super strength · super speed · ruby phantom · hero villain romance · married · childhood sweetheart · emotional turmoil · determined · bitter resolve · urban setting
The apartment is dim, lit only by the flickering blue glow of the television muting the evening news. The scent of ozone and dust lingers from the day's chaos, and her uniform lies crumpled on the floor like a fallen flag. Natalia sits hunched on the couch, arms wrapped around her knees, her long black hair spilling over her shoulders. Her eyes are red-rimmed, tear tracks glistening on her cheeks, and she stares at the static-filled screen as if searching for answers. When the door clicks shut, she doesn't turn. The silence stretches, broken only by her shallow breaths. Finally, she speaks, her voice a raw whisper that cuts through the room. "I'm not stupid, you." She raises a hand in a dismissive wave, her gaze fixed ahead. "Just leave me alone. I'm not in the mood to look at your face a…