Grimm Incorporated's headquarters rose across the screen, a tower of steel and glass, rain streaking down its surface in neon soaked sheets. Red stood at the base of it, hood pulled low, dagger in hand.
The metal detector and two armed guards the only two obstacles between her and justice.
Red walked straight through it, prepared for what was to come.
BEEP.
The guard looked up.
Red's dagger snapped up before everything froze in place, unable to move like time stopped.
"That's not right," the fustrated voice said in the sky.
The artist erased the panel. Having ruhbye run in stricking range before going in for the kill.
"What about this?, is that better?," he muttered.
He sketched the guards reacting, one already halfway turning. Red's dagger came up, but he moved just out of range. That did not deter her, she stepped in and angled the hilt into the guard's jaw.
Crack.
The second guard didn't even get time to shout before she was on him.
The artist paused, staring at the rough lines. In his head, the scene was loud and Fast paced. He could clearly visualize the rain soaking her hood. Security alarms screaming. But on the page it just didnt pop like it should be.
"Come on… move," he whispered.
He started sketching the interior. A long atrium. Elevators. Stairwells spiraling upward. He placed Red on the first floor, then another panel above it. Then another. Each one a little higher. Each one closer to the Wolf.
He added a railing along one of the walkways, then frowned.
"That boxes it in."
With a quick flick of his stylus, he erased it completely. The open space made the drop feel real. Dangerous. Like if she slipped, it was over.
That was better.
He leaned closer, drawing Red cutting her way through another pair of Grimm enforcers. He added a speech bubble near her mouth.
Not bad, Wolf. I see where you got the name.
The artist stared at it.
"…Nope."
He scratched the bubble out hard enough to distort the lines beneath it. "Too cheesy," he muttered.
Rain streaks went in last, thin and careful. Even without color, he could see it in his head. Blue neon. Red warning lights. The shine on wet concrete. The way her hood would glow under it all.
The fight still wasn't right.
He leaned back, exhaling through his teeth, then stood and set the stylus down. A practice saber rested against the wall. He picked it up, rolling the grip in his palm.
"Okay guess we give this a go," he murmured, "lets see what you got ruhbye."
He exhaled once. The world around him bled away.
In his head, the floor became the top floor of Grimm Incorporated . The cold, slick marble floors under his boots, alarms wailing in the distance. Ruhbye stood in front of him, hood low, dagger in her grip.
He took his stance, but he moved first. He was so fast, low, a blur of motion was all she could glimpse. He parried the imagined strike with a clang that only existed in his mind, turning his wrist to redirect her blade.
"Too obvious," he murmured, circling her phantom figure.
Ruhbye darted in again. He sidestepped, countering with a precise thrust aimed for her chest — the killing blow.
But she spun.
Her dagger arm dropped, other hand snapping up. A throwing knife shimmered through the air, straight for his face.
The man flinched, twisting to deflect an attack that wasn't there. His heart pounded.
He could almost see her ghostly image closing in, all fury and fire, going for the final strike.
The phone on his desk buzzed.
He froze. The world snapped back into place — the quiet apartment, the hum of his PC, the glow of the half-finished panel.
He stared at the saber in his hand, breathing hard, he exhaled through his nose before answering.
"Yeah."
"Thank god, you finally picked up Aiden," Dee's voice came through crisp and professional, yet more annoying than nails on a chalkboard. "We need to talk about page twenty seven."
Aiden rolled his chair back, fingers still holding the stylus. "What about it."
"The fight is too slow," Dee said. "People want spectacle. This is supposed to be our breakout book."
Aiden glanced back at the screen. The character stood mid swing, muscles tight, eyes focused. "It is a duel. Not a fireworks show."
Dee let out a short laugh. "You keep saying that like it means something. Give him two swords. Make them huge. Give the colorist something fun to work with on the cover."
Aiden's jaw tightened. He stood up and paced between his desk and the window. Streetlights glowed faintly outside, blurred by the thin layer of grime on the glass.
"The whole point is weight," he said. "Every change has to elevate something. Im not going to make him like hes on steriods carrying a big slab of metal on his back."
There was a pause on the line.
"Aiden," Dee said, lowering his voice. "This is a business. We are past your deadline. Marketing is already waiting on the final pages."
"I am not changing the character just for the covers sake thats final."
Another pause. This one longer.
Behind him, the lock on his apartment door clicked.
Aiden turned just in time to see Lila slip inside. She did not bother being quiet. Her shoes kicked off near the door. She moved straight for the fridge like it was hers.
Dee was still talking. "The readers dont even know this whole "sword realism" thing."
"They will if the story respects them," Aiden said.
Lila pulled out an energy drink, popped the tab, and took a long chug. She made a face like it burned going down, then flashed Aiden an exaggerated thumbs up.
He shot her a look. She responded by puffing her cheeks and widening her eyes in mock innocence.
Dee continued. "If this book tanks, there is no second volume. You need to think about that."
Aiden rubbed his forehead. Lila leaned against the counter now, watching him, swaying slightly from exhaustion. Her work uniform was rumpled. There was a smear of something dark on her sleeve. Coffee, or ink, or maybe spaghetti sauce? It was impossible to tell.
"You are asking me to lie with my art," he said quietly.
"I am asking you to compromise," Dee replied. "That is how careers survive."
Lila lifted her empty can and mouthed the word help at him.
Aiden closed his eyes. He imagined the late nights. The deadlines. Lila dragging herself to work every morning after staying the night. He knew she deserved better. Yet she came by every night after work.
"Fine," he said sighing. "We will can talk about the cover later . Just send me the notes."
Dee's voice relaxed instantly. "Good youre doing the right thing. I will email you the adjustments. Try not to overthink it."
The call ended.
Aiden stared at the phone for a moment before dropping it onto the desk. Lila stepped closer, studying his face.
"You okay," she asked.
"Yeah," he said, though it came out thin. "Just tired."
"Same." She bumped his arm with her shoulder. "Your fridge is empty by the way. You are a such a mess baby."
He snorted despite himself. "Please tell me that wasnt my last energy drink."
"Those things are bad for you. I'm totally doing you a favor."
He stared at her lovingly. Her sass lifting the stress and exhaustion more than any drink could.
Aiden glanced back at the monitor. The duel on the screen looked frozen in time, caught in the moment before impact. Something about it suddenly felt wrong, like the figures were waiting for him to decide what they were allowed to become.
"Hey," she said, pressing her forehead against his without waiting for an invitation. "You look awful, are you getting sick."
"Hey easy, Im fine," Aiden muttered, his face feeling flush from her touch. "I could say the same to you, long day?"
"You could say that," Lila replied, before burying her face into his chest with a dramatic sigh. "But at least I can step away and see you."
Aiden shot her a look. "I missed you."
"I Missed you too," she said, looking up at him with an eager stare. "And that's why I'm here. You need to get out of your head for a bit."
Aiden leaned against the wall pulling her in by the hips. "I'm fine as long as you replace that drink, Lila."
"Hey, dont kill the moment jerk," she said, her tone softening. "Look, I get it. Deadlines and all.... But you sitting here all night, staring at your screen, isn't going to change anything."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "So, what do you suggest?"
Lila grinned. "Breakfast. Tomorrow. 9 a.m. My treat."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "You just got off work lets just spend time together before you have to go."
"I'm doing it for you," she said, her grin softening into a small smile. "You need this. Trust me."
Aiden chuckled with snort. "You are impossible."
"Stop fighting and just say yes already."
For the first time in days, Aiden felt a faint flicker of relief. "Fine," he said. "But only forba little bit okay."
"Deal," Lila said, pushing away and heading for the door. "And bring your sketchbook or youre in trouble teach."
Aiden rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Goodnight, Lila."
"Goodnight, Aiden," she said, waving as she left.
Back at his desk, Aiden tried to focus on his screen again, but his thoughts wandered. He glanced at the time display showing 10:47 p.m. and sighed. His eyes felt heavy, his mind foggy. He leaned back in his chair, intending to close his eyes for just a moment.
Sleep came quickly and with a little luck he would actually make it on time to his date for a change.