The glass doors of the salon hissed open. Adrian stepped out first, one hand casually raking through his freshly trimmed hair, the strands now slicked back with subtle precision. His reflection had changed clean lines, sharp jaw, an aura of quiet control. He looked nothing like the man who had walked in earlier that morning.
Behind him, Lira and Tessa trailed out in silence.
"Well?" Adrian turned, arms slightly open. "Do I pass inspection?"
Tessa was the first to recover. "You What the hell"
"You look like a completely different person," Lira said, still wide-eyed. "No. Actually. You look like... someone famous. This is unfair."
Adrian chuckled, feigning modesty. "I just cleaned up a little."
"A little?" Tessa gave him a look. "You look like someone who charges people to breathe near them."
Lira squinted. "Were your cheekbones always that sharp?"
"Don't think too hard about it," Adrian said smoothly. "I decided to improve myself. Is that so wrong?"
"You didn't just improve," Tessa muttered, circling him once like she was inspecting a new exhibit. "You evolved."
Adrian glanced at the street, then the clear sky overhead. "Well. Now that I've been reborn, I think it's time for something else too."
Tessa raised an eyebrow. "Something else?"
Adrian slipped his hands into his coat pockets and said with a grin.
"I'm thinking about getting a new ride."
There was a beat of silence.
"A ride?" Lira repeated.
"You mean a car?" Tessa asked, narrowing her eyes. "Do you even have the money for that?"
Adrian gave a light shrug. "I've got enough saved to pick something up. Not a luxury model or anything, but decent. Sedan or coupe, maybe."
Tessa crossed her arms. "Don't go cheap. If you're going to buy a car, get a proper one. Something safe. Solid. Reliable."
"I'll keep that in mind."
He didn't say anything else for a few steps. They walked toward the end of the street, the late afternoon sun casting soft shadows across the pavement.
Then he said, more to himself than anyone, "But in an emergency, a car might not be enough."
Lira glanced at him. "Emergency?"
"Traffic," Adrian said. "City's a mess during rush hour. If I ever need to move fast really fast a car's not going to help."
Tessa blinked. "Why would you ever need to move that fast?"
Adrian smiled faintly. "You never know. I just like to be prepared."
"What are you even thinking about?" Lira asked, voice skeptical.
Adrian stopped walking. Turned slightly. The grin widened.
"I'll get a bike."
Both sisters spoke at the same time.
"No."
"Absolutely not."
Adrian blinked. "What?"
"A motorcycle?" Tessa said, her tone sharp. "Are you serious?"
"That's dangerous," Lira added. "Do you want to die?"
Adrian held up a hand, palm out. "Let me finish."
"There's nothing to finish," Tessa snapped. "You want to ride a death machine around the city?"
"It's just for work and city travel," Adrian said. "Short distances. I'll keep the car for long trips."
"No."
"Yes."
Lira looked uneasy. "You've never even liked motorcycles before."
Adrian gave her a calm smile. "I've changed."
"You think a haircut makes you invincible?" Tessa asked.
"No," he said, amused. "But it does make me fast."
They stared at him.
"I'm not going to do anything reckless," Adrian said. "I just need something agile. Something that can get through the city without getting stuck behind a garbage truck every morning."
Tessa folded her arms tighter. "We're not okay with this."
"You don't have to be. I'm not asking for permission."
They glared at him. He just smiled again, the kind that made people uncertain if they were supposed to be charmed or annoyed.
"I'll be safe," he added. "Helmet, gloves, everything. And I'll only use it when necessary."
Lira sighed. "You're really not going to drop this, are you?"
"Nope."
"You're impossible."
"I'm practical."
"You're going to get road rash the first time it rains," Tessa grumbled.
Adrian tapped his phone screen, already searching. "Not if I buy the right one."
He scrolled for a few seconds, glancing at models. "No sport bikes. Too flashy. Cruisers are nice but bulky. Hm…"
His eyes paused on something.
Victory Motor. Black. Low profile. Classic body, sleek frame.
"This," he murmured.
"You found one already?" Lira leaned in.
"Victory T200," Adrian said. "Classic look, modern build. Not too loud. Clean engine."
"You sound like a commercial," Tessa said dryly.
Adrian grinned. "That's because I'm sold."
Victory Motors was nestled in the heart of the third district, surrounded by minimalist boutiques and sharp-edged coffee bars that charged triple for aesthetic foam. The showroom itself wore its confidence like a badge black glass exterior, bold red signage in stark sans serif. Just one word:
VICTORY.
As the cab pulled up to the curb, Adrian stepped out first. His coat flared slightly with the motion, his eyes already scanning the lot beyond the windows.
"Wow," Lira said softly, slipping out behind him. "This place is… intense."
Tessa followed with a skeptical click of her heels. "You really want to buy your midlife crisis here?"
Adrian ignored her, already walking toward the entrance.
Inside, the space opened into cool air conditioning and the subtle scent of polished leather. Rows of motorcycles gleamed beneath spotlights. Black, red, chrome. Some leaned forward like predators. Others sat heavy and regal, the kind of machines you respected like war veterans.
Adrian moved like he'd been here before. His eyes went straight to the model he'd seen online and there it was, waiting for him on the right wall, elevated slightly on a black platform.
The Victory T200 Black.
Classic silhouette. Deep matte finish. Subtle silver linings along the engine case. Not too aggressive — not too soft either. It looked like something that belonged on city streets after midnight.
A salesman appeared almost immediately, middle-aged, wearing a branded jacket and polite professionalism.
"Good afternoon. Looking for something in particular?"
Adrian didn't look away from the bike. "T200 Black. I'd like to test ride it."
The man blinked. Then smiled. "Certainly. That's one of our limited-run city builds. Lightweight, excellent balance, 650cc, custom tuning available. Have you ridden anything in that class before?"
Adrian met his eyes. "I used to ride a Tr-" He paused.
"A similar build. Years ago. I can handle it."
"Great. We've got a private test loop in the back. I'll get it prepped for you." The salesman gave a polite nod, then gestured toward a waiting area. "You're welcome to sit until then."
As the man disappeared, Tessa crossed her arms. "You've 'ridden before'? Since when?"
Adrian offered a lazy shrug. "It's been a while. In university"
"This feels like the kind of thing people forget and then crash into a wall," Lira muttered.
He turned slightly. "Have a little faith. I'll be back in one piece."
The next few minutes passed in silence as the staff wheeled the bike around back. Adrian removed his coat and handed it to Lira without a word. Underneath was a fitted black shirt that clung a bit too well to his frame.
Tessa muttered, "You're such a show off."
He smirked. "Would you prefer I wore rags and cried about my feelings?"
"I'd prefer you didn't die."
Adrian gave a mock salute and walked out back.
The moment he straddled the machine, something in his posture changed. His hands rested on the grips with ease. His body aligned naturally with the frame. When he turned the key and the engine thrummed to life, his lips curved into something rare:
Genuine satisfaction.
He eased it forward. The clutch responded like silk. The throttle was forgiving but tight. The showroom test loop wasn't long, but it was enough to feel it. A few curves, one incline, a short straightaway.
It wasn't a rocket. But it moved like a whisper smooth, sharp, ready.
"This is it," he said quietly.
When he returned, the salesman was waiting with a clipboard.
"Well?"
"I'll take it," Adrian said simply.
"Full cash or financing?"
"Cash."
Lira choked on her breath. "What?"
Tessa's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
Adrian just nodded and tapped his phone to the terminal. One smooth beep. Done.
The salesman beamed. "Wonderful. I'll start the paperwork. We can arrange registration, helmet fitting, and plate printing today. It'll be about thirty minutes."
Adrian nodded again and turned to his sisters.
"Which one of you wants to be the first passenger?"
"Me," Lira said instantly.
Tessa scoffed. "A stingy bike. Only fits two people."
Adrian smiled, taking the helmet the staff brought out and sliding it on.
"See you at home."
Before either of them could object, he straddled the bike again, waited for Lira to climb on behind him, then pulled out of the showroom lot with a low growl of the engine.
Tessa stood alone at the curb, arms crossed, fuming.
"Unbelievable."
The city blurred past in softened streaks of light and glass.
Adrian kept the throttle low, easing the bike into a smooth rhythm. Lira held tight behind him, her arms wrapped firmly around his waist, her breath steady. She didn't speak just leaned in, trusting.
The T200 hummed beneath them, not loud, not showy. Just clean and precise. Every vibration echoed through Adrian's bones like memory familiar, grounding.
He turned onto a quieter road and let his eyes wander briefly. The wind combed through his hair. The late afternoon sun dipped low, casting gold across the asphalt. Between the engine's gentle purr and the muted world outside his helmet, it felt like he was riding inside a thought a quiet one. Focused. Free.
For a moment, there was no noise in his head. No twisted scripture, no impossible Law binding itself to his spine. No memories of blood, no buried screams clawing against his ribs.
Just the road.
His senses extended without trying. Reflexes tuned. Every motion from nearby vehicles registered in his periphery before it happened. Even the slight flicker of Lira's shifting weight behind him felt readable like language, or breath.
"I missed this," he thought. Not the machine. Not the wind.
The feeling.
To move without being watched. To glide through space with no eyes on him, no expectations, no masks.
He made a slow turn, heading toward home. Lira's arms tightened slightly. He didn't say anything.
But a smile ghosted across his lips, just for a second.
In a world of Law, fracture, and lies… some things were still real.
The road.The ride.The hum of something alive beneath him, carrying him forward.
And for now that was enough.