Work Text:
Every tool serves a purpose. Tools exist to aid in tasks, to improve in certain areas — yet every tool eventually rusts, expires, and meets its inevitable end. For Michael Kaiser, Alexis Ness was a disposable tool. Ness was a fundamental stepping stone, an instrument that improved Michael’s gameplay. However, for Ness, what formed between the two was a bond stronger than a bond created by blood. He made an oath to cherish the bond, never thought that Michael Kaiser would one day stab him from the back and cast him to an endless pit of sorrow.
In that moment, Ness' initial thoughts were of his own mistakes. He believed that he had been a disappointment to Michael Kaiser, which lead to his demise. Initially, Ness loathed himself, but this hatred found itself to be directed to Isagi Yoichi when Ness recalled that Michael Kaiser's attention was suddenly taken away from him and poured onto this unsuspecting boy from the Blue Lock project. He wanted to vent out his anger by imposing his unlawful actions on Isagi Yoichi, but he was paralyzed by the pain Michael Kaiser's words has caused — he couldn't bring himself to lift his feet and lay his filthy hands on Isagi Yoichi's face.
The paralyzed Alexis Ness could only reminisce the times he and Michael Kaiser had shared — moments he'd like to refer to as 'pure bliss.' The two learned to cohabitate, provide help to each other when needed, engaged in conversations where they shared their interests and the things they abhored, and laughed at each other's moments of embarrassment. But now, Alexis Ness wondered if this situation would still allow for them to eat meals together, speak comfortably to each other, or even share laughter.
It seemed to him that this situation caused an irreparable rift. He accepted the fact that he would only be in the shadows, watching Michael Kaiser shine. And again, Ness blamed himself, blamed Isagi Yoichi — but never Michael, the man who had used him as a stepping stone, only to discard him when he was no longer of use.
In this moment, what is Alexis Ness? A dog, mindlessly obeying his master’s commands and licking the very fingers that wounded him? A slave to a king, willing to endure humiliation at the king's whim? Or is Alexis Ness a person who knew that his purpose was to be a tool but refused to face the reality because had grown too fond of Michael Kaiser?
For Alexis Ness, he was neither. For Alexis Ness, he is simply Alexis Ness whose fingers couldn't graze Michael Kaiser’s robe, he is Alexis Ness who is forced to admire the beautiful blue rose filled with thorns even to its petals from afar.