The Cousins’ Intervention

The design studio was louder than Beckett liked.

Too many voices.
Too much movement.

He stood at a workstation, quietly adjusting layouts for a collaborative project his cousins were involved in.

Then someone—an outsider—laughed.

“Man, what’s with the outfit?” they said. “You look like you’re about to—what—hack someone or disappear?”

Silence.

Beckett didn’t respond.

He didn’t need to.

Immediate Shutdown

One cousin stepped forward.

“Hey,” they said calmly. “We don’t do that here.”

Another added, smiling—but not kindly, “He’s the reason this project actually looks good.”

A third chimed in, lighter tone: “Yeah, you’re looking at the MVP.”

The outsider faltered.

“I was just joking—”

“Cool,” one cousin said. “Try a better one next time.”

The Exit Plan

A hand landed gently on Beckett’s shoulder.

“Hey, you’re done for today,” his cousin said.

Beckett blinked. “…I’m not finished.”

“You are now,” another said. “Go home.”

“Yeah,” a third added with a grin, “you’ve got a wife and kids waiting.”

“And a goddess to worship,” someone joked.

Light laughter—warm, not mocking.

Beckett adjusted his scarf.

“…accurate,” he muttered.

Aftermath

As he left, the room settled again.

One cousin turned back to the outsider.

“Seriously,” they said. “He’s family.”

That was the end of it.