Firefly's breath hitched, her chest tightening as she stared at Shadow. His hulking, spider-like form towered over her, the metallic legs hissing and twitching with barely contained aggression. His yellow eyes, wild and feral, burned through her like twin suns. She wanted to call out to him, to thank him for saving her, to reach into the storm raging within him but the memory of his earlier rage shackled her in fear.

Her trembling hands clenched into fists at her sides. Shadow was here, but he wasn't truly present. His anger still consumed him, drowning out any chance of recognition. Without her voice her only anchor to him how could she reach him? The collar had robbed her of that power, leaving her mute, vulnerable, and unsure.

Still, a small spark of relief flickered in her chest. Despite her fear, she was glad to see him. Her Shadow had come for her, even if he didn't know it was her he was saving. But that relief warred with her terror. She had a decision to make and she had to make it fast.

Run, or stand her ground?

If she ran, she knew what would happen. He'd see her as prey, a trespasser in his domain, and he wouldn't hesitate to strike her down. Fighting him wasn't an option. His spider body, though damaged, was a fortress of sharp edges and relentless power. She'd seen what those blade-like legs could do, the precision and force with which he destroyed everything in his path.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as he drew closer, the hiss of his mechanical legs cutting through the tense silence. The predatory way he moved, the way his eyes bore through her without truly seeing her, made her stomach churn.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Firefly forced herself to her feet. Her wings pressed tightly against her back as she tried to steady the tremor in her limbs. She had to do something. She couldn't stay frozen like a frightened animal.

She made her choice.

Curling her injured wrist to her chest, Firefly took a shaky breath. She was going to do something suicidal something utterly foolish. But it was the only idea that came to her.

Her legs burned as she propelled herself forward, sprinting toward him.

Shadow's head tilted slightly, as if surprised by her sudden movement. He hadn't expected her to charge at him he'd been poised for her to flee, ready to pounce on her like a hunter chasing its quarry. For a moment, he seemed caught off guard.

That hesitation didn't last.

His spider legs hissed as they moved, one slamming toward her like a deadly spear. Firefly threw herself to the side, narrowly dodging the blade as it scraped across the floor with a screech. Another leg lashed out, slicing through the air. This time, it grazed her thigh. She bit back a cry as pain flared through her leg, hot and sharp, but she didn't stop.

Panting, she rolled beneath him, her movements fueled by pure adrenaline. Shadow reared back, his roar echoing through the room. "Chains… broken… betrayal!" he bellowed, his words fragmented and filled with rage.

Firefly stumbled to her feet, her vision swimming as she locked her gaze on his. Her wide, scared blue eyes met his furious yellow ones. Her hands trembled, her entire body screaming at her to stop, to run, to hide. But she didn't listen.

Instead, she jumped.

Throwing her arms around his neck, she clung to him with every ounce of strength she had left. The jagged edges of hishorns dug into her arms, but she didn't let go.

"Shadow!" she cried, her voice breaking as fire tore through her throat. "It's me… It's your Firefly… Please come back to me!"

Her voice cracked, a sob ripping from her chest as she tightened her hold. The pain was excruciating, but she couldn't stop. She pressed her face close to his, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered, "Please… remember me. Come back to me…"

Her body trembled against him as she braced herself. She knew what could happen next she could feel the deadly legs around her, poised to strike. Her back was exposed, her fragile body completely vulnerable.

She closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable. One breath, then another.

But the pain never came.

Instead, Shadow froze. His legs stopped their deadly movements, his body rigid beneath her. Firefly felt the tension in his frame, the way his breath hitched as if her words had reached a part of him buried deep beneath the storm.

She didn't dare move, didn't dare loosen her hold. Her Shadow was there, somewhere. She just had to keep holding on, no matter how much it hurt.

Her throat was raw, each breath scraping like shards of glass against tender flesh. Speaking was impossible, and singing? Unthinkable. Firefly tried to hum, hoping the sound might be enough, but it gargled and caught in her swollen throat, the effort sending waves of pain down her neck.

She would have to make him see her another way. Without her voice.

Her arms trembled as she clung to his neck, her legs dangling in the air. The sharp edges of his armor pressed against her, the cold bite of metal a constant reminder of how precarious her position was. Desperate for stability, she shifted slightly, her feet searching for something anything to perch on. A jagged piece of metal bit into the sole of her foot, and she flinched, the pain sharp and immediate, but she steadied herself, determined not to let go.

Slowly, deliberately, Firefly pulled her face away from his shoulder. Every movement felt monumental, a test of her courage as her breath came in shallow, uneven pants. She rested her forehead against his, her skin brushing the rough ridges of his crown. His growling breath rumbled against her, but she didn't waver.

Shaking, Firefly opened her eyes. Her vivid blue gaze locked onto his burning yellow ones. His eyes were wild, unfocused, a storm of rage and confusion. She could see the reflection of his spider legs behind her, poised like spears, mere inches from driving into her spine. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to look away.

Please… see me, she pleaded silently, her body trembling against his.

Her breath hitched as she watched, her resolve tightening with every second that passed. She stayed still, her forehead pressed to his, her eyes locked on his. Slowly, ever so slowly, she saw it the flicker of recognition behind the haze. His snarl softened for a moment, his body hesitating.

A low, guttural growl escaped his throat, and his face twisted as if fighting an internal war. He tried to pull his head away, his muscles tensing. Firefly tightened her grip, her fingers trembling as she held on with everything she had. She hissed at him through clenched teeth, her breath hot against his face. It wasn't a song, but it was something a reminder that she was there.

His movements stilled, his towering frame trembling as if caught between the past and present. Firefly held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she searched his face for any glimmer of recognition. His yellow eyes, wild and unfocused, flickered faintly a momentary hesitation in the storm of his rage.

The pause stretched on, an agonizing eternity where she could feel the sharp hum of his spider legs quivering behind her, still poised to strike. His breath came out in ragged bursts, hot and shallow, brushing against her face.

Then, almost imperceptibly, his eyes began to shift. The yellow irises, once clouded with fury and confusion, flickered again this time with something deeper, more searching. A furrow appeared between his brow ridges as though his mind was clawing its way back from the abyss.

Firefly's throat tightened with hope and fear in equal measure. Is he coming back to me? Please, let him see me…

His gaze darted over her face, first frantic and unfocused, then slower, more deliberate. The tension in his body lessened, though the raw energy of his rage still hummed beneath the surface. His sharp, angular features softened just slightly as his eyes moved from her trembling lips to her tear-streaked cheeks, to the blue of her eyes, which burned with determination and desperation.

A shuddering growl escaped him, low and guttural, and his jaw clenched as if struggling against unseen chains. The battle within him was palpable, his expression flickering between anger and something more vulnerable. His breathing grew heavier, uneven, and his yellow eyes finally locked on hers.

Firefly saw the spark of recognition ignite a faint light cutting through the shadows of his fractured mind. It wasn't immediate or complete; it was a slow, uncertain realization, as though he were piecing together a puzzle whose picture had been long forgotten.

His clawed hand twitched at his side before rising with hesitant, jerky movements, as though unsure whether it was allowed to reach for her. The sharp tips of his claws brushed against her face, trailing lightly along her cheek. The touch was tentative, trembling with restraint and uncertainty, as if he feared she might dissolve into nothingness at his touch.

His lips parted, but no sound came at first, his throat working to form words that seemed foreign and painful. At last, a single, broken word escaped him:

"Firefly…"

The sound was rough, barely audible, but it carried the weight of his struggle, disbelief, and the fragile thread of recognition.

A tear slipped from her eye, falling onto his claw as she nodded, her lips quivering as she tried to smile through her relief. His hand lingered against her face, trembling with the effort of staying gentle, as though he feared breaking her.

The storm in his eyes didn't fully dissipate, but for the first time, she saw something else beneath ita flicker of the Shadow she had known, the Shadow who had cared for her, buried beneath layers of rage and pain.