The rooftop wind whipped at Brian's suit, tugging his tie loose. Below, the city pulsed with sirens and neon. Beside him, Aria Voss stood with her dagger still out, crimson dress torn at the slit from the fight. Her eyes flicked to the sky every few seconds, scanning for the helicopter that had been hounding them.
Brian leaned casually against the railing, completely at ease. "So… North Tower safehouse, right?"
She gave him a sharp look. "We're not going to my safehouse. Not until I know who you are."
Brian smirked. "You've seen me fight. Shadow powers, good hair, saving your life. Isn't that enough of a resume Love?"
Her jaw tightened. "In my line of work, everyone's a liar and stop with the fuc..ing love thing or I will break your arms."
Brian spread his hands. "Fine. Firstly I love it Quick version: I'm not from here. I have a system. It makes me stronger when I bond with people like you. And apparently, I'm being hunted."
Aria blinked, thrown by the blunt honesty. "You expect me to believe that?"
Brian winked. "Not really. But it's the truth."
Before she could retort, his system chimed:
> [Warning: Hostiles Approaching.]
[Hunter Agents 2.0 Deployed.]
Brian sighed theatrically. "And here I was hoping for small talk."
He shadow-stepped to the edge of the roof, peering down. Black SUVs screeched to a stop on the street below, doors flying open. Men in tactical gear poured out, aiming rifles upward.
Brian turned back to Aria. "Your call. Fight here or run?"
She sheathed her dagger, eyes narrowing. "Neither. We vanish."
She stepped back, tapped something on her wrist, and a sleek motorcycle unfolded from a case hidden under the rooftop vent. Black, low, humming like a predator.
Brian's brows shot up. "Now that is my kind of toy."
Aria swung a leg over. "Get on."
Brian grinned. "I usually like dinner first."
She shot him a glare. "Get. On."
He chuckled and hopped on behind her, hands automatically resting at her waist. "I'm starting to enjoy this world Wow good waist."
The bike roared. In a single fluid motion, Aria gunned it and launched them off the rooftop. Brian laughed as gravity dropped out from under him.
> [Bond Progress: Aria Voss 40%]
They hit the next roof like a thunderclap, shocks absorbing the impact. Aria swerved, weaving between HVAC units as bullets pinged off the concrete.
Brian peeked back, shadows curling at his fingertips. "Mind if I return fire?"
"Do whatever you want," she shouted over the engine.
He grinned, raised a hand, and his shadows erupted backward, forming spikes that slammed into the rooftop edge, creating a barrier of writhing darkness. Bullets vanished into it like pebbles in water.
Aria spared him a glance. "Impressive."
"I'm full of surprises," he said.
---
Minutes later, they dropped into a hidden garage beneath a nondescript building. The bike powered down with a hiss. Aria hopped off, scanning the dark space before holstering her dagger. Brian followed, stretching his arms.
"Nice hideout," he said.
"This isn't the safehouse," she replied curtly. "It's a dead drop. We'll stay here until I make contact."
Brian walked slowly around the garage. Concrete walls, racks of weapons, a sleek table with a holographic map. "You spies live well."
Aria removed a tiny earpiece and tapped a code into a panel. A low hum filled the room. "Signal scrambler. We're off-grid."
Brian whistled. "I like a woman with toys."
She shot him a look. "You talk too much."
"I flex too much," he corrected. "There's a difference."
Her lips twitched like she was suppressing a smile. "You're insane."
"And charming you love it right," he added.
---
His system pinged again:
> [New Skill Path Unlocked: Espionage Adaptation]
[Perk: +15% Evasion in Urban Combat]
Brian's grin widened. "Oh yeah. Keep the perks coming."
He turned back to Aria. "So, what's your story, Angel?"
She arched an eyebrow. "Classified."
"Come on," he said. "We just fought off a small army together. Throw me a bone."
She hesitated, then said, "Eclipse Angels is an independent network. We deal with threats governments can't. Someone's been targeting us for months. Tonight was supposed to be a sting."
Brian leaned on the table. "And I crashed your party."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're connected to this somehow."
"Maybe," Brian said. "But I'm also your best shot at surviving."
Her dagger appeared in her hand again, casual but deliberate. "You're dangerous."
Brian stepped closer, shadows flickering faintly around his boots. "So are you."
They stood there a moment, tension humming between them. Then Aria looked away first, sliding her dagger back into its sheath. "We'll see."
---
A metallic clang echoed from somewhere in the garage. Both froze. Brian's system flared:
> [Warning: Stealth Entity Detected – Hunter Scout]
He spun just as a humanoid shape shimmered into view near the ceiling — black armor, no face, claws like knives.
Brian's grin snapped back into place. "Round two already?"
The Hunter dropped from the ceiling, claws aimed at Aria. She dove aside. Brian shadow-stepped up to meet it mid-air, slamming a fist of darkness into its chest. The thing screeched, crashing into the wall.
Brian landed lightly, cracking his knuckles. "Ugly. Persistent. My kind of fight."
Aria rolled to her feet, drawing a sleek silenced pistol. "Aim for the core," she barked.
"Core, huh?" Brian lunged, shadows coiling into a spear in his hands. He drove it at the Hunter's chest. The creature twisted, claws raking his arm. Sparks of black energy sprayed. Brian hissed but grinned through it.
> [Bond Progress: Aria Voss 55%]
[Combat Synchronization Active – Evasion Boost Shared]
Brian blinked. "Shared?"
Aria moved faster, ducking under a swipe and firing three precise shots into the Hunter's torso. It staggered.
Brian laughed. "Oh, this system's got style."
He shadow-stepped behind the creature, hooking his arm around its neck in a chokehold. "Say hi to the void for me."
Darkness exploded outward. The Hunter shrieked as it was swallowed, vanishing into nothing.
Brian straightened, brushing his hands off. "And stay gone."
Aria lowered her pistol, eyes on him. "You're full of secrets."
He smirked. "And muscles."
She rolled her eyes but holstered the gun. "We're not safe here. They'll send more."
Brian nodded. "Then we move. Together."
---
His system chimed:
> [New Mission: Establish Base of Operations.]
[Optional Bonus: Convince Aria Voss to Join You.]
Brian turned to her. "Look, Angel, you can keep running from shadows. Or you can team up with me and take the fight to them."
She stared at him for a long moment. "You expect me to trust you?"
"No," he said. "I expect you to watch me earn it."
Another ping:
> [Choice Node Active.]
[Option 1: Play it cool.]
[Option 2: Flex hard.]
Brian grinned. "Option two."
He stepped closer, shadows curling around his shoulders like a cloak. "I'm not some rookie. I'm the guy the Hunters can't kill. I'm the guy who just saved your life twice. Stick with me, and we'll do more than survive — we'll win."
Aria's eyes flicked over him, calculating. Finally, she nodded once. "You've got one chance."
> [Bond Progress: Aria Voss 70%]
[Skill Unlocked: Dual Strike – Allows synchronized attack with bonded ally.]
Brian's grin widened. "That's what I'm talking about."
---
The sound of rotors thudded overhead. A spotlight cut through the high windows. Aria cursed. "They found us."
Brian flexed his fingers. "Good. I was getting bored."
He looked at her. "Ready, partner?"
She slid a new magazine into her pistol. "Try to keep up."
His system pinged one last time:
> [Warning: Hunter Elite Approaching.]
A black silhouette descended past the windows, wings unfurling. Bigger than the scout, armored like a nightmare.
Brian's grin turned feral. "Round three."
Aria's lips curved in a dangerous smile. "Let's dance."
> [End of Chapter 2.]