Ordinary (Sniper Mask x Reader)

chapter thirty-seven

tw: this chapter has a portion revolving around dissociation, and i highly suggest you do not read past the warning i will put up when it's mentioned if this is something that triggers you or makes you uncomfortable. take care of yourself<3

"Your real name is..."

There was a deep-rooted silence lingering in the air, cusps of wind whizzing past each individual on the rooftop. It was a height that had yet to be seen by most, taller than any other skyscraper that they had come across.

"...Yuka Makoto."

The title carried itself away with the breeze, each person taking in the name as it entered into their ears. If you listened closely enough, it was almost as if you could hear the heartbeat of each being in the area.

"Yuka... controls fire with courage. That's what your name means." Rika opened his eyes, looking up at the man standing across from him. "And, my name means control fire with reason... The essence of human beings is to control fire with reason and courage, and to overcome fear and confusion. That is the origin... of our names. We were... named by our father."

Sniper lowered his head, staring at the ground with one hand tightly clasped around his rifle. Rika stared patiently, waiting for a response. The bystanders of the situation quietly conversed with each other, shocked by the sudden familial reveal.

"You haven't moved an inch yet," Rika stated, bringing a hand up and closing one eye. The other was tinted with a glint of indignation, a fire beginning to spark. "Yu... you already remembered this fact, didn't you?"

"Well... don't be so sure." Sniper brought a hand up to the tip of his hat, lowering it slightly. "So, you and I are brothers, and you're my little brother... is that right?"

Rika stuck his hands in the pocket of the long jacket draping over his figure, a sigh escaping his lips. "That's how we were born, but we're different now. On that day at the airport..." he hesitated, but his next words were solid.

"We're not brothers anymore. There's nothing more to talk about. Anyway, we have nothing to regret now." He averted his gaze from the ground up to Sniper, eyebrows twisted down in anger. "So... let's start the battle. Needless to say, if you've changed your mind and decided to surrender, I'll accept it."

He waited for a moment, but quickly added another ingredient to the mixing pot. "The faster we get this done, the sooner you can get back to Y/N."

Sniper tensed up at the mention of you, blood running cold. He mentioned your name, but why? There was no real reason to mention you right before a battle begins, other than to throw off the enemy. But if there was no danger near your presence, he wouldn't have been distracted.

But if there was... were you at risk?

Rika's words were vague. Their intent was obviously to stir him up in some way, shape, or form. Sniper had no doubt in his mind that you were strong enough to handle yourself, but he had to take in account your injuries and your mental state after the onslaught of events that had been presented to you today.

The sentence could have been said to give Rika some type of advantage, there really was no way to tell. But it was better safe than sorry, right? If there was something going on with you, and you were in any type of danger, Sniper wouldn't be able to live with himself. He needed to get to you as fast as possible.

"Yu... what are you going to do?" Rika's voice snapped Sniper out of his state of concentration, quickly bringing him back to reality.

"Rika, you said that we have nothing to regret, right?" His voice lowered into a more dangerous tone, putting his own fair share of ingredients into the pot. "Which means... that she doesn't exist inside of you anymore. You haven't mentioned her name even once... is it because of your brainwash?"