Breakup

“By orders of the Director of project SPIRAL, you are under arrest for the murder of Cypher.”

Raven didn’t understand what he was looking at when he left the room behind that thin curtain. It felt like a bad dream. Fox held the gun just like he had so many times at hostages and hostiles, a look of dead seriousness on his face. Raven could tell he didn’t want to do it- but that he would anyway the second he made a move.

His voice was so cold. Lifeless, and without his passion. Raven couldn’t even be sure if he was looking at the same Fox who always came to save him, who always took the missions even if they were too dangerous for his taste- just because he went on them too.

Raven couldn’t even respond at first. He wasn’t going to fight, he, he… he couldn’t fight, not against his own partner. But like so many times before, Fox pressed on, hand unwavering as his finger sat ready to pull the trigger.

“Raven.”

“Fox, I… know I made a mistake. But, but- we don’t have to do this. You- you don’t have to do this. Take a look in my eyes right now and tell me. Am I not… still the same partner you worked with all this time? Did I not… accomplish the mission?”

“You said you know what you did wrong. So stop fighting and own up to it.”

The boy was dumbfounded. Sheer chance had brought him here, to the home of his nemesis- a place he’d never had to have gone were it not for that tiny, insignificant detail- why was the Sarcophagus missing? Just what was it that was hiding inside the tiny black box he now held? If only he’d been luckier- no, if only he could’ve controlled himself. He didn’t have to kill Cypher. He knew he was a forbidden target as a major player in another agency, it shouldn’t have even been on the table. But that just brought him back around… how did Cypher get his hands on the Sarcophagus in the first place?

Above all else… it was finally setting in on him what he was witnessing. The one thing he couldn’t accept- the one thing he really, truly wanted last of all, even worse than failing his mission- his only friend betraying him.

“You can’t do this.” It wasn't a man’s voice that came out of the soldier. Just a boy, as he’d always been, forced to fight. Forced to cope with feelings he could never understand. It felt like hot oil being poured down his throat whenever he opened his quivering mouth to speak to his old ally. “I know you can’t do this. You and I, we… I thought we had something together. That… just for once, I, the guy putting it all out there on his own for… for what I want… could have a friend.” He was yelling before he knew it. The music faded from the club. All he could hear was the beating of his heart as he awaited Fox’s next words. “You won’t shoot me. I know you won’t, Fox.”

In a moment of silence, the agent peeked down at the M1911 he so dangerously bore at his comrade. In that moment, his conviction was only strengthened. He was a soldier first… and a “friend” second. He had to do what was right… for the agency.

Slowly, Raven’s hope subsided. His intense expression closing into one of despairing sadness, he slowly raised his own pistol at the man. Though he grit his teeth, it was not out of fear for his own life- he knew Fox couldn’t be the one to pull the trigger, as hard as he might try to play the part. No, he only dreaded that he might be the one to stoop to such an awful role on this horrible failed mission.

“Put it down.”

“Put it down? You don’t understand, Fox. I’ve held this gun- right to your head- since the second you confronted me. You made me do this. And you might not have what it takes to put a bullet in my skull- but I’m goddamn sure I could slot one into yours.”

“You’ve lost it.”

“Lost it?” Soon, the child’s anger began to flow out in a molten paste, spattering across the room. “I’ve seen guys who have fucking lost it. You- you are beyond fucking saving! Isn’t that right… Fox?” It stung like ice to say even his codename.

“…Raven- you’re right. I don’t wanna do this to you. But I will. I will because I know there are some places you just don’t go. You are a soldier, Raven. At least… I thought you were.”

“If I’m not a soldier for doing what I see as the right, then- who would want to be one of you sick fucking pigs, who’ll raise a gun at his own friend because his boss told him to do it?” Raven took half a breath. He shook his head, fury converting back to sadness. “I won’t say it again, Fox. Get out of my way… or you’ll be just another soldier to me.”

Fox lowered his gun.

“Is that what you want? To believe you’re any better than me for going on this mission to begin with? And for what… so he can recognize you?”

Maybe the boy was too dazed to properly respond… or maybe what Fox said to him then struck him so deep that it pierced his very bones.

The child nodded.

“…Maybe, Fox. Maybe.”

Raven broke into a sprint.

The Director tapped his long fingers on the desk of his dark room.

“So it seems the boy has gone rogue. I’d say we’re in… dangerous water.” Q recited from just one of his screens. “At this rate, they will each fight until the other one dies.”

“…Let them fight.” The old man droned. “He already has the Sarcophagus. …This is what we wanted.”