She stayed in the shadows, where the streetlights didn’t quite meet. She checked the fastenings on her metal claws. Secure. Then palmed the metal whip in her other hand. He was crossing the street now. She wrapped the shadows further around her, creating a shield of darkness that melted into the night cityscape. He was foolish to meet her now, when she so clearly had the advantage. She felt nothing but calm- the fighting calm that settled within her, knowing she had planned every action of the night. Not a breath was out of place. Still, Cain advanced, unaware of Ciarra’s presence. He had agreed to meet her, thinking she agreed with him, thinking her darkness made her enough of an outcast to be shrouded from the light, figuratively as well. She had to smile to herself. How blind could he be?

Cain reached out with tendrils of apathy, cloaking the area in a mask of cold calculation, where warmth and happiness were sent to die. What a pair the two of them could be. Ciarra, with her control over the shadows. Him, with his control over emotions. He grinned at the thought of the power he had now managed to learn to control completely and utterly. He could make someone feel nothing, or he could overwhelm them with a something that overflowed to control their every impulse, turning their emotions up, or shutting them down completely. He felt one of his tendrils find someone to latch onto and suck their feelings from them. He felt a smug calm barrel down the tendril and into him, and then, it was his. His grin faded to a quirk. He came here to make an ally and he would do just that.

Ciarra felt nothing. The world around her was quiet. So Cain had found her and stolen the calm. She wasn’t angry. She wasn’t anything. But this was to her advantage. With no feelings, only logic could guide her. She dropped the shadows and stepped under the streetlight.

They didn’t greet each other. Both knew the other had already been aware of the others presence. Instead, there was a stillness as they regarded each other, an icy stare from Ciarra, a sly smile from Cain. Each with a façade of control over the other, each completely confidant in their abilities.

Cain spoke first. “You came.”

She blinked. “Yes.”

“So you support me?”

“No.”

Contrary to logic, Cain’s smile spread. “It’s in your best interest, /Sunshine./“ He used the nickname she had been given. “Hers, as well.” He didn’t clarify who’s. She knew exactly who he meant.

“Is it, though?”

This was where Cain felt he had the upper hand. He had everything to offer. Only compassion could stand against his offer, and he was very good at fighting compassion. “You’ve been stuck in the shadows,” he observed, smiling at his own pun. “I can help you become someone. A revolutionary. We won’t kill them if we don’t have to. I swear it, if you join me. But they’ve been causing issues. Things that effect the general population.”

“And yet, I cannot currently force myself to care about either my friends or the general population. Not even myself. I have to care a little, Cain. Or there’s not much of a motivation, is there?”

She was right. He let just a little of her natural feelings deep back into her. He could feel the warm calm leave him and settle back into her. She could feel them, too. “And now?”

She hardened. “And now, I find killing you here and now the most appealing option.”

He held up a hand. “But you won’t.”

“Give me one reason.”

His chin inclined to a nearby streetlight.

The girl was 20, and strapped to a set of explosives. If she moved, they would trigger. If Cain pressed the button, they would trigger. Ciarra had no clue how he had managed to get Aria. She was a better fighter and at least ten times cleverer. A combination Cain should have had no chance against. And yet.

“You took too much away, Cain. I don’t care.” Ciarra burst into action.

The street burst into flames.

Note: this was a quick write that I did from a prompt, but I’ve been considering extending it. Any feedback/ advice would be greatly appreciated!