Using post #7574434 as reference, you can see that this artist draws RPK and Noa's eyes differently. If he wanted subtly suggest this was really RPK, he mostly likely would have drawn the eyes accordingly: darker and empty-eyed. As is stands this looks more like actual Noa, just holding an RPK MG.
My first comment ever on here but I had to express how much I love this piece with actual words for the first time. Your art style, the colors, the lighting, god damn I love this. Thanks for making it.