Sedusa’s plan was sound enough – the man, Blade, had shown up not too long after she’d robbed the Townsville bank. Well, he would surely do the same thing if she did the same thing. Thus, she had formulated her plot: rob the Townsville bank once again, and wait in the woods for him.

She had to see him again. There was no way around it – that feeling in her chest would not go away. In some way, she had to please it. And the only method she thought of was the usual villain default. This time, Sedusa figured, she wouldn’t need a disguise – she was going in there with a purpose. No trickery was required, because she wouldn’t be inside for long.

After the long night had passed – a lonesome moon, a howling wolf, and the soft pitter-patter of rain – the emerald eyes awoke to a cloudy sky, gray and dreary. The sun barely peeked out from behind the crowded sky, shining small rays of light down onto the city.

As she stretched herself awake, Sedusa told herself she had no time – surely, Blade would be waiting. So, sleep still heavy in her eyes, she grasped a burlap sack and raced out of her hideaway.

Thankfully, there were many shadows littering the city streets, so she had no problem saying out of sight. “How simple-minded…” she muttered to herself. “If they only looked into the shadows, they’d see. But men are far too lazy to do so. What a pity…”

It took her the better half of a half-hour to reach the Townsville bank. Having only opened around an hour prior, there were not many people present. But her Blade would have to be there. Taking a deep breath, she slowly climbed the ivory stairs and kicked open the door.

“This is a…” Sedusa’s sentence trailed off. Her eyes became locked upon the…person…standing in the lobby, having gotten there before her.

He turned to her, coal black eyes boring deep into her green ones. A wicked smile twisted onto his face, framing the dark hair on his head brilliantly. His black shirt was not much different from Blade’s; his pants were pitch-black with bellbottoms on the cuffs; his black shoes seemed pointed directly at Sedusa.

“Who might you be…?” he asked, his voice unexpectedly clear, despite his appearance. Sedusa looked past him and saw a pistol in his right hand.

“N-none of your business,” she replied uneasily, unable to put conviction in her voice. “W-who are you?”

The man laughed quietly. “You mean a name? Ha. Can’t remember the damn thing.” He cocked his head towards the tellers. “Though others seem akin to calling me Aftermath. And, if you don’t mind, I’m in the middle of a robbery, so if you would be on your way…”

“No way!” Sedusa told him, throwing her arm out in front of her body. “I have to rob this bank in order to see someone!”

Aftermath’s laugh was louder and more sinister this time. “Really? Who, I ask you, has the pleasure of your twisted affection?”

Sedusa cheeks went cold. Affection…? She hadn’t thought of that, but maybe…Maybe that feeling in her chest was…love…It was something she hadn’t felt in so long, she had all but forgotten it. Perhaps she was in love, with…

“His name’s Blade,” she responded.

“Blade, eh?” The expression on Aftermath’s face became unreadable. It was caught somewhere between glee and disgust. “Well, if you’re looking for him…” He snapped his fingers, causing balls of darkness to erupt from the ground all around him. “Then you’re just as disposable as he is.”

The balls of darkness flew away from him, aimed right for the woman opposing him. With a shriek, she dove out of the way, narrowly dodging the projectiles.

“How pathetic,” Aftermath said. “So this is how far humanity has fallen – to be reduced to feral animals at the first sign of danger. Resorting to the most basic of instincts in order to survive; rendered unable to see past the situation at hand.” His smile grew insane. “You’re a mouse at a mousetrap – all you see is your cheese, not the spring that will end your life. It’s depressing, really.

“Now, if you have sunken so far, howl for me!” More spheres of darkness floated above the floor and threw themselves, at Aftermath’s silent command, at Sedusa. She could only cringe and await the impact; there was nothing more for her to do.

However, that impact never came. When she realized this, she looked up. Standing in front of her was a man wearing a black shirt, blue jeans, and metal wristbands.

Blade.

Sedusa was beyond happy, but she could see he wasn’t paying attention to her at the moment. His right arm was dripping with maroon-tinted blood.

Aftermath looked like he couldn’t get any unhappier. “That’s just like you, Blade. Just waltz right in when I’m having a good time. You suck all the fun out of everything.”

Blade’s expression didn’t falter – he stared at Aftermath with apathetic eyes. “Leave right now, or you’ll regret it.”

Laughing came from the other man’s mouth. He put a hand in front of his face to stop it, but couldn’t cause the laughter to cease. “Regret it?! Oh, that’s rich! What are you going to do, Bladey-poo?! You’re too righteous to harm me!”

“I wouldn’t count on it.” With a snap of his fingers, the blades on his wristbands had come out, gleaming a rustic gold.

This caused the laughing to cease. The smile on Aftermath’s face slowly melted away into a slight frown. “Hmm. So you’re not playing around? That’s no fun, either.” He cracked his neck. “Well, I didn’t come here to fight actual opponents.” He made a gesture towards Sedusa, who growled at him. His reaction was a smirk.

“You always had bad timing, Blade. Maybe next time.” He wove goodbye and stepped back towards a window. Still smirking, he punched the glass out, slipping through the hole he’d made and disappearing.

There was a clap of thunder as Blade turned to Sedusa. He outstretched a hand to her.

“Come on. Take it. I couldn’t bear to leave a woman lying on the floor.” Nervously, his hand was taken by Seudsa, who stood up beside him.

Blade turned to the tellers. “Sorry about this. Have a good day.” He turned back around and led both of them out of the bank.

By this time, it had started to rain. What was a drizzle turned into a downpour, soaking both people in a matter of seconds.

Through matted hair, Sedusa looked at Blade, and could barely muster, “Thank you…”

“It was nothing,” Blade replied. “I was in the area, and I heard the commotion. I wouldn’t let someone to any harm to innocent people.”

“But there must be some way I can repay you,” she said. “If not for you, I would be…” She gulped at the thought.

“I can’t take anything from you – I was merely doing a public service.”

“You don’t understand – I have to pay you back.”

Blade’s gaze softened even more. “Well, alright.”

Seudsa’s cheeks, in spite of the rain, turned deep scarlet. So, she leaned in, eyes glowing through the refractions in the raindrops. “This is for saving me, more than once…”

She pressed her lips against Blade’s, and the two kissed.