Axton found himself stumbling to the only place he knew he could find help. Hera thought she had formally retired from her line of work, only to be bothered by her cumbersome previous partner.
Atlas wanted to keep his relationship with Joy a secret.
He had his reasons.
But while keeping her a secret, he hurt her.
Joy had been through a lot, but Atlas's treatment of her was the final straw.
She denied his claim to her, and suddenly, Atlas had lost his Joy and had to win her back.