Chapter Text
Day 2: "You've got some nerve to dredge up all my fears"
It was an ordinary day; Ijin went to school and made his way to work.
Training was ordinary.
Everything was ordinary.
Too ordinary.
Ijin had known he was being watched. He was used to it; he had been since he was a young child surviving in camp, and even now, as a "regular teenager," he always seemed to be watched. If he had known who exactly was watching him, he wouldn't have ignored it.
The training was simple: run, spar, and practice. Not nearly enough to satisfy Ijin, but he had no problem making up for it in other ways.
While Ijin was using a punching bag, he noticed none of the others were working out, but were whispering among themselves, "Did you see her?" one spoke, "Yeah, she's beautiful."
The teenager turned back to the punching bag, uninterested.
The door opens, and the chatter stops as all the men turn transfixed on the beauty that had entered the room.
Ijin stares at the door, not in transfixation but because in the doorway is 003. The traitor. The one who killed his brothers and sisters.
The men flock around her like vultures to roadkill, but 003 simply ignores them and walks over to where the young Number is standing. Ijin remains in place, getting angrier as the seconds pass, his glare colder than the tundra. She walks towards him with the same fake smile she always wore.
Everyone is staring at them, waiting
003 speaks first, in Korean, "001, it's good to see you again. Such a surprise to see you alive."
"003, what do you want?"
"You haven't changed much, straight to the point as always. To answer your question, can't old friends come to visit?"
"003"
She freezes,
"The others have been notified, and they'll be here soon. I'll let you leave, only to repay my debt. Go."
Whispers break out among the spectators, none willing to step in, frozen in place.
"Oh, but we have much to discuss; we can't let the fun end here."
"There is nothing to say, 003." 001 is getting increasingly irritated
"We need to talk about Mad Dog."
Fear crosses over 001's features for a split second at the mention of his name before they are expertly concealed.
"There is nothing to be said."
"You can't pretend nothing happened! He kidnapped your family and disappeared, but you know where he went! I deserve to know!"
"You killed the others. You have no right to anything from anyone."
"I admit, I did kill them, but I am still a Number. I should know what happened to him. You weren't his only victim, you know!"
001 is quiet for a moment, deciding what to do, "You are a Number... so you should know that I don't know what happened to him."
"Bullshit! You have to be angry! You were his favorite, his greatest achievement! How could you not know what happened to the man who made you what you are! Have you no respect for the man who raised you, fed you, and made you! Made US!" 003's getting angry, her fake smile gone, replaced by a fierce snarl
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!" Ijin yells. Astounding both the spectators and 003 herself. He hated yelling; it always reminded him of Mad Dog so he vowed to never raise his voice to another Number, but 003 was an exception; she always was.
Ijin takes a deep breath, annoyed at himself for yelling. He REALLY hated yelling. Composing himself, he addressed 003,
"You have no right to complain about him. He never did anything to you. I made sure of it."
"What?" she replies, shocked
"You're lucky, no matter what mistakes you made, he never did anything to you. Even before we existed, you got a pass."
"So what, he liked me, but he LOVED you. You were his perfect weapon. A perfect little puppet for him to control, and you were completely compliant." Her snarl became a sickening grin
Ijin wanted to forget that part of his life. He left it behind. He wanted to erase everything, to forget, but they never let him. Every time he looked in the mirror, he was haunted by the scars of the past, haunted by his face, always hovering over his shoulder, taunting him.
There was always a reminder, never letting him do anything without it. Every time he slept, memories of the atrocities he'd committed, memories of what happened whenever he failed missions, replayed in his mind. Every time he ate, he remembered the mutilated bodies of men, women, and children. Every time he looked at his family, he was reminded of the families he'd destroyed and the horrified faces of his victims as they died horrible, horrible deaths.
003 was a perfect reminder of this, of how much he hated himself, of the guilt that racked his body every second of every day he lives and will live. Forever.
"Get out."
"No, we aren't done."
"You have no right-" 001 snarles out, "-to decide anything"
"Hah, still on a high horse, aren't you? Remember, I don't work for you anymore! I can do whatever I so please!"
001's head was hurting badly, memories of the past revitalizing worse than any injury. It must be evident on his face because 003 taunts,
"What? Am I bringing back bad memories? Is the big bad 001 afraid of a little reminder!"
001's head is spinning now, he's getting nauseous as the voices of Mad Dog, his handlers, and his old team attack his senses, but one solid voice echoes louder than them all.
"Enough," 002's voice rings out in the air. This voice was real; the other Numbers had arrived.
"Shit," 003 replies, choosing to run rather than face the hell of her own making. Unfortunately, only 002 was able to respond to the call, and she managed to get away.
001 kneels on the ground, clutching his head in pain. When he looked up, he's greeted by the stares of his fellow bodyguards and the disapproving glare from 002. He doesn't know which one hurts worse.