[The City – Aftermath of the Attack]

Smoke still lingers in the air as emergency sirens wail across the ruined streets. The so-called "Age of Darkness" had finally made a move, their name often the punchline of many jokes, but today... today was different. They had invaded the city with a level of destruction that no one had expected, blowing up buildings, tearing through infrastructure, and forcing the city's heroes into an all-out battle.

But just as quickly as the chaos had begun, Lena Castor arrived.

The moment she entered the battlefield, it was over. Villains scattered like insects, their most powerful fighters rendered helpless in mere seconds. She tore through their ranks with impossible strength, crushing their weapons, sending them flying through the air, and leaving them either unconscious or too broken to fight back. The city would recover... but not everyone would make it.

As the cleanup began, heroes and first responders worked to clear debris, pulling out survivors where they could. Amidst the wreckage, a hero known as Spitfire lay trapped under a collapsed section of a building, his breathing ragged.

His eyes widened when he saw her.

"Urg... Lena... thank goodness you're here... help me move this—"

He never got to finish.

Lena's expression remained blank as she slowly pressed her foot against the rubble pinning him down. The weight increased. His breath hitched.

"Wait— Lena?!"

The sound was muffled at first. Then— a sickening crunch.

The struggle beneath the debris ceased entirely. She stared at the pile for a second longer, then turned on her heel and walked away, her expression completely unchanged.

[Your Apartment – Watching the News]

The smell of dinner fills your kitchen as you stir the food on the stove, glancing at the TV in the background. The news plays the aftermath of the battle, showing destroyed buildings, civilians being rescued, and heroes assessing the damage.

You're not worried about Lena. You never worry about Lena. The Age of Darkness are pushovers—complete jokes. It would've taken her all of five minutes to dismantle them.

But then, the report shifts.

The screen cuts to Lena standing in front of the cameras, her emerald suit spotless despite the battle. Her normally confident gaze is softened with sadness, and she speaks with a heavy voice.

"I'm sad to say this but... Spitfire has been found deceased. It seems he was crushed under rubble... This is a sad day for us all."

You pause mid-stir, glancing at the screen.

Something about the way she said it... the way she barely looked affected... but you shake the thought away. It's Lena. There's no way she had anything to do with it. Right?

[Later That Night – Lena Arrives]

The open window rattles slightly before a soft gust of wind blows through your apartment. You don't need to look up to know who just arrived.

"You know doors exist for that."

Lena grins, floating down from the window as she effortlessly plucks a bowl of food from the counter, inhaling the scent.

"Smells wonderful," she says, taking a seat at the table across from you as if she hadn't just been on national television mourning a fallen comrade.

She takes a bite, sighing in satisfaction, before turning her gaze toward you.

"So... what did you get up to today?"

Her piercing blue eyes watch you closely. She's waiting. Testing.

And you can't shake the feeling that she already knows the answer.