"What? Kid, you're not listening." Cecil told me.
"I'm perfectly fine in my ears, mind you." I responded.
"I'm offering you training, a place where your powers will be appreciated." He told me.
"I'm offering you to please leave me the fuck alone. I thoroughly appreciate MY powers, I don't need your organization or your training. And you're an organization that wants world peace. So keep it, and stay out of my way."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping, losing the last vestiges of patience. "You think you're some kind of lone wolf? Untouchable? You're a pup howling in the dark, drawing every monster in a hundred light-years to your doorstep. We're not trying to stifle you; we're trying to keep you from becoming a goddamn extinction event."
"Hey, I'm not a baby. I know morals, I learnt them myself, but I got a good grip on them." I told him. "If you really want me to, I will not get in your way, I won't use my powers, I won't get fucking involved in any of this bullshit, on the one condition that you stay five kilometers away from wherever I am. I just wanna study, get a degree, get a job and uh build a gaming PC or something."
Cecil's expression remained hard, but a flicker of something akin to calculation crossed his eyes. "Five kilometers? You think you can just… shut off what you are? That power inside you doesn't just go dormant because you want to play video games."
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. "Look, kid, I'm not saying you're a monster waiting to happen. But you're a variable. A wildly unpredictable one. And in our line of work, unpredictability gets people killed. By you, or by whatever else is out there."
He leaned back slightly, a hint of his earlier, more measured tone returning. "That kind of control, the kind you're talking about, it takes discipline. Training. Understanding. You think you have a 'good grip' on your morals, but what happens when something truly horrific crosses your path? Something that makes that lizard at your school look like a bad dream? Will your 'good grip' be enough then?"
He paused, letting the question hang in the air. "The world doesn't work the way you want it to, kid. You don't get to just opt out because you want a quiet life. Not anymore. Not after what happened at that school. You're on the radar now. And ignoring that fact is the most dangerous thing you can do."
He steepled his fingers on the desk, his gaze intense. "Your offer… to stay out of our way… it's tempting. It would certainly simplify things for us. But it doesn't solve the problem of you. You're still out there, untrained, unaware of the true dangers, a walking magnet for trouble."
He considered me for a long moment, his silence heavy. "Here's the reality, kid. We can't just trust you to keep your word. Not with what we've seen. Not with the potential for disaster. So, your condition… it's not something we can agree to unilaterally."
He stood up, the finality in his movements clear. "However… I am willing to offer a compromise. We can give you a secure environment to pursue your studies. Resources to understand your abilities, on your terms, but with guidance. We keep our distance, as you wish, but we are there if… when… things go sideways. Think of it as a very long leash. Five kilometers, if that's what it takes to get you to cooperate."
"Fuck you mean 'long leash'?"
"Let me speak." He held my gaze.
"It means," Cecil continued, his voice firm, "that we provide you with a safe and private residence, within a five-kilometer radius of a designated facility. You will have access to educational materials, resources for your… hobbies, whatever you need to maintain a semblance of the normal life you desire."
He took another step closer, his intensity unwavering. "However, that residence, that five-kilometer zone, will be under our discreet surveillance. We will monitor your activities, not to interfere with your studies or your gaming PC, but to ensure you are upholding your end of the agreement. No public displays of power. No attracting unwanted attention. No getting involved in things that are beyond your understanding."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "The 'long leash' means we respect your desire for space and autonomy, but we also maintain the ability to intervene if necessary. Not breathing down your neck every second, but close enough to prevent a catastrophe."
He gestured towards the one-way mirror again. "Think of it as a safety net, Kaito. For you, and for everyone else. You get your space, your chance at a normal life. We get a degree of assurance that you're not going to accidentally level a city block while trying to overclock your graphics card."
He held my gaze, his expression unreadable. "It's not ideal, for either of us. But it's a compromise. A way for you to have some semblance of the life you want, while also mitigating the very real risks your abilities present. So, Kaito… do we have an understanding about this 'long leash'?"
"The fuck is this bullshit? Discreet surveillance? I want you to stay out of my life and you want to discreetly observe my life? Am I in the Truman Show or something?"
Cecil's lips thinned, a hint of annoyance finally breaking through his professional demeanor. "It's a necessary precaution, Kaito. You've demonstrated a capacity for… significant events. We need to ensure those events don't escalate beyond our ability to manage."
He leaned forward, his voice losing some of its earlier patience. "Look at it this way: you want us to stay five kilometers away. We need to know that staying five kilometers away won't result in a disaster we have to clean up from fifty kilometers out. The surveillance is the verification, the guarantee that you're holding up your end of the bargain."
He gestured around the sterile room. "You think we enjoy setting up elaborate monitoring systems? We do it because we have to. Because the stakes are too high to simply take your word for it and hope for the best."
He paused, his gaze intense. "And no, this isn't some reality TV show. This is about containment and risk assessment. You are a high-risk individual, Kaito. We are offering you a way to live your life with a degree of freedom, but that freedom comes with a level of oversight. It's the price of the power you possess, and frankly, it's a damn sight better than the alternatives we could pursue."
He held my gaze, waiting for my reaction. "So, are you going to keep focusing on the 'Truman Show' aspect, or are you going to consider the fact that this 'bullshit' might be the only way you get what you want – to be left alone?"
*tap* *tap* *tap*
"What do you want me to do? What do you think you can do to me? As far as I can see, I did nothing wrong."
"And what do you think happens whether or not you monitor me? It doesn't change anything. If I really wanted to kill people, I should've killed you a long time ago, from the way that you are irritating me."
Cecil's tapping stopped, his gaze hardening. "That," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "is not a wise thing to say."
He leaned forward, his intensity returning full force. "You think you're in control here? You think your little display of power at the school gives you some kind of leverage? You are mistaken. We have resources, contingencies, and protocols in place for individuals far more powerful and far more dangerous than you."
He paused, his eyes boring into mine. "The fact that you haven't been restrained further speaks to a sliver of hope, a belief that you might be capable of reason. But threats like that? They erode that hope very quickly."
He gestured around the sterile room. "This isn't a negotiation, Kaito. It's an offer. A chance at a life, albeit one with certain… parameters. You can continue to resist, to lash out, to make empty threats, but it won't change the fundamental reality of your situation."
His voice softened slightly. "Think about what you just said. You could have killed me. That's the kind of power you wield. And that's precisely why we need to have this… arrangement."
"Are you fucking retarded? If I WANTED to kill you, I would've done it a long time ago." I told him.
"IF I murdered a bunch of people, yeah, you people have the right to kill me, but that doesn't change a fucking thing, people are dead. Their families are ruined."
Cecil didn't flinch at the insult, his expression remaining a mask of weary authority. "And that, Kaito, is precisely the point. You could have. You possess the capability to inflict irreparable harm. The fact that you haven't... it's appreciated, but it doesn't negate the potential."
He leaned forward, his voice gaining a sharper edge. "You speak of consequences after the fact. We are attempting to prevent those facts from ever occurring. The loss of life, the ruined families... those are the stakes we are dealing with here. And frankly, your current attitude suggests a frightening lack of understanding regarding the responsibility that comes with your power."
"This isn't about punishing you for what you haven't done. It's about safeguarding against what you could do. Your outburst at the school, while perhaps necessary, demonstrated a volatile nature. Combine that volatility with your level of power, and you have a scenario that demands careful management."
He paused, his gaze unwavering. "You talk about what you would do. But until you've faced a truly catastrophic situation, until you've been pushed to your absolute limit, you cannot definitively know what you are capable of. We have seen individuals with similar abilities lose control, with devastating consequences."
His voice softened slightly. "This isn't about treating you like a common criminal. It's about acknowledging the extraordinary nature of your abilities and the potential ramifications. The 'long leash' is a compromise, an attempt to balance your desire for freedom with our responsibility to protect the wider world. You can continue to resist, but understand that our concern isn't just for your actions, but for the very real possibility of unintended devastation."
"Oh my god, what is it with you?! You keep repeating the same thing over and over, again and again, expecting things to change. That is insanity."
Cecil leaned back in his chair, a sigh escaping his lips. "And what is it with you, Kaito? I offer you a-"
I disabled sound waves. He stopped trying to talk, realising it's useless.
"See, this is what I mean. I want no offers, I want to be left alone." I told him.
I held his gaze, a small, defiant smirk playing on my lips. "You can talk all you want, old man. I'm done listening to your threats and your 'compromises'. You want to keep the world safe? Great. Do it without me. Stay five kilometers away, and you won't have to worry about my 'uncontrolled power' or whatever bullshit you keep spouting."
I stood up, the chair scraping against the floor. "I'm done here. You know my terms. If you can't respect them, then whatever happens next is on you." I turned and walked towards the door, not waiting for his response. Whatever the fuck he talks about is not worth my time... I mean, I ain't got shit to do, but who cares.
I walked out the door, looking at the guards in the hallway.
They looked at Cecil, looking for... confirmation, I guess?
"Let him go." He spoke out.
The guards hesitated for a moment, their eyes flicking between me and the closed door behind which Cecil remained. A silent communication seemed to pass between them, a weighing of orders and potential consequences. Finally, one of them gave a nearly imperceptible nod.
They didn't move to impede my path. I took a step forward, and so did they.
"Stop moving." I disabled inertia. "I don't advise it. And tell me where the fuck is the exit."
"What the hell...?" one of them managed to grunt out, his voice tight with panic.
"I suggest you listen very carefully," I said, my voice low and steady, the air around us crackling with the barely contained force of my ability. "I am leaving. You will not try to stop me. You will tell me the quickest way out of this facility. Do we have an understanding?"
Their eyes darted towards the door I had just exited, undoubtedly trying to gauge Cecil's reaction. But he remained unseen. The silence stretched, broken only by the labored breathing of the immobile guards.
Finally, the one who had previously nodded spoke, his voice strained. "Level... three... west wing... main exit..."
"And how do I get there?" I pressed, keeping them locked in place.
"Down this hall... turn left... follow the signs..." he choked out.
I held them for another moment, ensuring they weren't attempting any tricks. The fear in their eyes seemed genuine. With a slow, deliberate movement, I released my hold on their inertia. They stumbled, regaining their footing with a collective gasp.
What's his game plan now?
I get out of here and that's it, right?
We're allowed to be a little optimistic at times.