Val

As you know, the Crossroads was never quiet, but there were moments where it settled just enough for arguments to become noticeable instead of background noise, and Subspace stood in the middle of one of those moments as if the argument was irrelevant to his existence. Gamma graft anchored beside him, its presence rigid, calculated and focused.

"Who do you think you are, acting like you run everything?” The Inphernal snapped at him, stepping closer.

Subspace didn’t even look at them. "Oh but it does. You just don’t get how it works.”

The response only made things worse. The voices rose, and the tension of the atmosphere sharpened. A crowd started forming not because it was interesting, but because it was about to become a problem.

As the moment tension spiked toward something physical, the air shifted fast, and sharp as Ban Hammer dropped into the space between them, wings flashing into existence for half a second before vanishing again, instantly freezing everyone in place.

“Alright, that's enough,” he announced, almost dramaticaly, like he was putting on a performance for an invisible audience, his voice carrying with confident finality.

The other inphernal flinched instantly, pride collapsing under the weight of his presence as they backed off quickly, muttering in frustration while Ban Hammer’s posture straightened like he’d just proven a point to the entire Crossroads. Subspace didn’t even acknowledge the warden, only tilting his head slightly and saying, “You always interfere when something goes wrong, don't you?”

Ban Hammer turned his head slightly toward him, smirking faintly as he folded his arms and said "Yeah? Looks like its my concern now.” while stepping just a fraction closer,Gamma immediately shifted in response, tightening its stance between them as if refusing to let that distance become into Ban Hammer’s advantage.

Subspace didn’t even glance at the adjustment, only replied instantly, “It doesn’t matter how you see it, you don’t affect what'll come next.' While taking a controlled half step forward that erased what little space Banhammer had just claimed, not even hinting at backing down

He let out a short laugh, leaning forward slightly as if he enjoyed the pressure of it, lowering his voice and saying, "You’ve got this whole "already on top" thing going on, don’t you?” while deliberately stepping sideways, forcing Subspace to either match him or break alignment, like he was testing how far he could push without touching.

“Assuming there’s a "top" to begin with?" Subspace said, stepping forward in perfect lockstep with Banhammer like the idea of being displaced was beneath consideration. "Well,I don’t operate within that idea.”

The crowd around them had gone quiet now, not because the conflict ended, but because it clearly wasn’t about the conflict anymore. Banhammer noticed first, glancing only briefly at the surrounding space before saying, “Alright, well that’s a fancy way of saying "on top". while gesturing loosely back toward the now absent inphernal, his tone still light but his stance planted firmly like he had no intention of giving ground.

Subspace answered by stepping closer again, Gamma pressing forward with him like an extension of will, and said “Still, I didn’t escalate anything. I just addressed their mistake.” as if the outcome had been predetermined the moment he spoke.

Well... it wasn’t exactly the first time they’d ended up like this. They both knew how it went by now, Banhammer stepping in like he belonged in the middle of whatever was happening, Subspace not moving back even when it would’ve been easier for both of them refusing to adjust just to make things smoother. It had happened enough times that neither of them reacted to the familiarity of it anymore,just continued as if this was how conversations between them naturally settled when no one else was involved.

Then Banhammer leaned forward slightly, closing distance instead of allowing it to exist, and said, “You were about to make that a bigger problem than it had to be“ while shifting one foot forward to tighten the space again, refusing to let Subspace dominate the line between them. Subspace immediately matched the movement, chin lifting slightly as he replied, “That depends on your standards” while Gamma subtly raised with him, as if even his posture refused the idea of backing down.

He then smirked faintly at that and said, “Yeah, not if I’m the one dealing with it,” while stepping sideways again, trying to unsettle the symmetry, forcing Subspace to follow or lose control of positioning. Subspace mirrored instantly, Gamma sliding with him like it had no concept of separation, and replied, “You always show up uninvited more often than necessary,” while stepping forward again into Banhammer’s space instead of reacting to it, “and continue operating on without full understanding.”

Banhammer stopped stepping for a moment, then leaned in slightly, voice lowering as he said, “I knew enough to wrap it up” while deliberately shifting his weight forward again, crowding Subspace just enough to make the statement physical. Subspace didn"t move back didn’t even acknowledge the pressure, then said, "You handled the obvious part, not what’s actually wrong.” While stepping forward again, so Gamma followed seamlessly, eliminating any suggestion of retreat entirely.

Ban Hammer let out a short breath of amusement, like he was enjoying the sheer refusal in front of him, and said, “You always like this, or just when someone else is right?” while lifting a hand slightly before letting it fall again, like even bothering to gesture felt pointless when neither of them was backing down. Subspace replied instantly, “I’m not going to be wrong just to keep things simple.” Gamma was tightening its frame like it was analyzing Banhammer as much as Subspace was.

Banhammer stepped forward again until the space between them felt almost compressed, and said, “That’s a long way of saying you don’t know when to stop,” while Subspace matched his step once again, without hesitation and replied, “Well, there's no stopping, I, Subspace T. Mine.” Welp, neither of them is allowing the other to define the boundary between them.

A silence stretched, thick enough that even the surrounding noise felt distant, both of them occupying the same shrinking space like neither would allow the other to claim it alone. Banhammer finally said, quieter now, “You’re still leaking,” (The Rot) while glancing briefly at Subspace’s condition without stepping back, and Subspace responded by stepping forward just slightly and saying, “I know.”

Banhammer leaned in a fraction more, voice low but steady as he said, “Knowing doesn’t fix it,” while subtly shifting again to maintain pressure without breaking the rhythm between them. Subspace replied instantly, stepping forward in kind, “It doesn’t need fixing.” while Gamma moved with him so fluidly it felt like there was never any separation to begin with.

Banhammer exhaled sharply and said, “You always talk like you’ve already got it handled,” while shifting his weight forward again, refusing to let the exchange settle. Subspace answered immediately, “Because I do” while stepping forward one last time so neither of them had space left to yield without making it obvious.

They stood there now, locked, too close for the argument to still feel like an argument, both refusing to be the one to break first. Banhammer finally said quietly, “You really don’t step back, do you.” while Subspace replied just as quietly, “And you don’t really know when to stay out of it,” neither breaking eye contact, neither giving the other the satisfaction of retreat.

Then Subspace turned slightly, not stepping back but rotating as if the decision to leave was beneath negotiation, and said, “You are still in my way,” while Banhammer shifted just enough to allow passage without conceding anything, replying, “You always say that like it matters,” as Subspace walked past without looking back, Gamma following from behind in perfect synchronization.

Banhammer called after him without turning, voice lighter again but quieter than before, ““You’re gonna burn yourself out like that,” while Subspace replied without stopping, “I will not” and Banhammer remained still as he watched him disappear into the noise, saying under his breath, almost like a thought he didn’t mean to share, “Yeah… sure,” while still not moving for a moment longer than necessary, like leaving would mean admitting the space between them mattered more than it should have.

Banhammer didn’t come to Blackrock because he expected anything in particular. It was framed as routine oversight, something he could explain without thinking too hard about it, though the way he moved through Blackrock made it obvious he wasn’t really checking anything, he already knew exactly where he was headed... Subspace was in the lab when he arrived. He didn’t look up right away, only adjusted a component mid experiment and said flatly, “You are in an unauthorized area,” like Banhammer was just another misplacement in his workspace.

Banhammer answered like it was casual, almost bored, leaning slightly in the doorway. “Routine inspection” he said simply. “Figured I’d see what you’re doing.” Subspace didn’t stop working, only gave a short pause before responding without looking at him fully, “There’s nothing here that needs you or your presence.”

Banhammer didn’t leave. That was the difference. He stayed where he was, watching longer than necessary, letting the silence stretch until the experiment was eventually set into a controlled pause. Only then did Subspace turn slightly toward him, arms settling into a rigid, controlled position within the armor, posture still sharp but not entirely as effortless as it looked. “If you’re staying, at least have a reason,” he said, like he wasn’t interested in entertaining empty excuses.

Banhammer smirked faintly at that, stepping further into the room without hesitation. “Just checking on the progress,” he replied, like it was enough of an answer on its own. Subspace didn’t move back, didn’t adjust to make space, only shifted slightly as Gamma mirrored him with exact precision. “Then you’re done already,” he said, dismissive, like there was nothing left to evaluate the moment Banhammer walked in.

He then let out a short breath that almost passed for a laugh, drifting a little closer without urgency, like the tightening space between them didn’t mean anything. “You always act like everyone else is just slowing you down, no?” he said casually, watching him more closely now. Subspace replied without hesitation, “Because they usually are,” like it wasn’t arrogance but just facts.

The distance between them tightened naturally, neither of them acknowledging it, neither stepping away. Banhammer tilted his head slightly. “You didn’t need to push that situation earlier,” he said, referring back to it like it was a minor detail. Subspace answered just as casually, “Well, I didn’t push anything. They just couldn’t keep up with me.”

Banhammer exhaled lightly, almost amused. “You really think you’ve got everything figured out,” he said, not quite mocking, but not entirely serious either. Subspace answered immediately, “I don’t think. I just don’t waste time pretending I don’t,” like uncertainty was something other people had dealt with.

The room settled after that, quieter now, the earlier tension replaced with something heavier that neither of them addressed directly. Banhammer spoke again after a moment, tone shifting just slightly. “You’re still leaking, you know,” he said, more like an observation than concern. Subspace didn’t react. “Yeah. I know,” he answered, like it wasn’t worth expanding on.

“That’s not what I meant,” Banhammer said, watching him more carefully now. Subspace tilted his head slightly, finally giving him a fraction more attention. “Then say what you meant better,” he replied, like miscommunication wasn’t his responsibility to fix.

Silence stretched again, longer this time, heavier, er awkward...

Banhammer finally said, quieter, “You’re not fine.”

Subspace answered immediately, almost dismissive. “Wasn’t trying to be” like the expectation itself was flawed.

“That’s kind of the issue,” BanHammer said, tone softer now without losing its casual edge.

Subspace turned slightly away, posture still rigid, still controlled. “It’s not an issue. It’s just not your problem,” he said, like that should end it.

Banhammer stepped forward just enough to stay in his space, not forcing anything, just refusing to leave it. “Yeah.” he said simply. “Still looks like one.”

Subspace didn’t respond right away. Gamma shifted subtly closer, adjusting without being told, like it was compensating for something he wouldn’t.

“You don’t get it,” Subspace said after a moment.

Banhammer gave a faint, tired smirk. “Yeah. Probably not.”

For once, he didn’t push it further.

The silence that followed wasn’t sharp anymore, just lingering and unresolved.

Eventually, something pulled Banhammer’s attention away, his posture shifting slightly as whatever it was interrupted the moment. “I’ve gotta go,” he said, tone slipping back into something lighter, less present.

Subspace didn’t react much. “Then go.”

Ban Hammer nodded once. “Yep.”

He paused just long enough to make it noticeable, like he almost said something else and decided not to, then added, “Try not to run yourself into the ground.”

Subspace replied instantly, “I won’t.” like it wasn’t even worth considering otherwise.

Ban Hammer gave a small, absent smile. “Sure.”

Then he left.

The next day, Banhammer didn’t plan the visit. He told himself it was a coincidence again, same as before, same excuse, same path that led him straight back to the lab like nothing had changed. But when he stepped inside, the room felt wrong immediately, it was too quiet, unusual, like something had already ended without him being there to see it.

Subspace wasn’t there.

Gamma Biograft stood in the center of the lab, unmoving at first, before shifting slightly as Banhammer approached. There was no greeting, no explanation just a small, deliberate motion as it extended something toward him. A letter. Ban Hammer didn’t take it right away. For a second, he just looked at it, like refusing to touch it would somehow undo whatever it meant.

Eventually, he took it.

"If you’re reading this, then I’m not around. Don’t overthink it. I’m just not present in the place you’re looking.

I didn’t really plan this as anything dramatic, so don’t turn it into one. It’s not some big collapse moment or anything like that. It’s more like I got tired of trying to make everything work the same way it used to when it clearly doesn’t anymore. You know how I am about efficiency, at some point, repeating the same process that doesn’t give results stops being useful, so I stopped forcing it.

You’d probably call it burnout or whatever simplified label makes it easier to process. That’s fine. I’m not really interested in naming it properly anyway.

You were… around a lot more than I expected, if I’m being honest. Not in a way that made sense on paper. You just kept showing up, staying in places you didn’t really need to be, talking like you had some kind of right to interrupt whatever I was doing. Normally I’d have shut that down. I didn’t. I’m not going to pretend I don’t know why anymore, but I’m also not going to spell it out for you.

You’ll probably try to overanalyze that part. Just don’t.

And yeah, it changed things. Not in some big obvious way. Just enough that I noticed when it wasn’t there. That’s about as clearly as I can put it without making it sound like something it isn’t. Anywho.

I’m not saying I “left because of you” or anything stupid like that. Don’t take it there. This was already happening before any of that. You just happened to be part of the version of things I didn’t bother correcting.

That probably sounds worse than I mean it to.

You weren’t really irrelevant. That’s the simplest way to put it. I just didn’t deal with it properly.

I don’t know what you’re going to do after reading this. Probably nothing useful. That’s kind of how these things usually go.

Just, don’t make it into something bigger than it is.

He stared at the words for a moment longer than he meant to, expression tightening slightly before he looked away like, that would help. His grip on whatever he was holding shifted, fingers curling in just a bit too firm.

He then let out a short, humorless breath, eyes narrowing at nothing. “You really had to make it like that, huh…” A pause. His grip tightened slightly. “…I loved you.” he said, voice steady on the surface, but not quite as composed as he intended. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell I cared..."

A/N: ʏᴏᴏ, ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀᴡᴇꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʙʏ ꜱᴜʙꜱᴘᴀᴄᴇ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ!

"ɪ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴀɴ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʙᴀꜱᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴀɴꜰɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴜꜱᴛ ᴍᴇ ɪᴛ'ꜱ ꜱᴏ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴅɪᴇꜱ!"

-ꜱᴜʙꜱᴘᴀᴄᴇ