𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 - 𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 ✔️

004

Often it was that you wished for windows in your room. Staring at the white walls, the white ceilings, and the white floors became dizzying. This was the leading cause of your claustrophobia.

Sleep should have come hours ago. After endless tosses and turns, you'd given up. So now, here you were, staring into the darkness.

You didn't know if the quiet brought you comfort or unsettlement. In this case, any noise might have been more disturbing. The room beside yours was silent. At this hour, 001 would be in his room as well. That is, if they hadn't sent him to other quarters for the night.

When the restlessness becomes too much to bear, you rise to your feet. The floor beneath you is cold. You pad over to the wall between your room and his. Lightly, you knock.

Stiff as a board you stand there, waiting for an answer as if it would vanish if you moved. Your heart falls as the silence only draws out longer. Just as you turn to go back to your bed, you hear three taps from the other side. 

You smile to yourself. He was awake. You knock again. He knocks back.

It'd been your only form of communication since the incident. Luckily, the walls were thin. So thin in fact, that you could hear his voice through the plaster.

"I'm okay," he murmurs.

"Thankfully," you say, "You should really be more careful."

You think he chuckles, but it's hard to tell. You wanted to reprimand him and warn him of the dangers of his actions. If he didn't already know. But that would be too much to say through a wall.

If only you were on the other side...

You come to find the door locked, but it doesn't leave you frustrated for long. You had powers for a reason. It clicks open after a moment of concentration. You pad out into the dark hallway, crossing over into his room after you unlock it as well.

Child's play.

He's sitting upright in his bed. Even in the dark, you could see the look of shock on his face. It turns into a smile. "Y/n?"

"Hey, Spider-Man," you chuckle, the bed sinks with a creak as you sit beside him.

"Hi, Zee," he says quietly.

"Zee?"

"Oh," he paused awkwardly. "I thought we were giving each other nicknames."

You shake your head. "No, I like it."

Silence passes between you, as it always does. Over the weeks, it's faded from awkward to comfortable. Neither of you needed to say anything, it was more than enough just to appreciate each other's presence.

You interrupt that moment when you ask, "What did they do to you?"

Waiting for his answer was dreadful. You held your breath as his eyes dimly stared into the abyss. He gulps and brings his fingers to his temple slowly. "I can't remember," he shudders, but it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

You gasp, but the sound is soft and barely heard. "You can't remember?"

"No."

You remember his strange behavior from earlier. His sluggish walk, his tired eyes, his lowered shoulders. Whatever matters he'd occupied today you highly doubted were lessons. At least, not instructional, intended ones.

"Dr. Brenner—" he starts, "—Papa wants me to be like you." He shifts his gaze, peering at you with saddened eyes.

Guilt washes over you immediately. "But why?" You ask.