The Algebandits (XFOHV spy AU)

Chapter 4: Three subtracted from One

One's mind stares at Three's corpse in disbelief, his head impaled with the grappling hook as he continues to bleed out. Her mind switches to the memories they've had, one of them less than a year ago, the day One needed help training her powers...

One and Three are on the couch in Three's house, One taking deep breaths and Three with a hand on her back.

"Don't worry, you'll get control of your powers soon. Don't pressure yourself too much, it'll only make it harder.." Three looks at One with a soft smile, trying to comfort her as best as he can.

"I-I can't..I'll never be able to learn.." One looks at her feet and sighs, Three continues to try to reassure her. "Yes you will. I'll be with you every step of the way. I promise..."

In attempt to comfort her more, Three moves his hand from her back to her waist to pull her into a side hug, but One flinches from the sudden movement and jumps a bit, her power loses control and she accidentally blasts Three in his right eye with an indigo glow. Three winces and covers his eye with his hands, One starts to panic.

"I'M SO SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO, ARE YOU OKAY?!? PLEASE DON'T HATE ME-"

Three uses one hand to cover his eye and the other to place on One's cheek (or side of the face), smiling once again. "It's okay, you couldn't control it. That was on me...and don't worry, I'm okay. See?"

Three uncovers his eye, which is half closed, but it's now a blue color. His sclera is periwinkle and his pupil is sky blue, tinted from One's power. Though in pain, he continues to look into One's eyes longingly.

One looks a bit worried. "A-Are you sure it doesn't hurt..?" "Just a little sting, it's okay. And if you think about it, now I have a part of you in me. Friends forever." Three pulls out a fabric similar to the color of his salmon skin and ties it on One's head. "Now you have a part of me too.."

Three pulls One in a side hug, One smiles as they both close their eyes. "I'll always be here to watch you advance.." Three opens his eyes for a few seconds to stare at One lovingly, before closing his eyes again and pulling her in closer.

One's flashback ends once she hears Zero talking to someone. She turns around to see him talking to Five, who's just arrived at the scene.

"Not only did they steal the emerald, but those darn Algebandits murdered an innocent pedestrian along the way.." Five goes to inspect his body, he speaks again after a couple of moments. "He was close to death anyway, his right eye looks infected and swollen, and kinda like it was burning.."

One looks guilty, but acts tough. "This just got personal. I'll get those bandits if it kills me..." One walks away. Zero looks at Five and shrugs.

As Five is searching through Three's jacket pockets, he and Zero find something interesting. They look at each other in slight surprise and Five puts it in his pocket. They then follow One back to the station to report the body...