Blending In

Chapter 29 – Blending In

Kael-X stood in front of a cracked mirror inside an old, abandoned gas station bathroom. The dim fluorescent light flickered above him, casting shadows over his face. His long, unkempt hair covered most of his features, but that wasn't the real problem—he looked nothing like a human.

His eyes, still burning with an unnatural glow, made him stand out. His skin had healed from the previous battles, but the scars left by Compound-X's enhancements gave him a strange, almost artificial appearance.

He sighed. If he wanted to survive on Earth, he needed to blend in.

Helios sat outside, flipping through a newspaper he had picked up from the streets. "We need to find a real place to stay," he called out. "We can't keep hiding in abandoned buildings forever."

Kael-X ignored him and picked up an old, rusty pair of scissors he found near the sink. He pulled back his hair, staring at his reflection for a moment.

Then, without hesitation, he began cutting.

Strands of jet-black hair fell into the sink. With each snip, his face became more visible. He didn't go too short—he still needed to keep some cover—but at least now, he didn't look like someone who had just walked out of a battlefield.

After finishing, he grabbed some leftover clothes from a supply closet in the station—a simple black hoodie and a pair of jeans. They were slightly oversized, but it was better than walking around in battle-torn armor.

When he stepped out, Helios looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Huh… You actually look normal now."

Kael-X pulled the hood over his head. "That's the goal."

Helios smirked. "Well, you're still walking around like an alien. Try to slouch a little, loosen up. Humans don't move like soldiers all the time."

Kael-X rolled his eyes but tried to relax his posture. It felt unnatural.

Helios laughed. "Yeah, you'll need more practice."

Kael-X looked around. The city was still on high alert after the destruction he had caused. News drones scanned the streets, broadcasting alerts about him.

He clenched his fists. He needed an identity. A cover.

"We need to find a place to settle," he muttered.

Helios nodded. "I know just the place."

With that, they left the gas station, stepping into the world that still saw Kael-X as a villain. But for now, he wasn't Kael-X the destroyer. He was just another face in the crowd.

Kael-X adjusted the hood of his oversized black hoodie as he followed Helios down the street. His newly trimmed hair still fell over his face, obscuring his glowing eyes just enough to avoid drawing attention.

The city was still recovering from the chaos he had caused. Broken roads, shattered glass, and abandoned cars lined the streets. In the distance, helicopters hovered, scanning the area. They were still searching for him.

"Where exactly are we going?" Kael-X asked, his voice low.

Helios kept walking, hands in his pockets. "Somewhere safe. You need to lay low, and I know a guy who can help with that."

Kael-X narrowed his eyes. "And you trust this guy?"

Helios smirked. "Not really, but he owes me a favor."

They walked through the back alleys, avoiding main roads where police patrols and news drones were active. Kael-X noticed the occasional glances from people—fear, curiosity, suspicion. He kept his head down, his hair covering most of his face.

After a few more blocks, they arrived at a small bar tucked between two tall buildings. The neon sign above the entrance flickered weakly: "Jax's Hideout."

Helios knocked twice on the metal door. A small peephole slid open, and a gruff voice asked, "Password?"

Helios grinned. "You still use passwords, Jax? It's me."

The door unlocked, and a muscular man with tattoos covering his arms let them in. His eyes immediately landed on Kael-X, who kept his hood low.

"This him?" Jax asked, his voice cautious.

"Yeah," Helios nodded. "He needs a place to stay. Somewhere off the grid."

Jax studied Kael-X for a moment. "Man, you're all over the news. You're lucky I don't turn you in."

Kael-X said nothing.

Jax shrugged. "Fine. But if anyone comes knocking, you're on your own."

He led them through a back corridor to a hidden basement room. It was small but had everything Kael-X needed—a bed, a bathroom, and a computer terminal.

Kael-X sat down on the bed. Finally, some rest.

Helios clapped his hands. "Alright. Step one: get you out of sight. Step two: figure out our next move."

Kael-X exhaled slowly. For now, he could disappear. But how long would it last?

Kael-X sat on the bed in the dimly lit basement, staring at the old ceiling fan spinning above him. For the first time since arriving on Earth, there was silence. No enemies. No explosions. No battles. Just silence. It felt… strange.

Helios leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "So, what's your plan now? Gonna stay in hiding forever?"

Kael-X didn't respond immediately. He reached up, running a hand through his freshly trimmed but still unkempt hair. It had been years since he last worried about something as simple as appearances. On his homeworld, he had always been in combat. Rest was a luxury he never had.

"I need to understand this world," Kael-X finally said. "Learn its systems, its people. If I'm going to survive here, I have to blend in."

Helios smirked. "You? Blend in? That's gonna be tough with the way you look."

Kael-X pulled the hood further over his head. "Then I'll adapt."

Jax walked in with a plastic bag. "Figured you don't got any Earth clothes, so I grabbed you some basics." He tossed the bag onto the bed. Inside were a few hoodies, dark jeans, and a pair of sneakers.

Kael-X looked at them, unfamiliar with the style. "Is this what humans wear?"

Helios chuckled. "Yeah, pretty much. Put them on. Can't have you walking around looking like some alien warrior."

Kael-X hesitated, then picked up the clothes. After a few minutes, he emerged from the bathroom, now wearing a black hoodie, jeans, and sneakers. The hood was up, his hair still shadowing his face.

Helios nodded in approval. "Not bad. You almost look normal."

Jax wasn't as convinced. "Yeah, except for the fact that he moves like a damn assassin. If you wanna blend in, you need to act more… human."

Kael-X frowned. "How do humans act?"

Jax sighed, rubbing his temples. "We'll start simple. First, you need to learn basic social interactions. Try smiling."

Kael-X stared blankly. "What's the purpose?"

Helios laughed. "Man, this is gonna take a while."

Jax sighed. "Alright, forget smiling. Just try to look… less intense. Relax your posture."

Kael-X adjusted his stance slightly, but his presence still felt unnatural.

"This is hopeless," Jax muttered. "Fine, let's try something else. Ever used a phone before?"

Kael-X shook his head.

Jax pulled out an old smartphone and handed it to him. "Welcome to the modern world. That's a phone. It's how people communicate."

Kael-X examined the device, tapping the screen experimentally. The glow of the display reflected in his eyes. Technology here was primitive compared to what he was used to, but it was functional.

Helios leaned closer. "You'll need one if you're gonna blend in. Learn how to use it. Search things up. Act like a regular guy."

Kael-X nodded. If he wanted to survive on Earth, he needed to understand how humans lived.

For now, the battlefield was no longer in the streets. It was in learning how to exist in this world.