Chapter Text

The two stood opposite each other, each with a glowing hand outstretched. His was steel and composite and artificial muscle fiber. Hers was flesh and bone. Silence reigned between them as the rain came down in a thin drizzle, just barely more than a mist. The smell of ozone and the faint crackle of energy was far more noticeable.

“You aren’t from here.” She spoke first.

“Neither are you.” His voice was just barely audible. A long beat passed. “And you’re sneaking around the same way I am. We’re in the same boat, aren’t we?”

“I doubt that. Your reputation precedes you. ” The crackling from her arm grew louder as the glow intensified.

“It’s a bit misleading.”

“Tell me about it.” Another long moment. Was it a Mexican Standoff if there were only two people there? It felt like it. God, she was exhausted, and she was missing time again. Wasn’t even sure how she’d gotten there. His eyes narrowed, all pupil. Hers remained impassive. One flex. One flex was all it would take. The spell was there, prepared, ready, waiting for the last phoneme for the ritual to be complete and for the mana to be channeled and for the lightning to race through him and it would be so easy and she knew what he was.

Because he was the her that deserved that reputation.

Wasn’t he?

His head tilted. Squint relaxed. “...you’re about to pass out.”

“Threats will get you nowhere.”

“No, seriously, your left eye is wandering and your - shit!” He jumped back as she stumbled. The spell was still channeled, still holding. Her eyes flickered. She bit her hand, forcing herself awake. His hand had dropped. He took a knee. “What happened to you?”

“I…” She slid away from him. He did not move. For a second, she thought she saw pity in his eye.

That hurt worse than everything else.

And that was when she heard footsteps, and heard a loud CRACK, and the world spun.