SSS Unknown: Dark Knight's Legacy

'Is he… sewing?' Alice tilted her head, sitting quietly beside Unknown as she watched his hands move with precision. In his grasp was a strip of cloth from his tattered undershirt, and he was meticulously working to repair it.

The needle he used glinted in the dim light—crimson and sharp, clearly Eclipse in her transformed state. Threaded through the needle was spider silk, fine and impossibly strong. The sight fascinated her.

She had never expected him to possess such a skill, let alone to see him doing something so domestic. His usually battle-worn hands moved deftly, threading the silk with surprising ease.

"Stop staring at me, Alice," he muttered without looking up, his voice steady and even.

His tone wasn't cold or irritated, just matter-of-fact, as though he was used to her curious gaze by now.

Alice blinked, startled at being caught, but she didn't look away. Instead, a small smile crept onto her lips.

"You're full of surprises, Leonore," she said softly, her voice carrying a faint trace of amusement.

Unknown paused for a brief moment, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "It's just sewing," he replied, his focus returning to his work.

"Even so," she continued, leaning a little closer to get a better view, "I didn't think you'd know how to do something like this."

"It's nothing special," he said, finishing a neat stitch before tying off the silk thread. "Out here, you either learn to fix your things or go without."

Alice nodded, but her smile didn't fade. Watching him like this, she saw another side of him—one that was calm, methodical, and maybe even a bit ordinary. It was a rare glimpse behind the armor of his usual intensity.

"Still," she began, her voice soft yet carrying a hint of admiration, "it's kind of impressive."

Unknown didn't immediately respond. He simply focused on the next tear in the cloth, the rhythm of his stitching calming and methodical. Yet, there was a slight lift to the corners of his lips, a barely perceptible smile that softened his otherwise serious expression.

After a moment, his eyes turned to her, and he studied her face for a few seconds. "You seem better now," he remarked, his voice even, though there was a faint note of relief in it. "Much better than before."

Alice paused, surprised by his observation. Her fingers brushed against her cheek, almost as if to confirm what he had said. She hadn't realized how much her condition had improved until now. 

The pallor that had once marked her face had disappeared, replaced by the healthy glow of someone recovering. 

The exhaustion that had been so evident in her eyes was gone, and though she still felt a slight fatigue in her bones, it wasn't the debilitating kind.

"I feel a lot better," she admitted, her voice quieter than usual.

Alice glanced at Unknown, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the fabric he had just finished mending. 

Despite the calm that had settled over her, a familiar tension stirred in her chest. She had recovered faster than expected, and the urge to be useful, to stand on her own two feet again, was beginning to overpower her desire for rest.

'I could go with him now,' she thought to herself. The idea had been lingering in the back of her mind for a while. 

She no longer wanted to be a burden, and she certainly didn't want to rely on him any longer than necessary. Her time spent in recovery had shown her just how vulnerable she was, and how much she had depended on others. 

But the truth was, she hated feeling weak.

The sense of helplessness gnawed at her. Every moment she stayed here, sitting idly, felt like a wasted opportunity. She was grateful for Unknown's care, but she didn't want to be someone who always needed saving.

Her eyes met his for a brief moment, and she could see the subtle shift in his expression, like he was about to say something, but she quickly averted her gaze, not wanting him to see the uncertainty in her eyes.

"I'll be fine now," Alice added, her voice firm this time, though there was a slight tremble in her tone that she hoped he hadn't caught.

"I'll… I'll be ready to help."

She wasn't just talking about helping with the immediate tasks at hand; she was talking about joining him again in the world outside, facing whatever danger lay ahead. 

She couldn't stay behind forever, waiting for someone else to fight for her. Not when she had a role to play, not when there were still people waiting for her, 

Unknown looked at her for a long moment, as though weighing her words. For a fleeting instant, Alice wondered if he was about to say something—something that might change everything.

"No, just stay here until you fully heal," Unknown said again, his voice firm as he glanced at Alice, his gaze cold but filled with an undercurrent of concern.

Alice tilted her head slightly, frustration flickering across her face as she heard his refusal once more. 

She wasn't a child anymore, and she wasn't about to be treated as one. She had learned enough, grown enough, and healed enough to stand beside him. 

She wasn't going to be left behind.

Without another word, she stood up, her movements fluid, and took a few steps toward him. She knew this was the moment. She had always been aware of the wall between them, the distance he created with his silence and reluctance to let anyone in. 

But today, she was determined to break it.

For the first time, Unknown's gaze faltered as Alice closed the gap between them. His silver eyes, usually so calculating and distant, avoided her own. But Alice wasn't going to let him hide anymore.

Not this time.

Reaching up, she gently placed her hand on his face, guiding his head toward hers. The touch was soft, yet assertive, and Unknown froze under her palm, his body stiffening in surprise.

"Alice?" His voice was low, tinged with confusion.

"Look into my eyes, Leonore," Alice whispered, her voice filled with a quiet, unyielding strength. There was no mistaking the determination in her words.

And so, their gazes locked.

For a fleeting moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Alice could see it—the depth in his eyes, the hollowed-out sadness, the burdens he carried.

 His eyes were like mirrors to the storm inside him—complicated, twisted, but intricate. And yet, for the first time, there was something else there, something that hadn't been there before: a flicker of vulnerability, an ember in the coldness.

The flames of hatred that had always lingered in his gaze seemed to flicker out like a dying ember. 

The emptiness, which had once consumed him, filled with something else—something subtle, something she couldn't quite grasp but that she could feel.

Unknown was forced to look at her, really look at her, for the first time. His gaze softened, his eyes finding the clarity of hers—sky-blue and alive, full of vitality, hope, and purity. So much brighter than his own. So different.

"Tch, what are you trying to do?" he muttered, a mixture of annoyance and reluctant intrigue in his voice. His walls were still up, but the cracks were beginning to show.

"Please, let me come with you," Alice said, her voice steady but filled with determination. She wasn't asking anymore; she was pleading, but also declaring. She wasn't going to be left behind, not this time.

"As I said before, you're not strong enough," Unknown replied, his voice more gentle this time, though still firm in his refusal.

"I know, Leonore," Alice replied, understanding his point more than he could know. But there was something else in her eyes now—a quiet resolve. "But I still want to go."

"Please, let me go with you." The words left her mouth in a whisper, but they carried with them a weight that she couldn't quite express.

She was using all the charm she had, all the strength that had built up inside of her during her recovery. She was no longer a fragile girl, waiting to be protected. She had become someone capable, someone strong in her own way.

However, Unknown didn't see it that way. 

To him, Alice was still like a little sister, someone who needed care and protection. That was why he didn't feel the need to entertain her pleas. But even as he thought this, he couldn't ignore the sincerity in her eyes.

Out of options, he sighed, rubbing his temple. He wasn't one to admit defeat easily, but this time, he couldn't help it.

Alice has proven her resolve.

"Fine. You can come," he said. "But you'll be in danger, so be careful."

Alice's face lit up immediately, and a wide grin spread across her face. She was almost giddy with triumph, jumping up and down in excitement.

"Hehe, you're so easy!" she teased, her tone light and playful. "I'm definitely charming, aren't I?"

She puffed her chest out and put her hands on her hips, striking a proud pose that made her look every bit her age, full of confidence and mischief.

"Yeah, definitely," Unknown replied, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself.

But he wasn't about to let her get too comfortable. He stood up and walked over to her, his hand moving quickly to pinch her soft cheek, much to her surprise.

"Leonore?" Alice gasped in mock shock, her face scrunching up. "Ouch! Stop it, it still hurts!"

Unknown smirked at her reaction, clearly enjoying the rare moment of lightheartedness between them. 

"You're so mean," Alice pouted, rubbing her cheek, but the smile that tugged at her lips couldn't be hidden. "I was just joking!"

Unknown gave her a small, teasing look, but there was something different in his eyes now. 

"Let's go, then," he said, his tone softening just slightly as he turned toward the cave entrance. "Just don't get in my way."

Alice's grin widened. "I'll show you just how far I've come, Leonore. You won't regret it."