Just a quick heads-up that Six will refer to himself as One for the most part.
Warning: Implied character death, potential name confusion, mama bear.
"It's a lonely job," the former One once told him when One was still Six. "After all, One is the loneliest number."
He hadn't quite understood back then. All that mattered to him then was getting stronger, getting better, getting the title "One" no matter what. Looking back on it, he can barely remember why it mattered so much to him then. All he remember is White Knight's laughter as he patted him on the shoulder and said, "Well, you'll be the un-loneliest One in the world, partner!"
And that's how it was supposed to have been. It was supposed to be "One and White Knight, Partners."
This wasn't supposed to have happened.
The phone call must have come in the middle of the night, because it's not until morning briefing that White Knight brings it up.
"You're... leaving?" asks Six (back then, he was still Six. It will be a few years later when he achieves the title "One").
"It's not that I'm leaving," White Knight says, making a face. "Think of it as... I'm going on a vacation. It's just for a short while, partner. I'll be back, poking fun at you in no time at all!"
"But what the hell is Providence?" Six points out. Because if they don't even know what this organization is, is it really wise to join it?
"It doesn't exist," White Knight tells him, dead serious.
Six gives him a look, which just makes his partner laugh.
"You worry too much. It's going to be fine."
But it isn't.
Six doesn't realize that something's wrong until two months later, when he realizes that he can't get in contact with White Knight. To say the least, he goes berserk. He destroys everything that he can get his hands on. He throws things and he slices them. By the end of it all, he's standing in the midst of the chaos that he's created, former One's words echoing in his head.
The loneliest number...
Two years after White Knight leaves, Six takes his job more seriously. He begins to climb up in numbers and he starts to close himself off. Nothing matters but the job. Nothing matters but attaining that title and figuring out what Providence is.
Four years after White Knight leaves, he finally achieves the title "One." For a brief minute, he truly thinks that it'll cause his old partner to walk in through the door and cheer for him. But that's just a bad dream and One continues with his life, searching for Providence.
Six years after White Knight leaves, One finds sign of Providence.
Rather, it's more correct to say that he finds someone else just as obsessed with finding Providence as he is. They don't meet face to face at first. It's just an online meetup by accident, and they just exchange few information here and there. But no matter where they go, they always run into this strange wall and the firm words of "Providence doesn't exist."
And then the message arrives, asking to finally meet up in real life.
To be honest, One doesn't know what he should expect. Half of him wants it to be White Knight. It's White Knight trolling him as he used to do. But he knows the chances are low so he shoves that feeling down as deep as he can. It can't be White Knight. White Knight has been gone for six years now, and what are even the chances that he's alive in their line of business?
On that Tuesday afternoon, he stands in the mall, waiting for the other person to show up so they can talk about Providence.
He doesn't expect the kid. He doesn't expect to be called Six. He doesn't expect for someone to so casually mention Providence and White Knight in one sitting. He doesn't expect to be evaded. He doesn't expect the kid to run.
And by the time he's ready to begin the chase, a hand grabs his shoulder and a voice thick with British accent asks, "One? I was expecting you to be a little shorter. I mean, you mentioned that you wore all green, so I was thinking leprechaun, you know?"
"... You must be Gatlocke."
For now, One files the kid away to be researched later. He has something more important to worry about.
"First off, everything that we say here has to stay here," Gatlocke begins.
They're sitting at a Chinese restaurant, much to One's confusion. When he tries to bring up that topic, Gatlocke just holds up his hands and gives him a disgusted look like One's being ridiculous. So One just decides to let it be. Gatlocke passes him a tray of food and One just stares blankly at the food before pushing it to the side. He's not hungry and there's something more pressing to focus on.
"Alright," One agrees. "What exactly have you found?"
Gatlocke hesitates for a second before pulling out a thin folder. "Like you, I've ran into the same bull about Providence not existing only a thousand and one times."
"Which we both know is a lie," One can't help but to add.
"Exactly. I've managed to find a small connection, though. It's really small, so don't expect much, but I did uncover something." He hands the folder to One and gives him time to flip through it.
"... The Consortium?"
"They're funding it," Gatlocke says. "Or they created it. I'm not sure. But they're connected somehow. The key to figuring out Providence is breaking into Consortium."
"And you want my help," One concludes.
"Sort of. Right now, I've managed to convince a Consortium representative that I'm a trustworthy guy. But I need to seal it."
"By using César Salazar?" One frowns as he looks down at the picture of the scientist working for Consortium. There's a detailed report attached to the picture, giving One a small snapshot of a genius of a man. He flips the page, expecting more files on other scientists, and freezes.
"Yeah. And his brother Rex. You probably won't believe me, but that kid isn't normal."
Rex Salazar. The kid that knew about White Knight and Providence. One's frown deepen as his eyes skim over the file. Juvenile detention center, motorcycle riding, a criminal named Quarry... Absolutely nothing on how he might know White Knight. "Oh, I believe you. So what's the plan? Blackmail? Kidnapping? Assassination?"
Gatlocke gives One a dirty look. "For now, observation. I'll keep in contact with you about anything else. So keep your ears peeled."
"Sounds good to me."
Gatlocke doesn't say anything about staying away from the kid, although he does blow a casket when he finds out. But in the end, it all ends up in their favor, and César hires Gatlocke to "protect" Rex from One. It's all fine and dandy, and they think they're getting closer to the truth when Gatlocke takes the kid to the same Chinese restaurant with a wire for One to listen to. It's only when the kid mentions Providence that Gatlocke loses it and One has to unexpectedly try to salvage the operation.
One doesn't like Gatlocke as a partner. He's clumsy and emotional in all the wrong ways. But right now, this is the only way he's going to find Providence and therefore White Knight, so he just grits his teeth and goes with it.
It's a coincidence that One just happens to be on the mountain when Rex drives up. And to be honest, One figures that once Rex sees him, he'll bolt. He doesn't expect a heart-to-heart where Rex tells him a chilling secret:
"Providence has been disbanded."
Because hey, doesn't that mean that they were going after the wrong brother? Doesn't this mean that more so than the Consortium, their focus should have been Rex Salazar? And before he can get these burning questions answered, the phone rings, and One's frustrated and annoyed at the world.
"... Six..."
One freezes at the voice over the phone. He stands abruptly and walks a few paces away, making sure to put some space between himself and Rex, just in case.
"White? Is that you? Where have you been? What are you doing? I've been searching for you!"
"Shut up. I don't have much time. Earlier tonight, Providence was disbanded. Quarry sounded like he was worried about something. And damn it, I should've been more alert."
Something clatters in the background. "White? Speak up. It's hard to hear you."
"Shut up! Just listen carefully to me, okay? The key is Quarry. Find that man and protect him, no matter what. Do you understand me? You have to stop the Consortium. For me. Just... Just do that one thing for me, as your old partner."
There's a small pause and One is ready to speak when White Knight adds one more thing.
"I'm sorry. But if you ever become One, I'm afraid you'll have to be the loneliest number."
Then a loud bang echoes through the receiver and there's nothing but the dial tone. One staggers. He doesn't remember putting the phone away. He doesn't remember walking back to Rex. But as if the kid can pick up on his unease, the kid insists on not leaving him alone.
And it's not quite what the doctor ordered, but it helps numb the pain.
They race down the mountain and One grudgingly appreciate the feel of a finely tuned machine purring. The cold night air feels like small daggers against his skin, prickling him as if to remind him that he's failed. All this time, all he's been trying to do is find Providence so that he can reunite with his partner and now...
And now...
The grip around his waist loosens and One glances back. "Rex...?"
It's only because he's the most dangerous man in the world, he reasons. Because there's no other way that he would have been able to catch the kid before he fell off. One cradles the damned sleeping kid and drives him back home. In the back of his mind, he marvels at Rex's timing for snapping him out every time he feels like the world is about to go dark.
He's greeted by the angry brother, who alternates from shouting abuse at One and trying to ask the kid if he's alright. It's the mom who has to put a stop to all the shoutings. And it's her who calmly talks with One.
"I see," she says, her lips drawn into a thin line when One finishes his curt explanation. "Thank you for bringing my son back."
One holds up the kid for César to take, but Rex's hands have somehow found One's green jacket and refuses to let go. He mumbles incoherently, snuggling towards One as if searching for warmth away from the cold night air. Then softly, so softly that they would have missed it otherwise, Rex whispers, "Please don't leave, Six."
And César can keep yelling abuse as much as he wants, but One can't bring himself to go.
"My eldest tells me that you're the most dangerous man in the world," Violeta Salazar says. She looks tired, but her eyes are sharp. One does well to not put his guard down.
"I am."
"Then pray tell me what you were doing following my youngest."
"I'm searching for Providence."
Her face goes blank and then to frigid anger. "It wasn't enough that Providence ripped my family apart, now they're going to target my son?"
"I don't know. All I know is that somehow, Providence was shut down and your son knew about it. A... An old friend called me and affirmed the information. His last words before he... was murdered was to protect Quarry. As of now, the only person I know who knows Quarry is your son."
Violeta isn't an idiot. She puts together the pieces before One does. Because the look on her face isn't just one of anger. It's one of worry and fear for her son.
"Your friend... He was part of Providence?"
"Yes."
"And if he was killed and Quarry needs to be protected... that means someone's killing Providence Agents."
"I would assume so."
"They'll come after Rex to get to Quarry, won't they? Whoever they are."
"It is a possibility."
"Then you can't go. You have to protect my son."
"I have no obligation to do so. My friend's wish was to protect Quarry, not anyone else."
Violeta smiles gently, but her eyes doesn't reflect it. Instead, One feels the small chill that normal people feel when in the presence of a great and dangerous force. "I am a scientist, Mr. One. I know of more ways to kill a human than I suspect you do. If my son is in any kind of danger, I promise you, your title as the most dangerous man in the world won't mean much when I'm coming after you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal."
But to be honest, even if Violeta hadn't said anything, One doesn't think he would have left.
Rex Salazar, as Gatlocke had said, is not a normal kid. When he's around, One feels at home and at ease. Like it's okay for him to put his guard down. Like it's okay to grieve for White Knight and take some time for himself. Like it's okay to allow the smallest bit of emotion shine through his thick walls he's built in the six years that White Knight was gone. When he's with Rex, he feels like...
He feels like Six.
He feels like he's not the loneliest number in the world.