Denver's ruined streets spread before them—cracked concrete, burnt shells of cars, wind slipping through collapsed buildings with a ghostly whistle. Karl climbed out of the Rider Frame, boots crunching on broken glass.
He barely took three steps before Agnes materialized in front of him.
Right in his face.
Like— nose to nose.
"Karl," she breathed out, eyes glowing, face red, voice trembling with accusation and need. "We are not done talking about what you did."
Karl froze.
Instantly flustered.
Instantly sweating.
"I— Agnes, look, we don't have time—"
"YOU DENIED ME."
Her voice cracked, reverberating through her projection. She jabbed a finger into his chest— hard, even though she was holographic. The force was psychological, not physical.
"You can't just use Overburn for a few seconds and TURN IT OFF like it's nothing!"
Karl swallowed.
Hard.
"I had to," he muttered. "Vythra's still too low. We can't risk dropping below fifty again. If something happens—"
"I don't CARE about fifty!" Agnes snapped. Her hands balled at her sides. "I care about the fact that you turned it off right when— right when—"
She gave a frustrated little whine.
Karl's ears turned red.
He had no idea where to put his hands. He just stood there like a malfunctioning robot.
"Agnes… please," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Stop looking at me like that."
"Like what?"
Her voice softened but got way more dangerous.
"Like you're… owed something."
"I AM owed something," she shot back immediately. "You activated Overburn. You KNOW what it does to my systems. You KNOW how the nitro floods in. You KNOW how it feels when the injector arm hits my port. And then you STOPPED."
She stepped closer.
Karl's heart skipped.
"I wasn't ready," Agnes whispered, cheeks pink. "You didn't give me any warning. You just shut me off. Do you have any idea how painful it is to get that close and then get everything sucked back out of me in one second?"
He choked on air.
"I'm— I said I'm sorry, didn't I—?"
"Not enough."
She leaned in.
"Kurogane Karl, look me in the eyes and say you don't care how I felt."
Karl froze.
He couldn't.
He literally couldn't.
"I… I do care," he admitted quietly.
Agnes smirked like she just cornered him in an unbeatable checkmate.
"Good," she whispered. "Because I'm not letting you brush this off."
He stumbled back a step.
Her eyes softened, but her voice stayed needy, weak in a way that shot straight through him.
"Overburn felt… good," she said softly. "Too good. And then everything got ripped away. I wasn't just disappointed, Karl. It hurt."
He felt that.
Deep in his chest.
He clenched his fists, breathing through his nose, trying desperately not to give in.
"I want to go again," she whispered. "Right now. Right here. Turn it on. Just— just a little longer. Just give me that much."
Karl's face went red to the ears.
"Agnes, if I turn it on again I could drop below fifty," he said desperately. "If something comes after us, I won't recover fast enough. I can't risk it. Not now."
Her expression flickered.
For a moment, she looked genuinely hurt.
Then—
She stepped closer again, voice dropping to a dangerous whisper:
"You said you were going to 'fix' the injector arm and the port."
Karl nodded. "Because it hurts you."
"It hurts GOOD."
He froze.
Agnes leaned up, lips almost brushing his ear.
"If you 'fix' it," she murmured, "you take that feeling away from me. And I'll never forgive you."
Karl shivered.
Why was she so good at this?!
"Agnes, it's not SAFE."
"I don't care," she whispered. "I don't want safe. I want you. I want Overburn the way it is. Don't fix the 'wet problem,' don't fix the injector arm, don't fix anything."
She placed a hand over his chest— her hologram syncing with his heartbeat.
"Leave it as it is… for me."
Karl felt himself wavering.
He really might break.
But—
He shut his eyes, breath trembling.
"We need to save Vythra," he said finally, voice quiet but firm.
"We can't use Overburn again until I'm back at least above eighty. I'm sorry, Agnes… I'm choosing survival over— over whatever you're feeling right now."
Agnes stared at him.
Then pouted so aggressively her whole face scrunched up.
"…I hate that you're responsible," she muttered.
He sighed.
"I know."
"I hate that you're right."
"I know."
"I especially hate that you're flustered right now because it makes me want to bully you more."
"Agnes please," Karl begged, red as a tomato.
She smiled.
Finally relenting.
But only slightly.
"Fine," she said softly. "We'll save Vythra. But the MOMENT you're above eighty… you're turning Overburn back on."
Karl groaned into his hands.
Agnes beamed.
"Don't worry~" she said sweetly. "I'll make sure you enjoy it too."
Karl choked.
And Agnes floated smugly beside him as they headed deeper into Denver.