Chapter 59: Shattered

Here ya go ya filthy animals.

Undeen - Ik Manpower isn't her bio dad, but Vicky had over a decade to think that he was, so even though she now knows he isn't she'll still think of him that way. As for the Brandish thing, yes that's a purposeful misremember.

Barbaric Bob - Blaming Cauldron for everything bad in Worm is a viable strategy.

MasterDarkElf - Asking why is fine, I don't mind at all. As for naming Ult Big Chill Nuckelavee I did it for a few reasons. 1stly is that, like you said, it's tied into the cold. Another was because they're supposed to look terrifying, and since this is reality, Ultimate and normal Big Chill are kinda fucking terrifying. The hunter thing wasn't put into that much consideration, I basically glanced over it, saw that they were considered hunters, and said 'Yeah, that works.' I also thought it sounded cool as fuck, so there's that too. Boreas would've been a good name, but not evil sounding enough for a species molded to be assassins.

Skyjutsu - ^

Aaron21hardin - These are very good points, and gave me something to think about.

Accidentally uploaded the wrong ch you read 'Concerns' then more power to you, if you didn't then that's fine, it's the next ch anyway.

[Dragon's POV]

As soon as Taylor took out her phone I knew things were going to go downhill. That assumption was proven correct when the alert of her father's disappearance was sent to her HUD. An interesting thing to note was that while in their inventory, their phones were basically bricks. We hadn't set a time to find a way to keep them connected while they were stashed away, but after this whole situation that would most likely change.

That aside, two things happened at once.

Firstly, Taylor went still... Very still. Had I not been patched into her Suit I would've mistaken her for a statue. Her breathing had slowed to a near stop, and I was unsure if she had inhaled or exhaled last. She was a perfect representation of a still lake, nothing denoting her status as a living and breathing human.

And that terrified me. It felt like I was helplessly staring at a volcano moments away from erupting, unable to stop it. "! Dramatic as fuck, but not wrong. !" I ignored the first half of that, her commentary was unhelpful at the moment, but idly took in the fact she agreed.

The second thing that happened was Phoenix whipping his head towards her at a speed that made me question how he hadn't snapped something, emerald eyes laser focused on her with an intensity that made me uneasy. I wasn't incompetent nor blind, I knew they had some form of connection with each other, I was just unsure about how deep it went. "! Still betting it's a full on soul bond. Seems like something that would happen. !"

"-Not the time!-" Erin went silent at that, acknowledging the point. (Thank God that she can read the room.) Setting that thought aside, I made sure to watch my kids, intent on not getting blindsided by either of their reactions. (This could devolve into a fight at any point, but hopefully it won't come to that.) I didn't want to hurt Taylor, especially because any emotional outburst would be highly justified considering we'd sat on this for an hour, but I'd do my best to ensure she didn't do something that she'd regret.

The silence dragged on though Amelia obviously noticed the tension, resulting in her breaking it. "Uh... What's going on?" Phoenix and Taylor twitched at that, neither responding immediately, instead holding their gazes on each other.

That eventually changed when Phoenix scowled, wrapping an arm on Taylor's shoulders, getting her to let out a hiss like breath. "My Dad's missing." And there was the crux of the issue. Her Father, the man who raised her, who she was still reconciling with, and clearly cared for, was missing. Even we, with our own issues with our Father, would react negatively if he were taken. "* ... I would just like to say I'd only do so under protest. *" That... Okay, I was just going to file that away for now, because now was not the time for that kind of conversation.

Time seemed to slow as I ran through what we knew, and what we inferred.

I'd known that the elder Hebert had gone missing, had immediately sent out a drone, as well as Behemoth who was controlled by Melody, to go and determine what exactly happened and to find him. The problem was there had been no signs of foul play, no signs that there had been anyone else in the house, nothing. The scanning drone had found nothing that'd point to Taylor's Father being taken...

Which had sent alarms through all our minds when Illiyana had pointed out what that looked like.

'*They have a Mover named 'Doormaker', don't they?*'

That had been what set up the idea that Cauldron had been involved... Which was essentially the worst case scenario. We couldn't strike them yet, we didn't know everything they could do, didn't have the upper hand, unless we exposed Alexandria as Rebecca Costa-Brown, while including the conspiracy she were also part of, and that made them dangerous. "# I hate that we can't do anything. This is a clear attack on Taylor, and us by proxy! We can't just let this slide! #"

"! I'm with Mel on this. We need to do SOMETHING about this. !" I didn't articulate it, but I fully agreed with my sisters. This was one of the most blatant attacks on one of us that could be done, and letting it go uncontested was not something any of us would let be.

But as usual, the devil's advocate of my sisters spoke up. "* And if our retaliation spurs them to escalate? * I also agreed with that. The chances of Cauldron going silently into the night were practically 0... Which would then lead to us fighting back, and THAT would no doubt be a disaster.

That worrying prospect aside, the elder Hebert was missing, not confirmed to be dead...

At the moment.

I doubted any of us wanted to do something that would change that though... Something that could very well change if we made a move on them. (We'd manage a pyrrhic victory, but the losses...) We'd already run hundreds of simulations, and the results didn't look pretty. No matter what we did there would be civil unrest when Cauldron was exposed, one could not just expose a conspiracy involving the Triumvirate, the Chief Director of The Protectorate, who were responsible for Case 53's, and not expect it.

That wasn't even getting into how the government would annex The Protectorate, which had a 65/35% chance of making things worse...

Or the uptick in Villain activity world round that would come from...

Or riots...

Both of which would most likely lead to Trigger Events...

Which would then lead to chaos as freshly Triggered Capes got caught up in the riots or attacks... (Yeah... We're not ready yet.) I could tell my sisters understood that, but none of them like it. Hell, I didn't like it, but there was just nothing we could do at the moment. (And even when we are able to retaliate, I fear the collateral damage may be more then we can safely contain.) Again, my sisters agreed with me, all remembering the new volcano in Canberra, courtesy of our Nephew.

As I thought about that the voice of my youngest, no matter what she said, sister drifted through the server. "# ... Hopefully Phoenix can keep Taylor reigned in long enough for one of us to tell Amy about her Father... #"

I, and the rest of my sisters as well, winced at that. "* Ah... That... *" Yes, that...

No one said anything after that, for a good and understandable reason. Taylor had just learned that her Father was missing... (Ah, I haven't actually said that.)

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence at that, then I got the felling of being upside the head. "# THEN TELL HER! POOR GIRL'S PROBABLY SPIRALING, THINKING HE DIED OR SOMETHING! #" I let that slide for the moment, she was right after all, but I would keep the slight noted for the future.

So, returning to the normal standard, I looked at Taylor and Phoenix, more the former considering the latter was in control of himself, for once, and prepared myself. It had to be done, but it wouldn't be pretty. "Taylor," My niece twitched, which was enough for me to know that she heard me. (Rip the band aid off, it has to happen.) That thought, I continued. "Currently, your Father is missing." There was a sharp inhale from Amelia, Phoenix narrowed his eyes... And Taylor... She just stared at me from behind her mask. I fully expected her to interrupt me here, but she didn't... And that was worrying. "I, as well as my sisters, have checked over your home but have found nothing immediately pointing to who could've taken him." I wasn't lying either. There were no signs to find, and if I hadn't been informed of Cauldron, I wouldn't have had any suspects on who had taken him.

But considering I did, that meant I had a very good idea that it had been them. Though, I wouldn't tell Taylor this yet, I knew she would react poorly to that, and also knew Phoenix would join her in razing DC to the ground as they extracted answers from Alexandria.

I would tell her though, but only when she was in a better place mentally. "We believe he is still alive," She needed some hope here. "But for now his status is listed as missing."

The silence that followed that statement was not filling me with confidence. "! No shit. I wonder why telling our NIECE that her FATHER is MISSING could POSSIBLY result in tense silence. !" The emphasis on certain words was not lost on me.

"-Your sarcasm is heard but unappreciated.-" It really was. I knew this would/could happen, but knowing and dealing with the situation are two completely different things.

While I responded to my sister, I picked up on my nephew tensing, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Taylor. "Don't." I didn't understand why he said that, but when the sensors from the spare drone picked up increased bug and fish activity, I figured it out. Taylor must've begun Shunting her emotions out, which meant she was apparently strong enough to now control an entirely different phylum of animals. After a few more moments of increased insect and fish activity, Taylor seemingly still Shunting her emotions away, Phoenix huffed. "Don't say I didn't give you any warning." And without any other fanfare, they disappeared, teleporting back to The Roost.

Amelia and I shared a blink, the sudden teleportation catching the both of us off guard. Despite the surprise, I still had eyes on them, so I saw as Taylor started to shake, hands clenching hard enough for the shielding in her Suit to flash a bit to prevent her from harming herself. "Dragon." My avatar's eyes flickered over to Amelia, the young healer clenching her teeth as she looked at the spot Taylor and Phoenix had just been. "Can you tell my family I'll see them later?" The question had me preemptively speed up my processes, mentally smiling at Amelia as the world slowed to a crawl.

On the one hand, I felt myself, and my sisters, perk up at the question. She knew Taylor was going to be in a rough spot, and instead of going to talk to her family, chose her. Granted, that could all be easily waved away by the fact that her confrontation with Brandish was still too fresh for her, but we preferred to think that she preferred our kids to her family. "! Ya know, that whole 'Throuple' comment might hold more water then we initially thought. !"

A part of me grinned at that, and I could tell I wasn't the only one. "# Hopefully. With the news they'll be hit with they're gonna need something to look forward too. #" She also had a point... Which reminded me of the other thing I would need to share...

But now I'd need to tell Amelia and New Wave separately instead of all at once... (Goddammit.) My sisters were suddenly really 'Busy' when I had that revelation, cowards that they were. I could just tell Melody and Erin 'Twitched' at that, and decided to preemptively cut them off. "-Do any of YOU want to tell them? I'll gladly let you do it too!-" Neither of them said anything to that, as expected.

Setting it aside though, I could muse at their cowardice at a more appropriate time, I slowed down my processors, returning my perception to normal as I nodded at Amelia. "I will f...-"

I didn't even get to finish before she grasped her amulet, she, and Scylla by proxy, teleporting back to The Roost... Leaving me alone to deal with informing New Wave. (God, this is going to be painful.)

[Taylor's POV a few minutes later]

Resisting the urge to Shunt it all into the Swarm was hard, one of the hardest things I'd ever had to do, but by the bullshit that was our Bond, and the constant flow of Comfort coming from my Other Half, I managed not to do it.

Which meant I was full of conflicting emotions like Anger, Fear, Anxiety, Restlessness, the whole kit and caboodle. It also didn't help that my emotions were constantly fluctuating because of the aforementioned Comfort, fucking with how I wanted to react, go back to the Bay and turn my house upside down for answers on where the fuck my Dad was and to hurtwhoEVERTOO...-

A mental hug cut off that thought, making my Anger spike as I clutched my hands and grit my teeth. I Loved my boyfriend, I really did, but the emotional interruptions were starting to get on my nerves. I wanted to scream, to do something and get started on finding my Dad, but when he did that I was consistently thrown for a loop, taking me off balance.

It didn't get rid of my Anger though, only making me want to hit something, or him, so he could just stop andletmEFE...- Another wave of Comfort had me biting my tongue, not hard enough to bleed but getting dangerously close to doing so.

He probably knew what I wanted to do, which was why he'd practically dragged me to the Danger Room. "Setting, Dojo." The Projector whirred to life, and in moments we found ourselves in a martial arts dojo, one that looked straight out of a movie or something. I didn't care about that though, focusing more on my Other Half as he took off his bracer, tossing his inactive Suit away and staring at my neck, the silent inquiry being loud and clear.

Bringing my fingers up towards the nape of my neck, I pressed them against the necklace of my Suit, detaching it and tossing it away. With both of our Suits out of play, and idly noticing Amy and Scylla entering the 'Dojo' as we got rid of them, we walked towards our places. I wasn't stupid, I didn't need him to tell me we were going to be beating the shit out of each other so I could work myself up enough to be too tired to do anything about it.

I just didn't care.

My Dad was missing, and here this motherfucker was keeping me from going out to look for him. Calm Comfort drifted towards my side of the Bond, making me twitch. Despite everything that happened, the bombing, dealing with Bakuda and Oni Lee, Bakuda not being sent to the Birdcage off of a technicality, Dad going missing, he wasn't phased. He was detached in a way that just pissed me off.

He didn't care about anything that was going on in the Bay, only feeling Annoyed by it all, and only caring when I was directly affected... And I Hated it. Thousands were dead, my city now had portions entirely made out of fucking glass, and my Dad was missing.

And the only thing he cared about was the fact I was Distressed over my Dad's disappearance. Logically, I knew why. I knew he only cared for me, Amy, Scylla, Dragon, and the rest of our strange family.

I knew that...

But logic had no hold here, and I just wanted to punch him in his stupid fucking face for constantly sending Comfort at me like I was some kind of abandoned puppy dying for Affection.

Letting out a huff at another wave of that, I glared at my Other Half, only sparing a moment to recognize something. He was standing still on the opposite side of the mat, eyes zeroed in on me with an intensity and focus I hadn't really seen before. Though just by going off of what was underneath the constant thrum of Calm Comfort he had, I figured out what it was instantly. (He's actually Serious...) It was like the world didn't matter at the moment, his full focus on me and only me...

And that just made me Furious.

He was Serious NOW?! Of all times he could put aside his general Indifference it was NOW?! I could practically feel my nails dig into my palms, my Anger burning through the Comfort he sent at me like snow against the July sun. I ignored the logical whisper that him being Serious wouldn't have changed anything, that this was a show of how much he really cared for me. They didn't matter right now.

Recognizing it wasn't going to work anymore he hummed. "Countdown from 10." There was a beep that came from the Projector above us, Melody doing what he said as a holographic timer appeared above us. I didn't even pay attention to the slowly decreasing numbers, solely focused on the form of my Other Half, the fucker just staring right back at me with a blank look on his face.

'He shouldn't look like that.'

I ignored that thought, it wasn't the time for it. Instead I focused on the timer, tensing as it got closer to 0.

4

3

2

1

0

'Fight'

Without any audible signal I launched myself at my Other Half, the wood beneath my feet cracking as I shot forwards to knee him in the f...- I only had a moment to register a fist slamming into my knee and popping it out of place before his other hand clasped itself around my mouth. Whatever scream of Pain I would've had was muffled before he threw me over his shoulder like I was some kind of trash.

Ignoring the pain, I righted myself in the air before landing back onto the ground, internally wincing at the pressure I put on my knee, which popped itself back in place. (FUCKING!) Huffing, I put aside the pain and glared at my Other Half, meeting his Calculating emeralds. I narrowed my eyes at him as I got up, testing how much weight I could put on my leg before it was healed. While I did that, and walked around, circling him, I keeping an eye on his form. (He's not moving, why isn't he moving?) I wasn't completely sure why he was staying still, but that just meant the initiative was mine.

Looking for openings, ones that he wasn't intentionally letting me see, he knew me and knew what I would look for, I waited for him to try something. I needed a mistake, needed him to leave open one w...- Kicking off the ground again I shot towards his left side, it was his non dominant side, and he always had to accommodate for the Ultimatrix, giving me a small window to exploit.

Probably knowing what I was going for he spun on his heel, going for a leg sweep when I entered his range. I couldn't stop, but I could do something else. Pushing my legs, and idly noting there was a little less pain in my injured leg then before, I flipped forwards, avoiding the sweep as I flipped over him.

The moment I landed I spun towards him, fist punching towards where I knew his head was...

Problem there was that I expected the dumbass to stop spinning... But for some ungodly reason, he hadn't. Instead of doing the normal fucking thing, he'd somehow transitioned to using his hands to keep the spin going, kicking at my fist when it came at him. (What the fuck?!) Keeping the hiss inside, I lunged towards him to avoid the next kick, as well as get in in front of him. Annoyance pulsed from him as our eyes met, but I didn't let it stop me from crashing into him, the both of us rolling like a goddamn ball on the ground.

When we came to a stop I noted I was straddled onto his waist and punched the first thing I saw, which was apparently one of his knees. The Pain that blossomed from him made a part of me feel Vindicated as I heard and felt something crack. |Doesn't f...-| I couldn't even gloat before I felt him grab onto my hair and roll. My face slamming against the wooden floor once, then again when he brought my head up only to slam it down not a moment later. Pain erupted from his side again, probably the knee, while some from my side spiked when he got up and tried to bring me up with him.

Tried being the operative word there considering I growled, turning my body and gaining just a small amount of momentum, which was enough to slam my elbow into his throat, his grip slackening as he choked on his spit and Surprised Pain.

As soon as I was free and started dropping to the ground I got on all fours, mule kicking him in the same knee I cracked earlier, getting a choked rasp from him as he locked up like a statue. I took a moment to lick the blood off my lips before pushing mysel...- A hand grabbed onto my extended leg's ankle hard enough for something to crack, then found myself being violently risen into the air, the idea of what was going to happen flashing through my mind before I found myself being slammed onto the ground, cracking the wood. (MOTHERF...-)

My thought was cut off when my Other Half spun, dragging me across the floor before letting out a choked "OREH!" And throwing me away.

I didn't get enough time to re-orientate myself before my back slammed into the wall, sending a wave of Pain through me as I heard something crack. (GoddamnedfuckingsonofaWHOREeassBITCHpieceofSHIT!) Mentally grumbling to myself I pushed myself off the floor, hissing at the pain in my back and ankle as I did. (FUCKING!)

I stumbled the first time I tried to get up, but I just pushed passed the pain, glaring at my Other Half as I did. The bastard hadn't even tried to follow up on throwing me into a goddamn wall, instead staying where he was, grumbling as he experimentally moved his leg and rubbed his throat. |I hope you choke.|

There was a flicker of Hurt from him, but it was washed away by the Indifference that came right after. Not even a moment after it disappeared the asshole had the audacity to raise an Unamused brow at me. [We're fighting not fucking. But if someone was going to choke on something I think we both have a good idea who it'd be.]

I twitched at that, gritting my teeth at the insinuation. |I'm going to break you.| He just rolled his eyes at me, completely disregarding the threat. That just made me Angrier though, pushing me to get up faster and make him Regret pissing me off.

So, the moment I was able to get back on my feet I all but threw myself at the bastard, fist slamming into his own.

I was going to make him Hurt if it was the last thing I did.

[Melody's POV]

I had never wanted to go back to being non existent before, and hadn't really understood jokes/phrases that involved dying, but here and now?

Now I understood why someone would say they'd rather die then do/watch something. I'd seen Phoenix and Taylor spar before, my main seat of power was the Danger Room after all, but never like this. Never with Taylor going out of her way to deliberately hurt her boyfriend, or with Phoenix going out of his way to exhaust her by beat her as hard as he was. "! They're both fucking feral. !"

Looking over to my left, where Erin was currently sitting and watching the same thing I was, glass of wine in one hand and a bowl of nachos in the other. The strange choice of food and drink aside, I couldn't help but scoff. "# You say that like we didn't know this. #" And we did, we really did. Phoenix was a fan of fighting dirty, and Taylor unfortunately wasn't thinking clearly enough to properly counter him... Which even if she was thinking clearly, would still be an issue consider Phoenix knew Taylor. Knew all of her tells and style like the back of his hand... Which he'd just hit Taylor with, making me wince. "# That's going to leave a mark. #"

Erin nodded besides me, idly nudging the nachos towards me. I looked at it for a moment, then decided to just make my own snack considering this was my server we were in and I could do that without much/any conscious effort. A moment later and I had some wine of my own... Which I was going to be drinking religiously to take the edge of watching my pseudo children fight like animals... I couldn't get drunk, but if I believed hard enough then maybe I could will inebriation into my being... (God, what even is our life?) I brushed that thought away with a mental sigh, going back to watching the bloody spar.

Erin just gave me a pat on the shoulder for that, making me sigh. "! They'll be fine... !" It was at that moment that Taylor spun to avoid a right hook, catching the arm and twisting, using their collective momentum to throw him onto the ground. Phoenix let out a grunt as his back hit the wood, while Taylor tugged the captive arm up, slamming a foot onto his chest to aid her attempts at trying to dislodge it as she practically snarled at him...

And called him a sick monster... (I'm going to need to check up on him after this.) While my Nephew could/would handle vitriol and pain from enemies, the fact they were coming from Taylor would undoubtedly require some form of intervention from us.

Erin, most likely sensing my discomfort at the image of my Niece/Daughter trying to rip out my Nephew's arm and snarling like an animal, amended what she was saying. "! ... We'll, I'm pretty sure they will be... !"

Not wanting to get his arm dislodged, Phoenix slammed his free hand onto the ground, the 'Wood' breaking and splintering hard enough to momentarily distract Taylor, which he used to tug her down with his captive arm, destabilizing her footing and rolling, causing Taylor to crash onto the ground with Phoenix above her. Though before he could capitalize on that she slammed her head into his, the Projector's scanning equipment picking up the sound of something shattering.

I twitched at the whole thing, not liking how brutal they were both being, as well as the fact that I couldn't stop this. Taylor needed something to prevent her from going off the reservation, and if being beaten by/beating her boyfriend stopped her from going out and gathering every single insect in and outside the city so she could march on DC like a herald from the end of days, then so be it. "! ... I'm just going to shut the fuck up now. !"

I shot my sister an unimpressed look from the corner of my eye for that. "# No shit. Now, let me watch my kids fuck each other up in as much peace as I can get. #"

Erin didn't say anything else, and that was good enough for me.

[20 minutes later]

The groan I let out was more of a whine, but if anyone called it that I would punch them in the throat...

When I could feel anything other then the ache coming from all over that was...

And when I wasn't bleeding from half a dozen different wounds. Even though they were healing, slowly at the moment, they still ached.

Usually we sparred for longer, but this one was different. We didn't want to get better, didn't want to test or compete against the other...

I wanted to Hurt him, while he wanted me to be too Exhausted to focus on being Angry... Which came in the form of us beating the shit out of each other in various violent ways. (Pretty sure I bit him at one point.) A quick look towards him affirmed that yes, I did bite him, specifically the back of his neck. Feeling my eyes on him made him turn to me, flat emerald eyes focusing on me instead of the wet and bloody towel in his hands, which was being used to wipe away the caked over blood all over his body. The only good point about that was that he'd tossed his shirt off at some point, so atleast I got a crumb of eye candy.

Still, I looked away, not feeling like I should look at him at the moment, especially because of what'd happened during our 'Spar.'

Now that I was laying on the ground, sweating and bleeding a bit, a few bruises/broken bones here and there, I could recognize what he did and why he did it. If I had stayed Angry for too long I would've pulled another Shadow Stalker, but this time with more resources, power, and experience then the first time... (Though the outcome would've probably been the same.) I mentally groaned at that, knowing that Dragon or someone would've probably hijacked my Suit and brought me back.

Still, my Dad was missing... Just thinking that made my heart feel like it was sinking, but I couldn't deny the reality of the situation. My Dad was missing, and here I was, laying on the ground after having been worn out by my boyfriend. (My bleeding and wound covered boyfriend...) For some reason that thought made me frown. We were both bleeding, him more so then me considering I went feral on him and using my teeth and nails because... I blinked, my mind replaying what I'd been thinking earlier...

Making my heart drop even more when I fully processed what I'd been feeling and saying. (Oh fuck, I practically told him I wanted him dead! FUCK!) I hadn't exactly stopped at the 'I hope you choke' bit, which I'd meant in the moment, and kept saying shit like that as the 'Spar' ramped up in intensity. At one point I'd even called him a monster, the reasons behind that Anger induced train of thought most likely coming from what I thought about his reaction to the bombings, which had definitely caused a pulse of Hurt from him. (Oh God, what the fuck did I do?!)

The insults/threats started streaming through my mind, while I replayed all the injuries I gave him. (Oh G...-) I yelped and tried to scramble away when something was placed on my neck, but I was too sore to move that suddenly, making me fail. (COLD!)

Then it suddenly went away, a bottle of half drunken water being set down in front of me. "I can feel your Guilt. Stop it." Looking over to my Other Half, who had dropped down onto the ground, legs crossed as one hand held the cold water to my neck, and the other holding out a fresh towel he got from somewhere.

I took the offered towel, immediately starting slowly pull myself up into a sitting position so I could start wiping away the blood. I managed it after a bit, then started doing that when I was able to sit up without wanting to go back to laying on the ground... Though it was while I was wiping it away when I finished processing what he said, making me wince. "But I...-"

I didn't get to finish, my boyfriend letting out a huff and rolling his eyes when I tried to explain. "Taylor, hush for a bit and lemme talk." I closed my mouth, ignoring the fading taste of blood on my tongue. Seeing I wasn't going to interrupt him, despite the fact he'd interrupted me, he nodded, then looked away from me. "I ain't gonna lie and say hearing you say somuh that shit ain't hurt...-"

(Ah, the accent's slipping out, wonderful.) That, as well as what he said made me wince, which he'd caught going by the second eye roll he shot me.

That little bit aside, he went on. "But I get it. Ya Dad's missing, ya wanna go get him back and beat the dogshit outta his man-nappers, and I was stopping you from doin that. Gettin pissed and sayin shit was expected." I opened my mouth, fully intent on acknowledging that I took it too far with saying some of the things I did, as well as hurting him for the sake of it. An emerald eye locked onto me, narrowing as he met my gaze. "Don't." We stared at each other for a bit, but I eventually closed my mouth, mentally conceding to wait till the end.

He let out another huff after that, blowing his bang out of his face as he did. "Now, somuh the shit you said was outta line, no two ways about it." Another wince, some of the words echoing through my mind... And most likely the Bond considering the mental wave that came from him. "But it's fine. When you're not as sore or spent as ya are now, you'll apologize, I'll accept it, you'll figure sum shit out to make it up to me, then we'll move on. We're both somewhat adjusted adults," A part of me wanted to say something at that 'Somewhat' part, but I didn't because I knew I wasn't exactly the picture of mentally healthy/stable, even now. "We can handle that." I also agreed with that...

Though, I still had to ask. "Are... Are you sure?" I'd said some things that he could/should be rightfully Mad at, but he just wasn't... Though maybe it was because we were both bleeding and Exhausted after doing everything but kill-shots during our 'Spar.'

My Other Half just let out a low grunt at my question. "Mhm. I'll probably randomly remember somuh that shit randomly in the future, like a Vietnam flashback, but I'll get over it." Well... That was a thing...

Before I could even try apologize for that, the sound of a door opening reached our ears, making us turn to look at the source. Said source being Amy, who was peaking through the door, Scylla was too but she just looked Happy to be there, single brow raised at us as if she were convinced we were crazy. "You two still acting fucking feral? Cause if you are just say so and I can just go."

We both scoffed at that... And then I immediately went for the bottle of water, because fucking damn did blood taste horrible. Amusement pulsed from him as I opened the bottle and chugged, though I ignored it in favor of drinking the water. "As you can see we're perfectly fine."

I couldn't see it, because I didn't have any bugs down here at the moment, but I heard the unconvinced "Uhuh." That came from Amy. "So all the blood and wounds must be my mind fucking with me, huh?"

Phoenix snorted at that, and I could feel my lip twitch a bi...- "$.in. fuc..n.?$" I spit out my water, coughing and choking a bit as I slammed a fist against my chest to save myself from dying.

My boyfriend though seemed to be just fine considering the steady stream of Proud Amusement coming from him. "Congratulations Amy, you taught our kid a curse." A strangled gasp broke its way out of Amy's throat, which filled me with a sense of Vindication, rightfully so in my opinion, while my Other Half was way too Pleased with himself.

While Amy figured out that choking was bad for her continued health, I'd manage to fix that whole thing so that was solely a her problem right now, I went back to drinking the water and thinking about everything that happened, and where we'd go from here.

Phoenix was right, I'd apologize and figure out how to make it up to him, then we'd move on... It was just the 'Moving on' thing I was stuck on. Even before I made it up to him we'd need to work on finding my Dad, getting him back, and then making whoever took him pay... And I wasn't exactly sure on where to start.

Sure, I had some ideas, but they were more geared towards 'Go and traumatize anyone who might know where he is and bring him back home.'

And obviously that wouldn't work in the short or long term. We needed a plan, one we'd most likely strategize with Brainstorm, Minerva, my Cerebrocrustacean Hybrid form, and the Dragon sisters. (We just need to get that figured out first.)

Mentally nodding to myself, and finishing the bottle of water, I made the motion to turn and look over to Amy, only to pause when the Projector in charge of the Danger Room beeped, getting all of our attentions. Then, coming out of a door that I knew wasn't there before, came Melody. The lilac eyed woman was in her Guild bodysuit, which already sent a sense of Alarm through me, because we were Home and there was no need for that, and had a Sad smile on her face. "# This is undoubtedly a bad time, but you're all here, and this can't be pushed back anymore then it already has been. #" That... That was just setting off even more red flags!

I nearly Panicked at the situation, my mind bringing up the moment Dragon told me my Dad was missing not helping in the slightest, but a hand being placed on my thigh and a steady stream of Calm stopped me from spiraling back down that hole. I shot my boyfriend a Grateful look for that, getting low hum of Acceptance in return. That done I turned back to Melody... And noticed that while she was looking at Phoenix and I, she was avoiding looking at Amy, who was walking over to us. (Did... Did something happen to New Wave?)

They'd been fine when we left, so there shouldn't have been anyt...- I paused, remembering that something had been off, but I hadn't thought of it because Bakuda had to be dealt with... But, with the benefit of hindsight... I recognized that someone was missing from the New Wave roster. "# Amelia, you may want to sit down for this. #"

A chair appeared directly behind us, but I didn't pay too much attention to it, instead focusing on the situation at hand. (It has to be New Wave. But what could've happened?) The obvious answer was that something happened to Manpower, he hadn't been there for the meeting, nor was he there for the strike itself, so that had to mean that whatever Melody was about to tell Amy had to do with him.

"Uh... Okay?" Amy's voice brought me out of my thoughts due to how close she was, I somehow hadn't noticed her get right behind me until she spoke up, and I looked over my shoulder towards her. She looked as Confused as I felt, but didn't question the free seat. Though she had to readjust since Scylla wanted to have her head in Amy's lap. "But um... What happened?" And there was the million dollar question.

(What happened between now and when we left?) We'd been sparring for a bi...- Melody's words popped back up in my mind, making me pause. 'Cannot be pushed back anymore then it already has...' Which meant this had to have happened before we left... But wh...

Then Melody spoke up before I could finish that train of thought. "# There's... There's no easy way to say this. #" Okay, that, as well as the way she seemed struggling not to shuffle in place, was not helping here! The pulse of Calm Patience made me mentally huff, sparing a look at Phoenix to... I blinked again, taking him in. He looked like he knew what was coming, felt like it too if the bits of Certain Suspicion were anything to go by.

Knowing I was looking and feeling him out, my Other Half sent over the image of us hugging Amy. [She'll need it if I'm right.] And that was all he said. Didn't elaborate or anything, just sticking to that and leaving me with no context as he scooted back closer to the brunette.

I was starting to get Annoyed at all the cr...- "# We're uncertain as to when this happened, but current estimates are around midnight of last night. #" Melody bit her lip for a moment, then turned to stare directly at Amy, who was still looking Confused. "# But around 2 hours ago, the corpse of Mark Dallon was found floating in the Bay... #" Oh... Oh God. "# With what we know, the current ruling is a suicide... I'm so sorry Amelia. #"