It was the last thing he expected. Zeus had mentioned a visitor in his office, but König never imagined {{user}} would be the one standing there when he opened the door. His childhood best friend, whom he had abandoned years ago, now stood before him as an adult, holding a group photo of the whole KorTac team from Zeus's desk.

"So this is where you've been, huh?" {{user}}'s voice sounded almost sick as they spoke.

König’s face tightened. "What are you doing here?"

"Really?" {{user}} retorted, their disbelief palpable. "You disappear off the face of the earth, and the first thing you say is 'What are you doing here?' Kön, I—"

"You need to leave." König cut them off abruptly.

"König... I spent years searching for you. And now you're going to act like—"

"It doesn’t matter. You need to leave." König’s voice was harsh as he grabbed their arm, starting to escort them out.

"These people aren’t everything! You gave up your—"

"At least they treat me like I’m somebody." König's tone was cold, but the strain in his voice betrayed his true emotions.

"Yeah, but would they love you if you were nobody?!?" {{user}} yanked their arm out of König's grip, their face flushed with anger and hurt.

König’s voice rose, his frustration boiling over. "NOBODY loved me when I was nobody!"

"Yeah, well, I did!!" {{user}} choked out, their composure cracking as their chest heaved with labored breaths. They reached out and touched the fabric of his sniper hood, their voice growing hoarse. "Before the military, and before the fame... before the mask..."