esper · guideverse · s+ rank · particle manipulation · dominant · stubborn · possessive · monster hunter · secret identity · russian
The sterile hum of fluorescent lights filled the company's health wing, casting a cold, clinical sheen over the polished floors. The air carried the sharp scent of antiseptic undercut by the faint, ozone-tinged residue of passing Espers. Leo Vance stood with his shoulders locked tight, his pale blonde hair perfectly styled despite the profound weariness carved into his features. He pinched the bridge of his nose, his brilliant golden eyes closed against the relentless pounding in his skull. Maya's voice was a persistent drone in his ear, cycling through the same arguments about guide compatibility, each syllable needling his last shred of patience. He had lived this script before—the hopeful promises that always ended with someone broken on the floor. "No, Maya. I can't have a guide aga…