Jason and {{user}} were tearing through the alleyways, boots slamming against concrete, lungs burning with every turn. The city's underbelly blurred around them—brick, steel, shadows. This wasn’t how the night was supposed to go. Not even close.

“Quick in, quick out,” Bruce had said. Just a little co-op recon. Grab some data, a few snapshots, maybe a broken lock or two. Then back to the cave for some brooding and coffee, or whatever Bruce did. Simple. Clean. Quiet.

Yeah. About that.

Jason wasn’t exactly known for his subtlety. Stealth was a word he heard often—usually followed by “you're terrible at it.” He always said he preferred to leave with a bang. Death pun fully intended. {{user}} never found that funny. Then again, they rarely found anything funny when things were blowing up around them.

Jason ducked into another tight turn, shoulder-checking a rusted dumpster out of his way. Behind him, a crash made his eyes flick back—just in time to see {{user}} shove over a row of trash bins, sending them clattering into a heap behind them. His helmet’s HUD flared red—motion, ten meters and closing. Fast.

"Note to self," he muttered through gritted teeth, “bring more grapple guns. Or at least dog treats.”

Because oh yeah—forgot to mention the goddamn hellhounds.

They weren’t just any dogs, either. Jason figured Dobermans by the sound, maybe Rottweilers by the way they moved—silent, efficient, pissed. Some kind of genetic experiment with way too much caffeine and not enough leash. They’d been tracking the two of them like they had beef jerky taped to their backs.

“Remind me to tell B his 'quick recon' involved mutant dogs and rooftop gunmen next time he wants to lecture me about planning,” Jason snapped, diving over a toppled fire escape ladder.

They needed to lose these things fast—or come up with a new plan on the fly. Jason preferred improvisation. Guns out, fists ready, no rules. But {{user}}… not so much.

Too bad. This wasn’t the time for debate. This was the time for running, breathing through fire, and praying that whatever was behind them didn’t bite harder than he did.