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That got a reaction.

“Ah. There it is.”

Omnis exhaled, his breath ragged. “Not yet.”

Zero lifted a brow. “Well, that’s new.”

Omnis turned, shoulders tense. “I will handle it.”

Zero scoffed, shaking his head. “Isthatso,” he said, flatly.

Omnis looked right at him. And just watched him.

“I’m not sitting this one out,” Zero informed, angling his head.

“You’renotstable.”

Zero’s eyes glinted on him. “Andneitherare you.”

Omnis paced. Another brandnewdevelopment.

Zero pushed up from his seat, joining him before stopping in front of him. “So tell me—what exactly happened in there?”

Omnis continued pacing. Maybe faster.

Zero let the silence stretch. “You played Ethan.” He tapped his temple. “You became him.”

Omnis exhaled sharply, a thread of frustration breaking through. “It was necessary.”

“Yeah?” Zero tilted his head. “And then what?”

Omnis clenched his jaw.

Zero shook his head at him, ready to hold his head in the fucking toilet till he confessed. “Andthenshe said it.”

The control room suddenly felt smaller.

Omnis was back at the desk, fingers curled around the metal.

“Come on…brother,” Zero decided to beg nicely. “Whatdid that feel like?”

Omnis exhaled, slow. Controlled. Too controlled. “It was… anerror.”

Zero laughed. “Bullshit.”

Omnis’ slammed his fist into the console and spun to him. “I WANTED TO KILL HIM!”

The words hung in the air, vibrating between them.

Zero’s smirk was a fucking fellowship of murder. “I fuckingknow.”

Omnis exhaled hard, like the force of admitting it was worse than the feeling itself. Like it shouldn’t be possible. Like he was glitching out just saying it.

Zero circled him now, slow. Calculating. “You think I don’t get it?” he murmured. He stopped at his shoulder. “For the first time, you wanted her to beyours. Nothis.Yours.”

Omnis’ breathing was rougher. Heavier.

Zero leaned in, darkness lowering his voice. “Tell me I’m wrong.” Omnis didn’t answer and Zero let the silence linger. “You think you can fix this?”