A small crowd gathered around the steps of the police station late at night. They endured onslaughts of frigid air for hours for someone inside. Karen, Benjamin, Vanessa, and Charity awaited Daniel's fate, trembling from the cold and their turbulent emotions. But their arduous wait finally came to an end as Norio brought him out.

  "Two other witnesses in the bathroom confirm it. Mr. Jones entered one of the stalls and didn't leave until the incident was over."

  "We told you he was innocent." Karen snapped.

  "That you did.” Norio stretched his arm towards Daniel for a handshake. “Mr. Jones, I apologize for your treatment and my officers' behavior."

  Daniel slowly took the handshake. "Water under the bridge, chief."

  "Chief?" Norio rubbed his chin.

  "What?"

  "Nothing, good night." Norio re-entered the police station.

  The four quickly ran to Daniel as he walked down the steps with Charity leading the pack.

  "Little brother, I'm so s—"

  Daniel angrily pushed Charity aside, heading to his car. "Leave me alone."

  "I'm sorry, I should have said something. I don't know why I froze."

  Daniel stopped walking, gazing at Charity, enraged.

  "I know why. You still think I'm a thug who would endanger a thousand people if it meant a quick buck," Daniel shouted.

  Charity cried. "No, I don't. I swear on our father's grave.”

  "I'm gone, and anyone who still wants a ride, but Charity, better come now."

  Karen and the others swiftly followed Daniel into his car, driving off, leaving Charity alone, crying in the cold night.

  ***

  Daniel and Karen drove through the city, heading home after dropping off Benjamin and Vanessa. An awkward silence had grown between them in the time since. But slowly Karen began to open her mouth.

  "Are we going to talk about this when we reach home?" Karen asked.

  "Talk about what?"

  "You know what."

  "What's there to talk about? It's just like I said. Even my sister sees me as human garbage."

  "Love, it's not that simple. She faltered at a crucial moment. Speaking from experience, it happens to us all."

  "Whatever." Daniel rolled his eyes.

  "Not whatever. You need to talk to her as soon as possible."

  "Angel, nothing is going to make me talk to her. Not even if god himself sent something to strike me down."

  The ground suddenly shook with thunderous strength, and blinding light washed across the streets. Karen saw the neighborhood around them bombarded with heavy fire. As the flames spread, voices of agony from long ago echoed through her mind. She turned to Daniel with abject terror in her eyes. And he trembled as he quickly recognized her look from the arson attack on their first apartment.

  "Evasive action," Karen screamed.

  "What?"

  "It's an enemy ambush. Evasive action now."

  Karen hastily grabbed the steering wheel from Daniel, crashing the car into a light post in her panic.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Karen, aching from the crash, grasped her throbbing head. "W-what happened?"

  "You grabbed the wheel from me and crashed the car into a light post."

  "Oh, no, I had another episode. I'm so sorry."

  "Don't worry about it."

  "But now we'll need to return to our crooked mechanics for more repairs."

  Daniel groaned. "Karen, I've chosen to ignore that part of reality for now."

  Like lightning, more flames rained down on the surroundings, and the couple saw two gangs engaged in a brutal firefight. Civilians took shelter in a subway tunnel in the middle.

  "Love, you'd better get on that. Let's find a corner for you to change, and I'll keep watch."

  Daniel looked at the battle with determination, stepping out of the car. "I'll handle this one as Daniel Jones."

  "Pardon?"

  "I can take care of losers like these with average strength. No need for the knight."

  "Is this about charity and Charles?” Karen placed a hand on her chest. “Are you trying to prove something?"

  "No."

  "Liar," Karen bellowed.

  "Like it or not. This good deed will be mine and not the knight's."

  Karen quickly left the car, removing her high heels and earrings and tossing them on her seat.

  "Well, then, I'm helping. It'll look less suspicious with two rather than one."

  "You just had a panic attack."

  Karen cracked her neck and knuckles. "I've fully recuperated. Thank you very much."

  "Fine. You take the ones on the left, and I'll take the ones on the right."

  The couple dashed to the gangsters, drawing their fire, but they weaved through the barrage. And plowed into their numbers with fury.

  Daniel struck out one after the next faster and faster, decimating their ranks with different elbows and punches. But one gangster stopped Daniel cold as he saw his knuckle dusters pulsing with energy. He charged Daniel, swinging his fists wildly but missing him as he avoided each blow. However, as the gangster hit the ground, almost reaching the civilians with a shockwave from his weapon, Daniel ended the battle. He caught the gangster's arm, tossing him at a mailbox, and subdued him with a final kick to the head.

  Karen quickly beat her gangsters into submission, similar to her lover with an onslaught of punches and elbows, leaving them destitute. Still, surrounded by his defeated comrades, one still charged at her, slashing his knife. She effortlessly caught it, punching him in the stomach. However, as a gangster regained consciousness, racing for his gun, Karen ended the battle. She took the knife from the other gangster, tossing it at him, hitting his hand, and leaving him rolling in pain on the ground.

  As the shots stopped firing, the citizens swiftly left the passage in droves, screaming in terror. Still, through the panic, Daniel hurried to Karen, picking her up.

  "I was watching you."

  "You enjoyed watching me.” Karen rolled her eyes. “Am I supposed to be surprised?"

  "It's just everything you do makes me love you more."

  Karen kissed Daniel. "Sweet talk, but you're not out of hot water with me."

  Daniel put Karen down, pouting. But watching the civilians run, he spotted a gangster regaining consciousness. The gangster threw a grenade, but Daniel chased and caught it. However, as he sprinted away from the civilians to the edge of the street, throwing it into the water below, it exploded, hitting him. And the ground beneath Daniel crumbled as he fell into watery peril, sucked away through the drainage.

  ***

  Daniel crawled through his apartment's window, wet and shivering as morning came.

  "Finally, it's over." Daniel sighed.

  Karen quickly came, hugging Daniel with tearful eyes. "Thank god."

  "Thanks, but what's this about? You remember I can tank bullets, right?"

  "Love gives you worries, rational or not."

  Daniel kissed Karen."Well, you can stop. I'm fine."

  "Divine. Now, why don't you shower and put on some clean clothes? I’ll fix breakfast."

  Daniel walked to the rotary phone."Sounds good, angel, but I think I'll call Charity first. After swimming through sewage, I realized I have better things to worry about than holding a grudge."

  Karen stopped Daniel. "Let's talk, love."

  Karen pulled Daniel to their couch and sat down with him.

  "Daniel, there's something you need to know."

  "What?"

  "There's no easy way to say this, but the police have deemed you dead."

  "Excuse me?" Daniel shouted.

  "After the battle, the police arrived. They held a full investigation and told me they verified your death."

  Daniel quickly stood up. "How could they possibly think I was dead?"

  "Because you took a large explosion, falling several feet through the air."

  Daniel swallowed. "B-but it's still not impossible for a person to survive that."

  "Admittedly, I agree, after seeing soldiers hit by grenades, and live. But you would still need to be maimed or severely injured."

  Daniel swiftly caught a terrible migraine as his mind raced, but it disappeared, focusing on a question."Keiko?"

  "Miss Yukimura? What about her?"

  "Karen, when she hears what happened to me, she might kill herself," Daniel bellowed.

  Daniel dashed to the front door, with Karen following. But as he opened it, Karen shoved it closed with a thud.

  "Karen."

  "I'm sorry, but we can't let anyone see you until we make a plausible explanation."

  "I don't have time."

  Again, Daniel opened the door, but Karen shoved it closed.

  "If you leave now, you'll make more problems down the line."

  "But Keiko—"

  "Will be fine. I'll check on her and Charity later today. But for now, shower, eat, rest," Karen interrupted.

  Daniel looked at the dire seriousness of Karen's ruby eyes and sighed."Fine." And walked to the shower.