𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 - 𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 ✔️

033

"I'm glad Papa didn't kill you," 001 says, squeezing your hand.

"Yeah..." you chuckle, but the sound came out as more of a nervous breath, "Yeah, me too."

There was a manic expression on his face, it settled in his clenched jaw and firm eyes. A piece of your mind tells you to get out while you still can. When you had excused 001 for being "crazy" and "insane" you thought he'd just been talking about the deranged battles everyone fought in life. You never expected him to take it this far, but the aching feeling in your heart won't let you let go. Your heart ached for him and him alone.

He seems to notice your unease and a soft smile blooms onto his face. "You know I'd never hurt you, right?"

A brief second passes before you nod. 001's eyes survey you as if you were the one to be suspicious of and not himself. He looks as if he's searching for something, scanning your face for any tinges of doubt that may linger. That he could brush away.

"I know," you whisper.

He takes your hand in his and presses the inside of your wrist to his lips. The pressure of his kiss on your tattoo sends an indescribable shock down your arm. A mixture of goosebumps and butterflies. The very chasm between the dangerous and sweet. The dangerously sweet.

"There's a reason we're together," he continues. His voice is low as if telling a secret only meant for you to hear. His eyes never leave yours. They were as blue and as dangerous as the falling sky.

He entwines his fingers with yours. "We're the beginning."

You don't know how long you two stand there, inches away from each other's face. Maybe it's a second, maybe it's a minute, maybe it's two. Going through with his plan would change your life forever. Whatever acts that followed would be of your doing. It would be on your conscience.

001 kisses your forehead. "I'll see you," he smiles. This time it was neither a question nor a wish. It was an assertion of what you'd shown him time and time before. No matter what, you'd always come back.

And he'd be there waiting for you.

You turn the glass vile over in your hands. The dark liquid only reminded you of blood. After this, that would be exactly what you'd have on your hands. Your mouth runs dry. There was no the time to dwell on the fact. It wouldn't be the first time you'd thought of murdering Papa. And now, you had an appointment to keep.

The journey to his office is quick, but the setting before you doesn't feel real. You feel like a ghost floating above linoleum floor and below flourescent lights. For a second, you feel a pair of eyes on you. When you turn around, no one was there.

There was something wrong. Specifically, with you. It felt as if every last bit of sanity had evaperated from your grasp.

Papa's in his usual state when you reach his office. He's slunched over his desk, scanning files. You slip the small vile into your pocket. "Sir," you greet, "can I get you anything to drink. Maybe a coffee?"

"Ah, Y/n! Just the person I'd been wanting to see," he beams, "And no, I'm fine, thank you."

You hope Papa doesn't see the falter in your smile. The man rises from his desk, shoving the papers aside before you're reunited with his attention.

"A few members of the staff had some concerns about your affiliation with Peter." His already looming stature grew taller with ever step. "Now, I've been merciful allowing this whole... situation to occur. But if it starts interfering with your work or any of the other staff members, that will be the end of it."

You hold back every witty reply you have and exchange them for a polite nod. He would be gone soon enough. None of this would matter. "I understand."

"I knew you would."

You rock on your heels. "Well, if there's nothing else..."

"I think I'll take a water for a change." Papa grins. "Sounds refreshing. Get yourself some too while you're at it. Take a break."

It was almost as if he was taunting you, but you can't show your confusion on your face. "Of course," you reply.

He returns back to his desk, burying himself again in the papers. Somewhere, one of those files had your name on it. And somewhere, one of those files had your alleged sister's. Half-sister. You still couldn't grasp the fact.

And you still can't help but ask, "The scientist... Alex? What might have happened to her?"

"It's none of your concern."

"Oh." You frown. "It's not everyday people just go disappearing around here. I'm concerned for my safety and the safety of the other staff members." There was a mocking tone to your seriousness.

"She was disposed of, that is all," Papa replies.

The fact that he could say that so casually proved how many screws he had loose in the head. Most of you had suspected that something had happened to Alex. That hadn't meant you wanted to believe it.

"Disposed of? Is that what you do around here?"

Papa sighs and rubs his face. The lines of stress and age were prominent in his scowl. "I know what she told you."

"And forgive me, but wasn't she your daughter?"

His face hardens. All previous signs of the smile he'd worn before vanished. Despite that, he still seemed friendly, in some horrifying way. He had the ability to make himself seem gentle in the worst of times. "That's enough," he says, "I did it for the safety of the staff and children. I did it out of love."

"Love? What could you possibly know—"

"You think that fling you have going on with Peter is love? That is nothing more than an unhealthy obsession."

You shake your head. "It's not."

"It is," Papa insists. "I know Peter, I raised him. I know what he wants and he's not getting it."

"He wants his freedom," you snap.

"'Peter is dangerous. He needs help. We're doing everything we can to—"

You groan. "You just don't get it do you? We don't want your help. Everything we've ever lost was because of your help."

"Not everything."

The sight of your mother floats into the back of your mind. A scoff leaves your lips. "Even that," you murmur, "was of your doing."

"Everything I've ever done was for you," Papa replies. "But fall back into your little game of manipulation. Go ahead."

"001's not dangerous."

"001?"

"Peter," you correct, "Peter's not dangeorus."

"Don't make the mistake again."

On the outside you appeared calm, but no one could feel the pit of rage that was churning inside of you. It ran through your veins like adrenaline. You were playing a game, that was for sure. A game Papa had made. A game Papa would always win. There wasn't a thought that disgusted you more.

The door slams behind you when you leave. The knob was no longer broken, but it might have been if not for the device that locked away your powers. The withdrawal creeps up on your skin like wildfire. It chokes you like thick smoke. You push the feeling away as best you can. Your next panic attack wasn't scheduled till Thursday.

If you and 001 were truly the "beginning", you hoped it would start now. This little setback made the "beginning" seem so much further away.

There's the scamper of feet in the distance. They were not clompy, like one of an adults, but light. They were soft and quick, like a rodent. Like a child.

Same difference, you think.

You eyes follow the direction of the sound and just before the short figure turns the corner, you catch his face. The little boy had followed you. His hospital gown slows him down, but it's the wide, sunken eyes that give him away. You knew you'd felt those same eyes on your earlier.

Those eyes belonged to 010.