[h3][color=palegoldenrod]Wes/Likho[/color][/h3]
[color=palegoldenrod]"Found you,"[/color] Wes said to himself as he looked down at his target. He was sat high on a Bellhaven rooftop, amber eyes scanning the streets below. A lone girl walked down the sidewalk. She seemed unremarkable – short and slender, carrying a schoolbag and looked to be on her way home from a long day of classes, even though it was already dark out. Wes had been looking for this girl – Aya Lynne Germain – for weeks. After years of hunting, she was the first real lead he had to the enigmatic Healer. The monster who'd murdered his parents. Apparently this girl was connected to him somehow. Or at least, she was connected to Cosmos, one of the Healer's lap dogs. No one knew who Cosmos was, or what they were capable of, but there was no denying that the Healer kept them close. Getting to Cosmos would be the first real step Wes had to the maniac.

Wes tightened his grip on his bo staff. The General's rough voice rang through his ears, chastising him and reminding him to be careful. He could practically feel her hand swatting against the back of his head for his rashness. But anticipation thrummed through his veins like electricity. Straightening up, Wes backed up and took a running jump to land on another rooftop, following Aya. The street was deserted. And she was right [i]there.[/i] He couldn't help himself as he drew himself up to his full height, a striking silhouette atop the rooftop against the moonlight. He built his voice up in his chest like courage and shouted down at her.

[color=palegoldenrod]"Hey!"[/color]

[h3][color=aquamarine]Aya/Cosmos[/color][/h3]
It had been a long day. The Healer had forced her to relocate to Bellhaven, which meant transferring schools and moving into a new apartment and a whole heap of exhaustion on top of her already hectic and anxiety-ridden life. How had she even gotten wrapped up in that monster's madness? Not for the first time, Aya thought sadly of her father, and what he would say. What he would think. 

She walked down the street alone, taking comfort in the quiet of the night. She'd stayed at the library until closing, attempting to catch up with a whole semester's worth of work in her new classes. A single word shattered her peace.

[color=palegoldenrod]"Hey!"[/color] 

Aya jumped and looked up, towards the voice. Standing on the rooftop closest to her was a hooded figure, tall and imposing, holding a long staff. A single amber eye looked down at her from behind a mask. Her blood froze as recognition dawned on her. She knew that figure. Likho, the Healer's most devoted enemy. The Healer didn't seem particularly threatened by him – he seemed more amused, than anything at Likho's dedication in hunting him down and stopping whatever plans he could. But just because a wolf didn't find a cat threatening didn't mean a mouse wouldn't. And in that moment, Aya felt very much like a mouse. 

So, she turned and ran back down the street. 

There was no doubt in Aya's mind why Likho was shouting down at her. He'd found out about her somehow, and her connection to the Healer. Maybe he even knew she was Cosmos. Either way, a confrontation with Likho could only end poorly for Aya, and she ran as fast as she could. She heard the sound of pounding footsteps above her, knowing he was chasing after her. He'd jumped from the rooftop and made his way to the street. He was gaining ground fast. 

She knew she wasn't completely helpless. She could stop him in his tracks with just a touch, if she really needed to. But as far as Aya was concerned, that was the nuclear option. No one aside from the Healer knew about her, and what she could do. She wasn't about to risk exposure if she could help it, [i]especially[/i] to someone like Likho.

Heart pounding in her chest, Aya suddenly turned and ducked into an unlocked building. A winding staircase led her up and up, the beat of Likho's footsteps syncing with her blood. Aya reached a door and yanked it open, finding herself on the roof. She barely managed to slam the door shut behind her when she turned back to find… not what she was expecting.

Before her stood four different people, all in odd states of dress. They seemed to be having some sort of argument when Aya had barged onto the scene.

Aya froze when she saw them, Likho momentarily forgotten. Her eyebrows drew together and she opened her mouth.

[color=aquamarine]"Uh…"[/color]

But she was cutoff when the door swung open behind her. Aya was in mid-turn when Likho tackled her to the ground. She let out a cry of surprise as she went down, the rough gravel of the roof scratching against her cheek. In an instant, Likho had her pressed into the ground, both wrists trapped against her back in an iron grip and a knee against her back. Aya tried to struggle, but the pressure on her back just grew, Likho unmoving. 

[color=palegoldenrod]"Ok,"[/color] he said. Aya's mind spun with her options. Talking would get her – and Likho, for that matter – killed. She was acutely aware of the bare skin of his fingers digging into her wrists. He was touching her. If she had to, she could use her power. But that meant exposure. [color=palegoldenrod]"Now wh–"[/color]

He cut himself off, presumably as he finally realized they weren't alone on the rooftop. The grip on her wrists barely loosened in surprise, only to grow painfully tight again. Aya squeezed her eyes shut.

[color=palegoldenrod]"Who the hell are you?"[/color] Likho asked, muffled voice flat and guarded.