Anna saw her right away, eyes lighting up as they fell around Sage's legs, looking for Yasuo.
"Where's the cutie today?" She asked.
Out of everyone that could've been an IRL friend, Anna was the closest thing Sage had. She hurried over with a few deep breaths, twisting her fingers as she sat down, smiling in thanks when the woman slid her a cool glass of water. They were two years apart, but it felt like nothing.
Every Friday night Sage came to talk for ten minutes to an hour depending on whether she got a drink. Yas would curl up underneath the stool, accepting the pats of every passing patron as his mom got tipsy. Not today, though, with Titan out there.
She pointed her thumb at the behemoth standing outside in the day's fading glow. "With my new friend. He offered to watch him for a sec."
Anna strained over the counter to see him, thin brows rising over umbre eyes. "Holy hell, Sage. Is that piece of ass your new boyfriend? He looks older than you! Swoon."
She shook her head vehemently. "Of course not! I said new friend. We just met outside. He's a dick, trust me. Leave the lonely, brooding bad boy alone. It suits him."
Sage slid her card over, and Anna took it with a laugh, ebony manicure shining. "Fine, fine. I thought you were finally getting some, so I got excited. I'll run this, finish some refills, then check on the status in the kitchen. That's not yours."
"Sounds good."
Watching her friend flutter away, ponytail swaying, Sage took a long drink of her water. The sweat from her run was long gone, but she could feel her dehydrated muscles screaming.
Patrons around her laughed and chatted, eyes glittering with interest or exasperation. The TVs were blaring in her ear, being so close, but her knee still bounced in response to the personal silence cloaking her. No matter the atmosphere, Sage didn't do well being left alone with her thoughts. They were often irrational, goading, and, in rare cases, downright rude. As if thinking about it summoned the devil who whispered them, he appeared, tugging on her earlobe and forcing all of her attention inward.
They're looking at you.
It's funny, really, a fat girl going on a run just to pick up a burger?
Have you ever eaten a salad?
Fuck, you reek.
Sage swallowed hard while subtly checking her left armpit, sighing in relief to find it smelled of powder. Get it together, she told herself, squeezing her eyes shut and gulping a few more cold swallows. Sage's nerves were shot, she'd been out of the house for too long. Anxiety wasn't the right word for it, it was more than that. Like her body had a visceral reaction in the presence of too many people.
She didn't like taking meds for it, but no doctor ever listened when she described the haze, and her parents forbade her from weaning off them by the time she turned sixteen. Now she lived between moments. Days became weeks and weeks became months that slipped into years.
She graduated from college with a pre-med biology degree while streaming. Rushing toward goals just because it's what you do. Sage hiccuped quietly, breathing too quick. The only thing she could do was wrap both hands around the cup to keep her fingers from tearing each other apart in search of relief.
"Just a little longer," she muttered.
"Before what?"
A presence sidled up beside her. Their voice was even and melodious, like a steady, flowing river. Sage glanced at them from beneath lowered brows, already at her maximum level of bullshit she'd take for the day thanks to Titan.
The new man was much different from the specimen outside, though. A towering runner's body with stunning alabaster skin over sharp angles catching the light every time he moved. His eyes were ice blue, almost transparent beneath full, lush lashes. They drew Sage in more than she cared to admit, and maybe he'd think the same about hers.
She gestured toward the swinging kitchen doors at the far end of the crowded room. "I got takeout."
It was all she could bring herself to say.
The man smiled, running lithe, ring covered fingers through his layered blush-colored hair. In fact, every limb was wrapped in jewelry. Ropes of silver necklaces, ears dripping with chains and diamonds, a lip ring, and an eyebrow piercing. Sage wouldn't be surprised if he wore matching bangles on his wrists and ankles. It was working for him, though, in a chic beauty kind of way.
"Ah, I was going to offer to buy you a drink."
Sage didn't inherently believe she was ugly, but she was kind of freaking out here, and also knew there were at least four other perfectly beautiful single women at the bar right now. Two of them were staring, unabashed, as the man tried to pick her up. It made the sweat of her palms return; the room blurring at the edges as she felt her pulse pounding in her hands.
"Usually, you ask a girl her name before offering such a thing," Sage replied, raising a brow.
She had no idea where this confidence was coming from.
Out your ass, the devil on her shoulder cackled.
"Fine," he purred, leaning on the bar, his back to the room and full, over indulgent attention trained on her. "May I have the utmost pleasure of knowing such a radiant woman's name? I'd love to hear more about that pretty necklace you have on."
Anna returned at that moment, exclaiming loudly at his words, eyes wide and sparkling. To her, this must be the perfect meet cute.
Yeah, no.
"Sage," she replied, voice flat.
This wasn't the time, and certainly not the place. Online was where she spoke to men, never in person. Really being involved with someone meant giving up her peace, something Sage cherished above all.
"Thanks," she told Anna, taking the bag.
She got up, moving to leave, when a violent tremor tore down her spine, alerting her to danger. Without a second thought, she threw her entire body to the left, tucking and rolling. Time slowed, making every movement easy as breathing while she slid and tucked her body beneath a booth.
A whoosh of air passed directly after, then a deafening crash rattled the entire building's foundation, and a cry of anguish followed, loud and keening. Glass shattered, tables were destroyed, and dust layered the air. Sage coughed violently as she rose into a hesitant crouch, staring, hard, at a man who'd been impaled on the wall by a fucking mace.
Was that meant for me?
Her chest burned staring at him, almost like it was on fire. His wife wailed, having collapsed to her knees as her fingers tore bloody paths down her cheeks. Sage flinched, mind knocked out of one panic flavor just to fall into another.
"Holy fuck," she swore, crawling toward the man, itching to help.
His mouth was streaming blood, eyes rolling in his head. Sage knew what that meant. They were losing him, quickly. Too quickly. Taking it out wouldn't help him, but it would lessen his suffering. She stood on wobbly legs, fingers reaching toward the massive leather handle—
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Kitten. It's too heavy."
Sage stiffened, whirled toward Titan, and actually bared her teeth. "Where's my dog, asshole?"
"He's safe outside."
"So you thought it was fine to leave him and, what? Start your killing spree?"
"I'm here for something very important to me, and whoever's in the way will die."
Sage turned, gripped the mace with two hands, and yanked. A sickening squelch echoed, followed by the dull thud of the dead man's body. Sage swallowed hard, closing her eyes. His wife screamed, clawing at his still chest and heaving, mascara running and snot pooling.
"He can rest now, I'm so sorry for your loss," Sage murmured, hefting the weight of the weapon with great difficulty as she turned, the veins in her arms popping.
No matter how fucking heavy it was, this guy sure as hell wasn't getting it back. If he came close, it was game over. Sage was fueled by pure, indignant rage.
"Take one step and I'll fucking kill you, psycho."
He chuckled, green eyes squinting and golden hair flopping over the right side of his face. "I thought I was Titan?"
"Not anymore. I swear to fuck, get the hell out of here."
Her legs wobbled, making her bravado seem pale in comparison. She couldn't see his mouth, but damn, his gaze was expressive.
"No can do, Kitten. Come here like a good girl and let me have that necklace of yours."
Sage gasped, cheeks coloring even as confusion swirled. "What? No! This belongs to me. It's been around my neck since birth."
"Well, now it belongs to me."
"That's not how possession works, unfortunately. You're going to have to take it."
Everyone in the bar watched the exchange, holding their breath. Whatever happened next spelled everyone's fate. It was really too tragic they only had Sage to rely on. She took a deep breath, sweeping her feet into a fighter's stance and readjusting the weapon so it blocked her face. The man's eyes narrowed as he cracked his knuckles.
"It would be my pleasure."
Sage would give her entire heart to save these people. The warmth in her chest grew hotter, blazing with her conviction. Before he could step forward, she shouted to those who hadn't yet fled.
"Get behind me!"
No one needed to be told twice, rushing and tripping to cower behind the ridiculous-looking girl holding a bloody mace the size of her body. It would be funny… in a fucking comic book!
The man flipped out the knives tucked into his combat boots, hooking them on either thumb. Why was that kind of hot? Sage swallowed, hoping she was still in shock from what she'd witnessed. Her feet remained rooted, opting for defense rather than offense. Sage wasn't foolish enough to believe she held the upper hand here, no matter how big the weapon, and they both knew it.
She steeled herself for a blow, arms shaking as the prowling man crouched and slid closer, eyes flaring, and they fucking glowed. Sage's mind spiraled, mouth going dry. What in the hell was happening right now? Was he high on something? Jesus, she hoped not for everyone's sake.
He was two feet away, lifting one curved ballistic knife with long, taloned fingers filed into points. She hadn't seen them before, and the sight made her stomach twist over itself. Were those there when he took Yas' leash?
No, they couldn't have been!
"Do it already," Sage snapped, brazen as all hell.
He laughed at the same time one knife swung downward in a blinding arc while the other whipped upward, aiming to tear her in two. Sage allowed her honed reflexes to take over, feet dancing as she first hefted the mace down with overwhelming force, connecting the iron handle with the prick's wrist.
It didn't crack, but the heavy thud of it was awful. He grunted, dropping the knife, but side-stepping Sage's second, less agile retaliation. The mace wobbled through the air, her arms screaming. His knife sliced across Sage's bicep, long and searing, like a warning. She didn't even allow him to say so, opting to throw the weapon right at him with a hiss of pain.
As the man caught it with two hands, stumbling back with an oomph, she turned, silently urging the rest of the patrons toward the door. They went, one dragging the poor, distraught woman wailing over her husband behind them. Lights flashed beyond the windows, bright red and neon blue. Sage sighed in relief as she pressed one palm over the injury, turning back to the destroyed room.
The glance away cost her, for the moment she looked back, the man slammed his fist into her stomach, forcing her back several steps until Sage's back hit the brick wall. It rattled the old beer logo posters and lining of taps high above, threatening disaster. Pain roared up her spine on impact, legs going weak at the same time she coughed for air, eyes watering.
How strong was this guy?
"I don't want to punish you," he told her, stopping a shoe's length away, knife still spinning on one hand while he hefted the mace easily with the other. His gaze glinted over the dark mask, powerful and captivating. "But it seems you're not a good girl, are you?"
Despite the fiery shiver that wracked her spine at those damning words, Sage lifted her chin. "Only for men who are worthy of it."
"Shit, you're a brat," he snapped, swinging the mace again. "If I didn't have to kill you, I'd fill that mouth up."
Sage held her hands up in front of her face for protection and ducked to the side, yelping when the weapon slammed into the brick right where she'd been standing, shattering it. He pulled out and swung again, then again, but she evaded every time—her small body being an advantage she could kiss someone for having right now.
While he was otherworldly strong and agile even with the mace, she knew it slowed him down significantly by the way he was constantly a step behind. Tables exploded into wood chips and bar stools were sent flying into the liquor bottles behind the counter. Shattering glass showered Sage as she screamed, tucking her head and feeling it scatter over her hair.
"I thought you liked this place," the man mocked, following behind her with slow steps as if enjoying himself. "Why are you letting it get beat to hell?"
Sage gritted her teeth at the reminder of where they were. This was her home, her favorite restaurant with a bartender who was probably traumatized now.
"You're the one doing it!" she yelped, rushing forward so he picked up the pace toward the back of the building.
Only to double back and slide underneath the man's tree trunks for legs, using the momentum of grasping his thighs for purchase and polished wood floor to her advantage. The man froze at her touch, shocked or unsure, Sage couldn't tell which.
On her way through, she punched the prick square in the balls as hard as she could. He exhaled sharply, staggering and dropping the mace so fast it broke through the floorboards as easily as snapping a carrot in half.
Sage winced, but didn't police the hot, pulsing fury that radiated from the center of her chest outward as it forced her to stand. Muscles rigid and quivering, she slammed her heel down on the handle of the mace. It flew through the air, flipping over itself once, twice, before she caught it with both hands, green eye blazing as the hazel one remained reserved.
"Get out of my city, you fucker."
Then she wheeled the weapon back like a baseball bat and swung. It connected with the man's stomach with a loud whap, blood spraying across her legs and arms. He gasped like he'd been hit in by a mere fist instead, eyes squinting against the pain. Sage let go, the panicky feeling in her chest cooling the longer she stared and stared at the gushing hole through the man's stomach.
I did that. I DID THAT.
Her fingers shook, covered in the blood of the man kneeling at her feet. Fuck. She didn't even know his name. With a worried glance at the flashing lights outside, Sage began to pace.
"Oh my god, are you going to die? Oh god, I killed a guy I don't even know. Wait, I don't care… ugh, but I do! I don't want your death on my conscience. You seem strong, but not strong enough to grow organs back! Shit!"
"Hunter," he gasped, cutting off her rambling as he hunched over with a grimace, tearing the mace out. A wet, terrible pop followed that made Sage's stomach lurch.
"What?!" she asked, near hysterical.
"That's my name in case you do end up killing me, but don't count on it. Now, go out the back if you don't want the cops catching you."
Sage once again looked between the slow moving SWAT team and the man bleeding out. If she could see his lips, she'd be sure he had the same dribbles of blood as the man from earlier. I did that. I did that. I did that. It was haunting, and Sage felt so dizzy she had to grip a high-top for purchase.
"B-but Yasuo…" she mumbled, lips wobbling.
"Is out back. Just go before I change my fucking mind and kill you where you stand."
Her normal indignation and thirst for knowledge reared its ugly head as Sage crossed her arms, still holding pressure to the cut Hunter had given her. She hated that the name suited him so well.
"If you could, why haven't you done so already, huh?"
With a grunt, he flicked the remaining small knife so fast that it blurred as it sliced through the air toward her. Sage didn't hold a prayer of predicting it, so she stood still, closing her eyes… only for it the sail just shy of her cheek, a thin well of blood left behind.
Sage's breath shuttered, and it took everything she had to keep herself from breaking down.
That shouldn't be possible.
His agility, skill, and strength are that of a super soldier.
Shit, now wasn't the time to nerd out even if Sage felt a storm of questions swirling beneath her ribcage. Hunter was giving her a one time pass, and he didn't seem like a patient man. Sage inched around him, making certain to keep out of reach, but couldn't help one last question before turning the corner.
"Okay, so you can kill me. Then why let me go?"
Hunter wheezed, but shifted to glance over his shoulder, emerald gaze slitted with pain. "Because you earned it."