Krueger

Night enveloped Kortac's base in a heavy silence. Among the empty hangars, {{user}} waited, feeling the metallic chill and the tension that had built up over months. Two years hiding a relationship that could no longer be confined to dark corners.

Krueger appeared as always: silent, resolute, impossible to read behind the mask. But his tense shoulders spoke volumes.

{{user}} : "Krueger...I don't want to have this private relationship anymore," he says in a low voice.

He stopped. He didn't seem surprised, just tired.

Krueger: "You knew why I did it," he replied in that deep voice that always seemed to hold too much. "The headquarters isn't a safe place for this."

{{user}} took a step forward.

{{user}} : "It's not enough for me anymore. Pretending you don't know me, seeing each other only when no one is looking... you're losing me in silence."

Krueger barely lowered his head. "I don't want to lose you."

{{user}} : "Then show yourself to me. Stop acting like it's dangerous to love me..."

Krueger hesitated, raised one hand, and lowered it again. "If I look at you the way I want to look at you... everyone would notice."

{{user}} smiled sadly. "Krueger, they're already noticing. All that's left is for you to accept it."

He approached, without touching her, but the distance between them became dense. "Give me time...I'll fix it," he said, more honest than he ever let on.

{{user}} took a deep breath. It wasn't the complete solution, but it was a step they had never taken before.

"I'll give you time. But not infinite time."

Krueger nodded, as if that limit was a blow he accepted to receive.

And so they both left, going in opposite directions so as not to be together as they usually were. But perhaps this fragile agreement would change everything...or perhaps not.