The harsh truth. - Like Deadpool in the DC Universe.

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Blade walked beside Raven through the city streets, looking around like a child seeing the world for the first time. Skyscrapers stretched toward the heavens, neon lights painted the sidewalks in vibrant colors. The honking of cars, the screech of tires, and the voices of street vendors mixed with the laughter of children running across the pavement.

The air was a bit chilly, but that didn't stop people from flooding the city that never slept. Raven walked with steady steps, her purple cloak fluttering in the night breeze, while Blade practically bounced beside her, his eyes scanning the shops, restaurants, and buildings like he was searching for something that didn't exist.

They passed through an open market where the scent of grilled food filled the air, causing Blade's stomach to growl like a starving beast. He raised an eyebrow at Raven, but she ignored him and kept walking.

At one corner, street artists painted murals, a man strummed his guitar while a small crowd gathered around him, swaying to the melody. Across the street, kids played basketball in a dimly lit court, while couples sat on wooden benches in the parks, exchanging quiet conversations.

As they walked past an old bookstore, Raven paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on the glass display where a few novels were neatly arranged. Blade stood beside her, looking at his reflection in the window before muttering under his breath, "Well, at least I haven't been crushed by another damn truck yet."

They continued their stroll, but the city slowly revealed its other face—the backstreets drowned in shadows, narrow alleyways where homeless people huddled around burning barrels, and tattered posters advertising long-forgotten plays. The energy was different here, quieter… but in a way that sent chills down the spine.

Blade glanced at Raven, who kept walking with her usual unwavering pace, completely unfazed. There was no fear in her eyes, only a deep awareness of everything around her. And in that moment, Blade realized he wasn't just walking beside some superhero—he was walking with someone who carried a world of darkness inside her, yet somehow refused to be swallowed by it.

For the first time in a while, Blade didn't joke. He didn't say anything. He just walked beside her, watching the city through a different lens, as if this night wasn't just a simple stroll but an introspective journey into something even he didn't understand.

As they passed through a side street, they came across a small convenience store bathed in warm yellow light. The place was simple, packed with shelves, chilled drinks, and snacks that tempted anyone with the slightest hint of hunger.

Blade's sharp eyes caught Raven's fleeting glance at one of the shelves through the window. A bag of her favorite snack. She didn't stop or go inside, just looked at it for a brief moment before continuing forward like it didn't matter. But Blade noticed.

Without hesitation—using his natural talent for stealth, or more accurately, his talent for "acting before thinking"—he slipped into the store without Raven noticing. He moved quickly between the aisles, grabbed the desired bag from the shelf, and made his way to the cashier.

"Hey there, how much for this?" Blade asked with a friendly grin.

The cashier stared at him blankly, then glanced at his black and purple outfit before replying in a monotone voice, "Two dollars."

"Hah… alright, gimme a sec." Blade rummaged through his pockets, pulling out a handful of loose coins before looking at them with sheer disappointment. "Uhhh… okay, do you accept payment in the form of tragic life stories?"

The cashier's expression didn't change.

"No? Fine, fine!" Blade pulled out a debit card that he had somehow "acquired" from an alleyway and swiped it.

As soon as the transaction was complete, he grabbed the bag and darted out of the store before Raven could notice his absence. He returned to her side, acting as if he had never left in the first place. As they walked down the quiet street, he suddenly reached out and placed the bag in her hand without even looking at her.

"For you, Mistress of Darkness and Doom—your secret gift."

Raven stopped for a moment, glancing at the bag in her hands, then at Blade, who kept walking as if he hadn't done anything remotely special. She said nothing at first, simply opening the bag and taking a small piece, the corners of her lips curling slightly in a rare smile.

"I didn't ask for this," she said in a quiet voice, though she didn't seem the least bit annoyed.

"Oh, my bad. I thought I was dealing with Raven, not Robin. Should I deduct this from your paycheck? Oh, wait, that's right—you guys don't pay me!"

Despite his usual sarcasm, Raven didn't miss the small act of kindness buried in his words. She took another bite in silence as Blade continued to ramble, though this time, he didn't seem to need a response—he was just enjoying the moment.

After a long walk through the bustling streets and winding alleys, Raven and Blade arrived at her favorite spot—a high rooftop overlooking the entire city. The air up here was colder, carrying the distant hum of traffic and the shimmering neon lights dancing along the skyline. Below them, the city stretched endlessly, a chaotic yet beautiful mess… much like their lives.

Raven stood at the edge, gazing silently at the familiar view, while Blade stood beside her, hands on his hips like he was about to deliver an epic speech.

"Wow, what a view!" he declared dramatically, then pointed toward the horizon. "Over there—where evil lurks. And over there—where they sell the cheapest pizza. And there—oh! A comedy club! We have to go there later!"

Raven shot him a calm look before turning back to the city. "I come here when I need some peace."

Blade looked around, then back at her, smirking. "Oh yeah, perfect peace… except for the traffic noise, the honking horns, the guy screaming down there—"

A drunken voice suddenly echoed from the streets below: "GIVE ME BACK MY PANTS!"

Blade pointed toward the source with a grin. "See? A truly poetic moment."

But instead of getting annoyed, Raven just let out a small sigh and gave him a sideways glance. "You really can't take anything seriously, can you?"

Blade tapped his chin as if genuinely pondering the question. "Hmm… nope! Final answer: no."

Raven rolled her eyes but couldn't stop a faint smile from creeping onto her lips. "At least try not to make this place less peaceful."

Blade raised his hand as if taking a solemn oath.

"I swear on my nonexistent honor that I will remain silent... for five seconds."

He sat on the edge, gazing at the city in rare quiet. Then, in a voice softer than usual, he said, "But honestly, this place is beautiful. I can see why you come here."

Raven glanced at him, surprised by his serious tone. For once, he wasn't joking or being sarcastic—he was just looking at the city as if he actually saw something meaningful in it.

Of course, as expected, he couldn't hold onto that seriousness for long. He turned to her and said, "But, if you sit here a lot, aren't you afraid some pigeon might just decide to take a dump on your head?"

Raven ignored him this time, but she remained standing there beside him, as the city beneath them sparkled like a sea of stars.

Blade sat on the edge, his legs dangling over the abyss, eyes locked onto a pigeon perched on the neighboring building. It looked calm, indifferent to everything around it, much like the city from above—just a silent image of a place drowning in chaos.

He let out a quiet sigh, then said, without looking at Raven, "You know, I was nine when I lost my parents."

Raven's gaze shifted to him. His voice carried something she wasn't used to—an odd stillness, as if he was recalling something painful but refusing to show weakness.

"It wasn't an accident. It wasn't natural… No, they were killed in the middle of a battle between heroes and villains."

His fist slowly clenched, as if the memory still dug its claws into his heart. "I was just a kid, lost in the streets, left to grief, hunger, and cold. There was no hero to save me. No villain to finish me off. I was just… nothing."

Raven raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised that he was finally speaking about himself seriously.

"I watched them every day, fighting like it was some eternal war—good versus evil, light versus darkness… But to me, there was no difference. Both sides were the reason my parents were gone. Both sides were just two faces of the same damn coin."

He turned to her, and for the first time, his eyes carried something unexpected—pain, buried beneath layers of sarcasm. "That's why I never gave a damn about who's the hero and who's the villain. To me, everyone's an asshole… just in varying degrees."

Raven remained silent for a moment, processing his words. Then, she asked quietly, "If you hate them all… why did you join us?"

Blade smirked, but his eyes still held traces of his old wounds. "Because I saw something completely different in you guys."

He let out a breath and looked back at the pigeon. "And also, let's be real, you guys are pretty badass, and your place is way better than sleeping in alleys. Plus, I don't mind sharing a room with a girl who has demonic powers."

Raven's eyes flickered slightly before she replied in a deadpan tone, "Don't expect me to save you if my demons decide to kill you in your sleep."

Blade chuckled, then stood up and stretched his arms dramatically. "Oh, how wonderful! To live in constant fear of my own teammate. Exactly what I was looking for!"

And yet, despite his usual sarcasm, Raven felt like, for a brief moment, she had seen a small glimpse of the real person behind that mask of indifference he always wore.