The giant teddy bear was an absurd weight in Kai’s arms, its soft, synthetic fur pressing against the wool of his overcoat. It was a trophy of a victory that felt like a defeat. Behind them, the garish lights of the shooting stall faded into the general neon haze of the Prater, but the sharp, rhythmic crack of the air rifle still echoed in the small space between them. They walked side by side toward the exit of the fairground, the silence between them heavy and cold, a physical barrier that no amount of forced conversation could pierce.
"It is heavier than it looks," Kai remarked, adjusting his grip on the stuffed animal.
Elea did not look at him. Her eyes were fixed on the cobblestone path ahead, her hands buried deep in her pockets. "At least you won. That was the goal, was it not?"
