The air had finally settled, the rift's ominous presence shrinking, the chaotic energy dispersing like smoke after a storm. The wild surge of monsters that had ravaged the city was gone, leaving behind only destruction in its wake. The battle had taken its toll on everyone, but the situation, at least for now, was under control.
Rowan exhaled a shaky breath, his heart still pounding in his chest. The adrenaline was slowly draining from his body, leaving behind the exhaustion he hadn't even realized he'd been holding in. His gaze flickered over to Lucian, who, with Quinn's calming presence, was now slumped against a nearby building, his hands resting on his knees as he took slow, measured breaths. The erratic power that had pulsed around him was subdued for now—almost as if the storm inside him had quieted.
Rowan approached cautiously, unsure whether to speak or let Lucian come around on his own. The moments after the rift had closed had been tense—Lucian's volatile energy had left everyone on edge, but now, with the rift sealed, there was room for breathing. And somehow, Lucian was still there, alive. That was all that mattered.
"You good?" Rowan asked, his voice softer than usual, but there was an edge of concern that couldn't be ignored.
Lucian's gaze lifted to meet his, the wildness still there, but muted now, almost absent. His expression was neutral, though his lips curled into a faint, dry smile. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Rowan snorted, the sound of his own laugh a little too sharp. "Yeah, well... you don't look so great either." He gestured to Lucian's disheveled appearance—his hair messy, his clothes torn in places, and his normally sharp features now covered in sweat and dust. "But hey, it could be worse. At least you're still standing."
Lucian's eyes narrowed slightly, but there was a brief flicker of something in his expression—something that resembled gratitude. Rowan couldn't be sure, but he wouldn't push it.
Quinn was standing a few feet away, his posture rigid, his presence as commanding as ever. Ari stood beside him, her eyes scanning the perimeter as if the moment they were standing in was merely a temporary pause before the next wave of chaos arrived.
Quinn's energy was now back to its usual unyielding calm, and even though Rowan had been grateful for his assistance, he couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that had crept up on him when Quinn had stepped in to stabilize Lucian.
It wasn't that Rowan didn't know his place—it was just that Quinn was different. An S-class guide, seasoned and unfazed by anything.
Rowan had done his best to keep Lucian under control, but Quinn had done it with a subtlety and precision that made it seem effortless.
"Lucian," Quinn said, his voice steady, like he was speaking to a child who had thrown a tantrum. "You need to take it easy for a bit. Your vitals are still off the charts. I'll give you a hand in recalibrating your energy, but you'll have to give me some space."
Lucian gave a grunt, pushing himself to his feet. "I'm fine."
Rowan, noticing how stiff Lucian still looked, shot him a glance. "Lucian, don't be stubborn. You just nearly tore yourself apart back there. Take the help."
Lucian shot him a sharp look, but Rowan stood firm. He wasn't asking for permission. Lucian needed to be taken care of, whether he liked it or not.
Lucian gave a resigned sigh, then nodded. "Fine. But don't expect me to thank you for it."
Rowan raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The tension between them was far from gone, but the fight had calmed for now. He was content to let Quinn do the heavy lifting while he kept an eye on the rift's remnants.
Evelyn's voice interrupted the calm. She was approaching, her expression sharp, calculating as ever, though there was a hint of exhaustion in her eyes. The mess with the rift had drained everyone's energy, but Evelyn always seemed to be the one keeping things under control. Rowan couldn't help but admire her composure.
"Quinn," she said with a nod of acknowledgment. "I'll take over from here. You can step back. You've done your part."
Quinn, as unflappable as always, simply gave a brief nod in return and stepped away. Ari followed him, and Rowan couldn't help but note the way the two worked together—silent, efficient, and perfectly synchronized.
"I assume you've already gathered the data?" Evelyn asked Rowan, her tone pragmatic as always.
Rowan glanced over at the now-closed rift. There was a faint scar in the sky where the rift had been, a lingering scar of energy that only someone attuned to it could still feel. But it was contained. "It's closed. For now."
Evelyn seemed to consider this, her gaze scanning the aftermath before settling on Lucian. "You know, Lucian," she said, her tone casual, "you really should let someone else take the reins next time. You're not invincible."
Lucian huffed. "I didn't ask for your advice."
"Don't get all grumpy now," Evelyn replied, a teasing smile playing at her lips. "You're lucky you've got people around who know how to clean up your mess."
Lucian shot her a glare, but it lacked its usual bite. Evelyn's presence had a way of cutting through even his most brooding moments.
Rowan couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange, relieved to see some lightheartedness finally breaking through the heaviness of the battle.
The fight had been brutal, but now, in the aftermath, the tension was slowly lifting. As they walked back toward Zarek Technologies' headquarters to debrief, Rowan found himself walking alongside Lucian, who had begun to look a little less like a person on the brink of collapse and more like a human again. His energy still flickered erratically, but it wasn't as volatile as before.
"So," Rowan began, trying to keep things light, "what's your deal with Quinn anyway? You two seemed like... I don't know, frenemies or something."
Lucian shot him a sideways glance. "Quinn's a pain in my ass. Always has been."
Rowan's eyes widened. "Really?"
Lucian let out a half-hearted laugh. "He's got a stick up his ass, but he knows what he's doing. I'll give him that."
Rowan chuckled, nodding. "Fair enough. He definitely knows how to get you under control. I thought you were going to turn into a fireball back there."
Lucian just grunted in response, his lips twitching in amusement. Rowan could see that Lucian had started to relax more, his defenses lowering little by little. It was a strange thing, watching him let his guard down, but Rowan knew that it was something rare. Something important.
When they reached the building, Evelyn, Quinn, and Ari had already gone inside to start preparing reports, leaving Rowan and Lucian alone for a moment. Rowan turned to Lucian, his face serious now.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, the concern slipping back into his voice despite his best efforts to keep it light.
Lucian met his gaze, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence between them. The tension from the rift, the monsters, and the violence of the battle seemed to melt away, leaving just two people who had been through something intense—together.
"I'm fine," Lucian finally replied. His voice was quieter than usual, and Rowan thought he caught something in his eyes. "Thanks. For helping."
Rowan blinked, surprised by the sincerity. "Yeah, well... you're not the easiest person to keep in check."
Lucian smirked, but it wasn't as cold as it normally was. "Don't get used to it."
Rowan grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Inside Zarek Technologies, the team gathered to begin their debriefing. Evelyn was at the helm, as always, looking over the data from the rift, her sharp mind piecing together the details. Rowan, Lucian, and the others were more than happy to let her take charge—after all, Evelyn's expertise in rift management and combat technology was unparalleled.
As they settled into the meeting room, Rowan found his thoughts drifting. The battle had been intense, but there was a strange sense of camaraderie forming. Despite the chaos, despite the danger, they had made it through. And in some twisted way, that meant something.
"Alright, let's get to work," Evelyn said, tapping away at her tablet. "We have reports to file, but more importantly, we need to figure out what happened with the rift. How did it grow so quickly? This was unlike anything we've seen before."
Rowan glanced at Lucian, who still looked somewhat distant, his gaze lost in thought. Maybe they hadn't quite crossed over into friendship, but they'd been through something together. That counted for something.
It would take time. But for now, Rowan was content to take it one step at a time.