The familiar scent of Base Omega greeted Kael as he stepped through the entrance. It was the scent of steel, oil, and the ever-present hum of machinery. The dim lights flickered softly as he passed through the corridor, his boots heavy with every step, his mind far away. His thoughts were tangled in the events of the past few hours — the confrontation with Vael, the letter, the chilling reminder that his brother was still out there, somewhere, hidden behind layers of corruption and deceit.
The door to the common area slid open with a soft hiss. The members of Team B were scattered around, engaging in various activities, but none of them noticed Kael's presence immediately. He stood there for a moment, watching them in silence. Luna was sharpening her spear, a focused expression on her face. James was polishing his revolvers, muttering to himself as if in thought. The Resonance Twins were quietly arguing about something, their soft voices carrying through the room.
Kael sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He had so much to say, yet no words would come. How could he explain what had just happened? How could he tell them that the brother he had once admired, the brother who had stood by him through thick and thin, was now nothing more than a shadow of the man he used to be? How could he explain the twisted path Vael had walked down, and how, in some cruel twist of fate, he was being pulled into it as well?
His gaze flickered to Luna. She had been his anchor through the chaos, and yet... He couldn't drag her into this. No one could know. Not yet.
"Kael?" Luna's voice broke through his thoughts, her eyes meeting his with concern. "You alright?"
Kael forced a smile, though it felt like a mask. "Yeah. Just... tired," he said, his voice rougher than he intended. He cleared his throat, stepping further into the room. "Where's Natasha?"
"She's in the office with Evan," Luna replied. "She said something about a new mission briefing. You're joining us, right?"
Kael hesitated. His instincts told him to keep to himself, to pull away from the others, but he couldn't ignore the responsibility he felt as part of the team. "I'll be there in a bit," he said, his voice lacking conviction. "I just need a minute to clear my head."
Luna nodded, her eyes still searching him, but she didn't push. She was used to Kael being distant, especially after their more intense missions. He could feel the weight of her gaze on him as he turned away, retreating to a quieter corner of the base. The last thing he wanted was to drag the others into his mess. They had enough on their plates. They didn't need to know about the letter, about Vael's offer, about the twisted remnants of his family.
Kael sat down on one of the metal benches, the cold surface grounding him, though it did little to clear his mind. He pulled the letter from his jacket pocket and stared at it for a long while, its edges worn and crinkled from being clenched so tightly.
The Crimson Sickle is always open for you. I need you.
The words echoed in his mind. Vael's voice. His brother was still in there, wasn't he? Somewhere. But the path Vael had taken... Kael couldn't walk it. He wouldn't. No matter how badly Vael wanted him to, no matter the desperate plea beneath his words, Kael couldn't join the Crimson Sickle. He wouldn't be consumed by that darkness.
But the truth of it burned like a brand on his soul.
He couldn't tell them. Not yet. They wouldn't understand. How could they? Even Luna, as close as they were, wouldn't understand the weight of what he had just seen. If they knew that Vael was still alive, that he had thrown him into the midst of this chaos... It would break them. It would break the team.
Kael crushed the letter in his fist, his breath shallow, the silence of the base pressing in on him. The choice had been made. He would keep it to himself. Just like everything else. It was better this way. For everyone.
He was alone in this. And he had to stay that way.
Later that evening...
The mission briefing went as usual. Natasha gave her orders, and Kael fell into line like he always did. His thoughts were distant, lingering on the cold reality of the situation he found himself in. He couldn't afford to let his emotions show, not now. Not when the team depended on him.
As the meeting ended, the others made their way to the preparations room, but Kael stayed behind for a moment, staring at the wall, his heart heavy with the weight of his secret.
"Kael," Natasha's voice cut through the air, soft but firm. "You good?"
He turned, meeting her gaze with a tired smile. "Yeah. Just thinking."
She didn't push. Instead, she gave him a nod, as if understanding something unspoken. "If you need to talk, you know where to find me."
Kael nodded, his throat tight. "Thanks, Natasha."
But even as he said the words, he knew there was nothing they could do. The battle within him was his alone to fight.
As the door slid shut behind him, Kael exhaled slowly, the weight of the letter still heavy in his pocket, a constant reminder of the brother he had lost... and the path he now had to walk, alone.