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It was an excessively hot day at Mother Base, the midday sun shining down while the humidity made the air suffocating, the scent of the sea breeze surrounding them. Commander Miller was looking for Venom, who was nowhere to be seen. Miller asked a nearby soldier,
“Soldier! Where’s the Boss?” he said, still scanning the area.
“Commander Miller! The Boss is at the medical platform with Quiet and the children,” the soldier answered, standing at attention.
Miller was surprised.
“Doing what? The children should be in the mess hall eating at this hour, and the Boss has a mission in an hour!” Miller said brusquely, more to himself than to the soldier.
The soldier stiffened and began stammering incoherent phrases.
“Commander... the Boss... he’s playing with Quiet and the children... at the medical platform... with the water guns... developed by the R&D team...” The soldier seemed genuinely terrified to continue, seeing Miller’s increasingly angry expression. But Miller said nothing, left the soldier standing there without dismissing him, and headed straight for the medical platform. Miller had quite a speech prepared for Venom.
When Miller got close to the medical platform, he could hear laughter and children’s shouting from afar—something unusual at Mother Base. Miller felt annoyed by the noise and reached Quiet’s cell area noisily, his cane striking harder than usual against the floor of the platform. Before he could reveal his presence, chaos broke out—the children scattered, and there was no trace of Venom or Quiet.
Miller was left alone, the tense silence pressing around him. His eyes, hidden by sunglasses, scanned for suspicious movement. He heard something behind him, but before he could turn around, yelling children appeared, surrounding him and pointing what seemed to be water guns at him.
“Don’t you dare—!” Miller began to bark.
Too late. He was showered with water from all sides. Miller had no idea how long it lasted, and he didn’t move. He stood there until, consumed by rage, he slammed his cane to the ground with all the force he had, producing a thunderous noise.
The children stopped. Silence fell. Miller was soaked from head to toe, his glasses slipping down his nose. He uttered a single word of warning, low and severe:
“Children…”
A deep, baritone laugh cut his fury short. Venom was approaching with Quiet following close behind, both armed with water guns.
“Excellent work, kids, that was a real ambush,” Venom said, as the children turned to him smiling.
“Boss!? What…!?” Miller started to demand what the hell they were doing, but Venom cut him off.
“Commander Miller, I’m following your advice. You said this place isn’t for angels. But as long as they’re here, it’s only right that they play as well as study. They’re children, after all,” Venom said, always wearing that half-smile that more than once had made Miller’s heart skip a beat.
“Boss… I…” Miller, still dripping wet, didn’t know what to say. It was Quiet, standing silently behind Venom, who triggered him: she made an intense gesture to Venom, their private language only they understood. That set something off in Miller—pure jealousy—and he lashed out at Venom.
“The children are my responsibility, Boss. They must follow a program, and at this hour, they should be eating and then studying,” Miller said, deadly serious.
“And Boss, in less than an hour you’ve got a mission… this place isn’t a damn daycare!” he said scornfully, glaring at Venom.
Venom looked surprised, struck by the contempt in Miller’s tone, while Quiet first cast Venom an apologetic glance and then turned a look of hostility on Miller.
“Children! Back to the Command Platform. Lunch, then study—that’s an order!” Miller barked.
The children stood at attention, staring at him terrified, as if he had lost his mind.
“You, soldier! Escort them back to the Command Platform!” Miller ordered a nearby soldier.
“Yes, sir! … Come on kids, let’s go!”
The children looked at Venom, who said nothing but gave them a nod to obey. They followed the soldier reluctantly.
Left alone, Miller once again reminded Venom to get ready for the mission, but Venom hesitated.
“Commander Miller, I asked Ocelot to postpone the mission. I have things to do,” Venom said, serious and formal.
Miller was stunned.
“Why wasn’t I informed? May I know what you have to do?” Miller asked, irritated.
Venom seemed hesitant to answer, but then replied in the same formal tone,
“CQC training session with Quiet.”
Miller nearly had a fit. He tightened his grip on his cane, feeling the anger ready to explode again.
“Seriously!?” Miller said, almost laughing.
“Yes, Commander Miller. And if you have nothing else to tell me, I’d like to begin now.” With that, he signaled Quiet to follow him onto the flooring above her cell. Quiet, unseen by Venom, stuck her tongue out at Miller.
Miller was furious, but he wanted to stay, so he stepped aside and positioned himself a short distance away in the shade.
Quiet gestured to Venom to wait and vanished like lightning, while Venom nodded his consent. Miller had no idea what Quiet was planning, but he found out soon enough: loud music suddenly blasted from the speakers scattered around the medical platform.
Miller cursed.
With Quiet now back, Venom gave her a small smile and signaled her to get into position.
Miller was too caught up in his jealousy to notice Ocelot’s arrival and nearly jumped when he heard him.
“Commander Miller, was it really necessary to scare the children like that? It was just water,” Ocelot mocked, glancing at Miller’s drenched clothes.
Miller didn’t turn to look at him and muttered under his breath.
“Was it necessary to delay the Boss’s departure for this?” he snapped, gesturing with contempt toward Quiet.
Ocelot rolled his eyes.
“That was the Boss’s request, and I saw no reason to refuse,” Ocelot said matter-of-factly.
“And the children?! Why wasn’t I informed of the change in schedule? They shouldn’t be wandering freely around the base—especially here, with that… thing!” Miller now glared at Quiet with pure hatred.
Ocelot could sense the contempt in Miller’s gaze, even beneath his sunglasses.
“That was also the Boss’s request. It’ll be good for the children. And you know full well Quiet would never harm them,” Ocelot said sternly.
“I don’t care! You can’t trust that thing!” Miller exclaimed.
Ocelot sighed and looked toward Venom and Quiet as they trained.
“Damn music!” Miller shouted as the lyrics of the song filled the air.
Venom pulled a CQC move, locking Quiet in close against him, sweat beginning to run down his body.
Miller kept watching them, and a storm of emotions hit him. He fell into a daze, focusing on Venom.
Ooh, babe
Oh moonlight, cool angel, be on us tonight
Oh baby, pretty baby, I'm wild for you alright
You want sunlight, you get moonlight
Splendor in the past
The sun lit Venom’s features—so similar yet so different from the real Boss—while Miller, in the shadows, tugged at his tie, the heat making it harder to breathe.
Kiss of lip, oh baby, conceive your passion
Ooh, born to us tonight, oh
Venom bit his lip as Quiet resisted and struck him. The scar stood out on his lip, and Miller thought about what it would feel like under his own lips—but he pushed the thought away.
It’s too damn hot, he thought.
Hold me tight, babe, treat me right, babe
So deep and hot tonight, yeah
Oh baby, pretty baby, I'll make it last all night
Quiet threw Venom to the ground and straddled him. Venom barely resisted, but with a thrust of his hips, he bucked Quiet off, almost making her cry out. Miller gripped his cane tighter.
Soul standing by
I'm gonna be there anytime
I'm gonna be there if you cry
Anytime, any way, any how, right now
Are you ridin' high?
Well, I'm ridin' high
Soul standin' by, soul standin' by
Oh, I'm ridin' high, well, I'm ridin' high
Soul standin' by, soul standin' by
Soul standin' by, yeah I'll never die
Guitar!
This time, Venom pinned Quiet’s hands and straddled her, sweat dripping from his face. Quiet frowned at him, then gave a sudden twist of her hips that flipped Venom onto his back.
Venom laughed at her strength, and Miller thought it had been a long time since someone had made Venom laugh like that.
Yeah baby, she said
Ooh baby, ooh love me, come on and love me
Yes, invade me
Row your boat, baby, through my water
Ooh, out into my light, oh
Hold me, sunlight, come on me, moonlight
So deep and so wide
Seek you here, baby
Be-ah-uh baby, in my arms all night
Quiet pulled Venom back to his feet, and they resumed sparring. Miller could see Venom’s muscles contracting, scars standing out against his tanned skin like pale branches, his chest heaving quickly. Miller caught himself desiring him—wanting to trace those scars with his hand.
He shoved the thought away. It was wrong.
Soul standing by
Yes, I'll be there anytime
Yes, I'll be there if you cry
Anywhere, any how, anytime, right now
Are you ridin' high?
Well, I'm ridin' high
Soul standin' by, soul standin' by
Oh, I'm ridin' high
Well, I'm ridin' high
Soul standin' by, soul standin' by
Oo, I'm ridin' high, well, I'm ridin' high
Soul standin' by, soul standin' by
Yeah, ridin' high
Another move, and Quiet stumbled into Venom’s arms. He caught her, holding her close. For a moment, they looked into each other’s eyes.
Miller felt the anger rising again.
The two separated, awkwardly breaking eye contact.
Soul standin' by, soul standin' by
Soul standin' by, ow, I'll never die
Soul standin' by, oh yeah
Soul standin' by, no tears you cry
Ooh yeah, oh yeah
Ooh baby, ooh, love me
Ooh baby, oh inside me
Come on, come on baby, come on love me
We splendor in the night
Realization hit Miller—jealousy, desire, and anger colliding inside him. He felt disgusted with himself, let out a sound of contempt, and stormed off toward his quarters. He’d had enough.
Ocelot noticed.
“Miller?!”
No reply.
Ocelot watched him walk away quickly, head lowered. Ocelot sighed.
“Ah, jealousy…”
The music stopped. Venom looked for Miller, but couldn’t find him.
***
The sound of the bionic hand echoed against the door of Miller’s quarters. Miller didn’t want to see Venom, but he allowed him inside—because if he kept avoiding him with anger and silence, he risked giving himself away.
Venom stepped in, still drenched in sweat from training, while Miller, in just a tank top, froze as he realized his stump was fully exposed. Panic began to rise inside him. He hated being seen like that—that was why, even in the heat, he usually covered himself with layers of clothing.
Venom seemed to sense his discomfort, but said nothing.
“Boss, do you need something?” Miller asked, averting his eyes.
“I wanted to apologize,” Venom said, standing still in the center of the room.
Miller didn’t understand.
“For what, Boss? The kids’ ambush? I’d suspected something, it wasn’t entirely unexpected,” Miller said, a little embarrassed.
Venom let out a short laugh.
“No, Commander Miller. I want to apologize for not telling you. I know how much you care about having everything under control. It won’t happen again. The children—”
“It’s fine. You don’t need to apologize… and the kids, it’s right that they play. Water guns or not—it’s better than holding real ones, isn’t it?” Miller said, feeling stupid for having gotten so angry and scaring the children.
Venom scrutinized him with his single eye, as if trying to dig into his head.
Miller grew uncomfortable, until Venom spoke again.
“Then where’s all this anger coming from, Commander Miller?”
Miller froze. He couldn’t say anything, and he didn’t want to.
Venom continued, receiving no answer.
“Anyway, it was Quiet’s idea. We all have blood on our hands, but the children are off-limits. You said it yourself—they don’t have a natural talent for this…”
“Then that thing has a heart!” Miller spat through his teeth, full of scorn.
Venom stiffened, then slowly stepped closer to Miller.
“So the problem is Quiet?”
“Yes, Boss… I don’t accept that you brought her here, and I never will!” Miller shouted now, his anger directed at Venom.
Venom’s face darkened, and for a moment Miller could feel the essence of the real Big Boss, as if Venom wasn’t there anymore.
Miller didn’t back down—he moved toward him, seeking confrontation.
“The real Boss would have put a bullet in her head!” Miller said with contempt.
Venom lunged at him and caught him in the classic CQC hold he reserved for interrogating soldiers in the field. Miller cursed.
Venom’s hot breath brushed Miller’s ear. Miller stiffened and struggled, but he couldn’t break free of the hold. Then suddenly, Venom released him—only to pull him into an embrace.
Miller was stunned by the sudden shift, while Venom let out a defeated sigh.
“I’m sorry… again. I can still feel it in my mind… I have reactions that aren’t mine. The hypnotherapy… Ocelot,” Venom said, holding him close, almost vulnerable.
Miller understood the implications of what Venom wasn’t saying, but he didn’t want to make the phantom uncomfortable after everything about the truth had come to light. He tried to lighten the mood.
“Then you should’ve put a bullet in Ocelot’s head—that would’ve been just like you,” Miller said sarcastically. He could feel Venom smile, even without seeing it, as the man kept holding him tight.
Miller slapped his hand against Venom’s, which rested on his chest. The contact was too intimate for Miller.
“Boss… please… let me go… I…”
Venom immediately pulled away and gave him no chance to say more, dismissing himself and leaving Miller alone in his room.
Miller thought Venom’s embrace was nothing but camaraderie. He knew how much regard Venom had for him—always kind, as if Miller were fragile and precious. But Miller believed it was only guilt: many times, without saying it, he had felt Venom’s unspoken regret for not having reached him in Afghanistan before he was so brutally wounded in body and soul.
For a moment, Miller thought Venom’s gesture was real affection. But then he remembered what had happened between Venom and Quiet. Jealousy struck him again. He pushed the thought away—he had to keep control. He would find a way.
***
“Ocelot, I need help… Miller… he’s been acting strange lately. He still hasn’t accepted Quiet… and I don’t think he’s gotten over… everything that happened…” Venom’s voice on the tape recorder sounded almost pleading.
“Boss… V… I think you’re asking the wrong person. You know Miller and I… don’t get along—or at least, Miller can’t stand me. I don’t think I can do much about his outbursts. The one who can do something is you, Boss.” Ocelot’s voice echoed in the small recorder, hesitant at the request.
“Exactly, the Boss… but that’s not me. We both know that… Adam… I’m asking you as a personal favor,” Venom said, sounding defeated.
“Venom… I… fine, I’ll try to talk to him.
If we don’t kill each other in the process…” Ocelot said resignedly.
“You wouldn’t, Ocelot… you made me a promise. His safety, in exchange for my loyalty to the Boss’s cause,” Venom said now, deadly serious.
“So it will be. I owe you that… I’ll let you know,” Ocelot replied.
The recording ended, the tape stopped spinning.
***
It was late at night. Miller had brought work back to his quarters. He was exhausted, his arm and leg ached, but sleep would not come. It would be another sleepless night. Just as he was about to lie down on his bed, he heard a knock.
Miller immediately thought of Venom, wishing to apologize. But to his great disappointment, he found himself staring instead at the impatient, haughty face of Ocelot.
“What do you want?!” Miller barked.
Ocelot didn’t answer immediately—he simply walked past him and entered without an invitation, carrying a bulky bundle in his arms.
“Hey! Who the hell said you could come in?” Miller’s anger was already rising, but Ocelot still didn’t look at him, placing the bundle on his desk with a heavy, metallic sound.
“What the hell! Are you planning on keeping quiet forever?” Miller snapped, irritated, stepping closer to Ocelot.
“Miller, we need to talk… Boss’s orders,” Ocelot said seriously.
Miller flinched at the name, and Ocelot noticed, quickly correcting himself.
“Not him… Venom,” Ocelot said, watching him.
“About what? And why send you, of all people?” Miller had no intention of talking to Ocelot.
“Sit down, Miller. This will take a while.” Ocelot often addressed Miller with the tone of an impatient parent, as if to a child, which only made Miller angrier.
“Just talk already!”
Now Ocelot fixed him with a serious stare, dropping his falsely calm demeanor.
“Venom is worried about you… he thinks you haven’t gotten over what happened—the truth… Quiet, Afghanistan. But Venom is wrong about that. The truth, Miller, is that you’re jealous because you want the Boss all to yourself.”
Ocelot said it in the same tone he used when interrogating Huey: half scorn, half satisfaction.
Miller froze at Ocelot’s words, realizing exactly what he was insinuating. He let his cane drop and lunged at Ocelot, grabbing him by the scarf around his neck.
“You son of a bitch! How dare you think I’d have such ideas about Venom?!”
Miller couldn’t admit what he felt, but the fact that Ocelot knew it unsettled him deeply.
Ocelot didn’t resist—he simply grasped Miller’s wrist gently, mindful of the promise he had made to Venom.
“How do you think I felt, when you and the Big Boss played house in Costa Rica…?” Ocelot’s voice carried a clear note of jealousy.
Miller froze, loosening his grip, and Ocelot continued.
“Wouldn’t it be easier just to admit what you feel? To love the legend—or his double… what’s so wrong with that?” Ocelot now squeezed Miller’s wrist.
“Bullshit! If you think I’m a f—! You’re dead wrong!” Miller tightened his grip on the scarf. Ocelot let him do it, not fighting back. He began to choke, gasping, until Miller, realizing it, released him.
Ocelot staggered back, coughing, fighting for breath. Miller stared at him, bewildered, while Ocelot composed himself, chuckling.
“What the hell are you laughing at, you damn pervert?!” Miller snarled through clenched teeth.
Rubbing his neck, Ocelot gave him a mocking look, still coughing, and went to the desk. He unwrapped the bundle, revealing a prosthetic hand. Miller didn’t understand.
“Now, if you’re done yelling at me, Commander Miller, I’d like you to wear this. Every day, I’ll teach you how to use it, to maneuver it, and—”
“Like hell you will. Forget it!” Miller cut him off.
Ocelot pressed on, undeterred.
“You need to overcome your pain, Commander. Venom did it… the fallen soldiers, the diamonds… And this is Venom’s request. He holds you in high regard, Commander Miller—more than simple camaraderie…” Ocelot left the implication hanging in the air before continuing.
“It’s up to you to find the courage beyond your pain.”
With that, he left, leaving Miller lost in his thoughts.
***
Venom returned from the mission with Quiet and decided to land on the medical platform. The sunset lights bathed Mother Base, and after greeting Pequod and followed by Quiet, Venom noticed Miller surrounded by the children. Venom felt an explosion of warmth in his chest when he heard Miller’s laughter—genuine and beautiful. The children, always cautious around Miller, now looked at him with curious, smiling eyes. Venom froze, with Quiet stopping just behind him as they both observed the scene.
Miller was animatedly explaining what seemed to be a new prototype of water gun.
“Our R&D team developed this especially for you. Make good use of it and let me know… and remember, if you’re going to tag the sniper, keep in mind he’s got eyes everywhere, and the Boss… well, the Boss… you’d better run as fast as you can after you hit him… and—”
The kids turned their heads toward Venom and Quiet. Miller, following their gaze, jumped to attention while Venom’s mock-severe voice called him out.
“Commander Miller!”
“Boss!?” Miller exclaimed, caught by surprise.
“What are you conspiring about?” Venom kept asking, pretending to be serious, trying not to laugh while feeling Quiet’s gaze on him. She too seemed to play along.
“N-Nothing… we… Boss… kids… you’re dismissed!” Miller barked, and the children scattered at lightning speed.
The three of them remained. Miller looked tense and embarrassed, but then Venom started laughing, his genuine laughter making Miller flush red, though it also struck him deeply. Quiet understood what was happening and, with a glance, excused herself, heading back to her cell.
Left alone, Venom wanted to speak to Miller, but the spell was broken as Miller gave him a curt nod, his face darkening, and walked away, leaving Venom alone.
“Kazuhira! We need to talk.” Venom couldn’t take Miller’s attitude anymore. He chased his second-in-command into the medical platform as Miller entered the very room where Venom used to have visions of Paz. Miller had ordered it built after discovering that Venom kept visiting the area, convinced he was in a room with a resurrected Paz. He said it would make the illusion more real, and Venom had thanked him for it.
Now in the real room, Miller stopped with his back turned. Venom, slightly out of breath from running, grabbed his arm, wanting Miller to look at him.
“Kaz… don’t run from me…” Venom said, still panting.
Miller yanked his arm away, glaring at him, and Venom released his grip.
“Boss… I’ve decided to leave Diamond Dogs. I can’t keep doing this…” Miller said, refusing to look at him, his voice unsteady.
Venom’s heart skipped a beat at his words. A void opened in his chest—the same emptiness he’d felt when he’d lost his arm, his identity, Paz, and everything else.
It took him a moment to respond. He didn’t know whether to allow Miller’s request or hold onto him with any excuse, out of sheer selfishness and desire. But what came out instead was only a question:
“Kaz… why?”
Miller seemed unwilling to answer, but then, to Venom’s great surprise, he yielded. He confessed, looking at him almost pleadingly, with an expression full of unspoken apologies.
“Boss… V… I can’t do this anymore… staying close to you… pretending nothing’s there. Believe me when I say I despise myself for what I feel, but it’s the truth… Ocelot came to me… he said it would be easier to admit it than deny it…”
Then Miller stopped, pulling off his sunglasses with a trembling hand, openly meeting Venom’s eyes.
“I feel something for you… beyond mere camaraderie… friendship… It’s not because you resemble the real Boss. It’s because you are you… I can’t stand it anymore…”
Looking devastated, Miller tried to slip past Venom to leave the room, to run away once again. But Venom was quick, seizing him and pulling him into a tight embrace. Miller stiffened at the touch, trembling.
“Kaz… don’t run… it’s alright, you don’t have to go…” Venom whispered, holding him tighter.
Miller let out a bitter laugh.
“Boss, you just pity me…”
Venom interrupted him, brushing his lips against Miller’s cheek.
“It’s the same for me… if you’re leaving because of this, know that you don’t have to. But if you want to… you’re free, Kazuhira…”
Venom then looked at him, and this time Miller relaxed under his touch, though still appearing defeated.
“Kaz, look at me…” Venom pulled back slightly, holding Miller’s shoulders so he would face him.
“…I don’t know how to do this…” Miller kept his gaze lowered. Venom smiled softly, understanding what he meant.
“Kaz… let me lead. We’ll learn together,” Venom said gently, wordlessly asking Miller’s permission to go further. Miller gave in, and Venom helped him out of his clothes. He laid Miller down on the bed—on that bed where once Paz’s ghost had haunted Venom with guilt.
Miller felt vulnerable under Venom’s touch, refusing to look, embarrassed by the state of his body. Venom noticed, and stripping off his own clothes, drew Miller’s attention by straddling him.
“Kaz… tell me what you want. Just one word and I’ll stop.” Venom’s chest heaved with his accelerated breath.
Miller rushed to answer, not wanting Venom to think he didn’t desire this, though shame weighed heavily on him.
“V… I want it… I—my body…” Miller trailed off, holding his breath, tense.
Venom understood. He took Miller’s hand and guided it to map the scars along his body. Miller trembled slightly, remembering how he’d longed to do this while watching Venom and Quiet spar. His fingers traced Venom’s scars, guided by Venom’s hand, as Venom described them, recalling the words of the doctor in Cyprus who had treated him—killed later by Quiet. A sharp pang of guilt and pain struck Venom as he remembered.
“Here, near the heart… shrapnel… bones… maybe… from Paz…”
Miller stopped tracing his skin and pulled Venom’s hand to his lips, kissing it delicately.
“Boss, we’re not made for paradise, are we?” he said with a sly smile, as if to drive away Venom’s pain, before taking Venom’s fingers into his mouth.
Venom reacted by leaning closer, whispering with desire,
“Kaz…”
He pulled his fingers free and leaned down, kissing Miller deeply, running his hands through his hair. Miller moaned into the kiss, their erections pressing together. They lingered like that for a while before breaking apart for air.
Venom, his face flushed, sat up on Miller, earning a small whimper of protest. Venom chuckled lowly at this, while Miller stared at him, aroused and embarrassed.
“Patience, Kaz…” Venom said, taking Kaz’s hand and wordlessly asking something of him.
“I want you to accept yourself, Kaz… I’m not asking you to do it right away. I just want you to try and appreciate yourself the way I do…”
Miller’s heart skipped at Venom’s words, sighing with a mix of disdain for his own body and aching desire. Venom gently brushed his missing, scarred arm with reverence, making Miller gasp in both want and vulnerability.
Then Venom took Miller’s hand, guiding it along his own body. Miller understood Venom’s intent—that he wanted Miller to touch himself—and with a mix of anticipation and arousal, he complied, running his hand along his scars, across his chest, always with Venom guiding him, until reaching his center. They hesitated for a moment, but it was Miller who led, looking at Venom with hunger as he began stroking himself. Venom released his hand as Miller gained confidence, murmuring with desire.
“Boss… V…”
Venom cupped Miller’s face, stroking his cheek with his thumb while Miller continued, moaning. Venom couldn’t resist anymore, kissing Miller again, nibbling, leaving small kisses on his heaving chest.
“Boss… touch me… please,” Miller begged.
Venom didn’t hesitate.
“Kaz…”
He lay down on Miller, bracing himself with his bionic arm so as not to crush him, and wrapped his hand around both of them. Miller moaned, grabbing Venom’s hair and pulling his forehead close to his own.
“Boss… I… I can’t…” Miller panted under the touch, his body shuddering.
“Kaz… let go…”
Miller dragged his tongue across Venom’s scarred lips and came with a shout. Venom followed soon after, collapsing on top of him, kissing his neck as waves of pleasure tore through him.
They stayed like that for a while. Venom lay at Miller’s side, pressing soft kisses to his face, while Miller allowed himself to be cradled in that tenderness.
***
The spurs on Ocelot’s boots echoed across the medical platform as the sun lit up the area where Quiet resided. Everything was calm, and Ocelot decided his patrol was finished—but maybe it was too calm. Something felt off. Maybe it was the absence of the music that usually blasted 24/7, or the total lack of guards at that hour. Whatever it was, Ocelot sensed small shadows darting quickly around him.
It was hot, he was tired, and maybe he just needed sleep. He started toward the Intel platform, but a sudden shout made him jolt. A group of children appeared in front of him, armed with water guns, led by Commander Miller, who wore a wicked grin and was holding balloons.
“Miller! What the hell are you up to?” Ocelot said, irritated by Miller’s poor excuse of an ambush and refusing to play along.
“I don’t have time to play games with you… and Miller, since when are you part of this?” Ocelot mocked.
Miller replied, still smiling but with deadly seriousness.
“Am I?… You mean are we?”
“Yes… you and the kids… and—” Ocelot didn’t finish. A splash of colored paint, about the size of a walnut, smacked him right in the forehead. Another hit his boot, while a third missed and splattered across the floor.
“What the hell?…” Ocelot exclaimed, bewildered and annoyed.
A loud laugh rang out behind him.
Venom had arrived, casting a knowing look at Miller—a look Ocelot didn’t miss.
“Boss?!… Don’t tell me—”
Quiet appeared too, carrying a sniper rifle modified to fire paint rounds.
“Nice shot, Quiet. Dead center. If it were real, you’d be dead, Ocelot,” Miller taunted.
Quiet gave a shy nod at Miller’s compliment, and Venom chided him good-naturedly.
“Not in front of the kids, Kaz…”
Ocelot looked indignant, colored paint dripping down his forehead.
“Boss… is this really necessary? And that rifle… where the hell did it come from?”
“The R&D team has leveled up to Grade 3… until the other guns are ready, we’ll be using these…” Miller’s sunglasses darkened as he slammed his crutch down and barked,
“Kids! Positions!”
“Miller! You can’t be serious…?!” Ocelot’s alarm grew.
“Oh, I’m dead serious, Ocelot…” Miller said with a grin.
“Fire!”
Ocelot was attacked from all sides as water rained down on him.
Then Miller commanded,
“Retreat, kids!” And the children bolted, screaming and laughing.
Venom and Quiet laughed too, at the twitch of nervous irritation twisting Ocelot’s face.
Ocelot said nothing. With an indignant look, he strode up to Miller and, with paint still clinging to his gloves, smeared it across Miller’s face.
Miller didn’t move. Venom and Quiet held their breath, waiting—but then the silence broke with Miller’s laughter. Ocelot stood stunned, expecting rage instead.
“Miller…?”
Miller grabbed Ocelot, trying to smear even more paint on him.
“Miller! Damn it… have you lost your mind?” Ocelot protested.
Venom laughed, while Quiet hummed; Venom thought Ocelot didn’t deserve a prank—after all, it had been him who had brought Venom and Miller closer.
But he could still enjoy Ocelot’s anger a little, after all.