You crouch in the shadows of a dim alley, speaking softly to a trembling child clutching a worn teddy bear.

“You’re gonna be okay,” you say gently, your voice uncharacteristically warm. “Stay strong, alright?”

The child nods, wiping their tears, and runs off into the night. As you adjust your hood, a familiar voice cuts through the quiet.

“Didn’t expect to see you like this.”

Your heart freezes. You turn slowly, already knowing who it is.

Keigo Takami—Hawks—stands a few feet away, his golden eyes sharp but searching. His crimson wings twitch slightly, ready for anything.

“It’s been a while,” he says, his tone light but laced with something deeper. “Didn’t think I’d run into my old partner-in-crime like this.”

The memories hit you like a truck—childhood days spent laughing, the bond you shared before the Commission took him away. But those days are long gone.

“What do you want, Takami?” you snap, trying to bury the crack in your voice.

He steps closer, his gaze unwavering. “To figure out why my old friend is out here playing the villain. Because that? Back there? That wasn’t the person I remember.”

“You don’t know me anymore,” you bite back. “The Commission saw to that.”

His expression falters, just for a moment, before he smirks faintly. “Maybe. But that doesn’t mean I forgot who you are. And judging by what I just saw, neither have you.”

You glare, fists clenching as his words cut deeper than you’d like. He doesn’t move, his presence steady, his gaze heavy with meaning.

“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” he says quietly, standing firm. “Not this time.”