Jon and Miya walked hand in hand down the bridge they first officially became a couple on. The sun had begun to set, enveloping them in twilight once more. She clutched her rabbit tightly to her chest with one hand and her man with the other.

“I have to say, this has easily been the best day ever,” she sighed happily. “I really couldn't ask for a better boyfriend.”

“Ahh, you're just saying that.”

“I'm serious,” she insisted. “Jon, I've never had this much fun on a date before.”

He smiled at her. “Truth be told, this day has been pretty great for me, too.” He stopped walking and took both her hands in his. “I know it doesn't seem like much, but this past week has been really special to me. I mean that, Miya.”

She kissed him sweetly, after which her gaze slipped to the revolver tucked away in his jacket. “That gun is beautiful, by the way. I've never seen anything like it.”

He clutched at it thoughtfully. “It's my most prized possession. This gun has saved my life more times than I care to count.”

“It helps that you know how to use it. You're one hell of a shot,” she added with a sultry tone.

He shrugged. “Years of rigorous training.”

“And a healthy dose of heightened senses,” she added flirtatiously. “Must be nice having superpowers.”

Jon's smile evaporated. He let her hands go and leaned against the railing of the bridge. “It's hell.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Miya...since this thing appeared on my hand, I've not known peace one day of my life.” His voice sounded pained, burdened by this fact. “I am constantly having to check over my shoulder for the slightest sign of trouble. Everywhere I go, I am pursued by those who desire my power.” He hung his head, pain gripping his heart. “And anyone who gets close to me winds up dead. This isn't a superpower, it's a curse.”

Miya placed her hands on his arm gingerly. “If it's that much of a burden, can't you get it removed?”

He shook his head. “It's not as simple as removing the physical mark. I could chop off my whole hand and that wouldn't do me a lick of good.” He held the mark up in the air for her to see. “This is just the physical manifestation of a much deeper problem. It's not just my hand, the curse is in my blood.”

“Your blood? Like...as in passed down hereditarily?”

He nodded sadly. “I told you this came from my mother's bloodline.”

“So that's why you're here,” she surmised. “You’re in hiding until you find a way to remove the curse.”

“Exactly. Until I'm free of this mark, I'll never be able to live a normal life.” He clenched his fist tightly. “Until I'm free of this thing...I'll always be alone.”

Now it was Miya's turn to take his hands in hers. She stared up at him with that same loving gaze. “You're not alone anymore. I'm here for you.”

“Miya...you can't possibly understand what that means. Whether you choose it or not, you have to understand that just being near me puts you in mortal danger. If something were to ever happen to you, I would never forgi-”

She interrupted him with another kiss. “I already told you, that doesn’t matter. If I'm really in danger, then that's my choice to make.”

“But-”

She placed a finger over his lips. “I'm not gonna run away from this. Not when you've given so much to me.” Miya wrapped herself around him, resting her head against his chest. “If staying means I can heal this wounded heart of yours, then I don't care if I might die.”

There were no words. Jon couldn't conceive how she could be this understanding. But if it meant getting to stay with her, then he wasn’t going to question it.

“The sun is going down.” Miya looked up at him, the tenderness in her eyes was gone, replaced with something more devious.

He smirked at her. “What's going on in that twisted little head of yours?”

She played dumb while running her pointer finger in a circle around one of his pectorals. “Oh, nothing at all. I just thought that maybe you might feel like coming back to my place?”

“Are you sure? I know you've been wanting to take things slow since…”

She arched a brow at him. “Since the night you made me cook your leg?”

Jon chuckled at her and nodded. “We got swept up in the heat of the moment, but I don't want you to feel rushed about this.”

She shook her head, an apparent want in her eyes that overshadowed all else. “I'm done waiting. And to be perfectly honest, I may or may not have had something planned.”

He cocked a brow at her. “Do tell.”

“Uh uh uh.” She shook her head playfully. “Not yet, Mister. You'll just have to wait and find out.”

“In that case what are we standing around for?”

Without warning, he scooped her up off the ground.

“Eeek! Jon wait! What are you doing? Put me down!” she squealed while flailing around in his arms.

“I ain't waiting around for a cab, I'm running you to the damn apartment,” he answered mischievously before breaking into a light jog.

“Hold on! This isn't a good position!” she stammered, her face beet red. “I'm in a skirt, you ass!”

“What? I can't hear you. Winds picking up,” he joked.

“You are so not funny!”

Jon ran off the bridge with his crimson girlfriend in tow. From a few yards away, a short girl with bubblegum pink hair watched them, licking a popsicle ever so daintily.

“You fool. Enjoy this while you can. It won’t last long.”