Y/N thought she had left her past behind. After barely surviving her final mission with A.E.G.I.S (Advanced Enforcement Group for Interspecies Security) she walked away from the life of combat and secrecy, trading it for the quiet comfort of a coffe...
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Y/n stood in front of the mirror, her hands gripping the hanger that held her old work attire. The all-black ensemble was just as she had left it—sharp, professional, and unmistakably AEGIS. The jacket was still adorned with her honorary awards, tiny metal reminders of the life she had fought so hard to leave behind.
The XTA badge, however, was gone.
Her fingers traced the empty space where it used to be, a hollow spot that mirrored the feeling in her chest.
She should've thrown this away years ago.
And yet, here she was.
With a deep breath, she unhooked the jacket from the hanger and slipped it on. The moment the fabric settled on her shoulders, a shiver ran down her spine. The weight of it was almost unbearable, like it carried the ghosts of every mission, every mistake, every close call.
For a split second, she swore she could still feel the heat of an explosion behind her, hear the crackling of a communicator cutting out, smell the sterile air of the AEGIS med bay.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled her hair back into a bun.
"I guess it's time," she murmured to herself.
Mittens meowed from the couch, watching her with wide, curious eyes.
She knelt down, scratching behind the cat's ears before placing an extra bowl of food next to the usual one. "I don't know how late I'll be, buddy. Be good, alright?"
Mittens purred, rubbing his head against her wrist.
Y/n stood, grabbed her keys, and walked out the door.
She didn't need a map to get to AEGIS. The route was burned into her memory, every turn and streetlight leading her to the place she swore she would never return to.
The moment she stepped inside the facility, it became clear just how bad things had gotten.
The main lounge area, once a place of eerie calm, was now buzzing with frantic energy. Employees—scientists, soldiers, analysts—were darting from place to place, hushed conversations turning into panicked whispers.
She barely had time to process the chaos before she felt eyes on her.
People were stopping mid-step, their heads snapping in her direction as she passed.
"No way."
"Is that—?"
"I thought she was dead."
Y/n kept her posture straight, her expression unreadable, but inside, her heart pounded.
It was one thing to decide to come back.
It was another to step into the reality of it.
As she neared the main elevator, she caught a glimpse of movement down the hallway.
Sonic.
Tails.
Knuckles.
And Shadow.
They were walking together, deep in conversation—until their gazes lifted and locked onto her.
Sonic's eyes widened. Tails froze mid-step. Knuckles muttered something under his breath.
And Shadow...
She didn't even get to process his reaction before the elevator doors slid shut.
When the doors reopened, she was met with a familiar sight.
Dominic.
Her ex-commander stood at the entrance to the XTA department, arms crossed, an expression of forced neutrality on his face.
But his eyes—sharp, calculating—betrayed him.
"I expected you here," he said simply.
Y/n let out a dry chuckle. "I'd say I'm surprised, but let's be honest, Dom. You always were freakishly good at predicting people's next moves."
A ghost of a smirk crossed his face before he shook his head. "Three months hiding in a foreign world together will do that."
Before she could react, he stepped forward and pulled her into a brief but firm hug.
"Welcome back," he murmured.
For a moment, she didn't move.
Then, slowly, she returned the hug.
It was strange—familiar yet foreign, like slipping into an old life that didn't quite fit anymore.
When they pulled apart, Dominic's expression turned businesslike once more. He gestured for her to follow, leading her through the halls.
Everything was just as she remembered it—pristine, sterile, a world frozen in time.
And then they reached her old workspace.
She stopped in the doorway, staring. It was untouched.
Her desk was exactly as she had left it. The shelves still lined with neatly organized research files. The computer monitor dark but waiting. It was as if time had paused the day she walked away.
She swallowed hard. Dominic stepped forward, holding out a small collection of items.
Her badge.
Her access card.
Her ID.
And—
Her stun gun.
She hesitated before reaching out, taking them into her hands. The weight of them felt heavier than it should have.
Her fingers curled around the stun gun, its grip familiar against her palm.
She exhaled sharply. "Alright," she said, lifting her gaze to Dominic. "Where do we start?"
