SORRY PEOPLE! THIS AUTHOR OF YOURS HAD THE FLU AND WAS BATTLING FOR HER LIFE.

So anyway, I'm good now

(some random drawing 'cause I felt like it)

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3RD POV
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[10 months before Canon]

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The clearing echoed with the rhythmic sound of metal slicing through the air, a stark contrast to the serene murmur of the nearby waterfall. In the midst of this, a young boy gasped and panted, his body weary from hours of relentless training. Every muscle ached with the strain, but his unwavering determination fueled his every move. He knew that he had to become strong, strong enough to survive the final selection and join the ranks of the demon slayer corps!

His clothes scraped over his still-healing wounds, making him wince and lose his focus mid-swing. He let out a string of colorful curses under his breath, itching to rip those bandages off his shoulders. But that freak in the mask, annoying as all hell, had a point. Infections were a bitch, and a fever would be a one-way ticket to failure. No way in hell was he letting that happen. He had one goal, and it was simple: become a damn demon slayer and find his brother. Sure, he knew Nemi was a beast, being one of those pillar guys, but he needed to make things right. He needed to apologize, and he would stop at nothing to achieve it.

The teenager just stood there for a minute, his face screwed up in a scowl. He couldn't help but wonder if he could've kept his damn mouth shut back then. Maybe...just maybe, his big brother wouldn't hate his guts so much now.

Genya's mind circled back to that masked pain in the ass he had crossed paths with a week ago. He couldn't help but maintain his signature scowl when thinking about it. Taiyo-shin, the so-called sun god, or the damn insufferable asshole, to keep it short. He still couldn't wrap his head around why the hell people worshiped that guy. He was annoying as hell! Yeah, okay, so he saved his ass from becoming demon chow that one night, but that didn't give him the damn right to boss him around! Who the hell did this dude think he was?!

With a hearty spit on the ground, Genya stomped over to a tree trunk that the pest had cut and left for him to use. Why the hell did he even give a damn? It's not like Genya had any history with the guy, and he sure as hell would remember meeting someone as eccentric as him before. And what the hell did he mean by "try eating them"? Who the hell in their right mind would even think about chowing down on demons?! Sure, Genya wasn't some sword-wielding prodigy, but that didn't mean he'd start munching on demons! That shit was disgusting, and who knew what would happen to him? Why the fuck was he even entertaining that batshit idea?! Rah!

A sudden rustling in the bushes jolted him into action, and he instinctively launched a rock right toward the source, with all the force he could muster. Whatever was out there would definitely be in pain or knocked the hell out. He tightened his grip on his slightly battered sword, ready for whatever was coming. But why hadn't he heard a cry of agony or a thud? He squinted, trying to make out what it was when, lo and behold, he heard a damn voice.

"Heya, Genya-boy! What kinda greeting is that? Trying to off someone?" The new bane of his existence said, casually waving the rock Genya had thrown in his gloved hand as he strolled out of the bush. "But I gotta admit, you got some damn fine aim! Ever think 'bout using a gun?"

Genya's eye twitched, and he turned away, plopping back on the tree trunk, dead-set on ignoring the newcomer. But, as usual, the masked freak didn't give a damn about cold receptions and skipped over toward him.

"Aw, still gonna ignore me? That's not nice, kid!" Taiyo-shin chided, waving a finger like some disappointed parent.

"Piss off."

The cloaked figure simply shrugged, unfazed, and set the box he always carried down next to him. It was midday, which meant it was lunchtime. From seemingly nowhere, Taiyo-shin produced what looked like packed bento boxes and settled in beside the grumpy teenager, who promptly scooted away.

"Guess you ain't hungry, huh? Thought you might be! It's a shame..."

His stomach, seemingly on cue, grumbled loudly, and a stubborn blush crept onto his face. Still, he refused to acknowledge the smug satisfaction he was sure lurked behind the mask. That damn asshole was definitely grinning. No doubt about it.

"Oh? Is someone hungry?"

"..."

"Genyaaaaa~"

"How the hell do you even know my name?! I never told you!" he snapped, frustration evident in his voice. He flinched as a piece of cucumber suddenly appeared in front of his face.

"Call it a divine hunch. Now, say 'Ah'!"

"Back the hell off, you creep! I can damn well feed myself!" he snatched the chopsticks and the bento from his gloved hands, his irritation palpable. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but the food smelled amazing, and he wasn't about to turn down a meal, even if it came from the annoying masked weirdo. Reluctantly, he started eating, though he couldn't help but wonder why this guy was such a good cook.

"So, how's your training?" Taiyo-shin inquired suddenly, not eating anything himself, as none of the other bento boxes were open.

"None of your damn business," Genya grumbled, his desire for the guy to just disappear clear as day.

"Hmm, I see, I see. Have you thought about what I told you last time?"

An irritated vein throbbed on his forehead. "I'm not eating demons, alright? That's fucking disgusting! What's wrong with you?"

"Hey, hey, it's just another option, you know?" Taiyo-shin retorted, holding up both hands defensively. "What if you can't master those breathing techniques? It might come in handy, don't you think?"

He fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. He knew about the breathing techniques, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to grasp them. It wasn't for lack of effort; it was as if his body was just refusing to cooperate. The continuous frustration left him feeling like he was hitting a fucking brick wall, but he wasn't about to give up so easily. He'd push himself to the limit, even if it meant breaking himself. He had to join the corps!

"Here."

The boy blinked in surprise at the sight before him.

"Watermelons...?" he dumbly voiced.

"Yeah, do you want some? I bought them on the way here. Thought you'd like them."

For a moment, he stared blankly, nearly forgetting to stay in character. People usually kept their distance because of his perpetually scowling face, assuming he was trouble, so Taiyo-shin's sudden kindness caught him off guard. Genya found himself torn between gladly accepting his favorite fruit and acting snarky to push him away. In the end, he chose the former and gingerly accepted the slices with slightly flushed cheeks.

As he took a bite, Genya jumped in surprise when he felt a hand on his head. He blinked, turning toward the masked freak with wide, baffled eyes, too stunned to react.

"You're a good kid, Genya," Taiyo-shin said softly. "You'll make a great demon slayer. Whatever your goal is, I'm confident you'll achieve it. I believe in you."

The teenager almost dropped his watermelon. He hadn't expected such kind words, and he froze for what felt like an eternity before a blush slowly crept across his features. He quickly regained his composure and abruptly slapped the hand away.

"D-don't do that! W-what the fuck is wrong with you?! Don't act all buddy-buddy with me; I'm not your friend, got it?!" he inwardly cursed himself for the stutter before glaring. He couldn't understand why Taiyo-shin insisted on patting his head! "Just fucking leave me alone!"

In response, he received an amused chuckle, quickly followed by a hearty laugh from Taiyo-shin, who couldn't help but notice the redness of his face. This only irritated him further, prompting him to start spouting profanities that a 15-year-old shouldn't be familiar with. After about 30 minutes of their unconventional interaction, the masked freak finally left, promising to visit sometime before the final selection or some shit, leaving a grumbling Genya alone in the clearing. He shortly resumed his training with a huff.

His eyes fell upon the mountain of watermelons behind the trunk. He sweatdropped at the sight before shaking his head wearily, his cheeks still slightly pink. Genya didn't even question how the fuck Taiyo-shin managed to bring so many. Sighing, he wondered why the guy continued to check on him, even after he kept acting rudely toward him. Then again, Taiyo-shin was weird as hell.

Regardless, one thing puzzled him: why did Taiyo-shin specifically tell him to seek out one of those pillar guy, the Stone Pillar?

He stood there for a while, pondering the question before brushing it off.

A week later, he somehow ran into the Stone Pillar.

Talk about convenient.

__________

[9 months before canon]

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There aren't enough words to describe how Sanemi felt at this moment. It had been two long months of tireless searching for that damn sun god, and it was starting to fuel a certain kind of hatred in him! Sure, he hadn't abandoned his duties entirely to chase after this fucker, but it was seriously starting to piss him off. Despite the testimonies of the two idiots, he was convinced he could easily find that masked nuisance. Yet, for two entire months, he came up short, and it genuinely infuriated him to no end. So why was he so hell-bent on finding this guy?

First, it was to shut Uzui the hell up. That pompous bastard kept boasting about spotting the guy one night before he vanished, a feat that trumped everyone else's efforts combined. It was grating on Sanemi's nerves. And second, it was to satisfy his own curiosity. Naturally, this spiraled into a full-blown competition among the Pillars, with even Gyomei joining in. Sanemi wasn't one to pass up the opportunity for free Ohagis!

Anyway, today was one of those days when he could be seen patrolling his assigned territory, on the lookout for any demonic activities to vent all the pent-up anger he had been carrying for a while. It was becoming apparent that the demons were growing scarcer in his domain. Either they had finally realized they were in his territory and were treading cautiously, or they were all dead, courtesy of his own hand. Tss.

Sanemi halted in his tracks when he spotted his trusty crow, Sorai, gliding in his direction. The bird perched on his shoulder and promptly conveyed that it, too, had no leads on the masked guy. Sanemi let out a sigh, scratching the bird's neck in a rare display of gentleness. Sorai responded with contented chirps before taking flight once more, now even more determined to assist its owner at all costs.

He continued his patrol until nightfall, the time when demons were more likely to be active. Sanemi could almost taste the satisfaction of a few demon kills before he returned to his estate.

However, the tranquility of the night was abruptly shattered by a deafening explosion that reverberated like thunder, causing the entire forest to tremble. Sanemi stumbled briefly from the sudden shockwave but quickly regained his composure. In an instant, he unsheathed his sword, poised for battle. That... was unexpected. He waited a few moments, but no follow-up attacks came. Clicking his tongue in irritation, he decided to investigate what had caused this unprecedented disturbance. As far as he knew, nothing like this had ever occurred in his territory before.

As he sprinted toward the source of the explosion, he glanced at the clear night sky, finding it odd that a blast of such magnitude hadn't triggered a storm. Something was amiss. He had yet to encounter a demon with the ability to manipulate electricity. Perhaps the arrogant demon was unaware of whose territory it had entered? Then again, none of the demons he faced had survived long enough to share their tales. It was a possibility.

A wicked grin stretched across his face as excitement surged within him. The thought of eliminating another demon tonight fueled his determination. He reached a remote area, stopping at the edge of a cliff, and blinked once, then twice, before his eyes widened in shock.

Sanemi had paid little attention to the recent rumors of Gashadokuro sightings. To him, these stories were absurd, just like the tales people told their children to scare them into staying indoors past sunset. It fucking baffled him that they chose to fear gigantic man-eating skeletons while ignoring the very real threat of demons that lurked in the shadows. Sanemi didn't put much stock in such tales. Had he not been fighting demons regularly, he might have felt the same way about demons.

However, his disbelief was shattered when he found himself in a ravine face to face with a hunched-over giant.

Sanemi's katana nearly slipped from his grasp as bewilderment washed over him.

He quickly took cover behind a nearby tree. His heart raced, and the eagerness that had fueled him moments ago was replaced by an overwhelming sense of panic. When the creature's eyes shifted in his direction, a chilling shiver ran down his spine. Fear took precedence over his common sense and combat experience, triggering his most primal instincts of fight or flight.

'WHAT IN KAMI'S NAME IS THAT?!'

He tried to stifle any sounds escaping his mouth, hoping not to alert the creature. But this situation was utterly insane! What was happening, and what in the name of the gods was that thing? It was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Sure, he had faced demons larger than him in the past, but nothing had prepared him for this.

With a struggle, he managed to regain enough composure to think clearly. Should he attack it? Well, considering the creature had likely spotted him, there was no sense in waiting. Sanemi's grip on his katana tightened as he considered various strategies to engage the giant. After about ten seconds of reflection, he came up with a plan and smirked. As he went to peek at the creature, he nearly choked.

"It's gone?!"

Sanemi's words rang out as he scanned the ravine, only to find that the massive creature had vanished completely. The Wind Pillar was stunned. How could something of that size disappear in the blink of an eye without making a single sound?

This turn of events had caught him completely off guard, leaving him on high alert, his senses heightened to their utmost.
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[7 months before canon]

"There you go, sir! Have a great day!" the clerk smiled while handing a box of delicacies to the tall cloaked customer in front of her.

"Thank you!" he cheerfully replied, grabbing the box with his gloved hands. He paid and quickly walked out of the store, humming a tune as he went on his way.

"Ah, sir, I think you've made a mistake! This is far more than..." She began to speak but then realized the customer had vanished, leaving her speechless. She was about to chase after him, but her employer's soothing voice stopped her.

"It's no use, Tomo-chan," an elderly woman appeared next to her, "That was Taiyo-shin, right? He's probably already disappeared by now."

"Huh...? But that's impossible...!" Tomo glanced outside in disbelief, and indeed, the tall figure was nowhere to be seen. She couldn't fathom how someone could vanish so quickly.

The old woman chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "Don't stress yourself, dear. He's known for pulling these tricks wherever he goes. Now, how much did he leave this time?"

"'This time'?" Tomo questioned, glancing down at the pouch and began counting, her eyes widening in shock. "F-five..."

"Five what?" the elderly woman tilted her head, adjusting her glasses.

Tomo shakily met her employer's intrigued gaze. "F-five hundred t-thousand..."

They both stared at each other in stunned silence, and then the employer's eyes widened in utter shock.

"Eh?!"

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Taiyo-shin, or rather, Colith in her cloaked form, continued to stroll leisurely through the street, receiving enthusiastic greetings from most of the locals. She nodded in response to their greetings with a simple "Yo" as she walked. She was pretty sure she heard some of them fawning over her in the background, but she didn't bother to check. Adjusting the dark wooden box she was carrying, she noted how light it was, an indication that the demon was currently in his room at the moment.

'Either sleeping... or training...'

The prime advantage of her ability to bend reality to her will was the ease with which she could create pocket dimensions. To ensure that the demon didn't perish out of boredom – a highly unlikely scenario, but one could never be too cautious – she had even created a yard large enough for him to practice his swordsmanship, an idea she had suggested herself. Kokushibo had simply rolled with it, actually welcoming the prospect of training.

After walking for a while and not finding any suitable spot to eat without drawing a crowd of people staring at her like hawks, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Being the unpredictable little shit she was, she simply said 'fuck it' and appeared on the roof of a random building. This sudden action startled the onlookers who had been watching her stroll around for the past 30 minutes or so. However, with her newfound fame, it was to be expected. She hadn't even intended to eliminate that demon the first time she came here, but the creature had been so incredibly annoying...! Urgh!

She paid no mind to the little commotion she had caused and gently placed Koku's box next to her before settling down to eat while gazing at the scenery.

You might wonder how she managed to eat with her mask on. Well, it was bold of you to assume that she hadn't taken the time to master that sacred technique! That's right, folks! Eating with the mask on! Of course, it was mostly to mess with other people's minds, but it turned out to be surprisingly not that difficult to learn. While she might not have reached the mastery of Tengu gramps and some other masked characters who had that skill, a level of understanding was within her grasp. Somehow.

As she savored her meal, she observed the peaceful town, a far cry from the chaos it had endured the last time she was here. Eliminating a mole demon had brought much-needed tranquility to the area. She may or may not have used her mokuton abilities to swiftly rebuild most of the damaged houses, right in broad daylight and in front of the whole town, before disappearing before anyone could even blink.

A soft chuckle escaped her as she recalled the scene. Taking another bite, this time of a delicious piece of chicken yakitori, she almost let out a moan of delight. 'Damn, I should seriously learn how to cook this one...!' she mused, swaying blissfully as she enjoyed her meal.

While enjoying her meal, her sharp eyes easily spotted a glimpse of golden and red hair in the distance. Such extravagant hair could only belong to one specific loud-mouthed pillar who, she was sure, had quite the fandom following.

She was well aware that the Demon Slayer Corps had been pursuing her for some time, though she hadn't paid it much thought. Kagaya, that sweetheart, had asked if it bothered her, to which she replied that it was more or less a way to assess her evading skills. She conveniently left out the part about how much she enjoyed messing with them, though. Shh, you didn't hear that from her!

Whenever she entered a town or village, it was almost guaranteed that a group of slayers would appear within the hour to seek her out. After all, Taiyo-shin was easily spotted. She had even run into some of the pillars, like Uzui and Sanemi, even though the latter had been an unexpected encounter. Speaking of Sanemi, she cringed a little at the memory. She hadn't meant for one of the main cast to spot her in titan form so soon! But, Kokushibo was an exception. Moving on—she didn't stick around to see what happened next, immediately warping away to the middle of the ocean. In titan form.

Yep.

That had been embarrassing.

Anyway, she wasn't surprised to see another pillar in the same city, even though it took longer than usual this time. But hey, beggars can't be choosers.

'Well, time to dip,' she thought, preferring to avoid any confrontation with this pillar. She knew her luck, and he might be relentless enough to track her down. She quickly finished the last of her food and discarded the boxes, then got up to stretch. Afterward, she secured Kokushibo's box and was ready to make her exit when she noticed something unusual as she glanced toward the red and yellow speck exiting the village.

She squinted, curious about why he was walking away. Taking a leap to a nearby roof, she decided to approach while keeping a safe distance from the figure she assumed to be Kyojuro Rengoku. However, as she got a better look, she let out a soft "Oh."

It was undoubtedly a Rengoku, but he appeared younger and smaller than the current Flame Pillar.

Her instincts urged her to follow him.
__________

Times were growing tough for those who had embraced the path of crime. Bandits and outlaws found themselves facing increasing challenges, largely due to the government's unwavering commitment to lowering the crime rate and projecting an image of security for the nation. Despite their heightened vigilance in recent times, prospects were grim, especially after a significant turn of events a year ago.

Nevertheless, they persisted in their illicit pursuits, driven by a desire to live free from societal obligations and restrictions, to derive pleasure from inflicting pain and suffering, and to accumulate wealth at the expense of others' well-being. Who cared if their deeds involved murder? Who cared if they committed heinous acts? Even though a certain masked figure had made their lives a hundred times more difficult, they harbored a burning determination to eliminate him one day.

The day had begun relatively quietly, with only a few minor scuffles breaking out over a stolen sake bottle. Kazuki, their leader, swiftly resolved the disputes with a menacing glare that sent the troublemakers into a state of fear, knowing all too well that they could face a brutal beating from their chief. Kazuki had been on edge for the past few months, a state of mind that was unsurprising considering they now numbered only a quarter of their former strength, thanks to one man's relentless pursuit.

"BOSS! WE GOT SOMETHIN'!" One of his lackeys bolted back to their hideout, a stupid grin plastered across his face, but he was wheezing like a tired dog.

"Ah?! Are you some kinda moron?! You want 'em to find us 'cause of your damn hollering?! I DONE TOLD YA TO QUIT BEIN' SO DAMN RECKLESS, YOU IDIOT!"

"m-my bad...!" the goon faltered, though it was forgotten the moment his boss acknowledged his previous words, seemingly over it.

"What's the deal, huh? Better be worth somethin', or I'll break that ugly mug of yours," Kazuki growled, his tone menacing.

"H-Hai!" he quickly but this time at a lower pitch informed his boss of their finding, a piece of information that somehow intrigued the man enough to make him get up from his seat.

"It better be damn good, or you know what's comin'," he said darkly, following behind his distressed henchman. They soon arrived on an unused dirt path, stumbling upon two more of his goons who suspiciously looked tipsy, he had previously tasked with scouting the area. Although what he wasn't expecting to see was a frightened tied-up kid in their clutches. "What's all this?"

Needless to say, he was furious.

Before the one who led him here could explain, Kazuki harshly grabbed his collar in a vice grip, "You dragged me out here just for some fuckin' kid?! Are you askin' to die?!" he hissed.

"W-wait, boss! L-let me explain..! W-We figured, with clothes like this, the kid must be from some rich family...!" The henchman, seeing that his boss had perked up, shakily continued, "And maybe...we c-can use him to make a lot of cash...?"

At the mention of money, Kazuki released his grip on the man, who unceremoniously tumbled to the ground. He then turned his sharp gaze toward the kid, who flinched when met with those menacing eyes. "hm..." Indeed, as his subordinate had pointed out, the kid appeared to come from a wealthy background, and his unique features could fetch them a good price. "Is that so? What's your name, boy?"

Kazuki could sense the fear emanating from the child, but the boy remained silent. In a foul mood, Kazuki closed in on him and struck the boy. The force of the blow sent the child tumbling to the ground, yet, surprisingly, he made no sound, not even a yelp.

One of Kazuki's henchmen pointed out the unusual silence.

"I'm talking to ya, brat! What's your name?" He roughly grabbed the boy's hair and began shaking it, "Don't tell me you're mute and deaf?! Who'd want a deaf brat on their hands, you worthless little-"

His sentence was abruptly cut short by the sound of something hitting the ground. Kazuki's eye twitched as he prepared to reprimand his men for the interruption, but he froze upon seeing all of them lying on the ground while a cloaked figure stood nonchalantly beside them.

"What the-"

"Yo!"

The blood in his veins turned icy. This was the guy, the motherfucker who had made their lives a living hell! The one responsible for their gang's dwindling numbers.

"Taiyo-shin...!" he growled with anger, his grip tightening on the kid's scalp, causing the child to wince in pain.

The masked man's gloved hand fell to his side. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. But that's not why I'm here. Hand me the kid."

A heavy silence descended as both sides locked eyes, tension thick in the air.

"Eh..?" For the first time, the boy expressed his bewilderment, his gold and red eyes blinking rapidly in surprise. What the...

"Ah?! And why would I do that, you bastard?" Kazuki regained his composure quickly and shot a glare at the intruder.

"Just shut up and hand him over."

A prominent vein throbbed on the man's forehead. Before he could make any rash decisions, he considered the masked freak's words. A brief moment of contemplation passed as he glanced between the two figures. Then, an idea formed in his head. Without warning, Kazuki drew the knife from his hip, swiftly bringing it close to the kid's throat with a masterful flourish. He watched with sadistic satisfaction as the tall asshole flinched.

Oh...?

A wicked grin slowly etched itself on his lips.

"You weren't expecting that, huh? Asshole."

The boy trembled in fear the moment he felt the cold metal near his throat, paralyzed by the terror that the unstable man might slice his throat and end his life prematurely.

Convinced that he had the upper hand now, Kazuki bared his teeth viciously while slowly rising to his feet, using the hostage as a shield. He knew that he had no chance of winning against the bastard, yet this might be his opportunity to get rid of him.

Before Kazuki could open his mouth to shout his conditions, his hands were suddenly empty, and he found himself writhing in pain on the floor. He clutched his stomach tightly, gasping for air, suddenly breathless and dizzy.

'Wha-'

"Mh... this is quite problematic."

He jolted in surprise upon hearing Taiyo-shin's voice right above him. What just happened?! He didn't see anything! Didn't he have the advantage just now?! And why was he so breathless?! His eyes somehow managed to find the hostage, who looked equally bewildered, lying on the ground.

"What should I do with them, kid?"

"H-huh?"

"They were after you, if I'm not mistaken. Plus, they hit you and planned to use you to rob your house. What do you want me to do to them?" Taiyo-shin asked, turning his masked face towards the boy. "Would you like me to get rid of them...?"

The bone-chilling presence of a ruthless predator nearby seemed to blanket the entire area, enough to make Kazuki quiver in dread.

What...? Was he going to die...? His life was in the hands of the brat he had attacked?! Crap, that means that he wasn't mute and deaf after all! This must be a joke, right?! Shit, he's going to die. There's no way he'll survive if the brat decides to be vindictive.

He glanced at the shaken kid, about to try and persuade him to spare his life when—

"Or I can simply take them to the police station!" Taiyo-shin chirped as though he hadn't just offered to murder people in cold blood. The bloodlust vanished instantly, allowing them to breathe properly. "The choice is yours!"

There was a silence before the kid finally found his voice and shakily responded, "T-the second o-option...!"

"Ight."

Kazuki released a sigh of relief, grateful that his life was no longer in danger.

"Could you close your eyes for a bit, please?" Taiyo-shin asked the kid, who paused at the question before obeying. "Open them only when I say so, okay?"

Hesitant, the kid nodded, eyes closed with a confused frown.

'Close his eyes...? What for?'

Kazuki shared the same confusion but was too slow to notice a gloved fist descending upon his face like a meteor.

__________

COLITH

19 YEARS Old.

25-27 YEARS OLD

BOOM BABY.

EDITED