Robert opened his eyes. Morning sun was filtering through the buildings and falling on his tired face. His neck pain no longer felt so disgusting as he slowly got up from the plastic chair, he felt disgusting in general. Sleepless nights with endless streams of thoughts were making themselves known, but Robert didn't care.

"I need to take a shower...", his tired voice sounded like a slight dissatisfied whisper as he entered the bathroom.

Robert turned on the water and gave it a few seconds to warm up. Hot drops ran down his skin, washing away fatigue and the sticky remnants of the night. He leaned his hands against the tiles, inhaling the steam as if it could give him new life. At least, outwardly.

When he was done, he slowly got out of the shower and dried himself with a towel. His movements were automatic - habit overcame thought. But when he looked up at the mirror, something instantly brought clarity back to his eyes.

A dark purple hickey was clearly visible on his neck.

Robert glanced at him closer, touched it with his fingertips — and a memory exploded in his head: — {{user}}.

His heart sank. The person he lived with… Not just a neighbor, not just an acquaintance. You were the one they mentioned in news reports and night terrors. An ex-supervilian — dangerous, mysterious, always one step ahead of everyone else. Who worked at the SDN, where he met you and suggested they live together. Although he regretted it several times.

Robert looked down, trying to remember more. Last night was like a blurry photograph: fragments of voices, your laughter, cold fingers on his shoulders…and darkness.

"Where did you go this time?", he muttered quietly, trying to hide his anxiety behind indifference.

A sound came from the kitchen.