Aetheridge, the city that never rests.
Shade was walking through the streets, her steps quicker than usual.
She held her cross pendant close to her chest as she passed a group of drunkards, she could smell the alcohol from meters away.
It was unusual for her to be out this late.
She wouldn't have — if it wasn't for Blaze.
She had been spectating her for a while now.Whenever she stood in the ring, Shade couldn't draw her eyes away.The way Blaze stayed composed. Never flinched.Whether it was an opponent or training alone, she always looked gorgeous when landing her fists… needless to say Shade stayed until the lights went out.
Finally approaching her apartment building, she took the stairs to her floor.She didn't trust elevators.
When she unlocked the front door, the lights were dimly turned on in all rooms — even the bathroom — and a background track played softly from the kitchen speaker.She always left her apartment like this. It didn't matter how long she was gone.She couldn't afford silence and darkness.Ironic, considering her name was literally Shade.
She was tired today. Too tired to shower.She hated how dirty the outside world made her feel.
So she avoided the bedroom and crashed on the couch instead.She took off her accessories — except the cross pendant.Not a day had passed since she bought it where she didn't keep it on.
She set an alarm for the morning.
Tomorrow, she'd made up her mind.Echora was still looking for two new members to complete the group.
Shade had been thinking of bringing up Blaze ever since she discovered her. Blaze wasn't just a boxer — she was a performer too, on stage with Neon Static, alongside Riven and Knox. Shade had been watching her content a lot… for research.(At least that's what she kept telling herself. But not even her own mind believed it.)
Tomorrow she'd prove that the script she'd rehearsed in her head wasn't for nothing.
She was going to recruit Blaze.No matter what.