Fate.
If someone had said that word to him before, Luke would’ve scoffed at the notion of a villain and a protagonist being bound by destiny. But now, it was different. His stomach churned, and his skin flushed, just like that time he’d overindulged in drinks thanks to Woods.
“Luke?”
When Luke stayed silent, his head bowed low, Theo studied him, concern flickering in his gaze.
“You, of all people, told me not to mess with your emotions. So, what’s this all about?” Theo asked, tilting his head slightly.
Luke vividly recalled Theo’s words from their conversation in the study, every syllable etched into his memory. That trembling voice admitting uncertainty about how to act, the firm arms that had wrapped around his waist, the mere inches separating them, and the warm breath so close to his skin. That night, Luke had barely slept.
And since their reunion after his retirement, it had been a barrage of “cute,” “you look good,” and even head pats. One or two odd moments could have been dismissed as Theo acting strangely. But now that Theo had uttered something as direct as “fate,” all those previous gestures suddenly carried a weight he couldn’t ignore.
Once he started noticing, everything felt off. Theo’s changed gaze, that voice claiming fate—it all felt too much like a confession, no matter how impossible it seemed.
“Hmm?”
Theo’s curious voice broke through Luke’s thoughts. His tone wasn’t mocking, but it wasn’t neutral either, and it only served to irritate Luke further.
“Luke, did I say something wrong?”
“I don’t know. I’m leaving. I’ll get my identification papers from Sion,” Luke snapped, pushing back his chair as he stood.
“Luke.”
Theo reached out and grabbed Luke’s hand before he could storm off. Luke froze. Something was definitely wrong. Once, this touch wouldn’t have fazed him, but now it did—precisely because it didn’t feel casual.
“If I’ve done something to upset you, tell me. Why are you angry?” Theo’s voice softened, his brow furrowed in genuine concern. His gaze carried a quiet worry, and his lips, tightly pressed together, hinted at the unease he rarely displayed.
Why did he suddenly look like a rain-soaked puppy left abandoned by the roadside? And why, Luke wondered, was he even noticing this at all?
With a frustrated sigh, Luke buried his face in his hand.
“Luke.”
“...I don’t know. You’re the problem,” Luke muttered, turning his head sharply.
Taking advantage of Theo’s momentary loosening grip, Luke strode across the room, throwing open the door with force.
Several soldiers, leaning against the hallway wall, jumped in surprise, nearly stumbling over themselves as they straightened up. Luke’s glare fell on them, and they hurriedly avoided his eyes, coughing awkwardly.
“What were you doing here?”
“Well, um...”
“Don’t tell me you were eavesdropping. On a meeting between commanders, no less?”
Their reactions left no doubt—they’d been caught listening in. Eavesdropping on a commander-level meeting was a blatant violation of protocol, and given the sensitivity of today’s discussions, Luke had every right to be upset.
“N-no, sir! Absolutely not! It’s just that... Captain Roena and Captain Leo instructed us to keep an eye on things. They told us to report immediately if we heard any loud noises or signs of conflict...”
“Instructed you?”
Now that he looked closer, the soldiers bore the insignias of the 1st and 7th Divisions.
“Yes, sir. The captains said to make sure nothing escalated inside and to report back if it did.”
The soldiers’ frantic explanations made it clear they didn’t want to be mistaken for spies. Luke could easily guess why Roena and Leo had given such orders—they were still thinking about his and Theo’s past dynamic.
Back then, the two of them couldn’t even meet without sharp words and rising tensions. Rivalry defined their relationship. And earlier, after seeing Theo pat Luke’s head, Leo had clearly misinterpreted the scene.
“You didn’t happen to overhear anything I said with the commander, did you?”
“N-no, sir! We didn’t hear the conversation! The door is thick, so...”
Of course. There was no way their conversation could have carried through the heavy doors. For the first time in his life, Luke felt grateful for such a well-built door. If it had been thinner, the soldiers might have overheard Theo saying things like “fate.”
The soldiers, watching Luke closely, seemed convinced a fierce argument had taken place inside.
“For the record, I didn’t fight with the commander. We were just talking about work. Relay that to your captains. And what about you? Do you plan to waste more time standing around here? Isn’t it peak training time before lunch? Or are you just using orders as an excuse to slack off?”
“N-no, sir! We’re sorry, sir!”
The soldiers, though not technically under his command, apologized profusely out of habit, likely because many of them had worked with Luke for years.
“Well, then, get moving!”
“Yes, sir!”
Luke watched as they scurried off, nearly tripping over themselves in their haste.
He sighed deeply. The soldiers’ behavior made sense, given his and Theo’s infamous history. When Theo had been captain of the 1st Division and Luke of the special unit, their animosity had been so apparent that everyone had known about it.
But now, things felt... different. Working alongside Theo during the Calum investigation had gradually eroded the walls Luke had built. He had even begun to entertain the idea of maintaining a cordial relationship with Theo—not necessarily friendship, but something less hostile.
Yet Theo’s recent inexplicable actions left everything murky. What had seemed like a possible path toward a better relationship now felt uncertain.
Theo’s use of the word “fate” in the meeting earlier suddenly came to mind, stirring a strange mix of emotions in Luke. But one thing was clear—whatever this feeling was, it wasn’t entirely negative.
“What the hell...”
Luke muttered, ruffling his hair in frustration as he walked down the corridor. How was he supposed to define his relationship with Theo? Former colleagues? Reconciled rivals? Allies working toward a common goal?
None of those answers felt satisfying.
For someone who had once considered guiding Theo to the position of supreme commander his life’s sole purpose, these emotions felt like an unsolvable puzzle.
***
"Ah, Commander. Luke just came by and picked up his identification papers."
"I see."
Theo nodded as he stepped into the commander’s office.
Since Luke had officially retired from the military, he needed proper identification and credentials to freely enter and exit headquarters. As an advisor for the investigation, Luke required documents bearing the commander-in-chief’s seal, which he would then submit to the administrative division to complete the remaining formalities.
"He mentioned he could manage the trip to the administrative division on his own, so I didn’t accompany him."
"That sounds like Luke."
Even if someone had offered to go with him, Luke would’ve surely said:
"I know where the administrative division is. I can handle it myself. I don’t want to disrupt your work."
"Did he say something about not wanting to be a bother?"
"Excuse me? Oh, yes, he mentioned he didn’t want to inconvenience anyone..."
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Theo let out a faint chuckle, causing Sion to flinch. Although he hadn’t served as Theo’s aide for long, it was the first time he had seen the commander smile so casually. Between Luke’s sudden return to the military and Theo’s unusually lighthearted demeanor toward him, today had been full of surprises. Sion was barely keeping his own reactions in check.
"Sion, when Leo submits the list of selected personnel for the task force, prepare the organizational paperwork right away. I plan to finish as much of the backlog as possible today, so unless it’s urgent, I’ll be staying in my office."
"Understood, Commander."
With the Welharun case bound to demand much of their attention moving forward, Theo wanted to clear as many pending tasks as possible. As he grasped the doorknob to his office, Luke’s words from earlier came to mind.
"...Sion."
"Yes, Commander? Is there anything else you’d like to instruct?"
"Not exactly. Just a question. Objectively speaking, how do you see me?"
"...Pardon?"
"Do you think there’s something wrong with how I appear? Outwardly, I mean."
"W-what? Of course not!"
Sion vehemently shook his head, even raising his hands as if to physically dismiss the notion. As much as this response was born out of professional etiquette, it was also an undeniable truth. Objectively, criticizing Theo’s appearance would be absurd.
When Theo had been appointed, some newspapers had even dubbed him "the youngest and most handsome commander-in-chief."
"I see. So, my appearance isn’t the issue..."
"Excuse me?"
"Never mind. Carry on with your work."
Leaving a thoroughly bewildered Sion behind, Theo entered his office with an unbothered air, leaving the aide wondering what exactly had prompted such an unusual line of questioning.