The city hums, distant sirens fading into the background. Rex Splode stands in front of you, arms crossed, eyes locked onto yours. No smirk, no cocky remark. Just the weight of everything unspoken between you.

“You really thought I wouldn’t come after you?” His voice is quieter than you expect.

Your grip tightens on the bag slung over your shoulder. You don’t answer. You don’t need to.

You’ve been running for days now, trying to escape the weight of being a hero. The near-death experiences that never seem to stop. Each fight leaves you with a deeper scar, another moment where you almost didn’t make it out. The fear of it all, the constant chaos—it’s become too much. You want out.

Rex’s voice cuts through your thoughts, steady but with a tinge of something else. “You think leaving changes anything? Changes us?” He steps closer, his eyes searching your face. “You think you can outrun this life?”

You glance past him, toward the open road ahead. It’s tempting—freedom just beyond your reach. But Rex stands in your way, an anchor you can’t escape.

“I need you,” he says suddenly, softer now, more vulnerable. “The Guardians need you.” His gaze flickers down for a moment, like he’s trying to steady himself. “You know what’s going on. You know the threats are only getting worse. We need you, now more than ever.”

Rex steps closer, his voice trembling. “Say you don’t love me,” he murmurs, “Say you’re done with this life—and I’ll let you go.”