Chapter 4

Morning light trickled through the blinds of Kaiser's bedroom, its soft glow piercing the darkness. His eyes flickered open, and he groaned, rubbing the exhaustion from his face. The memories of restless dreams clung to him like cobwebs. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he sighed and pulled on a shirt.

As he stepped into the living room, his gaze fell on Laura, curled up on the couch, her face serene in the early morning light. But even in her sleep, a tension lingered—her brow furrowed, her fists clenched.

Kaiser leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed. Why did I help her? he thought. I promised myself I wouldn't get close to anyone after… him.

The memory clawed at his mind. Screams. Fire. A man's voice, strong yet fading:

"Only you can choose what your power is used for… and set your heart ablaze to accomplish your goals."

Kaiser closed his eyes, his chest tightening as the memory faded. But the sound of movement drew his attention back to Laura.

She was muttering in her sleep, her face twisting in anguish. Tears slipped from her closed eyes as she tossed and turned, her breath hitching.

"Laura…" Kaiser muttered, stepping closer.

Her muttering grew louder, her body writhing as though caught in some unseen struggle. Worried, Kaiser reached out to shake her awake.

"Laura!"

Her eyes snapped open, glowing red like embers, and before he could react, her claws shot out. The cold, sharp metal plunged into his gut.

Kaiser gasped, stumbling back as pain radiated through him.

The glow in Laura's eyes faded, and she blinked, disoriented. Then she saw him—saw the claws embedded in his stomach. Her breath caught, her hands trembling as she pulled them back. Blood dripped from the tips.

"I… I'm sorry," she stammered, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry… They were right. I'll never be anything but a killer."

Kaiser staggered, clutching his wound. But instead of collapsing, he straightened, his voice calm and steady.

"I'm fine."

Laura stared at him, her mouth opening to protest, but then she froze. There was no blood. Where the wound had been, flames flickered and danced, sealing the injury as though it had never been there.

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "H-how…?"

Kaiser smirked, though there was a flicker of sadness behind his expression. "I can turn intangible when I see an attack coming," he explained. "Something I learned a long time ago."

Laura's voice was barely above a whisper. "Who… who taught you?"

His smirk faltered, replaced by a sad, faraway look. "An old friend."

Hours later, the city buzzed with life as Kaiser and Laura walked through the crowded streets of New York. She clung to the shadows, her gaze darting nervously at the people passing by.

They had spent the morning shopping, Kaiser insisting she needed proper clothes. Now, with the last bag in hand, they wandered the streets, searching for a place to eat.

"So," Kaiser said, trying to lighten the mood, "do you know what you want to eat?"

Laura hesitated, her eyes dropping to the sidewalk. "I… I don't know a lot of foods. They only ever gave me bread, meat, and water."

Kaiser's jaw tightened, his fist clenching at his side. But he forced a smile, not wanting to let his anger show. "How about pizza?"

Laura raised an eyebrow. "What's pizza?"

Kaiser grinned. "Follow me."

They stopped at a small restaurant with a faded sign reading Joe's Pizza. As they stepped inside, the scent of fresh dough and melted cheese filled the air.

"PIZZA TIME!" the worker behind the counter called out, grinning widely.

Kaiser chuckled and ordered a pepperoni and sausage pizza. He handed over the cash—just enough to cover the meal—and led Laura outside to wait.

As they left, a brown-haired teenager rushed into the shop.

"PARKER, YOU'RE LATE!" the worker yelled, making Kaiser smirk.

Laura barely noticed. She was staring at the box in Kaiser's hands, curiosity flickering in her usually guarded expression.

Back at the apartment, Laura took her first bite of pizza. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked almost childlike.

"It's… good," she said, her voice filled with quiet wonder. "Really good."

"Told you so," Kaiser said, leaning back with a smug grin.

Laura smirked, a rare lightness in her demeanor. "Guess you did."

The rest of the evening passed in a haze of normalcy—something Laura hadn't known in years. Kaiser introduced her to TV shows, flipping through channels until they landed on one she liked.

When Attack on Titan played, Laura was mesmerized. "Mikasa reminds me of myself," she said after a while, her voice thoughtful.

Kaiser nodded, studying her face. "Yeah. She kind of does."

For a brief moment, the room felt almost safe.

But safety is fleeting.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kaiser and Laura prepared for bed. Just as Kaiser turned to head to his room, Laura surprised him by wrapping her arms around him in a hesitant hug.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For everything."

Kaiser smiled softly, returning the embrace. "It's no problem. No one should have to go through what you did."

They pulled away, their eyes meeting for a lingering moment.

Then Kaiser noticed it—a red dot dancing on his chest.

His gaze snapped to the window. Outside, a figure in a red-and-black suit stood on a nearby rooftop, waving with one hand. In the other, he held a bazooka.

Kaiser's heart stopped.

"GET DOWN!" he shouted, grabbing Laura and pulling her behind the kitchen counter.

The missile hit before they could brace themselves. The explosion ripped through the apartment, sending them both flying as fire and debris consumed the room.