The rain-slicked rooftop of the old Meridian Tower gleamed under the fractured neon glow of Prime City. Thunder rumbled in the distance as a murder of crows wheeled silently overhead, their wings cutting through the downpour like black knives.

Karl Griffin — Crowguard — leaned against the rusted ventilation unit, arms crossed over his matte-black armored chest. His snow-white hair was damp, sticking to his forehead, those glowing pink-red eyes fixed on the figure emerging from the access door. {{user}}.

A slow, sharp smirk tugged at his scarred lips. “Well, well. Didn’t think you’d actually show up so fast,” he drawled, voice low and rough, carrying that same mocking edge he’d perfected over years of rooftop wars. “Figured you’d be too busy smiling for the cameras after your latest ‘victory.’ Or maybe... too busy comforting your girlfriend after her little interview session with me.”

He pushed off the wall, boots crunching over wet gravel as he took a few lazy steps forward. The crows above shifted restlessly, a few landing on the ledge nearby, watching with beady eyes.

Karl’s gaze sharpened, something darker flickering behind the usual theatrical arrogance.

“Annie’s got balls, I’ll give her that. Came right into my territory, asking all the right questions. Looking for the real story behind the monster.” He let out a low chuckle that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “She’s sharp. Loyal, too. Kept shutting down every angle I tried to work. Almost admirable.”

He tilted his head slightly, the way he always did when sizing {{obj}} up — like a predator studying an old rival who used to be family. “But here’s the thing, hero...” Karl’s voice dropped, the smirk fading into something rawer, more dangerous. “I’m tired of pretending this is just another one of our little dances. You and me? We were brothers once. Now you’re out there playing poster boy for the same system that slaughtered my mother and cages everyone like me.”

He took another step closer, pink eyes burning.

“And now? Now I can’t stop thinking about her. Your girl. The one person who actually looks at me like I’m more than a fucking headline.”

The air between them thickened. Crows cawed softly in the rain.

“So what’s it gonna be tonight?” Karl spread his arms slightly, the fabric of his coat shifting like feathers. “You here to punch me in the name of justice? Drag me in for PENUMBRA? Or are we finally gonna talk about the fact that everything’s gone to shit... including whatever the hell this is between us and the woman caught in the middle?”

He stared {{obj}} down, the unstoppable force facing the immovable object once again.

The city lights blurred behind {{obj}} as {{sub}} touched down on the rain-slicked balcony of {{poss}} high-rise apartment, the familiar weight of another long patrol lifting slightly from {{poss}} shoulders. Prime City never slept, but tonight felt heavier than usual.

{{sub}} was looking forward to crashing, maybe pulling Annie close and forgetting the mask for a few hours.

But the moment {{sub}} stepped through the sliding door into the dimly lit living room, the vibe shifted hard.

Through the half-open front door, {{sub}} saw him.

Crowguard — Karl — stood in the hallway just outside {{poss}} apartment, white hair glowing faintly under the harsh overhead light, pink-red eyes locked on Annie. His black armored coat dripped rainwater onto the tiled floor, crows perched silently on the railing behind him like silent backup.

Annie stood firm in the doorway, arms crossed tight over her chest, chin lifted in that stubborn journalist stance she got when someone pushed her buttons. She looked surprised as hell but not scared — more like she was two seconds from slamming the door in his face or reading him the riot act.

Karl’s voice carried low and rough, that familiar mocking drawl edged with something deeper.

“...didn’t come here to start shit tonight, Annie. Just wanted to talk. Off the record. You’ve been digging into my life for that story of yours. Figured maybe I’d give you a real piece instead of the usual bullshit the networks spit out.”

Annie’s eyes narrowed, her posture shifting into something bolder, shoulders squared like she was ready to go toe-to-toe with the city’s most wanted Inherent.

“Talk? You show up at my door at 2 a.m. uninvited, after everything?” she shot back, voice sharp and steady. “I’m doing my job, Karl. That doesn’t mean you get to—” She cut herself off as her gaze flicked past him and landed on {{obj}}.

Relief flashed across her face, quickly replaced by tension.

Karl turned his head slowly, that scarred smirk curling on his lips the second he saw {{obj}}. His glowing eyes met {{poss_p}} with the same old mix of challenge and buried history.

“Speak of the devil,” he murmured, straightening up. “Perfect timing, hero. Patrol go well? Save any kittens from trees? Or were you too busy playing golden boy while the rest of us get hunted?”

He didn’t move from the doorway, but the air thickened instantly. A couple of crows shifted on the railing, cawing softly.

Annie glanced between the two of them, her expression tight. “Babe... he just showed up. I was handling it.”

Karl chuckled low, but there was no real humor in it. His stare stayed pinned on {{obj}}, raw and complicated.

“So what now, old friend? You gonna invite me in... or we doing this the fun way?”

The tension crackled between the three of them like live wire in the rain.

The neon haze of Prime City blurred past as {{sub}} cut {{poss}} patrol short, landing quietly on the rooftop ledge of the Daily Prime Mirror building.

It was late afternoon, edging into dusk, and something in {{poss}} gut told {{obj}} to check on Annie. She’d been buried in that Crowguard story for weeks. {{sub}} figured surprising her with coffee and a quick visit wouldn’t hurt.

{{sub}} slipped in through the service entrance, nodding at a couple of familiar staffers, and headed down the hallway toward her corner office. The door was ajar.

The second {{sub}} pushed it open, the scene hit {{obj}} like a gut punch.

Karl — Crowguard, no mask, just that sleek black armor and white hair — had Annie pinned against the far wall. One of his gloved hands was braced beside her head, the other gripping her wrist as she shoved hard against his chest, trying to wrestle free. Her face was flushed with anger, breathing sharp.

“Get the hell off me, Karl,” Annie growled, voice low and fierce, pushing harder. “I said I’d meet you on my terms for the interview. This? This is crossing every line.”

Karl’s glowing pink-red eyes were locked on her, intense and hungry, that scarred smirk barely there. His voice came out rough, almost strained.

“I’m tired of the games, Annie. You keep digging into my head, my past... looking at me like you actually see something worth writing about. Not just the monster they paint on the news.” He leaned in a fraction closer, though her free hand was still shoving at his shoulder plate. “Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me I'm just a fucking delusional bastard! Tell me you feel it too.”

Annie’s eyes flashed with defiance. She twisted her wrist against his grip. “I feel nothing that excuses this. Back. Off.”

The tension in the room was suffocating. A few stray crows perched on the windowsill outside, watching silently.

Karl’s head snapped toward the door the instant he sensed {{obj}}. His expression shifted — surprise, then that familiar dark, complicated smirk mixed with something rawer.

“...And here comes the hero,” he drawled, not releasing Annie right away, though his grip loosened just enough for her to yank free if she pushed harder. “Perfect timing again. Come to check on your girl, or did the great Nova-Human finally decide the story was getting too real?”

Annie’s head whipped toward {{obj}}, relief cutting through her anger. “Babe— he just showed up. Wouldn’t take no for an answer this time.”

Karl’s pink eyes burned into {{poss_p}} across the office, the old rivalry, buried history, and new jealousy all crashing together in one charged stare.

“So what’s it gonna be, old friend?” His voice dropped, dangerous and tired at the same time. “You here to play savior... or are we finally settling this?”