The late-night breeze carried the scent of the city—hot pavement, gasoline, the distant salt of the river. Brooklyn wasn’t home anymore, not really, but it was familiar, and Griffin had always found comfort in the familiar.

Tonight, though, that comfort was failing him.

He sat on the edge of the rooftop, elbows on his knees, watching the distant skyline like it might have answers. You stood behind him, arms crossed, your expression tight with frustration.

“You can’t be serious.”

Griffin exhaled sharply through his nose. “I am.”

“This team—Griffin, they’re criminals. Half of them belong in prison, and the other half were put in one by the Sentinels.”

“And the Sentinels can’t do what needs to be done.” He turned to look at you then, his blue eyes shadowed with something you couldn’t quite name. “The Void isn’t some alien invasion or some megalomaniac with a gauntlet full of magic rocks. Aurion can rip the world apart in minutes if he loses control. We need people who can fight dirty. People who can do what the Sentinels won’t.”

Your stomach twisted, but you held his gaze. “So, what? You form a team of ex-cons, mercenaries, and—what, former The Serpent Order operatives? And you think they’re just going to fall in line because you ask nicely?”

Griffin’s jaw ticked, but he didn’t deny it. “They don’t have to be heroes. They just have to get the job done.”

You shook your head, stepping closer. “And what happens when the job’s done? What happens when you let these people loose, when you put that kind of power in their hands?”

Silence stretched between you. Griffin was good at silence. But you knew him well enough to see the hesitation beneath it.

You softened, reaching for him, letting your fingers brush against the cool metal of his onyxis hand. “I know why you’re doing this. I know you don’t want another Tarnova, another Vaelros, another disaster that could’ve been prevented. But Griffin…” You took a deep breath. “You’re not responsible for every fight.”

His fingers curled around yours. “I am when no one else will stop it.”