Hello again! This chapter's actually not as long as the last one, in an actual normal length this time I suppose, and will only be covering one of the main topics touched upon last time. Still, hope you enjoy!
After the RAY Fight…
Cinder nursed the wound on her gut. The bleeding had mostly stopped now, closed tight by a clean set of bandages. Even so, she could see the bloodstains that were growing.
Cinder growled in frustration. It had taken her five sets of bandages to get this far, and the fact that the wound beneath it wasn't even closed shut spoke volumes of the damage Pyrrha had done to her.
'Damn her…' Cinder grit her teeth, struggling to get herself up to a sitting position on her sickbed. It took her several tries, and several protests from her underlings, but eventually she managed it and rested against a heightened back height.
They were currently in an emergency bunker The Boss and her had prepared in cases like this – off the shore of another island near Vale, in case they had to suddenly retreat. More specifically, they were in the nursing room, stocked full with medical supplies in case one of them needed an operation. Cinder had never thought they would ever use any of it, seeing she had full confidence in the abilities of both The Boss and herself. The fact that they did end up using it, and with blood dripping from their wounds and their tails between their legs…
She would never stand for such humiliation!
"Damn it…!" Cinder clenched her fists, curling up the sheets within her hands. Her head went back to Pyrrha, and the little trick she played on her. "That bitch!"
"Ma'am…" Emerald reached out, though pulled back as soon as she saw Cinder's burning eyes. But still, she persisted even so, "At least we got out with our lives…?" Emerald offered nervously.
Cinder's rage dampened, but wasn't extinguished. She sighed, "I suppose… yes, there's that." She was still grateful for the help Emerald and Mercury did, Emerald having had to fight through her own fair share of wounds. And in light of that, she supposed a silver lining wasn't so bad after all.
But still, they had been so close. So close!
"Right…" Emerald gulped and continued, "So… what should we do next?"
"Hm? We wait for The Boss to return." Cinder said simply. "I'll discuss some ideas with her, and we'll continue from there."
Mercury piped up. "Um, 'scuse me, boss, but a suggestion?"
Cinder turned to him, eyes piercing, before finally letting him speak. "What is it?"
"Maybe we should retreat for good?" Mercury asked. At Cinder's even more questioning gaze – paired with a raised eyebrow – Mercury shuffled his feet and looked to the floor. "W-well, I'm just saying we shouldn't push our luck, y'know?"
"That would mean abandoning two-and-a-half years of hard work." Cinder said firmly. "That is out of the question, Mercury."
"Right, sorry for asking." Mercury silently whispered.
"Any news on The Boss, ma'am?" Emerald asked. "We didn't see what she did to cover our tracks, after all…"
"She should be here in just a few moments." Cinder said, "In fact, I believe she should be arriving right about… now."
And right after that, they could hear the doors to the bunker open and close. They all turned to the door leading out of the nursery room and soon saw The Boss walking in with Summer in tow.
Everyone snapped to attention as Boss stepped in the room. She gestured towards Summer, bleeding black from various points in her body. "She needs medical attention. Now."
With that single command, Mercury and Emerald took Summer from her arms and laid her on the sickbed next to Cinder. They quickly began dressing Summer's wounds as best as they could, rapidly using the bunker's medical supplies.
Cinder watched as her underlings got to work. Seeing them care for Summer, and of course previously on herself, she knew that she had chosen well. She felt a small amount of pride stem inside, both at herself and at them too.
But then, her mentor's voice shook Cinder from her thoughts.
"They've done well."
"And I'm glad they have." Cinder turned and looked at The Boss. She felt relieved to see her mentor completely unharmed. Not a single scratch on her, just as she had expected of the legend. "I'm glad to see you're alright, Boss."
"And I'm glad you got out of there alive." The Boss smiled, and Cinder immediately felt warmth and welcoming swell inside her. But then, as the euphoria faded, she noted the smile that The Boss had. It seemed somewhat… brittle?
Cinder decided to continue the conversation. "No small thanks to you, Boss." Cinder said honestly. "And you didn't even break a sweat. Were they really that easy to defeat?"
"They managed to take down the Metal Gear – but I've already sent the schematics to Watts with the app he sent. I'm sure he can manage with only that." The Boss said.
"And of course you easily escaped." Cinder joked, and she saw The Boss smile wider. But then, she noticed it becoming even more brittle.
More tellingly, her mentor didn't answer.
Cinder couldn't make heads or tails of it. What had happened? The Boss came back unscathed without any difficulty, just as expected. Ensured all of their safety. So why did it seem like she was about to break at the very seams?
And then, The Boss spoke again. "Cinder… may I speak to you?" She cast a quick look at Summer, Emerald, and Mercury, then back to her disciple. "Alone?"
"W-what? Of course, Boss." Cinder became even more confused, and more so, worried. What was happening with her mentor? What happened to shake her so?
"Good. Good…" The Boss seemed visibly relieved at this, letting out a sigh before slinging Cinder over her shoulders and gently brining her out.
They settled in a private room with a chair and a bed inside. Cinder felt herself being gently carried inside, The Boss putting her down and dragging the chair next to her bedside.
The Boss settled in her seat, never letting go of Cinder's hand. "Cinder... are you okay?"
"I-I suppose I could be better." Cinder stuttered, shocked at the utter sincerity in her mentor's words. Not that she never was, it was simply the depth of which that came from her – straight from her heart, no trace of the professionalism that she always knew The Boss had. "B-but I guess I should be the one asking you that, right?"
The Boss sighed. "You were always so sharp…"
"B-Boss?"
"I…" The Boss' eyes looked around, gazing at anywhere but Cinder's own. "I just don't know anymore, Cinder…"
"W-what do you mean?" Cinder stuttered. The Boss never, never backed down from anything. Just what the hell happened out there?
After an eternity of silence, The Boss spoke again. "Cinder, have you ever thought of why you joined with Salem?"
"Well, to follow you, of course." Cinder said. Loathe as Cinder was to admit it, she could still remember the days of her old life – slavery and torture with no end in sight. When The Boss put an end to it all, wasn't it natural she wanted to follow her?
"I owe you my life, Boss." Cinder said honestly, 'And so much more.' She thought silently.
"You don't." The Boss said with a clenched jaw. Another oddity, Cinder thought, before The Boss continued. "You don't owe me anything. I did what anyone else would've done."
Cinder shook her head fervently. "No. I watched countless guests check in and out of that hotel… but you were the only one that gave a damn about me, Boss."
"Is that so?" The Boss whispered.
"Yes." Cinder nodded. She looked away then, struggling to find the words. "But also…"
"But also what?"
"You were the only one who cared, Boss." Cinder said, and despite what Emerald or Mercury might think, she could never hate this part of herself – the part that was just a lonely little girl – at least, not when she showed it to her mentor alone. "You taught me so much – no one ever did that before… you taught me to live."
The Boss flinched when she heard Cinder's voice crack. She could understand Cinder's point of view, she really could, but at the same time…
Wasn't that what Snake had thought too, once upon a time?
"…Don't you want to strike out on your own?" The Boss asked Cinder with no small amount of hesitation. "You could accomplish so much more, Cinder. Have more power than I'd ever have."
"But I don't want that." Cinder said, and oh no, The Boss heard her disciple's voice waver, "I don't want to be alone again."
"Cinder-."
"No. I just- I just want to follow you, Boss." Cinder said – no begged – "I don't want to be stronger. I just want to do you right!"
"…"
"I just want to make you proud." Cinder whispered, and her eyes went back to her bedsheets.
The Boss stayed silent, and Cinder felt shame overcome her.
"I-I'm sorry Boss. The mission wasn't supposed to go this way." Cinder apologized, her voice full of self-loathing and begging The Boss to forgive her. Look what you did, you failed her, you made her hate you! "I miscalculated their movements. I'll try better next time, I promise. I promise, I promise…"
And The Boss knew what Cinder was thinking in their conversation.
Don't leave me.
"Cinder…" The Boss said. She tightened her grip on her disciple's hand, and silently whispered loud enough to hear, "That's not what I meant at all…"
"…Then…" Cinder shook, "What did you mean…?"
"I-…" The Boss took a deep breath. "I met Snake."
"S-snake…?" Cinder turned to her mentor, "Your old disciple, right?"
"Yes." The Boss gave a shaky nod.
"I thought he was in that place you mentioned – America?" Cinder said. She couldn't help but feel intrigued about this – another disciple of her mentor, one that she always spoke highly of. "How did he end up here?"
"That's the thing. It's not exactly him that's here."
"What?" Cinder slightly tilted her head in confusion, "What do you mean?"
"It turns out he handed the title to someone else – a phantom." The Boss said. "Venom Snake. But he also went on to became something more. Big Boss."
"Big Boss?" Cinder wondered. This person must truly be a legend, if he were to surpass her – and his own - mentor and become something much more. But then what did it truly mean, to cause her mentor to be this distraught?
"Cinder- I-." The Boss stumbled in her own words. "I failed him."
"How?" Cinder asked flabbergasted. From the sounds of it, and from the tales The Boss always told her, Naked Snake, Big Boss, always seemed so exemplary. So how exactly could that be?
"I left him." The Boss whispered, and suddenly Cinder could feel understanding coming to her. "I left him, I didn't come back, I made him-!"
The Boss choked, and Cinder thought she could see tears brimming in The Boss' eyes. But that was impossible, right? She was her mentor, the strongest woman she ever knew!
"Boss-!"
And then suddenly, Cinder felt herself being pulled from her grip into a tight hug by her mentor.
"I'm sorry, Cinder." She heard The Boss whisper into her ear, choked by emotion. The Boss hugged her tighter, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…."
Cinder slowly returned the hug, comforting her mentor – she never imagined such a thing – but couldn't help but feel confused. "Boss…?"
The Boss didn't respond and kept holding Cinder tight. She hated this, hated herself for always making the wrong-but-right and right-but-wrong choices.
Of course Cinder would follow her. And now, after seeing the fate of her son, a part of her wanted nothing more for Cinder to quit and just be a civilian. But the other part knew that Cinder would never accept that, not with how she loved her.
And then, for once, The Boss found herself yearning…
…What was life like, outside of duty?
…Outside of loyalty to the end?
…Outside of being a soldier? A legend?
"Cinder… you have to promise me." The Boss begged, and she felt Cinder stiffen. The Boss tightened her grip and felt Cinder loosen – willing to listen.
"When the time comes… you have to be able to think for yourself." The Boss said. "I'm not the best at that…"
"B-Boss, what do you mean?"
"Snake, he's dead now." The Boss said bluntly, and Cinder could the gravity of the situation. So the doppleganger had replaced him?
But The Boss wasn't done. "Snake – he did a lot of awful, awful things, and he did it in my name. It's because I died – because of that day… and he never lived a happy life. His body may have died recently, but his soul died decades ago."
"A-and I don't want the same thing happening to you." The Boss whispered. "You're such a wonderful woman, and I-"
Cinder held The Boss in her arms. "Boss…"
"Promise me…"
"But what about the mission?" Cinder asked. "What about loyalty to the end? What about enemies in relative terms? What about- what about Salem?"
"I still believe that." The Boss said. "I still do, but Cinder… I you to do something more important."
Cinder held her breath.
"I want you to live."
"…Boss?"
"I don't want you to stay under me forever." The Boss said. "I know you want us to be together for as long as we can, but, if I die…"
"…"
"Don't go and avenge my life." The Boss whispered. "It's not worth that much... Okay, Cinder?"
"…"
"The world… it's not whole." The Boss said, "But I- I won't claim to know how to fix it. I'll just follow orders, and do the mission I believe in. But I can't stand there and say I know what right is. Not anymore."
"…Okay." Cinder said. "Okay, Boss. I promise."
"Good." The Boss shakily nodded. "Good."
"But Boss… if that's so, then are we still doing this?" Cinder asked hesitantly.
The Boss kept silent.
"Boss?"
"I don't know." The Boss said. Her mind went back to the facts. The world wasn't one. The world kept fighting and fighting and fighting, and she didn't know how to fix it anymore. Her son had died a sad death and lived a miserable life. And here she was with Cinder, on the cusp again, her daughter refusing to leave her – just like in the Virtuous Mission and Operation Snake Eater.
And it wasn't like she ever would leave Salem either, would she? She knew she was loyal to a fault like that.
But, she supposed, if she really wanted to make a change, then there was one thing she could find out first.
"But give me a chance, Cinder." The Boss said. "There's one thing I'd like to find out first… but until then, keep Emerald and Mercury ready."
"Of course, Boss." Cinder nodded. "I'll wait for as long as you need."
"Alright." The Boss nodded. "Thank you, Cinder."
And with that, Cinder felt exhaustion take a hold of her. Her eyes became droopy, and she felt herself being lowered to her bed by her mentor.
Cinder groaned and raised a weak arm in protest. "I…"
"Yes, Cinder?"
"I…" Cinder's words faded to black as she gasped out her last words.
"I love you, mom…"
The Boss closed her eyes as Cinder peacefully went to sleep, her soft breaths audible in their private room.
She rubbed her hand across her disciple's. She felt its warmth, how it had grown from small, malnourished, and abused to large, full, and strong in its own right.
She had been the small light in her life here in Remnant. Working for Salem was one thing, but it was another to have someone to care for. Someone to confide in, no matter how small, and someone to raise and love. She supposed a part of her wanted a substitute for Snake – not to replace him, but to save and raise someone like she saved him.
And in retrospect, perhaps this was her second chance.
She may have been too harsh on Snake, but she refused to make the same mistake for Cinder.
She clasped both her hands around Cinder and closed her eyes, bringing her hands above her chest in a solemn promise.
"I love you too, Cinder."
"I've been looking for you, Solid Snake."
Solid Snake drew his SOCOM in tandem with The Boss and her Patriot. He made sure to keep Otacon behind him, his partner ready for whatever command the ex-soldier gave him.
"Waiting for you." The Boss continued, "For your arrival, for your return, and the resolution of today."
Solid clenched his jaw and tightened his grip on his SOCOM. A shame he didn't have his Solid Eye to confirm The Boss' identity with him today – though he did have his muscle suit underneath his tux, so he supposed small mercies would do.
"The Boss." Solid growled. "Are you really her?"
"I am." The Boss nodded, though they both kept their weapons pointed at each other.
"Prove it." Solid demanded. He had read up a bit on the warriors Remnant had. They had Semblances, whatever they were, and he needed to know if this wasn't one of those things.
The Boss stayed silent for a moment. And then, she spoke again. "The Philosophers."
Snake tilted his gun ever to the side, and then back – motioning her to continue.
"The Philosophers were once a group that united the superpowers of the U.C – my father was a member. After World War II, they disbanded and caused The Philosophers Legacy to scatter." The Boss said. "It was your father's mission to also retrieve the Legacy."
"..." Solid let out a breath and conceded, but not his weapon. Very few knew that particular tidbit of information, even with The Patriots being public knowledge now.
And such, Solid conceded. "Alright then. So you're the real deal." He growled, "But that doesn't explain why you're alive all of a sudden."
"It's a long story."
"Isn't it always?" Solid chuckled grimly. "The Wisemen's Committee. The Philosophers. The Patriots. Outer Haven. I thought it was all over, but turns out." Solid suppressed a smirk, his twins' old catchphrase ringing true even now. "It's not over yet, is it?"
"So I'd rather get this over quick." Solid kept his grip on his SOCOM firm. "Why. Are. You. Here?"
"To make the world one again." The Boss said. She too kept The Patriot aimed true, and yet Solid noticed a tremor – a single tremor – on her trigger finger. He'll keep note of that.
"And?" Solid prodded further.
"It seemed that my mission didn't end at Operation Snake Eater – at least, not one for the world." The Boss said. "I still have something to do."
"So you've been alive all this time?" Solid deduced.
"Correct."
"Then I suppose us meeting was inevitable then." Solid sighed. And then he got straight to the point. "So why then?"
"Why?"
"Why'd you seek me out? Because you didn't have to and we both know that." Solid said. "We could've met at the battlefield. We could've met at the tail-end of both of our missions. We could've met anytime but now. Because I'm not your son, and I never will be."
At this, The Boss narrowed her eyes at Solid Snake. She analyzed him with her Silver Eyes, baring deep into his soul. And then, she could see the subtle differences between her son and Solid Snake.
The faded-yet-still-visible burn marks at right side of his face, a mark that she could tell would never fade. The subtle shape of the eyes – Solid's were a little more intense than her son's slightly playful ones. Her son's nose was also sharper than Solid's. Solid's cheeks were a tad bit straighter, paired with a non-existent laugh line even at his age.
And that was the most damning difference of all, was it? His age.
"You're right. You're not him." A click, and Solid saw that The Boss had begun lowering her gun. Solid kept his aim true – he had seen this trick before – but kept his mind open.
But for The Boss, as she stared into her grandson's eyes, it was clear to her how out of place she was. The world had moved on, past the ages of bosses and snakes, past the age of the nations' conspiracies and secret wars– and yet she still had a responsibility that tied her down.
"I wanted to ask you." The Boss said, her eyes unflinchingly staring into Solid's. "How?"
"How?"
"How did you defeat him?" The Boss clarified, "Snake – no, Big Boss became the strongest soldier of our century. And yet you defeated him three times, two of those under deceptive missions, and yet you had the stomach to keep going, never blaming others and sticking to your guns. How did you manage to keep a sane head and save the world?"
"What made him so insistent that you wouldn't have made the same mistakes he did?" The Boss asked, her tone sincere. "Why did he fail? What made you so different?"
"Big Boss was driven mad by the time I took my rookie mission." Solid said. "That was what many believed – I did too, at that time. But he had something more, something that I could see when I faced him. He wanted to make a world for soldiers. Eternal conflict, so that they'd always have a home. I had no choice but to stop him."
"And yet you're a soldier as well." The Boss said. "You didn't want to see a world that always needed you?"
"It wasn't a world I wanted to live in." Solid said firmly. "And if I'm correct, neither would you."
"That may be true – but here, his dream thrives." The Boss said, and Solid raised an eyebrow. He had read some brief reports on the state of Remnant. The four Kingdoms, the Huntsman Academies, and the Grimm. He could see where The Boss was leading with this, what she wanted him to think.
Nonetheless, he let her continue.
"In here, warriors are needed 24/7. Humanity is in a constant, never-ending battle. And yet, the clear need has instead made people yearn for normal lives." The Boss said, "There's no short amount of people who have taken advantage of the Hunters - politicians or otherwise - and there are also others who have shied away from the fight to run away."
"And…?"
"This is exactly the world your father would have loved – at least, if I were to believe only what you said." The Boss noted.
"He wanted a world that would always fight, and yet in this world betrayal also runs deep." The Boss continued. "The Grimm are attracted by negativity, and this world has aplenty. Bandits, backstabbers, opportunists, scavengers and ravagers, slavers, terrorists, they all continue to exist. Even with one single and mutual enemy, the world could not find its footing."
"The world had one enemy, and yet what Zero partially believed – a world that was one – didn't come either." The Boss finished.
"So how could you keep fighting?" The Boss suddenly spat, and Solid found himself surprised at the disgust in her tone. "The world never learns it lesson, and do we not get a chance for a life we own?!"
After a pregnant pause, Solid answered.
"I'm here because of the same reason as you once had – my sense of duty."
"That sense has brought you nothing but pain!" The Boss shouted, and Solid could clearly see the contempt in her expression.
"And I couldn't have lived with myself if I didn't answer it." Solid said, and he felt the grip on his gun relax just a bit. He felt tempted to lower it, and he softened his tone. "And would you have lived with yourself if you didn't?"
"…" The Boss closed her eyes and let out a sigh. And then, she let out a bitter chuckle. "Of course. In the end, we're just pawns, aren't we? Even to our own righteousness."
The Boss barely managed to hide the contempt in her face – barely holding in her urge to spit to the cement. She had lived a life of servitude to the U.S, a second life here under Salem, and for once she just wanted to see what it was like outside. If nothing else, so she could finally do something she knew was right without question.
Something she knew wouldn't fail, not like how she failed her Snake.
Not as a legend, and not as a soldier. But as a woman – as a person, who had desires and people to love.
She heard her son's dying words to Solid, ringing in her ears. 'It's time for you to see the outside world with your own eyes. Your body, and your soul, are now your own. Live… for what you believe in. And find… a new lease on life.'
The single tear, trailing down on his old and wrinkled cheek…
'Boss… you only needed one Snake.
No…
The world would be better off without Snakes.'
"What's it like?" The Boss asked, and Solid felt touched by the sincerity in her voice. Moreover, when her Silver Eyes met his, how they were totally open, the windows to her soul.
"The outside world? Was it good?"
This is good, isn't it?
"…It is." Solid said, and he finally lowered her gun.
The Boss choked down a bitter laugh and shook her head.
Their life, their battle… Snake and Boss, the world had moved on, and while her son had lived a long and hard life, there was one thing she couldn't deny - he had died happy. Happy to see his son one last time.
The Boss looked up and into Solid's eyes. She could see so much resemblances and differences. Venom was his duplicate, a mirror that reflected his skill and battle capabilities. But Solid was what it meant to be better than him, and to finally find a meaning to rest their guns and live life.
So why couldn't she find it to accept that? That her son had died?
Deep down she knew. She failed him, she failed him, failedfailedfailed-
But she was also angry. Angry at the times the found themselves, for it was the times that forced her hand in Operation Snake Eater. Angry at the world, that just couldn't see the truth no matter how many lives she lived. Angry at the world, the world that she had given her son to and spat out once they were done with him too.
But she also wondered… was she a coward? She didn't fight the system and instead forced her son to shoot her – to kill both her and himself. She had gone along with her 'loyalty to the end', and it caused her son more grief than he could ever take. And more so, she didn't know the answer to that either. After all, nuclear annihilation was sure, was it not?
Was she too weak? She didn't understand her son's love and he destroyed the world because of it. She betrayed him even if she didn't mean to, and it destroyed him when she could've easily returned. And was a world that constantly warred with itself – a world sold by The Man Who Sold The World - no better than nuclear destruction?
And for all of this…
Did she really have a ground to stand, the place to say she could fix the world anymore? To say and believe that with her whole heart, to fight for that with people who believed in her, when she couldn't even save her own son?
Solid lowered his gun, and another wave of emotions hit The Boss.
Because the proof of it was staring her right there. That life could have been better if they tried – and it did for her grandson.
"The world…" The Boss whispered.
Solid took a step forwards, stance ready but sympathetic.
"It always fights with itself." The Boss said. "Even with The Grimm, even without Grimm, they never seem to settle. Why? Why won't it ever learn?"
"That's what people do, and will do." Solid said, "And we can't exactly stop it."
"They have no enemy and they squabble over land and power." The Boss thought of the World Wars and the Cold War that ensued. "They have a common enemy and they can't help but create new problems for themselves." Faunus slavery, corruptions from opportunistic politicians, and bandits who'd kill for meals they could buy at a village – and even so, it wasn't as if the Four Kingdoms never warred against each other either.
"Why should we even care?" The Boss spat.
"Because we know it could be better."
"But it won't!"
"Whether it will or it won't – that's none of our concern." Solid said, "If no one's going to at least try, then darkness wins. The thing with fighting for what's right, no matter how dirty you do it – it's never as easy as doing something that's wrong. Because if it's easy, then is it really what's right?"
The Boss took a deep breath. So all her difficulties, all her struggles – it came with fighting for what was right?
She knew that, she knew that as well as she knew how to fire a gun. It was engraved deep in her heart, the day Ocelot was taken from her, the day she had to leave Snake, the day she had to stare down the barrel of her own gun and told Snake to kill her, to do it now and finish your mission.
But a part of her felt vengeful, raging against the calm and collectedness that was so very intrinsic to her in both lives. A part of her wanted to strike out in rage at the world, to scream and shout and kill at a world that was never for once grateful for her sacrifices, a world that consumed her son and spat him out broken and bitter – and then, killing him off and stating it all over again with Solid.
Even if she did have a hand in making him as such– for once, couldn't she just get what she wanted?!
"Do you know the reason I joined Salem?" The Boss whispered.
"No." Solid didn't have a clue what she was saying, but resolved to kept an ear open anyway. He owed her that much, at least.
"She saved me – brought me here for another life, and so I followed her every order." The Boss said. "She showed me how even with the Grimm, even with a constant and relentless enemy, the world still pointlessly fought with each other."
"Do you know the slavery that the SDC runs? Even down to the kids? I've paid a visit to a couple of the mines myself – it's amazing how they settle for thicker and thicker defenses instead of taking care of the actual negativity they cultivate."
"And then, some people choose to live outside the Kingdoms. Voluntarily. Just so they can kill whoever they like and live as they please. Why pay for your bread when you can just kill someone for it and save yourself the money?"
"And then, as if they don't have enough problems, politicians find every way to screw over their civilians and gather more money. Don't they realize that their precious Kingdom is one Mountain Glenn away from going under?"
"So I saw what Salem saw – a world that needed a restart. I stared at the truth right in front of my face and Salem helped my come to my senses. If the world ever hoped to become one, to become whole, then we needed to wipe the slate clean. Even with the Grimm, the world was too obsessed with itself. The only option was to show them that the Grimm can be far fiercer and more terrifying. To force the world to work together."
"And if in the process we raze civilization to the ground? Then at least a new one will be born anew – one that knows the price of peace right from the beginning, and will finally learn to appreciate and fight for it no matter their differences. That is how Salem believes in peace – and how I believe it as well."
"But you… you're different. You believe in Humanity and Faunuskind, no matter how flawed and weak they are."
"I'm sorry… but I couldn't believe in them." The Boss said, and her voice cracked. Solid could see it now, the regret and self-loathing, the sadness and the grief. "Not after they fought amongst themselves even with the Grimm… and not after they destroyed your father. Not anymore."
"But maybe you can." The Boss whispered. "Maybe you can make sense of all this suffering. Make all our pain mean something in the end. You saved the U.C, right? So what's one more mission?"
"Maybe you really can be better. See something in this world that I couldn't anymore."
"Please… show me." The Boss begged, to someone she could barely call her grandson, and raised her gun.
Solid closed his eyes and let out a breath. He could feel the wind whipping his face, the tails of his bandana waving in the wind, and opened his eyes.
He patted the side of his partner. With a silent nod, Otacon activated his stealth camo and went away.
The Boss didn't even flinch as Otacon disappeared. She let her go – let them have their chance, because she was going to be fair. Only in fairness would the real truth shine, and that was the very thing she wanted.
The cold, untainted truth - the worth of the world they lived in.
What she lacked, and what Solid may not.
"The fate of Vale depends on this." The Boss said, keeping her grip on her gun firm.
And then, with quick and deft hands, Solid drew his SOCOM and aimed it at The Boss.
The Boss thought of her son. Of him and her daughter, of her missions and the sacrifices she made, of her suffering and pain, and of the two lives she lived.
"Show me the mistakes we made." The Boss begged in a whisper. "And show me… how you wouldn't make it in our place."
"I will." Solid said, his voice growling but sincere. He kept the grip on his SOCOM firm, as did his voice, and accepted the burden like he always did. "I'll show you."
Because he owed it that much to The Boss – to the Patriot Who Saved the World, to a woman his father loved with all his heart – the woman he destroyed the world for. And even more than all of that, a woman who was hurting from her own righteousness. And he could never live with himself if he didn't otherwise.
The world was silent for what seemed like an eternity. Two legends have met, from different times but in the same world that bound them both. Their legends echoed across their generations, leaving shoes that would forever be too wide to fill. None of them had ever thought they would meet like this, but the times can be cruel.
And now, it was time to see if she still had something of worth.
The Boss steadied her aim, as did Solid Snake.
"Show me why you're better!" The Boss shouted, and she fired her gun.
BANG BANG BANG BANG!
Solid ran to the side, firing his own SOCOM in retaliation. He heard her footsteps echo to the opposite side, and they each disappeared into the thickness of the shopping district.
Solid took a deep breath and reloaded his gun. He tried to listen hard for The Boss' footsteps, but his ears picked up nothing. As expected of the legend.
Solid analyzed his surroundings. He was currently behind a shopping stall that was quite long. Solid grunted and began moving out, making sure to stay in cover.
He reached the end of the stall and quickly peeked out, gun in his aim and looking around for any trace. "Ngrh." There wasn't anyone there, and he couldn't find any trace from The Boss' movements.
'Keep moving, keep moving.' As with all duels he had, it could all end in one shot for him, but it often took a lot more for his enemies to go down. He simply had to adapt – find their weaknesses quickly.
Solid then heard a silent whisper echo. "There you are."
'Shit!'
BANGBANGBANGBANG!
Solid quickly ducked back down behind cover, seeing the edges of the stall splinter as bullets hit where is head once was. He waited for just a moment, just for her to stop firing. He trailed off to the side, just far enough but still keeping The Boss within the vision once he poked out. He just needed the right time, and his movement should by him just enough.
He heard a click. The Boss grumbled. "Where is he…"
'Now!' Solid quickly leapt out of cover with his SOCOM already aimed at the enemy. The Boss aimed The Patriot at him, but with a split second advantage, Solid quickly fired off several shots at The Boss before she could fire.
FWIP FWIP FWIP!
"Agh!" The Boss groaned as Solid's shot hit her shoulders and arms, staggering her. "Tch!" She shook her head quickly and regained her focus, looking up to see Solid rushing at her.
Solid grit his teeth and fired several more shots as he got closer. But then, his shots hit thin air as The Boss moved fast, turning to nothing but black particles.
Solid stopped in his tracks. 'What-?!'
FWOOSH!
'Behind me!' Solid quickly turned around and saw The Boss descending from the skies. He saw her turn her free hand into a bone-like sword and then moving it to stab his arm.
Solid grit his teeth and deflected the strike with the back of his arm. He hissed as blood was drawn from it, but pushed forwards and moved to slam the back of his fist at The Boss' face.
"Hah!"
But The Boss cleanly ducked, letting the fist fly over her and then sweeping Solid's feet from under him.
Solid's body slammed on the hard concrete. "Argh!" He looked up and saw The Boss throwing a fist down for his face. Solid quickly rolled to the side, letting her fist hit the concrete and standing back up.
"Take this!" Solid quickly fired off more shots from his SOCOM before The Boss could recover herself. The shots hit her shoulders and scraped her body, but none of it did any real damage to his opponent. The Boss clenched her teeth and transformed her bone-sword to a black, Grimm-like tentacle, launching it towards Solid and wrapping it around his neck.
"Grk!" Solid struggled to breathe as The Boss lifted him up. He grit his teeth and fired several shots at the tentacle, severing it and dropping him to the ground. He took several deep breaths. "Hah, hah…"
But before he could recover, The Boss was on him once again, her foot drawn back for a kick. "Hiyah!"
'No-!'
SLAM!
The kick hit him right in his jaw and sent him flying to a nearby store, crashing through its windows and his black slamming on the wall. "Ugh…"
"All these years and still nothing to show for it…" The Boss shook her head and turned her hand back to its normal form. She turned and calmly walked towards the store, noticing the dust that had picked up from her throw. "Peculiar…"
She looked up at the store name – Guns Galore. 'A weapons shop…?'
The Boss noted that tidbit and jumped over the store's broken glass, entering with grace. She could see several weapons up for the display, though some were notably missing. Most notably, however, was when she looked down at the center of the store, there was no trace of Solid anywhere inside. He was gone without a trace.
"Where could he have run…" The Boss said to herself.
Clickclickclick…
The Boss heard a metal rolling sound from behind her and turned around. She saw a grenade rolling on the floor, and then stopping right at her feet.
'Grenade-!'
FLASH!
"ARGHHH!" The Boss covered her eyes as they became blinded. 'He must've taken a flashbang-!'
A guttural roar sounded, one that quickly approached her. "RARGHHHHH!"
RATATATATATATATATA!a
Solid roared and fired his newly-acquired assault rifle at The Boss. He saw the bullets hit her true as he stepped closer and closer, ripping her sides and hitting her body.
The Boss yelled in pain as shot after shot hit her. After a moment, she had had enough and lunged once more at Solid with her bone-made sword.
But this time, Solid was ready.
He ducked under her initial swing, and then stepped to the side when she swung again. He ended up behind her, and before she could react, quickly pulled out a shotgun he had taken and strapped to his back.
The Boss' eyes widened. Fast-!
"HYAH!"
BANG!
"Nngh!" The Boss flew back from the impact, hitting the concrete fast first as her back seared with pain. She could feel her Grimm abilities begin to heal her, but it was still a good hit.
She got to a knee and turning around to look at Solid, who was cocking another round with sharp eyes. He growled as he saw The Boss getting ready again. 'What's her plan…?'
And then, The Boss disappeared again – faster than his old eyes could react to, turning into nothing but black dust.
Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh!
Solid's eyes trailed around the battlefield as he saw the dust zip around, no doubt indicating The Boss' movements, dashing around him.
Solid let out a breath, exhausted. He started to feel his age, and he knew he couldn't react fast enough. The only option then was to move preemptively.
The Boss ended her dashes, leaping right for Solid with dual swords. Solid ducked before she reached, the swords nicking a piece of his headband. He rolled to the side, moving to grab The Boss by her shoulder.
But The Boss wasn't having any of it. She quickly turned and slashed at Solid, forcing him to take a hasty dodge back.
Step!
And then, right as Solid landed on his feet, The Boss aimed The Patriot at him and fired.
BRRRRTTTTTT!
"GAHHHH!" Solid crossed his arms as the bullets ripped his body apart, his armor protecting him but only just. He could feel wounds new and old open, age and wear exacerbating the fact.
The Boss stopped her fire, the barrel of her gun smoking as Solid's back hit a wall.
"Is this all you have?" the Boss asked. Her tone was neutral, dead. "Is this how you defeated my son?"
Solid let out a breath as he slid down the wall, falling on all fours. He felt sweat drip down his brow and wounds on his body, seeing sweat and blood dripping down to the concrete below.
He looked up and saw The Boss standing tall over him, her gun still smoking. And yet, she didn't come closer, nor did she aim her gun at him. She looked down at him patiently. Waiting, waiting, and waiting. Waiting for him to prove her wrong.
Solid took a deep breath and clenched his fist. He stood back up, fighting against any pain he might feel. He holstered his weapons to his back, took a step forwards, and entered the CQC stance.
And, just as he expected, he saw The Boss holstering The Patriot to her back and do the same. Both their hands ready, their palms open, their knees bent, and their stances firm.
They stayed calm for a moment, waiting for the next cue. And then, it came with mutual understanding.
"Show me, Snake!"
"Rargh!"
"Hyah!"
The Boss lunged first, fist out for a punch. Solid twisted his body and dodged, wrapping his arm around hers and forcing her to the ground.
SLAM!
The Boss was slammed to the ground. Solid moved in, but was forced to block back as The Boss threw her legs up in self-defense. Her legs hit his block with a dull thud, and The Boss was free to stand back up, readying her stance once more.
They circled each other again, a patient warrior's game. And then, The Boss kicked Solid's body with her legs. Solid blocked the blows with his arms, but The Boss didn't let up and kicked him again in the head without lowering her foot. Solid managed to block that too, but it left him a bit dizzy.
And then, using her opponent's disorientation, The Boss growled and went low – she swept her feet across Solid's own, forcing him down the ground.
Clang!
"Grk!" Solid groaned, and then saw The Boss moving in for a punch to his head. Solid quickly grabbed the punch before it could reach him and twisted her by the arm. The Boss grimaced, and Solid forced her to the ground next to him.
Slam!
'Have to get back up!' Solid quickly shook himself off and got back to his feet, all the while The Boss did the same.
"Grahhh!" Solid threw another punch just as The Boss recovered. The Boss halted it with her arm and kneed Solid in the gut.
"Grk!" Solid spat out blood. The Boss quickly grabbed his head and gave it a firm headbutt.
"Agh!" Solid stepped back, hand on his head, and The Boss went for a quick jab at his face. The punch hit true, and The Boss followed it with a haymaker across his jaw.
Solid managed to duck under the second blow just in time, giving The Boss a firm push with both his arms. The Boss stumbled back, and Solid followed this up with a spinning backfist to her face.
The hit connected with a dull thud and The Boss stepped back. Solid roared and threw another punch. The Boss ducked and kicked Solid's gut from under him, sending him flying back.
Solid flew across the street and hit his back against another storefront, crashing through the glass from the waist up. He groaned as he felt glass shards stab his armor, some of it sharp enough to scrape his skin.
"D-damn it…" Solid said, growling as he shook himself again. He shook the glass off of him and put his hands on the storefront, careful to avoid the sharp glass to have another go-!
Click!
Solid's head snapped up and saw The Boss aiming her gun at him from where they once were.
'Damn!'
BRRRRRRRRT!
Solid dropped to the ground and rolled to the side, her bullets hitting right where he once was. He kept moving on the ground and pulled out his assault rifle as he did so, breaths short and desperate, all to create as much time advantage as he could. He kept rolling until he was just before a concrete corner. And then, Solid forcefully stopped his rolls and aimed at The Boss.
RATAATATATATA!
The split-second advantage forced The Boss to take several hits, and with that, forcing her to clench her teeth and move faster than he could see once more.
"Hah…" Solid got back up and rounded the corner, planting his back against it for cover and reloading his assault rifle. And now, they were back to square one, hiding-and-seeking against each other.
His eyes roamed the surroundings. There had to be something he could use, something to take The Boss down permanently – or at least, long enough for him to get some backup.
His eyes continued to roam, because there had to be something, something…
Solid's eyes eventually roamed to a large neon sign, high in the sky and smack dab in the middle of the shopping district. But it was bound to the ground by a single pole, one that could be destroyed by a single HE grenade.
Solid grunted and reloaded the rest of his weapons. That, he could use. Now, to lure The Boss to the open.
Solid began moving around the shopping district, making sure to keep his steps silent and his ears wide open. He kept within cover, away from the open sightlines that The Boss could see. All he needed to do was to be patient, and for The Boss to indicate some form of sound, and he'd seize that chance.
And then, he heard the sounds of clattering from across his cover.
'There!' Solid thought, and he quickly peeked out of cover with his rifle at the ready. However, his eyes found no trace of his enemy as he scanned his sightlines. 'She's not here?'
And then, he heard another fwoosh, and he knew The Boss was right behind him.
Snake turned around just as The Boss lunged at him. "Snake!"
Snake could barely defend himself, batting away her arm that went for a grab. He went in for a knee, but The Boss quickly slammed his foot down with her own. Solid stumbled, his back hitting the edge of the cover he once hid behind. 'Damn!'
"HYAHHH!"
Solid looked up and saw The Boss jumping at him, an arm cocked at the ready. Just as she reached him, Solid propped his legs up and kept her from coming too close. Grabbing her shoulders, Solid grunted and rolled above and across the cover, throwing them both over it and onto then the ground.
'Ngh-!' Solid grunted as he forced his old body to move. The wounds were stacking up on him now, but the adrenaline still kept him going. Now, to force The Boss into position.
Solid quickly got up, just as The Boss did the same. He brought his SOCOM up and aimed at The Boss. Before he could fire, The Boss closed the distance and swatted his aim away. Solid grunted and went in for a grab. The Boss grabbed his hand mid-move and twisted it. Solid groaned, The Boss forcefully twisting his body to face away and then forcing him back to the ground.
SLAM!
"Argh!" Solid's face ate a fistful of concrete. He quickly turned his face around and saw The Boss aiming The Patriot down at him.
'Shit!'
Solid rolled to the side just as she began firing. He struck his legs out, hitting her own and stumbling her to a knee. The Boss hissed as she turned and followed Solid's movements, her opponent getting back up. He quickly launched himself forwards again and struck The Boss' chin with the butt of his SOCOM.
Smack!
The Boss stepped back, her head snapping up from the blow. Solid ducked low, going in for an elbow to The Boss' gut, but she quickly sidestepped it and grabbed Solid's elbow instead. She twisted it, seeing Solid grimace, and then tried to force him back down.
Solid cartwheeled as The Boss tried to force him down, going with the momentum and ending up behind her. He broke free from her grip and grabbed her arm himself, trying to twist her to the floor. The Boss easily broke free from him and punched him in the chest, sending him skidding back.
With that final hit, Solid's vision began to grow blurry. He quickly shook it off and looked to his front, seeing The Boss rushing at him. Solid threw a hasty kick, striking The Boss in her gut and staggering her assault.
'Now!' Solid grabbed his shotgun from his back and quickly fired off a round at The Boss.
BANG!
"Gah!" The Boss staggered back, but Solid didn't let up.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Solid roared as he fired each shot, his guttural voice echoing against the gunfire. The Boss groaned with each blow, forcing her back and back. Solid saw her going closer and closer to the point he wanted her to be – right underneath the neon sign.
Solid grunted as he fired another shot, quickly unhooking a grenade and biting the pin off. And then, right as his shotgun clicked empty, he rolled the grenade down to The Boss' feet.
The Boss wiped her eyes and looked up. She saw Solid aiming his gun at her, though he fired and it clicked empty. She grit her teeth and prepared to dash away with her super-speed, but halted when she felt cold metal roll and stop at her feet.
Her eyes widened as she looked down. 'Grenade-!'
BOOM!
"Grk!" Solid covered his eyes as dust covered around the street, kicking up in all directions as he heard the sound of metal creaking. And then, as Solid looked forwards, he saw the large neon sign falling down and landing right where The Boss was.
SLAM!
Another round of dust shot up, and Solid covered his eyes once more. He groaned and forced the dust away, switching to his assault rifle and keeping it ready. With careful steps, he began approaching the spot where the sign fell – where The Boss was supposed to be.
He reached the point where the Boss was. Or rather, where she was supposed to be. As Solid cleared the dust away and looked with squinting eyes, he found no trace of The Boss or her body.
Horror dawned on Solid. 'She escaped-!'
FWOOSH!
The Boss appeared behind him, and Solid couldn't react fast enough. She grabbed him by the arm as he turned around, kicking his legs under him and forcing him to the ground.
Solid fell to the floor face-first, caught in a lock by The Boss. Before he could try to break it, he heard a loud snap and felt his arm being twisted – broken.
"ARGH!" Solid's arm fell limp to the side as The Boss stepped back. But no, this can't be the end, this can't be the end, everyone was depending on him. Everyone needed him!
He felt the wounds stacking up on his body now, cuts and bruises and holes all around. Solid clenched his free fist and grit his teeth. Determination filled his bones. No, no, no!
The Boss stepped back with a sigh, black blood leaking from her forehead and gashes littering her arms. That was quite the smart trick, but it would take more than that to bring her down.
She looked down at Solid, writhing at the ground with his wounds. So this was it, then - this was as far as Solid could go. The last remaining remnant of her son, and she knew that no logical man would continue after this. So this was the end.
The Boss sighed, her eyes shining with pity. If only it hadn't come to this-!
But then The Boss eyes widened as she saw Solid groan. He clenched his fist and roared, turning back around and looking The Boss straight in the eyes.
Step!
And then, to her unending surprise, he took a knee and began standing up.
Step!
"No…" Solid forced out. The Boss' surprise turned to amazement.
Step!
Solid stood once more, tolerating his wounds even as they forced his body down, holding his broken arm in the other. "No… not here!"
Step!
With grit teeth and unrivalled determination, Solid began taking another step at her.
Solid roared, and The Boss felt herself being frozen in place. The determination that brought him through the Guns of The Patriots incident coursed through him, unwilling to let him keel over and give up when something wasn't done. "It's not over yet!"
Step!
And for The Boss?
She felt her breath hitch as Solid took one step after the other. Slow but steady, weak but unrelenting. Undeterred in the face of death, willing to do everything it took for the world. For that life 'outside'.
Another step, and Solid was getting ever closer. She could see it in his eyes, now. What made him so different, so special. That unrelenting drive to get things done, but never holding any grudge. He had accepted the world as it is, cruel to both himself, his friends, and his family – but doing the hardest to save it all even so, never holding a grudge at what was simply the facts.
What it meant to Let the World Be.
Another step from Solid, and she could see his determination grow even more.
Try as she might, she couldn't understand it, not after what her son had become. After her son had been screwed over by the world. How could she, when she had given up the one thing that was hers, and then the world had destroyed him until his dying breath? When even here, she saw slavery that rivalled the cruelest of times, slavery that was done to her daughter despite the Grimm that surrounded them?
Another step from Solid, and The Boss focused her attention to him. But looking at him, perhaps this what the world needed. Someone who saw differences and fought despite sit, someone who could see the best in people when she certainly couldn't anymore.
And the proof was there, in the doppelganger's history and in Solid's determined gaze. He had saved the world from The Patriots, while her death had caused her son to sell the world.
The Boss let out a breath as Solid took his last step and stood before her, in a shamble of a CQC stance but a stance nonetheless. She'll honor him, give him one more battle, and settled into her own CQC stance as well.
Solid put a free hand before him, ready to grab while the other remained broken and uselessly flaying to the side. The Boss stood tall and outstretched both her hands, giving Solid two finger guns in respone.
She could see a slight widen of Solid's eyes, but it quickly faded away. The Boss then went into her own CQC stance, sinking low and outstretching both hands – one high and the other low – ready to grab any strike that came.
An eternity passed, another pause between two legends who were never supposed to meet. But the times had dragged them both back, for them to see what might've been. For The Boss, out of her voluntary death decades ago and into the a strange and painful present present – to see her ultimate failure and the bittersweet success. For Solid, out of his life outside and into the conflict once more, and to see with his own two eyes what he never thought he could - the backdrop for his father's descent, and the very human reasons could never find peace.
And then, with a silent signal that roared in their minds, both of them moved.
Solid moved in for a grab with his remaining hand. The Boss sidestepped and softly directed him away. Solid kicked behind him, but The Boss stopped him from the back of his knee. With a soft grunt, she shifted her grip on Solid's leg and lifted him in the air, spinning him and then slamming him forcefully back down on the ground.
SLAM!
Solid let out a silent croak as his body slammed down to the ground. His breaths hitched as he looked up, seeing The Boss aim The Patriot at his head – too late for him to reach his SOCOM, and no more energy to do another CQC move.
The Boss looked down at one of the last remnants of her son. Someone he respected as a man, someone he said was better. Someone she had defeated in combat, and yet, she couldn't find it in herself to match his resilience.
Solid had proved to her that he was better. Perhaps, even more so than her. He deserved to live, not that she had any right to judge. He was better, as simple as that.
Better than even her – and that, for once, made her want to drop her precious title.
For once, she wanted to be seen as a person. Not as a legend, not as a warrior. Not as a soldier, and not as a servant as Salem.
She wanted to be selfish. She wanted to defy orders and run away. She wanted to go back in time and save Jack with everything she had. Wanted to hug him one more time and tell him that she'll always love him, that she'll always be by his side no matter what he asked. Wanted to beg for forgiveness for leaving him alone, for making him shoulder her burden when he didn't want it – he just wanted her to be by his side.
But he wasn't here. No matter how hard she wished it, no matter how hard she dreamt and no matter how many tears she shed, her son was dead. She had outlived him when it was her very intention to give him a full life. The time to reconnect and fix had slipped through her fingers like fine sand, and all that was left was the dust of the life he lived.
She looked at Solid and saw that he needed to live. That he was indeed better. But from the life she lived in Remnant, she had yet to see another that shared the same sentiment. Solid had proved to her that he was better, that he was indeed worth saving.
But Remnant had yet to prove it to her, had yet to show her that they understood the value of life. Had yet to show her that they wouldn't destroy themselves like the world had destroyed her son. After all, if she hadn't rescued Cinder, what would become of her then?
But if there were more people like Solid, more people like her grandson… then perhaps there was a glimmer of chance.
The Boss closed her eyes and lowered her gun. With a shake of her head, she sorrowfully turned around and left Solid laying where he was.
With her back turned to him, she opened a Scroll and contacted all her allies. Devoid of any Joy – but she felt this was what needed to be done. What was necessary to answer the question: was this world truly worth saving?
"I have my answer." She said coldly "Everyone…" The Boss paused, a moment of hesitance – but even so, just to make herself sure. "Engage at will."
The Boss turned off her Scroll and put it back to her pocket. With silent steps yet overwhelming presence, she walked away from Solid, fading from his view as he was left there alone. Some cuts bleeding, some wounds sore and blue, and his arm broken. But his eyes never left The Boss as she walked away, farther and farther until he couldn't see her anymore.
And when The Boss left, and only then, di Solid understand her as well. He closed his eyes and rested on the concrete, sure that help will eventually come – he hadn't stuck with Otacon all these years for nothing, after all – but also wondering what The Boss meant by her call.
And through all of that, he could also finally well and truly understand the pain his father went through. It didn't excuse him, far from that – but it confirmed that, just like he what he took from the last conversation they shared, that his father was human. And despite the chalk-white skin, the larger-than-life presence, and the terrifying skill – so was The Boss.
All done! Thoughts, everything else, leave it in the reviews, and are always appreciated!
Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
Review Responses:
To Gwynx, thanks a lot! And as for now, I hope you're satisfied with what The Boss sees in Solid. Hope you liked it!
To Spyash2, that's coming, and thanks for reading!
To SkullWolfSteam, Kiryu vs Jaune will be coming in the next chapters (either next or the one after it)! Thanks for reading!
To CriticaofRandomness, you'll just have to find out – but you did get one thing right though, Yang's focus will always be Ruby's safety. As always, thanks for reading!
To dourboy97, aww thanks so much for the compliment! I really appreciate it, and I'm glad you enjoyed! Thanks a lot for reading it, even if it was so long ;)!
To SolSparda36, they'll find out, but again, Yang's an adult now, isn't she? She can make her own decisions, and ultimately it'll always be for what she thinks is best, right? As for Kiryu, well, he always was a punch-first questions-later kinda guy, at least to a degree if Daigo's comments in Kiwami 2 aare to believed. Thank you for reading!