Work Text:
Working on schemes against Chimera without the job was actually not that bad. Yes, Curt was devastated after Cynthia fired him but it was kind of a relief because now he doesn't have as many triggers about Owen as he used to feel while working.
Curt's mom was happy that her son was now at home most of the time and now he had a girl he was seeing sometimes. But each question about them getting married was denied immediately. She had some suspicions but Miss Mega was too scared to even think about it.
Nice warm winter afternoon. The snow was covering all the grass and roofs, people started to decorate their houses for Christmas. Mega was home alone while his mother went to her friends. It was a nice silence, except for a quiet beep in Curt's ears that appeared after one really bad explosion. The man was sitting next to his table and just staring at the photo of him and Owen. It was when they just started to like each other after an incredibly successful mission.
When someone knocked on the door, Mega in silence went to the door and looked into a spy peephole.
“Is this another hallucination? It can’t be. I need to sober up, I guess.” thought Curt when he saw the familiar man with a scar on his forehead.
“Curt, I know you’re here. I’m here to talk everything through.” said Owen and knocked on the door again.
“No-no-no! You are fucking dead for sure now, I killed you! This time for real! I really need to just go to sleep.”
“Well, if you’re so sure about it then open the door and reassure yourself.” – the voice hit Curt’s soul with every word. Though, he decided to actually open the door. Owen was indeed very real and alive. Mega was striked with shock and he was just standing without blinking or even breathing for a solid minute.
“Are you... Are you real?” Curt was visibly shaking and some tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Yes. Very real. Unfortunately.”
“How are you alive? How do you always survive and get even more insane each time?”
“Spies are forever, afterall, lo-” Owen thought about the last word for a second and decided that it’s too fast and inappropriate.
“You are here to kill me, aren’t you? Or sneak and get information from me?”
“No, I left Chimera. And no torture. If anything – just kill me and bury me as soon as you can. Make sure I’m dead.” Owen was dead serious. His eyes were lifeless, with no light in them.
“And you want me to trust you? You are out of your mind! I don’t even know anymore if you can be killed.” Curt shouted.
“Look, I get it. And I want a second chance. Please trust me. I just want to talk and then I’ll leave.”
Curt doubted him extremely but finally gave up and the little hope was tingling in his chest. Even when they were on that cursed staircase and Curt shot Owen.
“Come in. Only a quick talk and get all of your weapons out.”
“I don’t have any! Here, let me prove it to you.” Owen opened his coat, then pockets, including hidden ones, he raised his shirt up and then showed that there was nothing in his shoes.
“Alright. I still doubt you though. But you can come in.” Curt raised his arm inside the house, inviting the man in front of him.
At first they were just sitting in silence with each other. Time to time Mega was looking at Owen and still trying to process that he is right here. The break in the unnerving atmosphere made Curt.
“What did you want to talk about?” the man's voice was shivering.
“Chimera and everything that happened.”
“Well, you better fucking talk about it!” Curt raised his voice and pointed at Owen.
Owen sighed and charged his bravery.
“When I fell off the stairs I thought I'd die there. The betrayal I felt when I watched you run away. Now, at the end, I understand that you thought I died immediately and the government brainwashed you to only care about the work. I survived for some reason and when I was in the hospital undercover, which I managed to contact, the old doctor apparently knew about me and gave me the choice to work for Chimera. He explained about all the technology, their goals and who they are. It sounded nice, they told me that even though their actions might be questionable, they do it for a better future. And they had a blackmail on me. So I accepted the proposal. I was still bitter and hateful because of you. I still loved you, somewhere there, in the chest, definitely not in mind. And when I finally got the chance to torture you it didn’t go as I planned. I saw that you were fundamentally broken and ready to die. And... for some reason I didn’t feel satisfaction from it. That’s when things started to connect in my brain. When I revealed myself to you all, at that point I was just in a persona that you wanted to see. But I had the chance to help you. I realized that “no secrets” was just not an option. And on the staircase I didn’t have the courage to press the trigger, even when you were standing with your back to me. And I didn’t have the courage and sorrow to kill myself. So I made you angry on purpose. And now...”
Owen didn’t finish the sentence. He just stared at the wall and mentally prepared himself to whatever Curt might say.
There was a pause.
It lasted forever.
“You know that all of this is still not an excuse for your actions? That you manipulated me and Tatiana. That after four goddamn years you appear and try to torture and kill me. And then died again by my own hands. You know that?! I won't forgive you ever. Even though I still have feelings.” Curt put his head on the back of a couch. “Also, continue the phrase you wanted to say.”
“And I thought I need to at least say the explanation for my actions, which are not excusing me.”
Mega was visibly shaking and salty water out of his eyes began to spread down his cheeks again.
“I still don't forgive you, Owen. But maybe... maybe I'll give you the chance. Again. Don't fuck it up. That's the last time. We will just meet and talk sometimes and that's all for now.” Curt's voice was stiff. It was hard to speak.
“I understand. And I didn't get here for forgiveness or third chances. I just needed to let this out of my chest and hear your voice,” Owen leaned forward and put his head on his hands, “That's the en- that's it.”
“I swear to god, if you will do some shit again-”
“I know. You'll do your best.” Owen paused and decided to say one more word.
“Sorry.”