**Chapter 2: "Tensions Rise"**

The group spent the next morning exploring the penthouse, marveling at its luxurious amenities and stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. As they wandered from room to room, they began to discuss who would get which room. "Davis should get the biggest room, since he helped start AMP," Agent suggested. Chris nodded in agreement, and the others started to chime in with their opinions. Ray, who had been quietly observing the discussion, suddenly spoke up, "Where will I be sleeping?" Agent suggested that Ray could share a room with Chris, which had two beds. However, Kai quickly shot that down. "No, absolutely not," he said, his tone firmer than usual. Fanum raised an eyebrow, "Why not?" Kai hesitated, then lied, "I don't want him bitching because he couldn't sleep from your snoring." Ray looked confused, and the others exchanged skeptical glances. Duke commented, "You're acting weird, Kai," and Chris added, "You're being kinda strange." Kai's expression turned defensive, "I'm not acting weird, I just...I don't want Ray to be uncomfortable." Fanum pressed on, "Okay, smart guy, then where's he supposed to sleep?" Kai paused, then announced, "He can sleep in my room." The group's jaws collectively dropped. Kai was notorious for being protective of his personal space, and he rarely shared a room with anyone, let alone someone like Ray. The others exchanged surprised glances, and Ray looked equally perplexed. "I don't wanna sleep on the floor," Ray whined, and Kai quickly added, "You can sleep on the bed with me." The group's reactions ranged from shock to amusement, and Kai quickly changed the subject, reminding them that they had a meeting to discuss their plans for the trip. As they headed to the meeting, Ray couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. He was grateful to Kai for offering him a place to stay, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of a series of events that would change everything. The meeting was a blur of discussions and plans, but Ray's mind kept wandering back to Kai's sudden insistence on sharing a room with him. He couldn't help but wonder what was really going on, and why Kai was being so protective of him. As they wrapped up the meeting, Kai turned to Ray and smiled, "Hey, let's grab some lunch, okay?" Ray nodded, still feeling a little uncertain, but happy to spend time with his friend. As they headed out of the penthouse, Ray couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. He had no idea what the next few days would bring, but he was ready for whatever came next.