[KAISER – POV]
The safehouse felt charged, like that thick buzz right before a fight kicks off. Hawk was pacing, her leather gear clinging tight to those dangerous curves, making it real hard to keep my mind off what I'd do if we weren't neck-deep in this mess. The rooftop talk was still fresh—her calling me Tyler like it was some secret weapon, digging up old shit. Watching her move, all fire and focus, had me thinking about grabbing her, pushing boundaries, seeing if that spark turned into something explosive. But hold up—my neural link pinged with a broadcast, not some sneaky dm, but a full blast across every underground feed in Scarpoint.
I flicked the data-glove, slapping the holo up on the wall. Pirate stream, raw and unfiltered, beaming from the Bleeding Cross hub. Scourge's beat-up face dominated, lounging on his twisted throne of mangled bones, casually dangling a severed Apex chick's head by the spine like it was yesterday's trash. The spine hung there, still jerking with leftover energy, blood plopping down in slow drips.
"Listen up, you pathetic fucks scraping by in Scarpoint," Scourge snarled, voice like rusty chains dragging on concrete. "That worthless prick Killmonger and his crew of trait-sucking assholes jacked something from my hoard. Mythic core—Shadow Weaver. Snatched it while you idiots were busy dying in the gutters or screwing in the dark."
He stayed planted, just waving his hand all casual, fingers cutting through the air. I knew the play—his invisible slash trait firing up, turning that lazy move into unseen blades. The camera rattled as the cuts shot out, tearing through his fortress walls and hitting the city hard. In the feed, five buildings got ripped apart—concrete cracking open, beams snapping with this gut-wrenching screech. People spilled from the heights, bodies getting sliced mid-air, turning into sprays of red mist, screams dying quick as parts hit the ground. Hundreds wiped, easy, just a flex.
Scourge laughed, this sick, guttural sound, shaking the head by the spine so her blank eyes bounced. "Look at that—meat puppets dancing on the way down. I love how the spines snap like dry twigs, blood painting everything so pretty. Gets me off thinking about carving more of you up, maybe string your guts like party streamers and watch 'em twitch while I laugh. Hell, I could make art out of your screaming faces, fuck the fear right into your souls. But I want my core back. Every hunter, every desperate shit with a knife or a glitch—find it. Bring it, and I'll bury you in crimson marks. Fail? I'll turn this zone into my personal butcher shop, peeling you slow, feeding your bits to the rats while you beg for the end."
The feed dropped, room going quiet except for my gear's hum. Hawk stopped dead, Oracle-Eye flickering as she took it all in. She looked fierce—lips parted, breathing sharp, that post-talk edge making her glow. The broadcast had her revved, and damn, it got me imagining ways to channel that energy, like pulling her in and turning the heat up slow.
"Scourge's got no idea we're involved," I said, keeping cool, stepping closer. Close enough to catch her vibe—sweat, leather, that sharp kick that always pulled me in. "But he's lit a fire under every lowlife here. That core—mythic grade. Twists shadows into all kinds of nasty tools. Killmonger probably lifted it mid-fight. Didn't spot it on him after."
Hawk turned, bodies brushing, her breath warm on my neck. "Then we hit the tunnel again. Sift through what's left of that dick."
I nodded, hand grazing her side—testing. She didn't pull back; leaned in a bit, eyes meeting mine with that challenge. "Keep crowding like this, and we might not get out the door."
Her words hit low, stirring things up. I gripped her waist, pulling her against me, feeling the press of her body. "Sounds good to me. Picture bending you over that console, making you forget the world for a bit."
She smirked, fingers trailing my chest, nails light but teasing. "Talk's cheap. Hunt first. Dirty stuff after."
I grinned, letting go, tension hanging like smoke. "Fair. Gear up."
Before we rolled, I popped a hidden stash, pulling out the blade I'd stashed. Sleek black steel, hilt humming with a rare element infused in the core—some void-touched crystal that made it phase weird. "This is for you. Got a rare element baked in—lets it slip through defenses, then hits with a bleeding effect that doesn't quit."
Her eyes sparked, snagging it, testing the swing—the blade shimmered, leaving a faint trail like it was cutting reality itself. "Nice. This'll gut our thief clean."
I watched her swing, that grin making me want more than a test run. "Good. Let's move."
[HAWK – POV]
The tunnel was a wreck—walls punched with holes, bone scraps grinding like sand under our boots, air heavy with that stale blood tang that clings. Kaiser took lead, coat swirling like he was too slick for the mess, but I caught his looks, eyes sliding over me with that vibe saying he was on the same page. The safehouse tease lingered, my skin buzzing like his touch was already there—firm grips, slow explores, building till I couldn't hold back. Snap out of it. Core and the thief first, then see if he's worth the hype.
His glove beeped, honing in on Killmonger's ash pile. "Looks untouched at a glance. Let's dig in."
I knelt next to him, arms brushing, sending a quick spark. Flashes hit—him shoving me down in the grit, taking charge, making everything fade. Pushed it aside, Oracle-Eye scanning: red lines flickering old bolt paths. The remains were just dust and bits, but something bugged me. I rummaged, fingers hitting an odd empty spot—round, like something got yanked, with shattered casing scattered.
"It's gone," I said, holding up a chunk of tech shell. "Someone pulled it after he dropped. But wait—Feral Lock's pinging. From the first scrap with his crew, I got blood on Nulljaw. That mute muscle freak. Trail's lighting up— he's the one who grabbed it and ran."
Kaiser's face tightened, nodding like it fit. "Solid catch. Path goes up. Black market turf. Probably trying to dump it quick."
He stood, stepping in close on purpose. "But hold up... quick test run."
I raised a brow, warmth kicking up. "Test?"
"You with the new blade. How we link in a brawl." He nodded at creeping shadows—scavengers, hyped from Scourge's rant. Five augmented goons, eyes glowing with cheap mods. "You drive. I'll watch."
Watch? Word loaded, his eyes tracing me like he was planning more than a fight. Got under my skin, mixing irritation with want. "Don't get too excited just looking."
He chuckled low. "No promises."
They charged—talons swinging, lashes cracking, acid spewing, one hulking brute with bulk ups. I let the talon guy slice my arm, blood firing Overdrive, speed rushing like a drug hit. The blade activated, phasing through his block and leaving a gash that kept bleeding, the rare element making it spread like poison. He yelled, face twisting as it ate deeper.
The rest mobbed. Lash burned my leg—pain flipping to this dark rush via Hellskin, almost pulling a sound before I clamped it. Bounced back with Gravemaul, slamming him into stone; the blade followed, phasing and bleeding him out from inside.
Kaiser hung back, arms crossed, stare intense like he was memorizing for later. "Deeper swings. Let the element flow."
"Shut it," I snapped, but did—blade shimmering, cuts phasing unseen till they hit, the element spreading wounds that wouldn't close on the acid guy, his body seizing as it drained him. Feral Lock tagged the last two with blood spots, Oracle-Eye mapping ends in red. Spun through, blade humming, finishing in hot sprays that slicked me down.
Breathing rough, coated in sweat and blood, I turned. Body alive, that deep pull growing. "Good?"
He stepped up, eyes dark. "Better than good. You handle it like trouble worth chasing."
Faces close, air thick—his hand on my hip, pulling just enough to hint at more. Felt him pressed in, solid and ready, making me crave pulling him down right there.
But I smirked, easing back. "Save it"
The tunnel reeked like stale blood mixed with old sweat, a scent that clung to your skin and never quite faded. Kaiser led the way, calm as ever, his eyes scanning every shadow like they held secrets waiting to be ripped out. I gripped the new blade he'd given me—no name, forged from some rare element that let it phase through defenses and leave wounds that bled like hell. The hum of it was a siren in my hands.
The moment Nulljaw stepped into the flickering neon light of the black market alley, my pulse kicked into overdrive. That giant muttered something, claws flexing, eyes cold and calculating. His massive frame seemed tense, ready to explode into motion. I could feel my Feral Lock thrum—my blood on him from our last fight setting a beacon straight to his location.
He charged first, fists like wrecking balls swinging for my ribs. I ducked low, letting the first blow whoosh past mere inches from my face. My blade whispered as I drove it into his forearm—phasing through his armor like a hot knife through butter. He bellowed, but didn't stop.
Nulljaw grabbed at me with huge hands, but I slid backwards, barely slipping his grip. I countered with Razor Pulse blades that erupted from my skin, flicking them out like strikes. One caught him in the neck, thin but deep, forcing a guttural snarl from the brute.
Kaiser appeared beside me, his own black flames crackling with raw power. He didn't waste time—fists ablaze, he wove through Nulljaw's wild swings with a fluidity that looked almost playful. One moment, he was dodging a crushing hammer fist, next he was sending a pulse of searing black energy smashing into the giant's gut, making him stagger.
I stepped up, pushing my Overdrive to the max. Pain turned into rage—the cut on my side spreading warmth like liquid fire. I was faster, more lethal. I ducked another swipe, spinning, the rare element in my blade sparking to life. I sliced at his thigh; the blade burned invisibly along his flesh, and he howled in pain.
Nulljaw roared, swinging wildly, his claws flashing with cruel intent. I twisted under a strike, feeling the wind scrape my hair, then drove Razor Pulse blades deep into his shoulder. Blood sprayed, and he dropped to one knee, but he wasn't done.
Kaiser grabbed his arm, black flames roaring, and ignited a blast that ripped through muscle and bone. The air filled with the smell of burning flesh and ozone. Nulljaw screamed, a sound like a dying engine, then launched himself at Kaiser with blinding speed.
But Kaiser was ready. He disappeared in a flicker—Chrono-Collapse—and reappeared behind Nulljaw, fists crackling with stolen trait energy. A rapid combo of punches shattered ribs, drove the giant staggering. Then, with a vicious uppercut, he sent Nulljaw crashing into the alley wall.
I didn't wait. Slash, stab, cut. My blades hummed with deadly rhythm, each strike precise and ruthless. Nulljaw fell, bleeding, struggling, his chest rising and falling like a broken machine.
Kaiser came to my side, breathing heavy but smiling that cocky grin. "Not bad for a blade-slut," he said with a wink.
I smirked. "Try harder, thief."
[KAISER – POV]
Hawk was a fucking storm unleashed, her energy sharp and deadly. Watching her dance with Nulljaw was like seeing poetry written in blood and steel. She moved faster than I thought humanly possible, blades phasing through the air, catching the giant off guard time and again.
When Nulljaw swung a crushing blow, she ducked with fluid grace, pain flashing along the cut on her side but fueling her more. Her teeth clenched, eyes blazing with that reckless fire.
I stepped in at the right moment, black flames licking at my fists. Nulljaw's focus snapped, trying to split his attention, but I blurred forward, fists punching through his defenses, hitting with the strength of stolen traits, each strike pushing him closer to collapse.
When he roared and charged me, I vanished—Chrono-Collapse activated—and I was behind him, striking ribs and gut, draining his energy. The giant stumbled into the wall, cracking stone under his weight.
I glanced at Hawk, her blades already flashing in a deadly arc across Nulljaw's throat. Her movements were a blur, a symphony of violence. She was lethal, precise, and beautiful all at once.
As the fight wound down, my breath ragged but spirit wild, I looked at Hawk, knowing we were more than just partners in this war—we were the perfect storm.
And this was just the beginning.
Hawk stood over Nulljaw's corpse, chest heaving, blade dripping. "Core's ours."
I nodded, pulling it from his grip. "Team effort."
She shot me a look, all heat and promise. "Don't get soft on me now."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Stepped close, the tease electric.
[HAWK – POV]
Nulljaw's massive body hit the ground with a thud that shook the alley, his blood pooling out like dark rivers under the flickering neon. My chest heaved, sweat mixing with the splatter on my skin, the new blade still humming in my grip like it was alive and hungry for more. The fight had been brutal—every slash, every dodge leaving me wired, adrenaline crashing through me like a drug I couldn't quit. Kaiser stood there, flames dying on his fists, that smirk on his face saying he knew exactly how revved I was.
The core lay clutched in Nulljaw's dead hand, pulsing with that eerie mythic glow. I pried it free, feeling its warmth seep into my palm, like it was whispering promises of power. But right now, power wasn't what I craved. The fight had ignited something deeper, a fire low in my belly that the kills couldn't quench. Kaiser's eyes on me during the scrap—intense, hungry—had only fanned it. I glanced around the wrecked black market: stalls smashed, a few survivors groaning or fleeing. Nearby, a half-caved shop front beckoned, its door ajar, shadows inside offering just enough cover.
I couldn't take it anymore. The tension between us had been building since the safehouse, every tease, every brush pushing me to the edge. "I can't wait any longer," I growled, grabbing his coat collar and yanking him toward the shop. I tossed the core inside first—it skittered across the dusty floor, rolling into a corner amid broken shelves and spilled trait vials.
He grinned, eyes darkening with the same need, letting me pull him along without resistance. "My thoughts exactly."
We stumbled through the doorway, the busted door swinging shut behind us with a creak, sealing us in dim half-light from a cracked window. The place was a mess—overturned tables, shattered glass crunching underfoot, the faint glow of leaked vials casting eerie blues and greens across the walls. But none of that mattered. The second we were alone, I shoved him against the nearest wall, my mouth crashing onto his in a kiss that was all heat and desperation. Our tongues tangled, rough and demanding, his hands immediately roaming—gripping my waist, pulling me flush against him so I could feel how hard he already was.
"Fuck, Hawk," he murmured against my lips, voice rough, one hand sliding up to cup my breast through the leather, thumb teasing the nipple until it peaked. "You've been driving me crazy since the tunnel."
"Good," I breathed, nipping his jaw, hands tearing at his coat, popping it open to expose the hard planes of his chest. His skin was warm, scarred, those subtle mod lines glowing faintly like they were charged from the fight. I raked my nails down his abs, feeling him shudder, then pushed him down onto a pile of scattered cushions that might've once been a display bed. He went willingly, eyes locked on mine, that emperor smirk promising he'd make this unforgettable.
I straddled him, grinding down slow, feeling him press against me through our clothes. "You talk a big game. Time to back it up."
He laughed low, hands sliding up my thighs, pushing the leather higher. "Challenge accepted." His fingers were skilled, unbuckling straps with ease, exposing more skin. He sat up, mouth finding my neck, sucking marks that sent jolts straight to my core. Then lower—kissing along my collarbone, down to my breasts, tongue circling one nipple while his hand teased the other. I arched into it, moaning, the sensation building that sweet pressure.
But he wasn't rushing. His mouth trailed lower, kissing the valley between my breasts, down my stomach, hands gripping my hips to hold me steady. "Gonna make you forget everything," he whispered, voice husky, eyes meeting mine as he reached my thighs. He spread them wider, settling between, starting with slow, teasing kisses on the inside—soft at first, then with teeth, nipping just enough to sting and soothe with his tongue after. Each one sent shivers racing up, my breath hitching, hands tangling in his hair to guide him.
"Kaiser..." I gasped, the world narrowing to his mouth on my skin, the way he worshipped every inch like I was a prize he'd stolen. He worked higher, closer, breath hot against my core, teasing without mercy. One hand slid up, fingers parting me, exposing everything, while his tongue finally delved in—slow licks at first, tasting, exploring every fold. I bucked against him, moaning louder, the pleasure coiling tight.
He hummed in approval, the vibration making me see stars, then picked up the pace—tongue circling my clit, fingers slipping inside to curl just right, hitting that spot over and over. It was intense, overwhelming, like he was erasing every bad memory with each stroke, each suck. The trauma, the losses, the endless fights—they faded, replaced by this blinding heat, my body trembling on the edge.
"Don't stop," I begged, thighs clamping around his head, riding the wave as he pushed me higher. He didn't—ate me out like a man starved, relentless, until I shattered, crying out, body convulsing in waves of ecstasy that left me boneless, panting.
He kissed his way back up, slow and smug, capturing my mouth in a deep kiss, letting me taste myself. "Forgotten yet?"
"Getting there," I panted, hands fumbling with his belt, freeing him. He was thick, hard, and I stroked him slow, watching his eyes hood with pleasure. "Now fuck me like you mean it."
He groaned, flipping us so I was under him, legs wrapping around his waist. "As you wish." He thrust in deep, filling me completely, both of us gasping at the connection. It was perfect—rough rhythm building, his hips snapping, hands pinning mine above my head. I met every thrust, nails digging into his back, marking him, the slap of skin and our moans filling the shop.
He angled just right, hitting deep, making stars burst behind my eyes. "You're mine," he growled, mouth on my neck, sucking more marks, one hand sliding between us to tease my clit, pushing me toward another peak.
"Yes," I moaned, lost in it, the world gone— no Kingpins, no hunts, just this, us forgetting everything in sweat and heat. We came together, hard and shattering, his groan mixing with my cry, bodies locked in that final rush.
We collapsed, tangled, breaths syncing. "That... hit the spot," he muttered, kissing my shoulder.
"Yeah," I agreed, head on his chest, bliss washing away the edges of old pain.
But peace didn't last. Boots thundered outside, voices barking orders. We scrambled up, fully naked as the door exploded inward. Scourge's mercs swarmed—dozens, traits flaring, weapons hot, circling us tight.
Kaiser butt booty naked , that emperor smirk curling as he flexed his glove. "Well, damn. The party's just getting started, and these uninvited guests crash in. Who forgot to bribe the bouncers?"
END OF CHAPTER 4