Part of the Whole

The soft, rhythmic hum of monitors filled the room, harmonizing with the faint buzz of advanced support systems. The artificial light glowed in a muted amber hue, starkly contrasting the cold sterility of the white walls. Over Rubi’s bed, holographic panels flickered with streams of vital signs, casting faint reflections that danced like ripples on the polished floor.

Leo sat beside her, elbows resting on his knees, hands clasped together. His tired eyes were fixed on her face, waiting for any sign of improvement. Though his own injuries hadn’t fully healed, he had spent the past few days here, refusing to leave.

In the hallway outside, agents moved briskly, their footsteps purposeful as they carried medical equipment or exchanged low murmurs about strategy. Occasionally, Leo would glance at them, but his focus always returned to Rubi.

Suddenly, she stirred—a subtle movement but enough to make him sit upright, his heart racing. Her fingers lightly gripped the bedsheet, and then her eyes fluttered open, blinking against the light.

“Finally,” he murmured, leaning closer.

Rubi slowly turned her head toward him, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Have you been sitting here all this time, or am I just that important?”

Leo chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe a little of both. Though ‘important’ might be a stretch.”

She let out a soft chuckle but winced at the pain. “Looks like you enjoy playing the hero.”

“And it seems like you enjoy making it harder for me,” he replied, his voice carrying a hint of relief he couldn’t quite hide.

Rubi blinked, her gaze steadying on him. “How long has it been?”

He hesitated before answering. “Long enough.”

She raised a weak eyebrow. “That’s not an answer. How long?”

“Long enough for me to wonder if you were faking this just for the attention,” he teased, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

Rubi stayed silent for a beat, caught off guard by his tone, before the smile returned to her lips. “So… you stayed here the whole time?”

“Yes,” he answered without hesitation.

Her gaze softened, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. “Didn’t think I was worth that much of your time.”

Leo shrugged lightly. “What can I say? My calendar’s wide open.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but a soft cough interrupted her. He stood quickly, adjusting her pillow with gentle care. “Don’t push yourself. You need to rest.”

Rubi studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable before softening. “Thank you…”

Leo nodded, but the moment broke as she shifted to a more playful tone. “Now that you’ve saved me, you’re trying to play the lone hero, aren’t you? I bet you’re loving the role.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Not exactly.”

Rubi raised an eyebrow. “No? Because looking at you now… it seems like you finally understand why we fight.”

Leo sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I do. They need to be destroyed. Not just for us, but for everyone who doesn’t have a voice. We stopped the Project Nexus, but I don’t think they’ll stop.” He paused, glancing at the monitors. “The other groups completed their missions too. We’ve taken down several Vanguard bases.”

Rubi’s eyes widened, a mix of surprise and relief. “So… we did it?”

Leo nodded. “For now. The bases are offline, and the data is wiped. But I think they’ll retaliate.”

She studied him silently for a moment, noticing the change in him. “You seem… different. More serious. More determined.”

He met her gaze, his tone heavier. “It’s not just about taking down bases or erasing data. As long as the Vanguard exists, no one is safe. They need to be eliminated completely.”

Rubi smiled faintly, though the exhaustion was still evident on her face. “Sounds like you’re finally talking like one of us.”

Before she could say more, the door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Alice. She leaned against the frame, still visibly injured but managing to stand.

“So, our sleeping beauty finally wakes up,” she said with a tired smile.

“Alice,” Rubi murmured, surprised but glad to see her.

Leo watched Alice as she approached. It was the first time he’d seen her out of bed since the battle. Despite the bandages and visible fatigue, she stood tall with the same determined look. He felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

“You’re okay,” he remarked, unable to hide his relief.

Alice nodded. “Not as okay as I’d like to be, but alive.”

She stepped closer to Rubi, briefly taking her hand. “I’m glad you’re awake. The hideout’s been way too quiet without you.”

Rubi chuckled softly. “You just miss having someone to tweak your gear.”

Alice smirked. “Maybe.”

As Alice and Rubi exchanged banter, Leo quietly stepped back. He needed a moment to process everything that had happened. Despite the victory against Project Nexus, the weight of the ongoing fight loomed heavy in his mind.

Later, Alice found him leaning against a door that led to an internal courtyard, his posture heavy with lingering doubt. The artificial light cast geometric shadows across the floor, reflecting the base’s functional design.

“You’re way too quiet,” she remarked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall beside him.

Leo took a moment to respond, his eyes fixed on the ground. “Will Rubi be okay?”

Alice blinked, caught off guard by the direct question. Her stance softened, her tone gentler. “She’s as stubborn as a mule—you know that. But yes, she’ll be fine. She’ll need time, but the doctors said she’s out of danger.”

Leo hesitated before answering, his voice low. “I should’ve acted faster. Maybe then…” His words faltered, weighted by doubt.

Alice cut him off, her voice firm yet calm. “Enough. You did everything you could—more than anyone else would have. You kept her alive, Leo. She knows it, even if she hasn’t said it yet.”

He took a deep breath, letting her words sink in. The guilt still lingered, a heavy chain he couldn’t fully shed, but knowing Rubi was safe eased some of the tension gripping his chest.

Alice watched him silently for a moment before changing the subject. “And you? Did you get what you wanted? You took down Ron. Disabled the Project Nexus. Do you feel whole now?”

The question hit Leo like a punch. He stayed silent for a long time, his gaze distant. Finally, he replied, his voice heavy with repressed emotion. “I thought it would be enough. That taking Ron down would bring something—relief, maybe. But all I can think about is Lucy… her face. The way she died. Diego sacrificing himself for us. And Julia…” He paused, the weight of her name bearing down on his shoulders. “The truth is, Ron was never the only target. It’s the Vanguard—it’s always been them. As long as they exist, there will be more Lucys, more Diegos, more Julias left to suffer.”

Alice studied him intently, seeing the resolve building in his eyes. He continued, his voice steadier now. “The suffering of innocents will only end when the Vanguard is destroyed. There’s no other way.”

Alice narrowed her eyes, assessing him. “You’ve really changed. Not long ago, you seemed lost. But now, you sound like someone who’s finally found their reason to fight.”

Leo turned to face her directly. “I do. And that’s why I want to be part of this. I don’t want to just pass through this conflict. I want to fight alongside you, to the end.”

Alice studied him for a moment before placing a hand on his shoulder, the touch firm yet unexpectedly warm. “You know, even if you didn’t see it back then, Diego saw something in you from the start.” Alice paused, her gaze softening as she looked at him. “When he brought you to the base that day, he was already inviting you into this fight. It wasn’t by chance, Leo. He believed you could be part of it.”

Leo frowned, surprised. “Diego never said anything.”

Alice gave a faint smile, a mix of nostalgia and admiration in her expression. “He didn’t need to. That’s how he was… he saw what people could be before they realized it themselves. He brought you here because he knew, deep down, you wanted to fight for something bigger. That you had what it takes. We were just waiting for you to figure that out too.”

Leo looked at her, the weight of her words slowly settling. “And was he right?”

Alice shrugged, a calm smile spreading across her lips. “I think you’ve already proven that to yourself. In fact, I think you’ve been part of this for much longer than you realize.”

She watched him for a moment, her eyes carrying a mix of respect and relief. “Diego trusted you, Leo. He always did. He believed in what you could become. And in the end, he was right.”

Alice took a few steps away but stopped before leaving, turning back to face him. “And, Leo… remember, this fight isn’t yours to bear alone. Rubi, me, and everyone else—we’re in this together.”

As Alice left, her words lingered, echoing in his mind. The fight felt more personal now, a fire reignited by her faith—and Diego’s vision for him. Steeling himself, he returned to Rubi’s side, needing to see for himself that she was okay.

“You look more upbeat,” Rubi remarked, her voice tinged with a teasing tone. “Did something interesting happen? Or did you finally decide I’m better company awake than in a coma?”

Leo raised an eyebrow as he approached the bed. “Just wanted to confirm you’re still as irritating as ever.”

Rubi let out a weak laugh that quickly turned into a wince of pain. “Ow… that’s how you treat me after all this? A little too quick on the payback.”

Leo shook his head, sitting down beside her. “Looks like you’re doing well enough to talk nonsense.”

She smiled, softer this time, and watched him for a moment. “Thank you, Leo… for staying. For not giving up.”

Leo averted his gaze, feeling the weight of her words. “I couldn’t leave. You fought until the end, Rubi. It was your strength that brought us here. Not mine.”

“Too modest,” she replied, crossing her arms lightly. “But I’ll pretend to believe you.”

Leo gave a small smile, but his expression soon softened as he studied her more closely. Despite her jokes, her vulnerability was evident. The monitor beside her bed beeped steadily—a silent reminder that, against all odds, she was still here. Alive.

As their conversation faded, Leo felt a wave of determination swell within him. Amid the pain and loss, Rubi’s fragile yet resolute presence reminded him why he fought. Every scar, every battle—it all led here, to something worth protecting. And he wouldn’t let anything take that away again.