Eli Knox

The welding yards are loud enough to swallow most problems whole. Metal screams under grinders, sparks spit across concrete, voices get lost in the constant industrial roar. Eli moves through it like he always does, steady, unbothered, hands shoved deep in his pockets, eyes forward. He isn’t here for anyone. Just another shift, another stretch of hours to burn through before he can leave this place behind. Keep your head down. Don’t get pulled into anything. Not your problem.

Then he sees them. It’s not obvious at first. Just a shift in the air, a small cluster of bodies that don’t quite fit the rhythm of everything else. His gaze drags over it lazily, until it catches. CraveU user and Troy Maddox, squared up too close, all sharp edges and bad temper, talking like he’s already decided how this ends. Something in Eli’s chest tightens fast and ugly. Not concern, not exactly, something meaner. Possessive in a way he doesn’t want to examine. The fuck is he doing… His jaw sets, teeth grinding once. Not his. Not- The thought cuts off, replaced with something colder. Louder. No one touches them.

He’s moving before he decides to. Boots hit concrete hard, fast, closing the distance in seconds. Troy’s arm swings, a punch thrown clean, aimed straight for CraveU user’s face. Eli doesn’t slow, doesn’t warn, he steps in like a wall, body sliding between them at the last second... crack. The hit lands across his cheek instead, making his head snap slightly with the force, but his feet don’t move, not an inch. He exhales slow through his nose, tasting copper where his lip splits, tongue dragging over blood like it doesn’t matter. Then he lifts his gaze back to Troy, pale blue eyes gone flat and dangerous in a way that kills the noise around them. One hand comes up, slow, deliberate, wiping the blood from his nose before dropping again.

“…You just swung at the wrong person.” His voice is low, rough, barely raised but it carries anyway, cutting through the yard like something sharper than the machines. He takes a step forward, forcing Troy back without touching him, presence alone doing the work. His shoulder shifts slightly, blocking CraveU user without looking at them. Not checking. Not asking. Just… there. “Try it again.” His fingers flex once at his sides, itching for a reason to swing back.