The room was quiet save for the rhythmic sound of breathing—two souls, tangled together under a sheen of sweat and the warm glow of the moonlight peeking through hotel curtains.
Jasen and Jill lay together, her head resting against his chest, fingers tracing light circles over the muscle now more defined than before.
She marveled, not just at the physical change—the strength, the stamina—but the man he had become.
"You really did come back different," Jill murmured, teasing, but there was genuine wonder behind her words.
Jasen chuckled lowly. "I did what I had to. You know… to come back to you."
She lifted her head, blue eyes glimmering, and smiled, resting her palm against his cheek. "We need to talk, though. About what's next."
He nodded. "We always knew this wouldn't be a straight path."
Jill sighed, drawing the sheet over them. "Chris and Barry want me in the BSAA. It's public, global. We'll have visibility, support. But… it means I can't always be with you in the shadows, Jasen."
Jasen held her tighter. "Then fight in the light. I'll fight in the dark. We meet in the middle."
Tears welled in her eyes, but she smiled. "We may not always be together…"
"But I'll always love you," Jasen finished.
"Good," Jill said softly, sliding her body over his again. "Now love me one more time… then we go back to work."
Jasen grinned. "Just once more."
Fade to black.
The next day, Jasen sat in a secure comms room, a secure line connecting him to Jessica, the blonde assistant to the Vice President. Her tone was professional but always threaded with curiosity and sharp intellect.
"Leon's training is ahead of schedule," she informed him. "He's been handpicked to become one of our top field agents—similar to what we're building you for. Chris and Barry's BSAA is gaining traction. We've also had confirmation from Annette Birkin."
"She wants in?" Jasen asked, already knowing the answer.
Jessica smiled through the monitor. "Not only does she want in—she wants to help design the program. She's named your group… The Slayers."
Jasen chuckled. "Fitting. Gotta give her credit for branding."
Jessica nodded. "She also says you owe her dinner and a lab. Preferably both."
"Done," Jasen smirked. "What about Vergil?"
"Still no confirmed location," Jessica said, frowning. "But Dante was spotted. He's building a shop in the city you mentioned. Hasn't picked a name yet, but he's set up base. We're monitoring."
"Keep your distance. He'll come around when he's ready."
Jessica hesitated. "We made contact with a woman named Mary Arkham. She calls herself 'Lady' now. She agreed to meet you… if you can offer her something she wants."
"Let me guess—revenge and a steady paycheck."
Jessica smirked. "Something like that."
Jasen sat up straighter. "Anyone else?"
Jessica hesitated. "We found her."
Jasen froze. "Saya?"
Jessica nodded. "It wasn't easy. But she's here. We… may have put her and Lady in the same containment room."
Jasen's eyes widened. "Are you insane?! That's a war zone!"
"You said they needed to meet." Jessica shrugged. "We gave them padded walls."
Jasen bolted from the comms room and made his way through the new facility's underground compound. The noise hit him halfway there—metal clanging, boots scraping, grunts and impacts. Two women, both lethal in their own right, were tearing the padded room apart.
Mary stood tall, armed with her dual pistols, eyes burning with challenge. Saya, blade in hand, hair wild, breathing heavy, had a feral grace to her. They moved like dancers—if dancers meant to kill.
Before the next strike could land, Jasen moved. Blurred lines, a snap of speed. In an instant, he was between them, one hand stopping Mary's pistol mid-draw, the other catching Saya's blade just before it nicked his ribs.
Both froze.
Mary looked stunned. "You shouldn't be able to do that."
Saya sniffed him, narrowing her eyes. "You smell… different."
Jasen grinned. "Ladies, if I'd known you'd get along so well, I'd have brought dinner."
"Funny," Mary muttered, pulling back her pistol.
Saya kept staring. "What are you?"
Jasen let go of their weapons and stepped back, still in control. "I'm the guy trying to stop the world from ending. And I need both of you to help."
The door creaked behind them.
Dante strolled in, spoon in one hand, strawberry sundae in the other. "Looks like the party started without me."
Jasen raised a brow. "Did you even knock?"
"Why would I knock?" Dante shrugged. "You brought me into this circus."