feminine. Han wasn't sure how someone could have lips that felt feminine, but it was true all the same. She tasted like she smelled, which would be a hard thing for a normal human to quite grasp. Han was overwhelmed by a desire to touch her, anywhere that was bare skin. But before he could get his arms to move, Sidney was pulling away.

She sat back in her chair and Han did the same. He looked over at her, nervous, and she smiled shyly at him. It was weird that she could do anything shyly. It was a side of her he'd never seen before. It made him feel better, and he smiled too. 

Then, as if a switch flipped, he was filled with horror. He shouldn't have been smiling at all. He shouldn't have even been doing any of that. Han supposed, logically, Sidney was more likely to open up to him if she was romantically interested in him, but that had never been his plan. He had just wanted to befriend her. Anything romantic seemed like it would just make things even more complicated. 

But there was nothing he could do about it now. He couldn't go back or undo the kiss. He had let his attraction get the better of him. Because that's what it was, it was obvious to him now. The tension he'd felt between them, his reaction to being in close proximity to her. It was all just attraction.

"Oh, I see it now," Sidney said suddenly, leaning down and getting her keys from underneath the seat. "Um, so, I guess, good night then," she said awkwardly.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

"Yep."

Han watched her walk up her front steps and into her house. Then he dropped his head onto the steering wheel with with a grunt of frustration, knowing that he'd just made a huge mistake.