Kai and Crimson – Side by Side in Battle
The battlefield roared with chaos—gunfire echoed, metal clashed, and smoke billowed into the sky. Kai and Crimson fought back to back, a blur of fists, kicks, and coordinated strikes. Every movement flowed as if they were two halves of the same whole, reading each other without words.
Kai ducked under a punch and retaliated with a knee to an enemy's gut. "You keeping up?" he called out, breathless but grinning.
Crimson cracked a smile, slamming his elbow into another opponent's face. "Please—I'm carrying us."
They shared a quick laugh before focusing again, dropping enemy after enemy. But the wave seemed endless—more soldiers poured in, surrounding them.
Kai glanced at Crimson, their breathing heavy. "There's too many."
"Yeah, noticed that," Crimson replied, eyes scanning the swarm. "Split up?"
Kai nodded. "I'll pull a group away—bait them to an open area."
Crimson smirked. "And I'll stay here... y'know, 'protect' my favorite pizza place. Priorities."
"Of course," Kai chuckled. "Don't let them mess with your ranch pizza."
With a final fist bump, they separated. Kai darted away, calling out to draw a large group of enemies. Crimson stayed, standing tall amid the chaos. "Alright, boys," he muttered, cracking his knuckles. "You picked the wrong day to mess with my lunch."
Crimson's Stand – Jokes and Fury
Enemies rushed him, but Crimson grinned. "Line up, I'll autograph your defeat!" He sidestepped a swing, landed a clean uppercut, and spun to kick another enemy square in the chest. "Bet none of you even like ranch pizza!" he shouted.
His movements were fluid—brutal yet graceful. A soldier lunged with a blade, but Crimson caught the wrist and twisted, flipping the attacker over his shoulder. "That all you got? I've fought tougher guys in line for coffee!"
He laughed, adrenaline pumping. A punch grazed his cheek. Crimson wiped the blood and grinned wider. "Oh-ho! You drew first blood! Bad move."
Within minutes, bodies lay sprawled around him, groaning or unconscious. Crimson exhaled, stretching. "And that's how you defend a pizza joint."
But the air shifted—colder. He turned—and froze.
Lathan stood across from him, a slow clap echoing through the street. "Impressive. Really. I almost didn't want to interrupt your... comedy show."
Crimson's grin didn't falter. "Hey, I'm still the funniest guy here—even against myself."
Lathan chuckled—and then his form shimmered. Skin rippled, features twisted until Crimson stared at a perfect mirror image of himself.
"See?" Lathan—now Crimson—smirked. "Guess I'm the funny one now."
Crimson tilted his head. "Damn. Never realized how good-looking I am."
Lathan grinned. "Ready to punch yourself in the face?"
"Been waiting for this moment my whole life."
They clashed. Punch met punch, kick met kick—mirror images trading blows in a blur. Both grew stronger with each hit, their shared ability fueling the fight. Bruises formed, cuts bled, but neither relented.
Breathless, Lathan smirked. "How'd you get this power, anyway?"
Crimson hesitated, throwing a punch that Lathan barely dodged. "Found out the hard way. Years back—I was just a street kid, picking fights I couldn't win. One night, got jumped by a gang—six guys, steel pipes, the works. They beat me within an inch of my life... but something weird happened. Every hit made me feel stronger, clearer. Pain fueled me instead of stopping me. I got back up—and I didn't stop until they did. Doctors said it was some genetic anomaly—but I call it luck mixed with a lot of stubbornness. Turns out, I just hit the genetic lottery."
Lathan chuckled, ducking a swing. "Lucky you."
Crimson grinned. "Nah. Just stubborn."
Their fists collided again—shockwaves rippling through the air. Dust kicked up around them, obscuring sight but not the sound of fists meeting flesh.
Then, in a sudden shift, Lathan dove, grabbing a long knife from the debris. He feinted left, Crimson reacted—too late. The blade pierced Crimson's chest, angling toward his heart.
Pain exploded through him. Crimson gasped, blood bubbling from his lips. "Son of a..."
Lathan twisted the knife. "That's the difference between us—I finish what I start."
Crimson's vision blurred—but fire burned brighter inside him. He gripped two metal poles nearby, adrenaline surging. With a roar, he hurled them. One pole drove into Lathan's shoulder; the other—deadly precise—slammed into Lathan's chest.
Lathan staggered, eyes wide. "What...?"
Pain worse than death tore through him. He dropped to a knee, breathing ragged. Then completely fell.
Crimson collapsed, still breathing but barely. The knife sank deeper with every heartbeat.
Minutes later—Kai arrived.
He skidded to a stop, eyes darting between two Crimsons. One dead. One alive—barely.
"Crimson!" Kai rushed to him, kneeling. "You're the real one—my best friend never loses."
Crimson chuckled weakly. "Damn right... I don't." He coughed, blood staining his lips. "Hey... listen..."
Kai gripped his hand. "Don't—don't do the goodbye speech, man."
"I have to." Crimson's voice softened. "I... got a family, Kai. Wife. Daughter. Kept it secret—to keep them safe."
Kai's eyes widened. "Crimson—why didn't you—"
"Didn't matter... till now. My girl—her seventh birthday... I got her a black cat. She named it Whiskers." His breath hitched. "I need you... give her the cat. Tell her... daddy loves her. Always did."
Kai's throat tightened. "Crimson—"
"One more thing," Crimson smiled faintly. "Take care... of them. Be there for them. You're good at being annoying—put that to use."
Kai laughed through tears. "You idiot."
Crimson's hand trembled. The knife slid deeper. "Thanks... for being... my bestest buddy..." He winked. "And... tell Kazuki... ranch pizza's better..."
His grip loosened.
Then—still smiling—he was gone.
Kai sat there, holding his best friend's body. No tears fell—just pride. Crimson had fought for them—for family—for everything. He whispered, "Rest easy... hero."
Back at the Base – A Shocking Return
Hours later, the heavy doors of Emjay's base creaked open. Kai stepped through, carrying Crimson's body in his arms. His face was unreadable—no grief, no anger—just a calm that sent a chill through everyone watching. Conversations stopped, the room falling into stunned silence.
Nami gasped, her hand covering her mouth. Kazuki's eyes widened, and Leon froze mid-step. Emjay's gaze hardened, but even he felt the air shift—this wasn't just mourning; this was something deeper.
Kai gently laid Crimson on a table. Bloodstains marked his uniform, his face peaceful in death. For a long beat, no one spoke.
Finally, Kai broke the silence. "We bury him today," he said, voice low. "Before he decides to bury us instead."
A stunned pause—then, despite the weight in the room, a few chuckles broke through the sorrow. Kai's words weren't just a joke—they were a tribute. Crimson's spirit lived on in that humor, in that defiance against grief.
Emjay nodded. "Prepare everything. No delays."
The team moved, hearts heavy but united—ready to honor a fallen brother.