The dimly lit room echoed with the aftermath of the battle. Silhouette lay defeated, but the air between Alyn and Ryan crackled with an unspoken tension. Alyn winced as she sat on Silhouette's large couch adjusted her injured leg, avoiding Ryan's gaze. The truth lingered, exposed yet untouched.
Ryan, still clad in the Dark Knight's armor, approached Alyn cautiously. "Seriously though, Queen, what happened back there? You called me Ryan. How do you know?"
Alyn hesitated, her violet eyes avoiding his intense gaze. "It slipped out, Knight. Don't read too much into it."
"Slipped out? We've been partners, allies, and you've never slipped once. What's going on?" Ryan's voice edged with frustration and confusion.
She sighed, realizing that the carefully constructed walls between them were crumbling. "Ryan, we go way back. There are things you don't know, things I've kept hidden."
His brows furrowed beneath the mask. "Way back? How far?"
"Childhood friends, Ryan. Before the war tore everything apart." Alyn's admission hung heavy in the air, revealing a layer of their history that had been buried beneath the veneer of secrecy.
Ryan took a step back, absorbing the revelation. "Childhood friends... but why keep it a secret?"
"Because we chose different paths. Because the world we live in demands secrets and masks." Alyn's gaze met his, a mixture of vulnerability and determination in her eyes.
Ryan removed his mask, revealing the face behind the Dark Knight. "Queen, or whatever your real name is, we need to talk about this."
As the masks fell away, so did the barriers that had kept them apart. The room held echoes of a shared past, and the unfolding conversation promised to unravel the secrets that bound the Crimson Queen and the Dark Knight.
"First of all, are you... who I think you are?"
"If you think I'm Alyn Winters... you're right. I'm really sorry about this, Knight."
"No, it's my fault. I guess I told you too much about yourself, huh?"
"Maybe... I don't know why you did though. We barely know each other, when you think about it."
"Then... I'd like to start now... if you're ready." Ryan said, cheeks beginning to turn red, offering his arm for a handshake.
"I wish... but this war is still going on. We still have to fight."
"But haven't you at least once thought about what it would be like to live a peaceful civilian life?"
"I guess not... I honestly love the thrill of this action we face every day. But it would be nice to have peace in the world..." Alyn replied, meeting his gaze.
"Then let's work for it, Alyn. Now that we both know about each other, this will actually be beneficial, in a way. We can finally not have to worry about those masks." Ryan chirped, cheeks heating up by the minute. "We could be just Alyn and Ryan again. Isn't that great?!"
"I'm afraid the bubbly little girl you once knew died as soon as the war began..." she whispered coldly, softly.
"She simply grew. Into the tech-savvy, smart lady I'm honored to work with."
"Thanks but... you know what? Let's just get out of here. You have your disguise, right?" Alyn said, torn between priorities, regretting her slip of tongue immediately.
ns 15.158.61.7da2
