Chapter Text
Wraith stood with her arms crossed as Conduit, Hielana, and her assistant regarded her thoughtfully, absorbing everything she had just told them about what had happened on the night of the gala and the web of lies orchestrated by the Syndicate. Conduit's apartment was cozy and conveyed the family warmth that always surrounded her, however the four of them had serious expressions.
"I'm sorry," Wraith continued, looking directly at Hielana, though her words were also meant for Conduit’s assistant. "I did what I could to help, but I learned the hard way that the Syndicate is never going to change. They don’t care about anything that doesn’t benefit them."
Hielana nodded slowly, her expression healthy and serene, her eyes reflecting understanding and acceptance. Perhaps it wasn’t wise to expose her to these matters at such a young age, but Wraith knew this was a harsh world, and the sooner she learned how it worked, the better prepared she would be to face it.
"We understand, Wraith. I know you did everything you could," Conduit’s assistant replied, her voice gentle, as if trying to offer some form of comfort. Conduit then spoke up.
"The Syndicate has already released its official statement. They claim a group of hackers altered and infiltrated the broadcast, falsifying everything that was seen that night." She rolled her eyes in disbelief. "They confirmed that Mirage had nothing to do with it, and they’ve also made sure to deny any claim of a romantic relationship between the two of you. According to them, it was all just rumors."
Wraith nodded in silence. It wasn’t surprising, but it still hurt. The truth had been buried, and her connection with Mirage had been reduced to meaningless gossip. But this was for the best.
"Looking on the bright side, at least Hielana was able to complete her treatment. The illness seems to have subsided, and her recovery is evident," Conduit's assistant commented, her expression shifting to a more cheerful one.
"I hadn’t had the chance to tell you, but throughout this time, I grew much more attached to Hielana than I expected. I’ve decided to adopt her."
Wraith’s gaze softened as she watched the little girl, her eyes bright with excitement and a beaming smile on her face.
"You’ll do an amazing job," she told the assistant, then turned to Hielana. "And you… remember that you can always count on me."
Hielana gave her a smile before clutching the Mirage shaped plush tightly in her arms. Wraith stared at the toy for a moment. It had been a gift from him, just like the replica kunai she had given Hielana, now hooked onto the girl’s waist like a small trophy. At least, they had managed to bring some joy into the life of a child, and that alone made it all worthwhile.
She left soon after. Even though she was truly happy for Hielana, the guilt and sadness over what had happened with Elliott still weighed on her like a lingering shadow. She needed to clear her mind.
The firing range was nearly empty, except for the occasional distant sound of gunfire from other competitors training. The sun was relentless, but Wraith kept pushing herself, using the repetition of training to drown out the tangle of thoughts chasing her. After a while, her muscles began to protest, and she decided to take a break. She walked over to a shaded area where the slope of the range offered some relief from the heat. She let herself drop onto the warm sand and leaned back, resting her weight on her palms.
The silence was almost comforting, but her mind kept spinning. It had been several days since she last saw Mirage asleep on Evelyn’s couch. She had decided to give him space because it was necessary… but it hurt. Opening one’s heart was a risk it left you vulnerable, like an exposed nerve at the slightest touch. And yet, she couldn’t regret it. Because in the end, everything that had happened had allowed her to understand what it truly meant to love someone.
"You know, you could’ve picked a more comfortable shady spot."
The voices didn’t warn her. Wraith looked up, a rush of emotion surging through her. Mirage was there, standing beside her with that half-shy, half-playful smile she knew so well. Without waiting for an invitation, he dropped down next to her, letting his shoulder brush against hers.
"What are you doing here?" Wraith asked, then regretted it. She had to work on her tone sometimes, she came off too direct, too intimidating, when the last thing she wanted was to push him away.
"To thank you for getting my holo gear back. Also, for the repairs those upgrades are amazing," he said, his voice carrying genuine appreciation.
"All the credit goes to Evelyn. She’s an incredible engineer. I just handled the screwdriver," Wraith replied with a soft smile, recalling how Evelyn had guided her. Mirage grinned widely.
"I also wanted to tell you that she’s been doing much better. She’s a lot calmer and has been sleeping well these past few days."
"I’m really glad to hear that," Wraith said, gazing ahead. His words lifted a heavy weight off her shoulders.
"I don’t know what you had to do to save my reputation, but… thank you. Really."
"It was the least I could do, after everything."
"They ma… manip… they lied to us. It wasn’t your fault," he said gently. "I just hope that Syndicate guy didn’t end up stuck in that Revenant-controlled dimension." She shook her head.
"I sent him somewhere tough, but not fatal. He’ll be fine."
There was a moment of silence between them before Wraith spoke again. This time, her voice was almost fragile.
"I’m so sorry, Elliott. For everything. For ruining this… for doubting you." Mirage listened intently. "That night in my apartment, when you told me you loved me…" She paused, searching for the right words. "I wanted to say it, too. But I couldn’t find the courage. I guess now it’s too late."
Mirage thought for a second before letting out a small chuckle, nudging her shoulder with his.
"Too late? I don’t think so. How about we start over? From the beginning. No rush. Let’s see where it takes us."
Wraith met his gaze, surprised but also relieved. There was no trace of the sorrow that had clouded his features the last time she saw him. His caramel eyes and his warm smile shone again, captivating her.
The desire she felt for him still burned inside her, alive and searing. The same fierce impulse that had made her the warrior she was screamed at her to show him how she felt to push him onto the sand and guide him inside her right then and there, without caring about the consequences.
But this time, she understood that it wasn’t just about that. Wanting him in her bed wasn’t enough. She wanted him in her life.
She wanted his company, his easy laughter, his ridiculous jokes, the way he looked at her and made her feel important. She had seen more dimensions than she could count, realities with all kinds of versions of the world, but she was certain that in none of them would she ever find someone like him. He was one of a kind. Only he had managed to cross the threshold of her isolation, and Wraith knew that losing him would be like losing a piece of herself.
She could feel that he, too, experienced emotions with the same intensity he just expressed them in his own way. They had always been different. But now she understood that it wasn’t about changing who they were to fit together; it was about learning to match the rhythm of their hearts so they could move forward as one. And that took time, effort, and patience.
He was right. One step at a time.
Mirage stood up and extended his hand. "What do you say? Want to practice a little more?"
Wraith looked at him for a moment before nodding, a small smile forming on her lips. She took his hand, letting him pull her up.
The End.