"What?!" Freya and Rhea exclaid in unison, their voices bouncing off the Haven’s walls.
Freya’s blue eyes widened, a chuckle escaping her lips as she leaned back, her cyan t-shirt creasing. "So, you were working with one of the Haunter Twins this whole ti and never realized? That’s... ironic, Kael."
Rhea’s amber eyes blazed, her ruby necklace swinging as she slamd her fork down, crumbs scattering.
"Wait. Don’t tell you’re gonna forgive her just because you’re, what, acquaintances?" Her voice dripped with disbelief, her black tank top straining as she leaned forward.
Kael’s hazel eyes glinted with a mix of amusent and caution. "She also made those chocolate puddings you love, Rhea. You know, despite being a receptionist."
Rhea’s jaw dropped, her amber eyes narrowing.
"So what? I’ll get the recipe before I kill her," she snapped, crossing her arms, her tone half-serious, half-teasing, though the fire in her gaze was real.
Freya tilted her head she studied Kael. "Hold up. Is that really why you want to rehab the twins? Because of pudding and small talk?" Her voice was calm, but her blue eyes were sharp, probing for the truth.
Kael shook his head, his grin fading as he leaned forward, elbows on the table. "No. It’s more than that. Let finish what happened in the sewers."
_________
"Lila!? You’re one of the Haunter Twins? Are you really the real Lila? Who even are you?" Kael’s voice was sharp, a mix of shock and disbelief, his calm exterior fraying as he faced the woman in the shadowy sewer tunnel, his SMG still raised, its silencer gleaming under his torch’s beam.
"Yes, Kael, my real na is Lila, and I’m the sa Lila you knew," she said, her voice calm, steady, cutting through the sewer’s damp hum, even as Kael’s pulse raced.
"What do you want from , Lila?" he demanded, his hazel eyes narrowing. "Wait—don’t tell you’re still after Rhea. Stay away from her. Whatever grudge you’ve got, I’ll help you settle it. She’s changed, Lila. Don’t touch her." His voice carried a desperate edge, his protectiveness for Rhea raw and unguarded.
Lila shook her head, stepping closer, her shadowy black gown rippling like liquid darkness.
Kael’s gun snapped up aiming at her, and she froze, raising her hands. "I don’t want Rhea, Kael. I don’t want to harm you. I just need your help."
"Help? With what?" Kael asked, his tone laced with skepticism, his torch steady on her obscured face. "What does an upper A-rank supervillain, who can even walk around unrecognized in public, want from soone like ?" His words were biting, probing for her true intentions.
"I showed you my face to prove that I’m not hostile," Lila said, her voice earnest. "I want your trust, Kael."
Kael’s jaw tightened, still unsure if it was truly her face, but he lowered his gun slightly, choosing to hear her out.
"Okay. Go on."
Lila’s voice softened, a tremor of desperation creeping in. "I need help fixing my twin sister, Tila. She’s... out of control, Kael. She’s hostile to everyone, everything. There’s so much darkness in her, so much of hate and anger that I don’t understand. She’s stronger than , and I can’t stop her, no matter how hard I try. I want you to help her, stop her."
Kael’s brow furrowed, his hazel eyes searching the shadows for any sign of deceit.
"Fix her? Why not turn her in? Let the superheroes handle her."
Lila’s voice cracked, her shadowy form tensing. "She’s my twin sister. I can’t betray her. I love her, Kael, despite everything."
"Then why ?" Kael pressed, his voice hard. "Why co to ?"
"You run the Haven," Lila said, her tone steadying. "You rehabilitate villains. I want to admit Tila there."
Kael’s eyes widened, his grip on the gun tightening. "How do you know about the Haven?"
Lila’s shadowy face softened, a faint smile forming. "I got curious after you left the massage parlor saying you got a side inco with better pay. So, I followed you, saw the Haven, saw how you changed Fla Warden and Ice Queen, to Rhea and Freya. I believe you can do the sa for Tila."
"Why should I?" Kael shot back, his voice rising. "You and Tila tried to kill Rhea. I don’t want either of you near my team."
"Kael, please," Lila said, her voice breaking. "That day, Rhea could’ve ended up broken like her other three teammates. I saved her. That’s why she walked away with just a gash and so scars. Check the CCTV feed if you don’t believe . I’ve never hurt anyone on purpose. It’s Tila’s actions, and I’ve been cleaning up her sses as much as I can, but it’s so hard."
Kael’s jaw clenched, his mind racing as he weighed her words. "You’re saying you spared Rhea?"
"Yes," Lila said, her voice pleading. "I’m begging you, Kael. You’re the only one who can help Tila. I can pay you—whatever you want—or I could threaten your team, hold their lives as leverage, but I don’t want to. I want to trust you."
Kael’s eyes flashed, his voice cold. "My team would end you before you touched them. They’re stronger now, Lila."
"I know,, I am sorry, I am just desperate" Lila said, her tone earnest. "I don’t want to fight. I’ll pay, Kael. Tila could be an asset to REAPER. Just give her a chance."
Kael shook his head, his gun still raised. "You hurt Rhea. I can’t just let that go."
"Kael, please," Lila whispered, her shadowy form trembling. "You have my number. Think about it."
Footsteps echoed nearby, Clara’s voice echoed, "Kael?"
Lila vanished into the shadows, leaving only the sewer’s hum. Her shadows disappeared along with her.
"Kael?" Clara called again, her green eyes wide with concern as she appeared behind him.
"Yeah?" He turned, his hazel eyes eting hers, a flicker of confusion in them. "Where were you, Clara?"
"Got... distracted," Clara said, her tone playful.
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