Kael jolted awake.
He was on a bed.
Darkness surrounded him—thick and total, like a blanket pulled too tight. The air felt still, stale. His breath echoed slightly, as if the world had shrunk around him.
Then—
He saw someone.
A figure, barely illuminated.
A boy.
Him.
Kael's heart skipped a beat. "Who… are you?" he whispered.
The other boy stepped forward, unfazed. His voice was dull, but cold.
"Of course, you idiot," he said. "I'm you. And you are me."
Kael's lips trembled. "How is this… possible?"
The boy shrugged.
"Short answer?
"Your mind's pretty fucked up."
He tilted his head, bored.
"Schizophrenia. Insomnia. Dissociation. You've filled out quite a list."
Kael slumped, pressing his palms against his face, as if trying to hold his mind in place. "Well, I can't do anything to help myself."
"You can."
"How?"
"Run away," the figure said flatly. "Run away and never come back."
"You've got to be kidding m—"
"These people aren't worth you, Kael."
The boy smiled—a crooked, broken thing.
"Take my hand. And I promise—everything will be alright."
He held it out. Still. Steady.
Kael hesitated. The shape of him was familiar, but… off.
His own reflection—but younger. Scarred in the wrong places. Paler. Dead eyes. Almost see-through in the darkness.
"No."
"I refuse."
Then—
The world twisted again.
He woke up.
But this time, it was real.
He wasn't in a bed.
He was in a metal chair.
The mattress was gone. The softness had been replaced with cold, rusted steel. The interrogation room was old, decaying. Walls stained. The air buzzed with the soft flicker of a dying bulb. It smelled of iron, sweat, and something that had burned long ago.
The door creaked open.
Footsteps echoed in slow, deliberate rhythm.
A man stepped in. Mid-thirties. Tall. Sharp jawline. Probably American-Japanese. Wore a black jacket, no insignia. The type who didn't need to speak to own the room.
He walked like someone who owned the place.
Hell, maybe he did.
"Hey there, super soldier," the man said, smirking.
Kael's head lifted. "Archangel…"
"Mm. Heard a lot about you."
Kael didn't respond.
But then—
He saw something.
At the far corner of the room. Unmoving. Quiet.
A boy.
Himself.
Again.
Noir.
Not a whisper. Not a voice.
A full figure—manifested. Standing. Watching. As real as breath, but flickering slightly, like bad static in reality. His arms were crossed. His eyes were dead.
"Well, here we are again," Noir muttered. "Doesn't the author have any better ideas than interrogation rooms?"
Kael twitched. "What?"
"You can't win, Kael," Noir said, voice sharp and dry. "This guy's a pain to deal with."
"I can do this, goddamn it."
Archangel raised an eyebrow. "Who the hell are you talking to?"
Kael blinked. "Nothing."
"Tch. Thought you were strong." He chuckled. "Schizophrenic too, huh?"
Kael sighed.
"Why am I captured?"
Archangel leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "Can't let a super soldier—especially a boy—run around my country after running from your president."
"You're the—?"
"No, no. It's not the same here," he said, grinning. "Different president. But I run this place."
Kael's fists clenched. "I see."
Noir stepped forward from the corner, lips curling in amusement.
"I'm warning you, Kael."
Kael's body stiffened.
"I see Raegal. Alex. Nila. Held at gunpoint."
Noir's voice twisted into a delighted shout.
"They're gonna fucking die if you don't help them!"
Kael froze.
"Where are they?"
Archangel tilted his head. "They?"
"Oh, those guys. Yeah."
He pointed lazily toward the hallway.
"They're at gunpoint. One wrong move—and boom."
Shit. He wasn't lying.
Kael swallowed. "What do you want me to do?"
Archangel's smile returned.
"I need you to bring me a man. From another country."
Kael cut him off. "And in exchange—"
"You'll help me kill Ryuzaki. And let them go."
"Heh. I like you."
He turned toward the guards behind the glass wall.
"To the guards: Let them go."
A moment passed.
"Yes, sir," a voice crackled through the speaker.
"Also Kael.." Archangel mutters
"I heard you took out of my men.."
"I swear if you do that fucking again.."
"I won't be nice."
"Wha-what?"
Kael looks at noir.
"Mhm!" Noir lays a smile
"You bastard..."
----
The door clicked.
Kael exhaled—but felt no relief.
Noir grinned from his corner, form flickering like a corrupted frame.
"Well, you managed to get out, huh?"
He stepped closer, now just inches from Kael's face.
"You'll need me, Kael. You will."
He grinned wider.
"You know it. So why don't you admit it?"
Kael looked away, eyes down.
Noir's tone dropped to a quiet hum.
"Oh… I get it."
"You're afraid of me."
Kael didn't respond. Just a boy. Shaking. Bruised. Clinging to the idea that he still had a choice.
"You're right," he whispered.
Noir paused—then smiled, crooked and cold.
"Enjoy pretending you're normal," he whispered.
"You know I'll be back."
And just like that—
Gone.
The corner where he stood was empty again.
Like he'd never been there at all.
Kael turned his head slightly.
"There's a girl out there," he said quietly.
Archangel looked up.
"She's smart. A super soldier. And she'll kill if she has to."
Kael stood, slow and steady.
"Do what you need to do."
Archangel raised an eyebrow.
"Aight, young man," he said with a smirk. "Let's see what you're really made of."
Kael looks down,
A pendant
"You still wear it?! Awww our little hero!" Noir exclaims
"Shut up.."