"Into the Shadows"

"How do you know a literal shadow?" I asked, my voice laced with confusion. Dabi's mention of Oslo being a shadow had sparked a new question in my mind, one that I couldn't seem to shake off. Dabi chuckled, a low, husky sound that sent a shiver down my spine. "You'd be surprised what I've had to deal with in my line of work," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Shadows are a fact of life, especially in the world of espionage." I frowned, trying to wrap my head around the concept. "But Oslo is a person," I protested. "He's not just a shadow." Dabi's expression turned serious, and he leaned in close. "In our world, shadows can be both literal and figurative," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Oslo is your shadow in the sense that he's the one person who's supposed to have your back, to watch your six. But he's also a person with his own motivations and agendas." I shook my head, trying to process the information. It was clear that Dabi was used to operating in a world where the lines between reality and metaphor were blurred. "So, how do you know him?" I asked again, my curiosity getting the better of me. Dabi's eyes seemed to cloud over, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of pain in his expression. "I knew Oslo during my... previous life," he said, his voice measured. "We worked together on several occasions, and I considered him to be a trusted ally." I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Dabi's words. "What do you mean by 'previous life'?" I asked, my voice gentle. Dabi's gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, I felt like he was searching for something within me. "Let's just say that I've had to reinvent myself several times over the years," he said, his voice dry. "It's a necessary part of being in my line of work." I nodded, beginning to understand. Dabi was a man with many secrets, and it seemed that his past was one of them. As we stood there, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets Dabi was hiding. And what did Oslo's role as my shadow mean for our mission? "We should get moving," Dabi said, breaking the silence. "We don't have much time before The Flame of Destruction catches up with us." I nodded, following him as he led me out of the safe house and into the unknown. The city streets were dark and deserted, the only sound being the distant hum of traffic. I glanced around, my senses on high alert, as we made our way to the extraction point. As we walked, I couldn't shake off the feeling that we were being watched. And I wondered if Oslo was truly on our side, or if he was playing a double game.