It’s not because she has powers or something

like that. It’s because she’s a hunter that we

should worry about her.

-Pull N Push, from the Californian Sector

The chirping of birds intertwined in a melodic way with the sounds of the city. The grinding sound of tires and the bubbly conversations not too far away acted as the base while the feathery animals lent their voices for them to become the melody.

Lightly gracing his face was the wind, also reminding him of the coming Winter and the subsequent tiny drop in temperature that it would mean. His long hair flowed with nature’s breath, copying the movement that the blades of grass below him were so accustomed to.

Ludwig was sitting on a bench, in the center of the pedestrian designated area of an avenue whilst the two roads, one in front of him and the other behind him, hoarded the corresponding amount of cars for what was the end of another day of work. He watched as the many people walked on the cobbled street surrounded by a calming amount of greenery.

Despite being cloudy and the constant threat of rain throughout the day, the weather was calm and comforting. It would have been nice to take a break and relax.

(Unbelievable,) Ludwig thought. (I’m amazed he could reach such a level of arrogance.)

Unfortunately, he didn’t allow himself for such a moment.

(I already knew what to expect from someone whose only reason to be a vigilante was to get a girl’s attention. Yet it still shocks me.)

(Mmh…) Wagner reverberated, his vibrations curiously accompanying the chirping of birds in a melodic manner. (Your interactions with Luke also fascinate me.)

(Really?)

Wagner’s response was surprising, not because of what it meant, but because it had chosen to respond with that instead of worrying about his mental state.

(How so?) Ludwig asked.

(I just find this level of social interaction… Intriguing.)

(What part of it? That I don’t like another person?)

(No, not that. I find it interesting that you try not to project any emotion while talking to Luke, to make it seem like you don’t care about him. Yet the level of difficulty that this task holds you is so intense that you have to try your hardest in order to succeed.)

(I don’t… What?)

(Maybe my explanation was too obtuse. I find it interesting that you care so much about not making someone know you care about them.)

(I think you’re getting concepts mixed up, Wagner. I threatened to kill him. I wouldn’t call that caring for someone,) Ludwig explained, thankful that he was having this conversation in his head.

(So… If, let’s say, someone were to kill him? Would you not have any emotions regarding that event?)

(I would probably be relieved.)

Wouldn’t that be a big help?

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(Then you do care,) Wagner insisted.

(Well, if you say it in that way, I guess, yeah,) Ludwig conceded. (But I don’t look out for them, nor do I want to. I try to be as cold as possible because I want him to believe he’s insignificant to me. I don’t think you’ve experienced that, but it’s basically pretty hurtful. Especially if it's coming from someone you want to spend more time with.)

(...Does that mean that… The attitude you’re using is supposed to be… Some kind of emotional weapon?)

(I… Guess you can call it that.)

(But… Why would you want to use it against Luke?)

(Wagner, are you kidding right now?)

(I do not find myself qualified enough to ask in a ‘kidding’ manner. So, no.)

(He beat me up,) Ludwig reminded it.

(Just like you did to Luke,) Wagner pointed out.

(He came to my house and, by the way, I still have no idea how he found my direction, but not only that, he also forced me to teach him and refused any no for an answer. That should at least count as some form of harassment.)

(If he was trying to harass you, I find it incoherent that he would stop every interaction with you for a few days, just as you had asked. And if we are pointing out crimes, you assaulted him first.)

(Why are you defending him?) Ludwig asked, genuinely confused and offended.

(I am not. I’m trying to understand you, but the positive interactions with Luke far outshine the negative ones.)

Ludwig almost burst laughing due to the sheer ridiculousness of what Wagner had said.

(Really?! How so?!)

(He has given considerable contributions to our goal of extermination. He offered himself and his power set, which could be the alternative of much more expensive or complicated methods that we needed.)

(You’re just trying to frame his persistence in another light, but that comes with himself forcing us to teach him.)

(It still is an advantage for us.)

(That doesn’t compensate for the horrible experiences, Wagner.)

(He also took you away from a crime scene where you were the culprit, Ludwig.)

(That…)

That…

(It doesn’t matter,) Ludwig thought. (He’s making me constantly angry and that affects my emotional health, doesn’t it?

Wagner vibrated in a way that seemed to emanate… Annoyance?

(I think you are getting concepts mixed up,) Wagner retorted.

(What do you mean?)

(How useful can a weapon be if you end up more hurt than your opponent while using it?)

(How am I…?)

(You try to disguise your real emotions, and that frustrates you. You are more stressed, more angry, and more uncomfortable than before because of it. You’re undermining the little progress we’ve been able to make towards emotional healthiness. So, even If I don’t understand why you attack Luke so much, please, stop,) Wagner pleaded.

The sound of thunder trembled in the skies. A moment of silence came after the rumbling in the clouds, but no drop of water fell to the ground. Light flickered into Ludwig’s eye, making him flinch and to put a hand forward to stop the rays of light.

“I’ll stop,” Ludwig finally said.

(Thank you,) Wagner thrummed.

Ludwig wasn’t saying it to satisfy Wagner, and it hadn’t taken a lot of reflection to ask himself a simple question. Was it worth it to hurt someone if you're hurting yourself as well? Even more than the other person?

No. Or at least not with Luke.

He would stop hiding his emotions. Ludwig knew he couldn’t keep repressing them forever, yet he had valued the pain caused to Luke in a higher regard than his own. And he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t do that to his sister.

Ludwig would stop hiding his emotions, because he wanted to express them, he wanted to voice his anger. Because maybe that would alleviate him.

Would killing her do the same thing?

(Would it make it possible for the anger, for the burning sensation to go away?)

(Ludwig?) Wagner asked.

Shit.

Wagner couldn’t perceive all of Ludwig’s thoughts. It had said that normal thoughts were too dispersed and too fast for him to understand, similar to how he felt his dreams. Nonetheless, words were easier to understand for him. Easier to analyze the connections.

(Yeah?) Ludwig asked, trying to sound distracted by something else.

(Were you… Were you doubting about eliminating Armstrong? You said it would help you, right? That it would better your emotional health?)

(Yes. It will. I was just… Drawing comparisons with her and Luke. You are right, Wagner. It doesn’t make sense to hide my emotions.)

Wagner thrummed, as it pondered for the first time if killing Armstrong was a good idea.