The Hero Returns with his Yandere Wife-Chapter 18 - 17

The Streets of Argon City – A Decade Ago

The restless beast of Argon City snarled beneath a bruised sky, its veins pulsing with life that refused to relent.

Neon lights flickered like dying stars, their garish glow bleeding into the cracked asphalt, painting the streets in shades of electric blue and crimson.

Traffic roared—a ceaseless growl of engines and horns that reverberated through the city's bones, shaking loose the dust from forgotten corners.

Alleys twisted like scars between towering buildings, their shadows swallowing the unwary, while the distant hum of humanity vibrated through every rooftop and gutter.

This was a city that never slept, its heartbeat a relentless drumroll of chaos and survival.

For superheroes, that meant there was always work to do—a Sisyphean task of pushing back the dark, one fight at a time.

Atop a squat, weathered building—one of the city's lower perches, dwarfed by the gleaming spires of the financial district—a young Ryn crouched, his silhouette sharp against the flickering skyline.

His hands gripped the rough, crumbling edge of the rooftop, fingers digging into the grit as he peered down into the darkened alley below.

His messy black hair, damp with sweat, clung to his forehead, strands catching the faint breeze that carried the tang of exhaust and rust.

The B-Class badge pinned to his jacket gleamed faintly under the streetlight's jaundiced glow—a modest mark of rank, a promise of potential yet untested.

His amber eyes, bright and restless, tracked the figure slinking through the shadows below.

"He's moving," he muttered into his earpiece, voice low and edged with focus.

The target—a B-Class villain—was a wiry man with serrated fingers that glinted like jagged blades, crusted with the dried blood of his latest victim.

The culprit behind the recent murder case, a string of brutal killings that had left the city's underbelly buzzing with fear and whispers.

The man darted between trash heaps, his movements quick but sloppy, unaware of the eyes pinning him from above.

A voice crackled through the earpiece in response—sharp, commanding, and laced with irritation.

"Wait for my signal, dumbass."

Ryn sighed, the sound a faint huff of exasperation.

He didn't need to guess who it was.

That impatient growl belonged to Elena Voss, her tone as familiar as the weight of his own boots.

He could picture her—jaw tight, steel-blue eyes narrowed, already plotting her next move.

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Patience was a virtue she'd never bothered to learn.

Before he could reply, a blur of chestnut-brown hair and black combat gear shot past him, vaulting off the rooftop with reckless abandon.

Elena didn't wait for signals.

She never had.

Her form sliced through the air, a missile of muscle and intent, landing in the alley below with a force that cracked the pavement beneath her boots.

The villain barely had time to register the shadow descending before she was on him—her knee slammed into his chest, pinning him to the ground, her gloved fist cocked back for the follow-through.

"Damn it, Elena—!" Ryn's protest was half-formed, swallowed by the wind as he leapt after her.

Too late.

Always too late with her.

He hit the ground beside her, boots crunching against shattered concrete, just as the villain slashed upward with his serrated fingers.

The blades whistled through the air, a vicious arc aimed at Elena's throat.

"Watch it!" Ryn snapped, lunging forward.

His kick caught the man's wrist, sending the attack wide, the serrated edges scraping sparks off a dumpster instead of flesh.

Elena barely flinched.

She shook off the near miss like it was nothing, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.

Her cocky grin flashed in the dim light, all teeth and defiance.

"Didn't need saving, but thanks anyway."

Ryn exhaled sharply through his nose, shaking his head as he straightened.

"You keep fighting like that, and one of these days, you'll end up carrying me to the hospital again."

His tone was dry, but there was a flicker of something softer beneath it—exasperation laced with grudging admiration.

Elena smirked, tightening the straps of her gloves with a quick tug.

"Then don't get yourself injured next time."

But of course, he did.

The villain twisted beneath her, desperation fueling a sudden burst of strength.

His serrated fingers lashed out again, catching Ryn's leg as he moved to flank.

The blades bit shallowly into his calf, drawing a thin line of blood that stung more from pride than pain.

Ryn grunted, pivoting to slam his heel into the man's jaw.

The crack of bone echoed off the alley walls, and the villain slumped, unconscious, his serrated hands falling limp at his sides.

Elena stood, dusting off her knees with a huff.

"Told you."

Her grin widened, victorious and smug.

"Now let's get you patched up, hero."

Ryn rolled his eyes, limping slightly as he followed her out of the alley.

"You're insufferable."

"And you love it," she shot back, her laughter bouncing off the brick walls.