Chapter Text
The Golden Dawn headquarters was eerily quiet, bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun. Everyone had been sent out on missions, leaving the grand halls empty—except for one person.
William Vangeance sat alone in the library, surrounded by shelves of books and the faint scent of parchment. He exhaled, leaning back in his chair as he finally removed his mask, placing it carefully on the table. The air was warm, and without the suffocating weight of the mask, he could finally breathe freely.
He ran a hand over his face, fingers brushing the scars he rarely allowed anyone to see. This was a rare moment of solitude, one he thought would go uninterrupted.
But then, the door creaked open.
William turned sharply, his heart skipping a beat as his gaze landed on you.
You froze, standing in the doorway with a book in hand, your wide eyes meeting his.
“y/n.” he breathed, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Captain Vangeance?” you said, softly.
For a moment, neither of you moved. The warm hues of the setting sun streamed through the tall windows, casting a golden light on the two of you. William’s first instinct was to reach for his mask, but something about the way you were looking at him made him pause.
You didn’t flinch. Your expression didn’t shift into discomfort or pity. Instead, you stepped forward, setting your book down on the table.
“I’m sorry.” you said gently. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I thought everyone was out on missions.”
William’s throat tightened. “I… thought so too.”
You offered him a small smile, your gaze unwavering as you sat down across from him. “I came back early.” you explained, your tone casual, as if this moment wasn’t extraordinary. “I thought I’d relax here for a while. I didn’t realize you’d be here.”
He nodded, still unsure of what to say. His scarred face felt exposed, vulnerable, but you hadn’t reacted the way he had feared.
After a moment, you spoke again, your voice steady. “You know, this light suits you.”
William blinked, startled. “What?”
“The sunlight.” you said, gesturing to the way it caught the angles of his face. “It makes you look... peaceful.”
A lump formed in William’s throat as he studied you. There was no hesitation in your expression, no trace of the judgment he had grown accustomed to fearing. Instead, there was warmth, genuine and unyielding, in your gaze.
“You’re not bothered?” he asked quietly, his fingers brushing the edges of his mask.
“Why would I be?” you replied simply. “It’s just you, Captain Vangeance.”
It was such a simple statement, yet it held a weight that made William’s chest tighten. For so long, he had hidden behind the mask, letting others see only the perfect leader of the Golden Dawn. But here you were, looking at him as though the scars didn’t matter, as though he was just another person to you.
And in that moment, something shifted within him.
For someone who had always carried the burden of his dual existence, this newfound warmth and acceptance caught him off guard. He realized then how deeply your presence had come to mean to him. You aren't just another squad member. You're someone who saw beyond his scars, someone who didn’t let the world’s expectations dictate your view of him.
The setting sun bathed the room in golden light as you stood to return to the shelves, leaving William sitting in silence, his thoughts spiraling.
For the first time in a long while, his heart felt full—not with duty or burden, but with something far more profound.