1146 was done. He was done with everything.

For a moment, his hand whipped out his knife and in the light of their surrounding areas, it glinted like a wicked little thing that it was.

The cute little nickname that had been originally thought of by U-4989 rang through his ears. That name was special, held great significance by her closest friends and confidants.

A pang pierced his heart the instant that name graced his ears.

No wonder 3803 was keen on going by herself. No wonder she had been unable to stomach getting looked over by his fellow neutrophils. Despite their good will, her nickname was something they had always called her, especially U-4989 and U-2626. To hear her name after what appeared to be a traumatizing event with Cancer…

It would have pained AE-3803 to leave her friends behind in lieu of work, but it would have probably pained her more to be constantly reminded of her captivity.

This was a bad idea. A part of 1146 knew that from the start, but knowing that this sort of reaction to the confirmation that NC was actually that despicable little cell that had done terrible, horrible things to 3803… 1146 never knew the details, but the fact that open, friendly 3803 could never bring herself to talking about her kidnapping or how she felt…

1146 is not a bad person, he knows that deep down inside.

But he was definitely not a good person for allowing his curiosity, his inability to make a decision for himself. Because of his mistakes, he might have ended up hurting 3803 more than he thought possible.

His fingers flexed around the handle of his knife and carefully, so as to not alert any of the other cells that were milling about the area, he withdrew it. NC had been rambling about something or other, but immediately quieted when he saw the flash of light that accompanied the knife appearing suddenly at his throat.

The movement was so swift, 1146 could barely comprehend that in only an instant, he managed to have NC backed up against the wall, his lime green eyes looking up at him in… Was that fear? Remorse?

Despite himself, 1146 pressed his blade deeper against NC's fair skin.

Of all cells… Cancer had done the unthinkable. Instead of looking out for himself and gorging himself on stolen nutrients on the stolen idea of legacy and to fight back against the body, he had knowingly taken 3803 captive. He had knowingly decided to nearly starve her to death. He had knowingly stripped her of her duty, fully knowing that the life force of cells was knowing that they were fulfilling their job.

What was a cell without a duty to fulfill?

To strip that away… To brainwash 3803 into leaving the body behind in pursuit of a dream that had no chance ever coming to fruition because… It went against everything that 1146 knew.

Cancer had taken AE-3803 and U-1146 could never forgive such an aberration to have done such a thing.

His breathing didn't waver.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

This is for 3803, he thought to himself as he leaned in close despite his disgust for NC and muttered, "I've known since the beginning that you were Cancer… and despite my misgivings, I've let you go. However… Don't you dare use that name again." 1146's grip tightened further on his knife, the action driving the blade deeper into NC's neck. "Give me one good reason why I don't just kill you now."

NC swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

After drawing breath, the aberration spoke.

"Because that goes against your moral code…" NC coughed, causing 1146 to take mercy on him as he lessened the merciless hold that he had on the weaker cell. "You would never knowingly kill a cell that bears no ill will towards the body. Plus," NC sucked in a newer, deeper breath, "you've got the wrong side of the blade against my throat. Even now," he paused to laugh, "you're still hesitating to kill me, my kind hearted—"

1146's knife clattered to the ground as he brought his hands against NC's neck so that it rested uncomfortably tight against his throat. Beneath NC's cell membrane, 1146 could feel the pulse of his cytoplasm flow in tangent with the beating of his heart.

"No." His hands pressed harder against NC's neck. "If you want to refer to us, use the correct alphanumeric designation. No nicknames."

Much to 1146's irritation, NC smiled toothily at him before somehow relaxing against the wall of endothelial cells.

"Why? Are you jealous that you've never got to call your favorite red blood cell by her nickname?"

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Keep breathing.

"You've hurt her." 1146 began. "In doing so, you've hurt the body as well. We were granted justice by your death at the hands of an NK Cell, but to see you alive and well…" 1146 bit his tongue. What he was about to say next might not have been appropriate for a cell of his caliber to say such a thing. Instead, he said, "To see you alive and well is not only a mockery of what we have done to sacrifice and save this body… but also…"

For a moment, both cells looked at each other. Much to NC's confusion, 1146's hold loosened until the white blood cell's hands were merely resting on his clavicles. Here, NC could have run away proclaiming that he had been assaulted by a neutrophil. NC could have easily slipped away and found 3803 on his own. However, perhaps it was because this was his kind hearted killer, he stayed still and waited for 1146 to finish his piece.

"Also what, Mr. Neutrophil." NC tried hard not to cringe as he said that name aloud. For him, it was so damn formal. What was it with cells and wanting to keep everything so professional? There was more to life than the body and just doing your jobs…

"You could have used this chance to become a better cell, to embrace a life where you could truly be one of us."

"And what makes you think that I haven't been trying?"

1146 growled under his breath, his hands once again wandering against the pliable skin of NC's neck.

"Because 3803 never reacts to cells like that, even those who have belittled or looked down on her because she was different." 1146's dark eyes burrowed deep into NC's lime green gaze. "Did you know that because of her size and stature she has to work extra hard in order to deliver her packages on time? She's different from the rest of the red blood cells." 1146 paused.

Breathed.

And then he spoke again, his voice low and heavy with emotion.

"Just like you, NC-1998, she has not been dealt a good hand within the body. While she may not have suffered the same prejudices or the stigma that comes with being a cancerous cell, she knows what it's like to be looked down upon." His voice hitched. "She knew what it was like and yet, you betrayed her trust, kidnapped her, and probably told her things that would have aligned with your ideals instead of hers."

"Did… Did she tell you that?"

1146 let go of NC completely and picked up his knife that still lay unassuming on the ground.

"Not as much as I would like her to, but enough to know that if you weren't a normal cell, you would be long gone by now."

NC swallowed.

"So what happens now? What are you planning?"

"I want you to tell me why 3803 reacted the way she did. At the cafe," 1146 amended. "She hasn't been talking to me as of late and I only know of one time where you were both in the same room." 1146 sunk low to the ground, his gaze still wary and guarded. A second later, NC followed suit. "At the time, it looked like she had forgiven you… that is, of course, if she recognized you."

NC leaned forward and pressed his forehead against the front of his knees.

"I don't have to tell you anything. You could just as easily kill me and be done with it. I'm not a normal cell." NC laughed bitterly. "I'm merely a copy of a copy… a mere shell of something that only replicates itself in order to suit the body's needs."

"And what makes you think that your job isn't worth doing? I wouldn't have had my knife against your throat if you simply did your job."

NC said nothing.

"I'm still waiting for an answer," 1146 continued. "You could still prove your worth to me and the body if you tell me what happened."

NC scoffed as he sat up straight.

"I don't have to prove anything to you. I'm merely a cell with a benign mutation." Rising to his feet, NC stretched for a second before looking down at the white blood cell. "Return the handkerchief to your red blood cell." His lime green eyes looked to the side, as if in remorse or in shame, 1146 could not tell. "Let's pretend that none of this happened. That I had not been reincarnated."

Like NC, 1146 rose to his full height. Although he was of average height in comparison to the rest of the neutrophils, he still harbored an advantage over normal cells. With anger rising in his veins, he could see the images of a fallen, starved AE-3803 looking up at him with half-lidded eyes as she lay on a grimy floor… He stood tall and proud, but still labored under the weight of his sins and his guilt.

It was his fault.

He should have been a better cell.

Should have been a better friend.

Should have been a better defender and protector of the body.

In failing the body, he had also failed her.

And that was simply not acceptable.

It was fine that NC didn't want to reveal why 3803 had such a visceral reaction to his presence. If that was the case, then 1146 would have to resort to other means than mere questioning. Instead, he would have to—

He didn't think.

He was so caught up in his thoughts, his breath had evened out so slowly, he would have mistaken for his breath getting caught up in the midst of his lungs. His arm was swinging back and then moving forward towards—

A petite, gloved hand wrenched back his arm with the ease of a cell that specialized in carrying packages and all sorts of deliveries all over the body. The hand tensed on his arm and 1146 dropped to his knees, the pain somehow immeasurable to the utter betrayal he felt when he looked over his shoulder to find it was the one cell that had been haunting his conversations with NC.

Without even looking at the white blood cell, 3803 turned towards the normal cell. Her face was carefully blank, but her eyes… There was an entire stew of emotions that clashed and collided with one another. Of the few that 1146 could put a name to, he managed to find anger, bitterness, and resentment.

He wasn't sure where 3803 was aiming those emotions at, but he was glad that she wasn't looking at him at that moment.

"Little Miss—"

3803 stepped forward into NC's space.

"Go home, NC-1998." Her voice left no room for argument. The way she stood with her hands clenched at her sides and her head held high, 1146 would have thought that she was a formidable macrophage with cycles of experience to back up her charisma and gravitas at that moment.

NC, being the cell that he was, tried to speak up again, but surprisingly, it was 3803 who interrupted.

"Before you ask, I had reassigned myself to a new route so our paths won't cross again." She bowed at the waist, both NC and 1146 looking at her with slack jawed expressions. "I deeply apologize for changing my route since our last discussion. It's not fair of me to ask you something that you can't honor because of something that I could change. Forgive me."

As NC sputtered something—maybe an apology?—1146 felt his head spin with the new information. What did 3803 mean by that? Last discussion? Had she—

No. She wouldn't be that foolish to confront a cell that bore a startling resemblance to the past cancer cell!

Would she?

Before he could ponder the matter further, 1146 heard rather than saw NC scamper away, which left him alone.

With her.

"Miss Red Blood—"

She held up a hand.

And that's when 1146 saw it.

Her eyes. The emotions that were raging in her eyes ever since she had entered the scene had not abated. That meant one thing.

1146 looked down and found himself cowed at the sheer displeasure and rage that was radiating from her petite form.

"Mr. Neutrophil," AE-3803 murmured. She walked forward so that their bodies were nearly touching, the scent of glucose heavy in the air as she moved in close to his personal space. "What have you done?"