The house was quiet as Sophie headed off to her daily training, the door clicking shut behind her. Alex Jr. watched from the corner of his eye, his small hands clutching the edge of the dining table. He waited, counting the seconds until her footsteps faded completely into the distance.
When he was sure she was gone, Alex turned on his heel and made his way toward the study. His sneakers barely made a sound on the polished wooden floor. The boy who had been all smiles and warmth in Sophie's presence now wore a cold, calculating expression, one that no ten-year-old should ever possess.
The door to the study was slightly ajar. Inside, Peter was hunched over a stack of papers, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose. Steve sat slouched on the couch, fiddling with a pocket knife, while Leo stood by the window, arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on the yard outside.
Alex pushed the door open, stepping inside with a confidence that startled all three men.
"Alex?" Peter asked, his voice tinged with surprise. "What are you doing here? Sophie just left. Shouldn't you be—"
"She doesn't know I'm here," Alex interrupted, his voice cold and steady. He stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him. "And I don't want her to know."
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Peter straightened in his chair, setting his papers aside. Steve raised an eyebrow, his grip tightening slightly on the knife, while Leo turned away from the window to give Alex his full attention.
"What's this about, kid?" Steve asked, his tone casual but laced with curiosity. "You sneaking around like this feels… off."
Alex didn't flinch. His gaze swept over the three men, each of them seasoned, dangerous, and entirely unprepared for what was about to happen.
"I want to join the organization," Alex said, his voice void of hesitation.
For a moment, none of them spoke. The silence was heavy, punctuated only by the faint creak of Leo shifting his stance. Then Peter broke it with a disbelieving laugh, shaking his head.
"Alex," he began gently, as though addressing a child asking for candy before dinner, "you don't know what you're saying. This isn't something for kids."
"I'm not a kid," Alex shot back, his voice sharp as a blade. "Not anymore."
The sheer coldness in his tone froze the room. Steve sat up straighter, his usual smirk replaced with a more serious expression. Leo's eyes narrowed, studying Alex as though trying to figure out if the boy was playing some kind of elaborate trick.
"You've got some guts, I'll give you that," Steve said, his voice low. "But joining the organization? That's not a game, Alex. You don't get to just—"
"I'm not asking for permission," Alex interrupted, his voice cutting through Steve's like a whip. He turned to Peter, his small hands curling into fists at his sides. "I want to train. Secretly. Sophie can't know."
Peter's brows furrowed, his usual calm demeanor cracking just slightly. "This is insane, Alex. Do you understand what you're even asking for? The organization isn't—"
"I know what it is," Alex snapped, his eyes darkening. "I know what Sophie's fighting for. I know why you're all here. And I know what's coming. Sophie's doing everything she can to protect me, to protect everyone she loves. But who's protecting her?"
Peter opened his mouth to reply, but Alex pressed on, his voice growing sharper with every word. "She's breaking herself apart trying to keep me safe. She's fighting a battle that isn't hers to fight alone. And you're letting her."
Steve let out a low whistle, leaning back against the couch. "You're full of surprises, kid. Didn't think you had this side to you."
"Neither did I," Leo muttered, his sharp gaze fixed on Alex. "But this isn't about whether you're brave or smart. You're ten. You don't belong in this world. Not yet."
Alex turned his icy stare to Leo, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "You think I don't belong? I've been in this fight since the day they took my parents. Since the day Sophie had to step up and become everything I lost. I may be ten, but I'm not a child. Not anymore."
The room fell silent again, the weight of Alex's words settling heavily on the trio. Peter rubbed his temples, frustration etched into his features. "Alex, listen to me. This isn't a life you want. It's dangerous, brutal. It takes everything from you."
"It already has," Alex said softly, his voice like ice cracking beneath the weight of his grief. "Everything except Sophie. And I won't let her go, too."
Steve exchanged a wary glance with Leo, then shrugged. "Kid's got a point. If he's serious, maybe we—"
"No," Peter cut in, his tone firm. "This isn't up for discussion. Sophie would never forgive us if we dragged him into this."
"She doesn't have to know," Alex said, his gaze unwavering. "Train me. Prepare me. I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. But Sophie can't know. Not yet."
Leo sighed, his eyes narrowing as he studied Alex. "You understand what you're asking for, right? If we train you, there's no turning back. You'll lose more than you can imagine."
"I've already lost everything," Alex replied, his voice quiet but filled with an unshakable resolve. "I don't care what it costs me. If it means keeping her safe, I'll pay it."
Peter's shoulders sagged, the weight of the decision pressing heavily on him. He exchanged a long look with Leo and Steve, both of whom seemed equally torn. Finally, Peter turned back to Alex, his expression a mixture of frustration and reluctant respect.
"If we agree to this," Peter said slowly, "it's on our terms. You follow every rule, no questions, no arguments. You mess up, it ends immediately. And Sophie can never find out. Are we clear?"
Alex nodded, his expression unyielding. "Crystal."
Steve let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You're one scary little guy, you know that? Talking like a kid straight out of the underworld."
"I don't have the luxury of being a kid anymore," Alex said simply.
The room fell silent once more as the trio stared at him, their disbelief and unease mingling with a newfound respect. Finally, Leo spoke, his voice low and serious.
"Fine," he said. "We'll start tomorrow. But don't think for a second that this will be easy. You're walking a dangerous path, Alex. One that might destroy you."
Alex's gaze didn't waver. "I know. And I'm ready."
As he turned and walked out of the room, the three men exchanged uneasy glances. None of them had expected this, least of all from a boy they had dismissed as too young, too innocent for the harsh realities of their world.
But as Alex disappeared down the hallway, his small figure shadowed by the enormity of the choice he had made, they couldn't shake the feeling that they had just unleashed something they couldn't control. Something extraordinary—and terrifying.