Chapter 1: Quick thinking
Chapter Text
To wake up in a cold sweat, frantically void sling around the backroom while still not fully awake… wasn’t exactly something Fiona thought she’d do after one nap.
But that’s how it is now; building a life in Höllvania in the year of 1999, finding a comfort she’s scared of losing. And with Kalymos running over to her and biting her ankle, Fiona snapped out of her spiral of fearful thoughts and knelt to pet the strangely comforting Kavat, taking in the fact that things were okay.
“Good morning, Kalymos. I’m okay, thanks.”
The feline purred, enjoying some scratches before she returned to her comfy bed.
Jumping back up to her living space, Fiona sighed as she walked over to tidy up her couch, preparing it for the next time she decides to take a nap. It wasn’t necessary, the void rendering her free from the needs of food and sleep – but it often helped her clear her head, and she couldn’t deny that she missed sleeping for more than three hours.
Looking around the room, she thought about the recent weeks. It had been a year since she first arrived, and a few months since she managed to go back and change what happened that day, save her friends, and come back to a stable timeline.
And not long after that, four new protoframes arrived. While it was tough sometimes, Fiona had gotten better at socializing and managed to not only save a marriage, but also help a troubled soul and a techrot symbiote find unity. What’s more, their new youngest member actually managed to figure out time travel.
While she didn’t show it much, it felt amazing, having a life with all these characters. Unlike the people of Duviri, they felt very real. Unlike the people her other self knows in the future, they felt inviting. They were her own, in a way. Her own friends. Her own… family.
A strange family of misfits… but a family nonetheless.
Getting her stormfall jacket on, which she had found at an outpost they cleared, and her Duviri mask, she headed out to check in with Arthur. They had recently opened up the mall to the civilians who trusted them, which were quite a bunch. There were now over a dozen civilians scattered across the mall, some hanging out where there was entertainment, some being patrons at Velimir’s bar, and some seeking treatment from Lettie. While none of the civilians had been rude or anything, Fiona didn’t want them to approach her.
With her face covered by the mask, she was recognisable, but no one could tell what kind of mood she was in. No one dared to find out. The group that usually hangs out by the internet cafe would glance her way but mind their business. Just the way she liked it.
“Good morning, Drifter,“ Arthur greeted as she arrived at his nook of the mall, a mug of tea in his hand.
“Good morning. Anything urgent I can help with?”
Taking a sip, he nodded, “Lettie hollered a minute ago about a supply run, got the list here. Figured you and Quincy could take it, he knows the supplier and can handle the talking.”
Receiving the slip of paper, she scanned it out of curiosity before nodding, “Roget that, I’ll grab Q and go.”
He quirked a smile, her delivery a bit silly. “Good luck.”
As she marched over to find Quincy, she felt her heart beat a bit faster. She loved making Arthur smile, knowing how hard he worked and how much he cared about his team, how rarely he took time to just enjoy himself. So a little laugh here and there felt like a good way to help.
When Fiona and Quincy returned from their mission, not only did they complete the task of retrieving the supplies, but they also had a question for Arthur. A rather important one.
Nilo Costa, the doctor and leader of a small group, reported that Scaldra were getting too close for comfort, and they didn’t dare stay too long at their makeshift settlement.
Counting five in total, Arthur asked some questions before concluding he needed to think a bit more. While it certainly was useful to have another medic, and the others had their talents, he needed to check with the rest of his team and see what rooms were safe to clear out.
Like he predicted, no one had anything against it, and the group was able to rather quickly clear out the old drug store and a few other shops.
A few days later, the group was settled in; Lettie and Dr. Costa had a proper medic station and were getting along well enough. The others in the group mostly kept to their crafts, having several projects going to create things needed for their new home and whatever their new neighbors needed, simply happy to have a safer home.
They were kind and respectful, getting along well with the Hex. But despite that, Fiona continued to keep to herself. She wasn’t quite ready yet to talk with new people, which the others respected, but encouraged her to try before she got too caught up in the fear.
She wasn’t sure when she would be ready, having no real interest, but she didn’t need to wait long for it, as it came knocking on her door… so to speak.
Having finished some upgrades for her weapons, Fiona stepped through the portal and froze when she came face to face with a young boy. He fell back, pressing himself up against the wall, terrified of the masked person.
“S-sorry! It was a dare!”
Letting it sink in, she chuckled, “A dare? …So I’ve become the resident witch.” She then got a better look at the boy and recognized him, “...say, aren’t you Dr. Costa’s kid? Valdemar, right?”
The boy nodded, not surprised she recognized him since they met back when Costa asked for their help.
“...Lettie shared that you were trying to find friends. How’s that working out?”
Still a bit scared but relieved to not be scolded, he cleared his throat, “Eh… well… good, I guess.”
Sensing the uncertainty in his voice, she tilted her head. “Doesn’t seem like they’re making it easy for you, though, sending you to investigate the spooky lady who’s more dangerous than they think.”
Valdemar gulped, “You… wouldn’t hurt me, …right?”
She shook her head, “I don’t hurt kids who behave, but it’s never a good idea to swing by uninvited… Now, how about I let you win the bet and get a peek at what I’m hiding in here?”
Fiona held out her hand, and Valdemar hesitated before grabbing it and letting her pull him up on his feet. Stepping through the portal, Valdemar took a moment to glance around, amazed and quiet until he spotted the big cat in the corner.
Seeing him tense up, Fiona chuckled. “That’s Kalymos. She is very dangerous when she needs to be. But she’s mostly just like an old and wise cat, very sweet to those she likes."
"...wow..."
"And over there sits Umbra, my warframe," she pointed over at the arsenal, where Umbra was kneeling, resting. "He's a bit like the Hex, actually. He's fully... Eh, "robot" but still has a piece of himself, so while he can't talk or really communicate with anyone, he can move around and fight by my side." Looking down at Valdemar, still holding her hand, she figured that was enough of a peek. "Any questions?"
Thinking for a moment, Valdemar eventually shook his head, "I don't want to… intrude..."
"Wow, manners! You're a good kid, Val,” she chuckled. “Now I have a plan for how you can handle those other kids..."
Fiona continued to be kind to Valdemar, his experience leading to the other "tougher" kids trying to enter the backroom as well, despite Valdemar's warnings. And after trying to push through the portal, the kids tried to knock, but were only greeted by Kalymos sticking her head out and snarling, scaring them away. While it kind of backfired as the kids would mostly despise Valdemar for living at the mall and being friendly with "Marty McFlea", he quickly found better friends in the Hex, hanging out with Aoi and Amir mostly.
Eventually, they managed to convince Fiona to hang out in the backroom together, and she let Valdemar see more of her room. And when Quincy convinced her to try out a new outfit, the kid was surprised to see her beautiful face, nothing like what the other kids theorized about. They had a good laugh about it, and Valdemar quickly got over the loss of his attempted friendship with his peers.
He blended in quite nicely with the crew and even managed to bond a bit with Arthur, the two having moments where they acted like uncle and nephew. It helped him heal, as his father was sadly too busy helping Lettie to spend any time with him, and his mother was a difficult story to tell.
And then, one day, when they were hanging out, Valdemar shared with Amir that he had a collector's edition set of the Caliber Chicks action figures. The two grieved the loss together as they knew Valdemar's old home was way too close to the Scaldra base for them to safely retrieve it. And while they held out hope that the set was still in one piece, since the Scaldra only scans after tech to minimize the risk of Techrot, it was still likely they found it and used it for target practice.
But hearing about it, Fiona got curious. Just how dangerous is it to try and retrieve it? She knew Arthur would definitely refuse to let her do it, so she decided to keep her ideas to herself and simply look out for missions that could send her close to the base.
It took some time, but Arthur eventually had something. It was a high-risk stealth mission to hijack the systems to a warehouse rather close to the base. It was perfect. Fiona was quick to volunteer, with her strong argument being her void powers granting her invisibility, Umbra being able to keep an eye out, and her robot companion Shade that could deploy an invisibility cloak to keep Umbra hidden.
"This small team is enough, or we'll risk attracting attention," Fiona crossed her arms.
"But why Umbra?” Arthur asked, “Why not one of us who can report for backup in case you get caught... Or worse."
"No offense, but Umbra is very powerful, quiet, slow, and methodical, very focused, and is more used to how Shade works. And if the mission fails, I still have the reset as a last resort."
Arthur was hesitant, but sighed and nodded, "Alright, fine. Just... don't do anything stupid."
Glancing over at Eleanor, knowing what just went through her head, she was relieved to feel support, Eleanor having a smile on her face as she read the scene like a book.
"I promise I’ll try not to."
She rode her bike most of the way, then turned down an alley, away from her target, to confuse any potential scouts, it being the direction to a spot the other Hex members would attack to divert attention. Judging her surroundings, she located the vents and snuck in, Shade cloaking her and keeping her undetected all the way to the terminal. There, she used her parazon to hack into the records and acquire the data they needed, cleaning up all traces of her activity.
Now done, she was about to report her success when she froze, having a feeling it was a bad idea while she was still in the building. Instead, she headed back the way she came, eventually back out on the rooftops. Thinking for a moment, she remembered where Valdemar said he used to live, and she spotted the apartment.
The lights were on, and Scaldra soldiers walked around the block. It was a bad idea to try and fight her way in, there being heavy units just down the street that could gas up the building if they had to. So, weighing her options, she hatched a plan. Getting out of Umbra, she removed her headset and turned off the volume, attaching it and her Sirocco pistol to Umbra's belt. Then, telling him and Shade to stay put, she used void sling to get down to ground level.
Carefully approaching a soldier, she tried her best to imitate a civilian, which was easier now that she was still wearing the outfit Quincy had convinced her to try. "Hey, eh? Excuse me?"
Confused, the soldier turned to look at her, "...how did you get in here, civilian?"
"Look, I'm just here to grab a box of toys my little brother left behind in the chaos, it's to keep up morale and the Scaldra's good reputation. It's a quick in and out, sorry if it's a bother..."
Glancing over at their friend, the soldier was unsure, "I don't know... I need to report this and ask for permission..." He reached for his radio.
Thinking fast, she blurted out, "But wouldn't Command get annoyed to be bothered about a mere box of toys? ...look, I don't want to stir up any trouble, it's just the box and I'm out of your hair, someone else can fetch it if you don't want me to take another step forward..."
He sighed and turned to his friend, who seemed to be onboard. "Alright, where is it kept?"
"Apartment 2B, his room has Caliber Chicks posters. The toys are in a lunchbox under his bed. Caliber Chicks, collectors edition."
Reaching for his radio again, the soldier activated it, "Ferguson, Kuiper here, have you found a box of Caliber Chicks toys in your apartment? In a lunchbox under a kid's bed?"
Soon, he got a response, "Not the type to rummage through a kid's room, but I'll go check. ...why?"
"Got the kid's sister here, looking for it. Just toss the box out the window to us."
Fiona tensed up, realizing the soldier didn't seem to understand what it meant to keep this deal secret from the Scaldra command, the channel likely being listened to.
Soon, a window opened and a soldier peeked out with a lunchbox in hand, tossing it down to the soldier's friend. But before they could hand it over to Fiona, the radio sparked again.
"Kuiper, come in."
The soldier sighed, "Yes, sir?"
"What was that about a civilian in your area? How did she get past the guards at the entrance?"
Looking at Fiona for an answer, she quickly came up with a response. Gesturing at a nearby TI-92 armored vehicle, "...I held some Efervon bags and grabbed onto one of those cars, was just lucky."
"...she snuck in disguised as a soldier, sir."
Continuing with her civilian act, looking at the ground with guilt as she heard the soldier get chewed out by his officer, Fiona worked some more on her undercover identity.
While she could always just void sling to the box, grab it, and go, she didn’t want to risk it. There was also a feeling that her undercover identity could be useful in case she needed it again. She quickly expanded on the identity, figuring out a good story that had her seem sympathetic to the Scaldra and resentful of the Hex. It felt safe to have figured that out, even if it did seem the soldier was clear to let her have the lunchbox and leave, once they had inspected the box.
But as they were inspecting it, only finding the action figures and some accessories, the officer had a new message.
"Kuiper, new orders, escort the civilian to the Palace. The Lieutenant wants to speak with her."
The Lieutenant... Viktor... Uh oh.
"Oh no... Am I in trouble??" Fiona asked, worried. Looking around, she noticed more soldiers walking by, which meant an even higher risk if she tried void slinging away with the box.
"Yes, sir," the soldier responded before walking closer to her, "I don't know, ma'am, I'm just following orders. This way, please."
She couldn't escape now. She couldn't risk it. And she couldn’t deny that she was curious about what was happening. Was Viktor smart enough to figure out what was going on? Were there cameras they weren’t aware of? And maybe… if he didn’t know who she was… could this be an opportunity for something really important?
With the lunchbox in hand, the soldier escorted her down the street, towards a big mansion. It was the home to one of Höllvania's biggest businessmen until he fled the city. Now it was the home of Scaldra Command. With it so grand, no wonder Viktor acted like he was the king of Höllvania.
Following the soldier inside, she was met by a style that reminded her a bit of the Orokin derelicts. Clean and shiny, gold decorations and white rock pillars. Paintings of fancy individuals hung on the wall, neatly detailed furniture and fabrics were spaced out evenly, complemented by trimmed plants. And everything seemed to be unbothered by the outside world.
Fiona soon watched as the soldier walked up to a guard by big doors, saluting before reporting his orders and handing over the lunchbox to the guard. He then turned to Fiona.
"You'll receive the lunchbox when the Lieutenant says so. Sol be with you, ma'am."
With a smile, she politely nodded, then turned to the guard who knocked on the door, "Lieutenant, the civilian is here." Hearing Viktor's response, the guard opened the door, gesturing for Fiona to enter.
Taking a deep breath, she entered and got so distracted by the interior that she jumped a bit when the door closed behind her.
"Apologies for the sudden invitation, miss," Viktor broke the silence. His voice came from a large armchair that was turned towards the fireplace, his hand poking out with a glass of wine. "When I overheard the report on the radio, I was intrigued and simply had to learn more."
Staying in character, Fiona let fear take over a bit, "I didn't mean to cause a scene, sir. I was just trying to make amends with my little brother..."
"Make amends?" He asked without turning to face her.
"Y-yes... He and Dad... they moved to a new place... protected by the Hex," she sighed with fake frustration. "We argued about it and... my brother didn't take it well. So I wanted to retrieve his favorite toys to prove I still care about him."
"I see... How terrible. ...did I hear some resentment for the Hex?"
"Yes, sir... It's a long story… but I saw what they and that Doctor did to people… and now I’ve tried to survive on my own, hide in abandoned apartments, sneak past Techrot… your soldiers have been good at letting me know when they’re about to purge an area, give me time to move… but the Hex? They just… dive in and stir up the Techrot…” She let out a frustrated sigh.
He chuckled, "Yes, that does sound like the Hex... Unprofessional. Insolent... Brutal."
He sighed and got up from his chair, revealing his rather casual outfit. Leather pants and a shirt that seemed a few sizes too big, deep neckline and flowy sleeves, the collar held up by a decorative chain crossing his collarbone.
He looked her up and down before continuing, "And I assume your time evading the Techrot is how you managed to pass through not one, but two gates to reach the most fortified neighborhood in all of Höllvania...?"
Remaining calm, she shrugged, "I'm surprised too... I managed to find what I needed to look like a soldier, and then just... Jumped onto one of those weaponized cars. And... eh… now I feel silly for putting so much effort just for a bunch of toys..."
He smirked and sipped up the last of his wine, the liquid Eleanor missed so dearly and cursed the Scaldra for hoarding it on day one. He then stepped closer, observing Fiona as she nervously looked away.
"...what's your name, miss?"
"...Märta, Märta Costa," she felt relief, being able to pronounce the name correctly, but just in case... "Though I'm used to being called Morty."
He chuckled, "Morty? ...I see. Well, ...Morty, my dear..." He reached forward and tilted her head up by her chin, lowering his voice, "It's been a pleasure meeting you. In fact, how about you come by for tea tomorrow? I'd love to chat some more."
Taken aback, she stuttered, "W-what for? ...sir?"
"Please, call me Mr. Vodyanoi," he stepped back a bit, looking out through the window, "it's merely professional, I'm keeping an eye out for talent to recruit, and your situation may be perfect..." Turning back to her, he nodded, "3 pm, no need to sneak in, the guards will know. ...and freshen up a bit, it's an honor to even be in my palace. A formal invitation demands a more… formal attire."
Letting it sink in, she nodded, "Yes, thank you... Mr. Vodyanoi. I... I accept your invitation."
"I hope your little brother will appreciate his sister's effort... Make sure to tell him he got it back thanks to the generosity of the Scaldra."
"I will. Thank you." She nodded again and moved to leave through the door, glancing back at him a couple of times to stay in character before exiting the room.
The guard handed her the lunchbox and followed her to the door, asking which gate she went through, and then sent a message to the guards there to let her out without a fuss.
She continued to walk a long way, until she found a good and hidden alleyway where she met Umbra, still cloaked by Shade, but she could sense him. And transferring into him, they disappeared into the night.
Chapter 2: Too easy
Chapter Text
Arriving back at Central Mall, she parked her bike, took a deep breath, and walked towards the entrance. As soon as she walked in, she noticed most of her friends gathered by Arthur's station.
Before she could utter a word, Arthur had marched up to her, crossing his arms.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?”
Seeing him so angry, she took another deep breath, "Eh... Doing my mission? Something came up and I had to go radio silent."
"And you didn't think to call in as soon as it was safe?! We were about ready to go search for you!"
"Arthur! That's enough!" Aoi walked up and got in between them. "Fiona is not a trained soldier, you can't expect her to follow protocol like you do!"
Looking around, Fiona noticed that a few civilians were peeking out to see what was going on. She had to explain what happened, but not there.
"I'm sorry, I forgot to call in. Things got... really weird, and I had a lot on my mind."
Arthur sighed and waited for her to elaborate.
"Follow me to the backroom."
All six original members gathered in the backroom, seated and waiting, Fiona out of Umbra and pacing around as she pieced together her sentences. She didn't want to lie, but she didn't want to tell Arthur about how she risked her life to get Valdemar's lunchbox. So she had to be vague.
"Everything went smoothly at first. I got in, completely undetected, hacked the terminal, got the data, and cleaned up my footprints. But when I got out, well... I couldn't use my void powers and had to pretend to be a citizen to try and get away on foot."
“Couldn't use your powers? ...as in not able to pilot Umbra?" Arthur asked, getting concerned.
"Shade could still keep him hidden on the rooftops, but I had to be on the ground and convince a soldier I was a mere citizen who just wanted to fetch something from her old home..." Glancing over at Eleanor, she could tell that she had read her mind but respectfully kept quiet, understanding the situation, and smiled.
"You didn't answer my question, Fiona - did you lose your ability to pilot your warframe?" Arthur pressed.
"...no. I didn't. But with how the situation was, I couldn't pilot him without being detected," Fiona continued to be vague but then decided to drop the bomb that would change the topic, "but apparently, being a civilian who snuck into the most fortified block of Höllvania is impressive enough to be invited for tea by Lieutenant Viktor Vodyanoi."
"WHAT?!" All except Eleanor reacted; only her eyebrows were raised.
"No kiddin'?! Haha! We got ourselves an undercover!" Quincy laughed.
"Ooooh, we’re gonna do a spy mission!" Amir rubbed his hands together, excited about the potential spy mission, "clever deception, hidden weapons, thrilling risks, sweet revenge-"
"Not happening." Arthur interrupted strongly. He looked at Fiona, still angry and concerned, "You're not going back there. I don't care if your void powers are perfect for the job and that you can reset the loop if things go to shit - we're not doing this. We're not putting you out there as a spy."
"Oh come on, Arthur," Aoi gave a frustrated sigh, "if she's already managed to convince Viktor she's someone else, why not take this opportunity? It might not happen again."
"...are you concerned her social flaws might complicate things?" Eleanor asked to confirm.
He sighed, "I know you've made great progress, Fiona, but I've seen how you've reacted to certain things, and I don't think you'd be ready for that kind of mission - just ask Velimir and Minerva. It's a lot of stress, quick thinking, putting up with bullshit, and acting like someone you're not. You don't even know enough about Höllvania to pass for a civilian,” he argued, eyes focused on hers for sincerity. “Besides, what do we have to gain, exactly? Don't you always need a proper reason to do anything? What’s the goal here?"
Fiona shrugged, "For the record, I never said I wanted to go. But Aoi is right, this is an opportunity we shouldn't pass up. We could find more answers for what happened to Neci, and... If anything, it can give me the chance to swipe a bottle of wine for Eleanor."
"...let her do this, brother, or I will tickle your ear with my tongue every time you try to take a nap," Eleanor threatened.
While the others chuckled at the amusing but very serious threat, Arthur seemed conflicted. But then he remembered something and got serious again.
"Fiona..." he got up and kept a close eye on her expression. "Do not evade the question again. ... What happened with your void powers? If something is happening to you – or if you suspect they have something that weakens you..."
Back to that difficult topic, she hated lying, but she was still very hesitant about revealing the truth.
Not getting a response, he stepped closer, "Fiona..."
"Tsk... Oi! Give 'er some space to breathe, ...unless you plan to cop off!" Quincy teased.
"Fuck off, Quincy." Arthur shot a glare.
"I... dropped it," Fiona finally let out, looking at the floor in shame. Not because of the story, but the fact that she was lying to Arthur. "I dropped the disk and it landed on a cardboard box. I had to jump down to get it, but the soldiers caught me, and I had to act like I was there to fetch a disk of family photos and music. I couldn't jump down cloaked since they'd see the disk disappear and catch on."
He seemed to buy it, sighing with relief. "Accidents happen, you don't have to be scared of admitting you dropped it," he assured, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. He then turned to cross his arms and think some more. "...fine. Let's work on a plan."
"When are you supposed to be there again?" Aoi asked.
"3 PM tomorrow.” Fiona walked over to her desk to lean against it. “It's to discuss a possible future as a Scaldra agent."
"And what is your identity so far?" Amir asked curiously.
"I'm Märta Costa, friends call me Morty, and I'm Valdemar's older sister who witnessed the incident with Entrati’s 'vaccine', ran from home, and had to fend for myself. I have a talent for sneaking past Techrot, appreciate the Scaldra for giving me time to move before they start their purges, while I loathe the Hex for rushing in, stirring up trouble, and destroying my stuff... And I'm shy, so that buys me time to think."
"Not bad! Not bad..." Amir kept thinking.
"It's probably best if you simply go there a few times," Eleanor pointed out, "build some trust, try to have some fun, and learn what you can before we start taking risks. Who knows, maybe you learn about some big important secret and can't risk piling up suspicious activity before then. Be sure to ask our dear “stepparents” for some pointers."
"But in order to keep up the act, you have to pretend to be on their side," Arthur pointed out, "and eventually, they will expect you to go after us, one way or another. We can't let it go on for too long."
They all agreed on the plan. For the first few meetings, Fiona would not have any tech on her to avoid breaking cover and would simply build some trust. She would continue staying out of sight from the other civilians in case there's any Scaldra spies, and return to "visit family" at the mall and give her reports.
But in the morning, there was something she felt she needed to talk to someone about. And it was best to start with Eleanor and show her just how Viktor had looked at her.
Eleanor was shocked, obviously, and hoped Fiona wasn’t planning on taking advantage of Viktor’s apparent interest in her.
“I’d rather eat your shaved tongue,” Fiona deadpanned.
“Heh, same. …Now you need Quincy’s help to “freshen up”, just don’t let him overdo it, or it might give ideas to our slimy Prince Alarming.”
Quincy was also shocked but had a good laugh about the idea of Fiona toying with Viktor’s heart, playing ball for some time, only to crush it like she crushes Efervon containers. While they suggested talking to Minerva about this particular detail, Fiona was not feeling ready to get a class in “seductress 101”, which was understandable, and Quincy had his own pointers.
Going through the clothing store, they soon found a rather casual yet clean and stylish outfit: a long light-gray shirt with a black vest on top, jeans, and a clean cardigan with a hood. And while there wasn’t much they could do with her short hair, Quincy still insisted on giving it a thorough wash. When it was all dry and she was ready to head out, they checked her look one more time.
“Lookin’ fresh, Morty!” Quincy chuckled. “Now, remember, if he tries anything, you just go with the story that you’ve had a bad relationship prior. Even cucks like him wanna be all proper and gentleman-like despite their intentions, tryna fool themselves. Be observant and distract him if he doesn’t take the hint. And bottom line - the mission is cancelled if he tries to force anything, you get me? The trauma ain't nothing to sneeze at, and ain’t no advantage over the Scaldra that’s worth it.”
“Well said, Q,” Eleanor agreed. “Be careful, Fi. Have some fun… and if you can, please swipe as many bottles of wine as you can carry.”
“Fun fact, I’ve figured out how to teleport items like how the Tenno capture VIP targets,” Fiona smiled, “Might be able to do express delivery.”
“And risk having a perfectly fine bottle of wine crash to the floor because you’re not able to give a heads up?” Eleanor chuckled and shook her head, “Appreciate the thought, but I’m fine with simply waiting for a safe and personal delivery.”
Fiona shrugged, “I can set up the exact destination, but… okay, probably best to avoid using my powers anyway.”
With a deep breath, she took one more look at herself in the mirror, pulled up the hood over her head, and then turned to smile at her friends.
“I’ll try to be back for supper.”
Arriving at the gate to the Scaldra base, everything was going well. The soldiers worked quickly to confirm her identity and let her through. A soldier walked with her to the Palace, where they handed her off to a butler who greeted her at the door.
He offered to take her jacket and escorted her to the tea room, where “the master” was waiting. And soon, she was once again alone in a fancy room with her enemy.
“Welcome back, dear. Better dressed, I see. Please, have a seat,” he gestured at the couch next to him.
Taking a deep breath, she walked over and sat down, showing that she was tense by sitting on the edge of her seat. “I’m glad my outfit is acceptable, it’s difficult to find anything more formal nowadays.”
“If things go well, it will be easier for you, I can assure you.” Viktor looked up at the side door where the butler had gone, now returning with a tray. As the butler served up some tea for them, Viktor continued. “Tell me, how did it go with your little brother? Happy to see his toys and his sister?”
“He still seemed a bit skeptical of me,” she sighed, “but he didn’t argue about it, which is a start. He was just happy to have his action figures, it reminded him of how life used to be.” She nodded politely to the butler when he quietly offered a lump of sugar in her tea. “So, on his behalf, I again thank you for… well, not locking me up for trespassing,” she nervously chuckled.
“It certainly would be a minor annoyance, learning that a mere civilian managed to sneak in,” Viktor sighed. “Just imagine how bad it would be if a Hex member, a hooligan with… devious super powers, learned about that.”
She couldn’t stop the chuckle and had to think quickly. “Would be… very awkward. I’m guessing the soldiers need some additional training, it being too risky to use any tech now?”
“Indeed. As convenient as it might be to have… equipment for everything, we must be able to rely on our own senses and talents, as Sol and Lua intended. I can assure you, we’re still very capable.”
“I don’t doubt that one bit.” She watched as the butler bowed before leaving the room. Reaching for her cup of tea, she stirred it a bit with the spoon, quietly watching it swirl.
“...you seem very peaceful for a troubled soul,” he calmly commented. “Such grace… like you’re not from this world.”
Scared he was seeing through her, she glanced up and tried to straighten her posture as she looked away, “I’ve heard that before…”
“Then surely you understand the sincerity in the compliment,” he took a sip of his tea. “You’re reserved but strong, charming and sharp… you’ll do great as an insider, I’m sure.”
“An insider?” She turned to look at him again, “as in… spy on the Hex?”
“Sharp indeed. Yes, you have the perfect circumstances. Unlike most clean civilians, untainted by the Doctor’s vile serum, who seek shelter with us, you are not affiliated with us. Central Mall, while being the home of the filth, is safer than camping in a warzone. And you have family there whom you’d like to reconnect with, yes? Simply spend some time there, study their lives, and try to dig out anything we can use to finally crush them completely.”
“...but the virus-...” she stopped herself, remembering her story, “I mean… I’ve managed with my gas mask…”
“Yes, but for this, you will need a proper military grade mask, which you have… scavenged from a fallen soldier...” he assured her with a wink.
So he wasn’t intending to send her to her apparent death at least, “...might take some time,” she warned, preparing her words, “one of the members can apparently read my mind if I’m not careful.”
“And that’s why you simply enjoy the safety and time with your family,” he pointed out, “act like you’re getting over your grudge against them and wait until that particular vermin is out on a… rampage.”
Thinking a moment, she nodded, “Sounds like a good plan… I… I think I can do that.”
He smiled, placing down his cup on the table and getting up, “Of course, you must be careful not to be deceived - or worse, infected,” he slowly walked around the couch. “The Hex can not be trusted. The civilians who live with them have been fooled by a false sense of security. …You know what future awaits those infected slugs?”
Hesitant not to seem too informed, she took a shallow breath, “...their infection. It will completely transform them, isn’t it?”
“Yes. And I’m afraid, if we don’t act fast, your dear little brother might be caught in the crossfire.”
She froze, not just to act concerned, but because she felt him get closer.
Standing behind her, he leaned to her side, “Once the Hex are gone, we can finally focus on getting rid of the Techrot completely, and restore Höllvania to its former glory. …And with you as the hero, I’ll be sure to reward you…”
Not liking his tone, she almost snapped, but managed to stay in character. She puffed some air, “No need for the smooth talk… Mr. Vodyanoi. …I can dream without having my head in the clouds.”
He chuckled and patted her shoulder as he returned to her field of view, “Good answer.” He walked over to a small open bar and grabbed a bottle of wine, pouring up two small glasses and handing one to her, “Let’s toast – to a pure Höllvania.”
Seeing the red liquid, hesitated a moment but then smiled, “to Höllvania.”
Sharing what happened with the others, Lettie had pulled Fiona with her to the medical station as soon as she heard about the drinks. Thankfully, there was nothing new in her blood, no poison or experimental Techrot serum, so it really was just tea and wine.
Being warned by Eleanor, she made sure not to mention how Viktor behaved when Arthur could hear it. She knew her brother, especially what he thought of Viktor, and she didn’t want him to worry too much. And it wasn’t like Fiona wanted to talk too much about it anyway. She could tell Viktor was keeping a good distance and wasn’t too touchy, so she didn’t feel worried yet.
And this charade would continue for a few weeks. She would continue with her life with the Hex, work on material for her to deliver to Viktor as “possible weaknesses and updates” to keep up the illusion of her infiltration, talking with Minerva and Velmir about her mission, and getting some feedback.
Occasionally, she would be invited to the Palace, and after a few visits, she’d return with items she had received as gifts. At first, it was a fancy watch to “help her arrive on time”. They made sure to check it and only found it to be a regular watch, no hidden microphone or tracking device. And then it was a necklace, which was also clean of any suspicious material or tech.
It made sense, given how the Scaldra had forbidden Tech that could be infected, and it also made them feel certain about her deception still being strong. Viktor seemed to be smitten by “Morty” and was spoiling her with gifts and fancy dinners.
And while they considered the mission a success when Fiona surprised Eleanor with her recent gift of a bottle of wine, a certain someone was getting concerned.
“It seems too easy…” Arthur sighed, resting on an armchair in the backroom, deep in thought as Fiona got help from Quincy to find a new jacket to match her new outfit.
“What? You don’t think Fiona is beautiful enough to beguile a man?” Quincy smirked, “…Or are you just jelly?”
Arthur groaned and snapped around to glare at his friend, “If anything, I’m concerned she will be walking into a trap! Think about it, how easy has this been? She walks into the block, all foolhardy, into a place that regular citizens want to get as far away from as possible - they buy her story, and he invites her to become a spy for him?! And now, he has barely gotten any intel about us, and he’s still showering her with gifts, like she’s still making an impression!”
Trying to ignore Quincy’s teasing, Fiona turned to look at Arthur, “...you have a point. And that’s why I’m always trying to be a step ahead.” She walked closer to the couch where he sat and tried to assure him. “I promise, Arthur, I am keeping an eye on possible escape routes, and I take my acting seriously… and if it eases your mind, we can cut the mission short, find a way to fake my death or… just grab something important and sneak away. I’ve only just begun to talk to Viktor about what he knows about the Indifference, so I need a few more visits.”
He sighed and got up to look at her properly, clearly trying to calm his anger, “...just- …okay, you can do a few more visits, but don’t try and steal anything, it’s not worth the risks. You’re too important to us for that.”
She nodded, making sure to look serious to assure him she understood. “Yes, sir.”
The sudden formality broke his anger a bit, and the edge of his mouth twitched into a half smile, “Good. …good luck.”
He left to get back to work, Fiona turning to hide her slight blush from Quincy. But it was futile.
“You two are adorable,” he chuckled, “told ya he’s desperate for a laugh, and you managed to lighten his mood while he was puffin’ smoke!”
Taking a deep breath, she simply adjusted the scarf around her neck. “Could you please avoid teasing him? …at least when I’m around?”
“Made things uncomfortable? Sorry, fam. Old habits die hard, but I’ll try,” he watched her shyly looking down in the mirror reflection. “But chin up, boy is definitely extra concerned about you. Guys like him get protective, even when they’re in denial. Bet I won’t have to do a thing to help. You just need to tell him, cuz he’s stuck talking himself out of it over and over again.”
She didn’t want to get her hopes up, wanting Arthur to still have the freedom without fearing it could ruin their friendship. But it did feel comforting to have both Quincy and Eleanor encourage her.
“I know… I just need time to figure out how and when,” she sighed, “and it definitely has to wait until after I’m done with this.”
The next visit was the second scariest one, as Viktor was now not shy about suggesting she stay close to him after they “dealt with the Hex”. Presenting her new gift, she was stunned to find a beautiful dress. With her silence, he simply assured her she had time to let it sink in, and maybe then she would be ready to take more risks, to more quickly achieve a dream life.
His arrogance had her play hard to get, which didn’t upset him as he simply assured her he just wanted to keep her safe, away from the techrot filth.
He caressed her cheek, rubbing his thumb over her flower tattoo, and gave her a new invite.
“The Rose Garden,” she explained to the crew, who were all gathered in the backroom again. “He wouldn’t say why, but I think it will be the perfect moment to break cover and run.”
“That place is hella romantic, cuz,” Quincy shook his head, “perfect spot to break that plum sack’s heart. …Wish I could be there to see it.”
“Might be time to have someone on stand-by, just in case,” she admitted, glancing at Arthur, who seemed to relax a bit at that. “But you can’t be too close, just ready to help if things get out of hand and I run out of energy.”
“Keep an eye out and keep distance? You’re practically asking me, fam!” Quincy smirked and glanced over at Arthur, “I’ll make sure she gets out of there unscathed. No problem.”
“Would be fun to hear what’s going on in his head too…” Eleanor smiled at her small cup of wine she poured herself.
“But you can’t hear it from a distance, so it’s better if you stay and make sure there’s no real Scaldra spies taking advantage of the situation,” Arthur pointed out, then turned to Fiona. “I’ll go too, bring Umbra just in case Viktor’s planning to show off his whole army to you or something.”
She chuckled, “Wouldn’t that be fun. Him all high and mighty, and then I crush his heart AND his shiny new tank.”
“Well, no matter what happens,” Aoi chuckled, “I’m glad you’re ready to call it quits. We may not have gotten any upper hand against the Scaldra, but… seeing Eleanor this happy certainly makes it worth it.”
She looked over at the telepath who had her mutated tongue poke out slightly to lick up the wine, savouring every drop. It certainly had kept Eleanor in a good mood, and that’s definitely worth a few uncomfortable hours. That and… another surprise Fiona had for them.
And so, this spy mission was coming to a close. Fiona shared with Quincy about the dress and how she was asked to wear it, and while she was very grateful that the dress wasn’t too revealing, she needed help making sure it wouldn’t restrict her. And that was no issue, Quincy assured, taking the dress to a friend for some alterations.
And so, with a matching cardigan and pants under the skirt, she felt rather comfortable in it. And with the fancy necklace, she looked like a high-class lady.
“Oh, you are looking peng!” Quincy gasped as Fiona twirled a bit, it being the first time she’d been in a dress. “What do you think, Hendricks?”
Minerva sat on the couch, having helped Fiona work through some things, and nodded approvingly at their novice agent. “It’ll do.”
Looking back at Fiona, Quincy chuckled at a thought. “Better be careful with it when shit hits the fan, bet a certain someone will love seeing you like this.”
“Even if it’s reminding him of Viktor?” She pointed out and smirked, “Could be fun to change it some more… if Matilda is willing.”
“Hah! She’s been frothing at the mouth for stuff like this! Pretty dresses are her thing, and she’s had nothing but patchwork and military gear for three years now!” he chuckled, “And hey, I’ve seen you draw, so try and sketch how you’d want it to look.”
She moved around a bit, thinking about how she’d like to change it, when she caught a glance of something in the mirror. She gasped and turned to see Arthur arriving in the doorway, knocking on the wall.
“Got time for a quick update?”
“Yup, just got done here,” she walked past Quincy and to her computer, waking it up to pull out the map where she had marked the garden and the escape route.
“You’re going dressed like that?” Arthur asked, “Isn’t it a bit restricting?”
She twirled around and smiled, “Yup, but check this out…” she grabbed the side where there was now a latch, and with a quick pull, the skirt was off like it was just a cape wrapped around her waist. “Ta-da!”
“...smart,” he smiled.
“She looks good, doesn’t she?” Quincy teased but quickly changed his tone when Fiona gave him a look, “I mean, of course she does, when Quincy-K is the one giving her pointers.”
Arthur sighed and glanced her up and down, “Yeah, looks good. Now, quick question. Shade. It can only cloak one, right? So I was thinking if Quincy sends the signal, Umbra can leap in undetected and grab you, while I keep the route clear.”
“Good thinking. Lettie sent me her report of the area, and there are already a few heavy units stationed there,” she added as she got the skirt on again. “She believes they really are preparing for something, but she couldn’t figure out what. Likely another purge, but it’s unclear.”
“And you’re being picked up by a transport at 16:45, be in the garden at 17… if we head out soon, we can investigate further,” he glanced over at Quincy, who nodded. He then turned to Fiona again and took a deep breath, “Again, don’t do anything too crazy. …Not that I think you will. But this whole thing has been dramatic enough. I’d rather not have to listen to him calling you names on the radio.”
“Heh, yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of too,” she nervously chuckled, “...if the situation allows it, I can just disappear around a corner.”
Thinking a moment, Arthur glanced away, “...or you never show up. We can attack the transport and fake your death.”
“...but that will fuel his propaganda, won’t it?” She pointed out, “Newsflash: Criminal gang kills innocent girl in crossfire.”
“She’s got a point, fam,” Quincy sighed. “Nice try, though.”
“Kidnapping?” Arthur suggested. “Let the Scaldra report back?”
“Guv, just admit you’re jelly! How obvious can you get?!”
Arthur groaned, “I’m just suggesting other options! She’s already been through bloody enough already! If she reveals her real identity, this shit will haunt her!”
A bit hesitant, but she placed a hand on his shoulder, which got his attention. “...Arthur. You’re right. But I think it’s best if I go, keep you guys out of it so you won’t be blamed for anything, keep it between “Morty” and Viktor. I’ll find a way to get out of there as quickly as possible, I promise.”
As her hand left his shoulder, he sighed. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”
They began walking over to the portal, Fiona about to follow when she remembered to grab the gas mask she was supposed to be wearing while in the mall.
“Didn’t think you’d go for a guy like him,” Minerva began, reminding Fiona that she was still there, “they’re rather notorious for being difficult to work with.”
Glancing back at her, Fiona hesitated before pointing out, “I know. But we both know love isn’t supposed to be easy.”
Minerva’s expression softened, remembering what Fiona did for her and Velimir. She nodded, “...the poor boy, he’s already so scared of seeing you hurt. …If anyone is risking doing something stupid, it’d be him.”
Thinking some more about the relief that it was about to be over, Fiona remembered what she had promised to do. “...I’m sorry I couldn’t find much about Neci.”
“Don’t be. We couldn’t expect Viktor to know more than what you know, or allow you to investigate her old quarters,” she sighed, “...but Velimir and I both appreciate the effort. …now go and crush that rat bastard’s heart.”
Chapter 3: Worth it
Chapter Text
Walking over to a street close to the mall, Fiona spotted the transport waiting where Viktor said it would. A guard greeted her and told her to get in. A rather silent ride later, they arrived at the garden.
It was beautiful, almost untouched by the Techrot, as the establishment had been very tech-free.
“Welcome to the Rose Garden, my dear,” Viktor greeted. He was dressed up, having a ruffled and loose white shirt and a stylized suit jacket. “As I suspected, that dress looks lovely on you.”
Removing the cardigan, she folded it over her arm before turning to look at him again, in time to watch as he caught her hand and gently planted a kiss on the back of it. Allowing it, she kept her grace, “Thank you… You don’t look so bad yourself.”
“A compliment from you is like a bottle of cold water in the desert; rare and highly valued,” he smiled and gestured for her to follow him out to the garden.
As they walked, she glanced around and could see guards posted everywhere. But she did spot a few options for her discreet escape.
Meanwhile, in a building a few blocks away, Arthur and Umbra were stationed in a dark room, having a window where they could see the garden in the distance. While they barely could make out anything, even with a scope, they at least had a clear path to it.
Glancing over at Umbra, Arthur pondered the situation. He was getting a bit restless and worried, kept thinking how stupid this whole thing was. No tactical advantage, no valuable intel - just Fiona being in an awkward situation. For what? The unsurprising confirmation that Viktor knows nothing about what happened to Neci Rusalka… and a singular bottle of wine? He had seen how Fiona behaved when talking about Viktor, and he didn’t like it one bit. And Eleanor, who can read her mind, still lets her continue? And what was going on with her being so secretive around him?
He was getting frustrated, pacing a bit to calm down.
To his surprise, when he got close to Umbra, the warframe reached out a hand and placed it on his shoulder. It was very strange. He knew Umbra still had some autonomy, but Fiona had said he wasn’t very expressive. But it felt clear, he was trying to calm him down. No words were needed, and he appreciated that. Helped him relax and focus.
“Target spotted,” Quincy reported through the radio, avoiding Fiona’s name in case Scaldra could hear it.
Exploring the garden a bit, Fiona and Viktor had a rather normal and relaxing conversation about life. He seemed to have toned down a bit on the smooth talk and simply let her relax, which was… quite odd.
“Ignoring recent happenings…” he slowly traced the fine lines on the face of a marble lion, “what did you wish for your future?”
“...well, find some quaint town, anywhere outside of here, and settle down,” she simply responded. “Maybe raise some chickens and tend to a garden.”
Studying her expression, he inquired, “Thoughts on children?”
Keeping her gaze down at the path, she hesitated, not wanting to be too honest. “Maybe. Depends on what kind of future I get.”
“I see. …personally, I can’t stand the anklebiters. But having a child to carry on my family name and follow in my footsteps doesn’t sound bad…” he then looked forward, at the grand terrace in front of them, “Ah, here we are.”
He made his way over to a table where he opened up a metal suitcase to check the contents. Then, turning back to Fiona, he smiled.
“This spy mission of yours hasn’t yielded much intel; however, you have lowered their guard, which is most useful. And so, I have decided to grant you the honor of trying out this one-of-a-kind, top-secret prototype…” he repeatedly curled his index finger at her, signaling for her to come closer. Once she was close enough to see the case, she saw a pistol. “Looks like a regular firearm. But inside… hides a potent serum. Lethal enough to put down even the toughest of Techrot slugs. The magazine holds twelve precious bullets, took a strike of genius to make them.”
Her breathing was shallow, letting it sink in. If the Scaldra had something so dangerous, it was no mistake coming there.
“And with your advantage, I’m asking you to put one of the bullets… maybe two for good measure - in between the eyes of the most vile heathen of the Hex – Arthur.”
Staring at the gun, she tried to come up with something to say. The intrusive thought of grabbing the gun and shooting Viktor in the face was a tempting irony, but she would not be quick enough with him so close to her.
His hand reached for her chin and turned her face to his, gently whispering to her. “I know you are capable, my dear. So please, scratch this itch for me? …I will be very grateful.”
With her panic hiding her anger, he seemed to take it as simple shock. And with her eyes so wide, he smirked and leaned forward. Snapping out of it, she turned her face away so his lips met her cheek instead.
Leaning away, he kept his smirk and let go of her face, looking down at the gun. “I have faith in you. Wait for the other thugs to leave for their daily sins, find a secluded spot… then purge it.”
The radio on a soldier’s chest made an alert, and the soldier signalled that it was important. Stepping aside for a moment, Viktor then returned to Fiona with a chuckle.
“Scratch that, my dear – looks like we’ll be saving you the trip!” he turned to the path behind them, the one leading up to the building. “Look who my scouts managed to spot trying to sneak up on us!”
Her blood ran cold when she saw two Jaegers walk towards them, dragging Arthur by his arms. He was beaten and weak, his head hanging low. Reaching Viktor, the soldiers threw him forward, his grunts causing Fiona to wince and bite her tongue.
“Arthur Nightingale…” Viktor began, “What a pitiful state you’re in… and bruised on top of that. What perfect timing. I assume you caught on to that… Miss Morty works for me?”
“Yeah… something like that,” he spat, keeping his face down.
“Must be wonderful, to free this world of your existence while in such a beautiful garden… a shame, knowing it might damage the stone path, unless it gets caught in whatever it is you now call your skin…” Viktor kept his distance, turning to Fiona and noticing her fear. “Morty, my dear… you’re not having second thoughts, are you? It’s very simple, just pull the trigger and the problem will be solved. And without any witnesses, you won’t have to worry about the other slugs coming after you.”
“...if he’s here, then we’re being watched,” she pointed out, to buy time, if anything.
Glancing around a bit, Viktor shrugged, “That complicates things… it won’t be safe for you to return to the mall. So you shall remain safe with me…” he placed a gentle hand on her back.
"...what will your brother think, Morty?” Arthur asked, shaking his head. “Betraying him like this?”
“Silence, snake!” Viktor lashed. “Don’t distract your executioner. This will be worth it in the end…” Viktor went to grab the weapon, placing it in Fiona’s hand and gently closing her hand around the grip as he assured her, “When Höllvania is restored to its former glory, my dear, your brother will have a much better life. Focus on that.”
“You have a family… friends you hold dear…” Arthur began… with a tone that felt… off.
Quincy saw the whole scene through his scope, but he didn’t see that it was Arthur until a soldier moved aside. “W-what the- Arthur, what the hell are you doing?! Abort! Tell her to take you out of there!”
There was silence on the radio, and Quincy feared the worst, seeing his leader kneeling in front of the enemy. Fiona was frozen in fear, and Quincy had a hunch about what was going through her head, seeing the one she loved in such a state.
But then… he heard something that made things worse. Arthur responded.
“...that’s not me.”
Fiona couldn’t think. On one hand, she wanted to aim the pistol at Viktor. On the other hand, she wanted to transfer into Arthur and take them away from there… but the one in front of her didn’t feel like Arthur.
“Why did you have to stay and make us care about you? To make us feel hope? To feel loved? You should’ve let us die and save us the pain. …you will leave us one day, making all this a waste of time… You should’ve stayed in your little fairytale world.”
Now certain about what was happening, she calmed down. “...you’re not Arthur.”
He chuckled, finally looking up at her, showing his dark eyes. “What gave it away, Kiddo?”
As Viktor and the Scaldra reacted with shock and horror, The Indifference began to laugh, now back to his twisted copy of Rose; Fiona’s younger alternative self.
Using it as a distraction, she used her void powers to go invisible and leapt away, careful to avoid making a sound. Glancing back when it was safe, she noticed The Indifference was gone, and Viktor looked around with panic. But no time to observe the scene further, she felt Umbra approach, and she used transference just as he rounded a corner.
“The Indifference?!” Eleanor gasped as she saw Fiona’s memory. “...he has a sick sense of humor, pretending to be Arthur like that.”
“You can say that again…” Fiona sighed as she removed the skirt from her dress to fold it up and put it in a bag. “What a grand finale to this spectacle.”
“And a grand exit, too. Guess what?” Lettie smirked, “Scaldra is already sending out updated propaganda, saying the Hex is affiliated with an evil spirit that kidnaps loved ones. So you going fantasma made him think it was your Xipe Totec’s doing.”
“So all you gotta do now is to keep that cute face of yours hidden from any and all Scaldra,” Quincy chuckled, “at least until the next reset.”
“Yup, such a relief to erase me from his mind…” Fiona sighed. “But hey, it was a good idea to go anyway, wasn’t it?” She turned to look at Arthur, who was checking the pistol Viktor had given her.
He looked up and gave a half-smile as he nodded. “It wouldn’t do him any good now without a spy, since these bullets are shit at range and wouldn’t pierce our mutated skin. Still… knowing about them allows us to figure out a counter, wear helmets or something.”
“Sooo, would you say it was all worth it in the end, Fi?” Aoi asked, “Putting up with Viktor for these past few weeks?”
Seeing it as the perfect moment to reveal her secret, Fiona nodded. “Absolutely. Not just because of the pistol, the presents, and the wine for Eleanor…” She walked over to the cupboards next to her big TV and opened one up, revealing a big load of medical resources.
“¡Vaya! Good job, Fiona!” Lettie chuckled, getting up from the couch to check through the medical stuff. “This is quite the haul! Rare medicines too!”
“And that’s not all…” Opening up the other cupboard, Fiona revealed a dozen bottles of wine, which caused Eleanor to gasp. “I know you said you prefer a personal delivery, but… I can’t carry that many.”
Eleanor leapt up from the couch, hugging Fiona tightly, tears in her eyes, “Oh, you’re the best, sweetheart!”
The Hex continued to have a nice time, moving on to different topics and simply enjoying each other's company. When they eventually needed to get back to work, Quincy took Fiona aside to assure her that if she needed to talk about anything that happened with Viktor, she could talk to him. She appreciated it and assured him that the worst that ever happened was that kiss she dodged. She was fine.
Later that night, Arthur went back to the backroom. Stepping through the portal, he glanced around and didn’t see Fiona. “Hey Fi, got a minute?”
“Yeah, I’m up here,” she called from her living space.
Walking up, he found her lying on the couch with a clipboard and pen. “Working on something?”
“Yeah, the dress I got from Viktor, I’m having it altered to make it something more my style. And Aoi offered to change the necklace, so I’m trying to figure out what to change it to,” she explained and turned the clipboard to show him the sketches. “Figured a pendant would be simple enough, maybe the Hex symbol.”
Looking at the sketches, he saw different shapes for the pendant, the Hex symbol, a few inspirational quotes, a metal crane, a bullet… and a teddy bear. “...that’s kind of her.”
Putting the clipboard aside, she gave him her full attention. “What did you want to talk about?”
He sighed and crossed his arms, “Was talking to Valdemar… who was playing with his action figures. The ones he had left behind at his old apartment. Amir and Aoi knew about it.”
Her smile dropped. The lie… she had almost forgotten about it.
“Why did you lie to me?”
She felt like a child getting caught lying by their parent, curling up a bit. “Was afraid you’d get angry at me for… doing something stupid.”
He softened a bit, “Yeah… I would be. But I forgive you if you promise not to lie like that. I’m trying to keep track of everyone, and even small lies can result in dangerous misunderstandings.”
Looking up at him, she gave a sheepish smile, “I promise. Sorry, and… thank you.”
He nodded and sat down next to her, not too close as he wanted her to be comfortable. “Moving on… I know you’re not “fine” after what happened. Quincy told me what he saw… how frozen you were when The Indifference showed up disguised as me. Even Viktor seemed to notice it. …Did it say something to you?”
Looking down at the sketches on the coffee table, she breathed nervous and shallow breaths, “He just pretended to be you playing along, talking about how I’d betray my little brother. …That’s all.”
“No, it’s not,” he called her bluff. “Don’t lie again.”
Closing her eyes, she cursed herself for making things worse, but she knew the real words would lead to a topic she didn’t want to talk about. “It doesn’t matter! He tried to get under my skin, okay?!”
“It does matter! What? Did he talk about something awkward? Did he make you think I was actually giving up on you?” Arthur got a bit frustrated but tried to calm down. “You’re lashing out like a wounded animal. If he said something that I need to correct, I need to hear it. Alright?”
She had to tell him, “...he asked why I had to stay and care about you and the others. That I would leave one day. …That I would’ve been better off staying in Duviri.”
Letting it sink in, Arthur sighed. “Did you really believe I said that?”
“...not really. …But it still hit,” she rubbed an eye, not yet ready to cry. “...I don’t want to leave. I may go back to Duviri sometimes, but… I don’t want to belong anywhere else.”
“...but doesn’t he have a point? Why did you decide to stay? While we do try to keep a high spirit… our situation isn’t pretty. We’re doomed and stuck in a warzone. You still have a future to return to… that you *will* return to one day. Fly through space, fight cool battles, and see amazing things with friends who are practically immortal. Yet you chose to stay and get attached to what might as well be ghosts.”
She was exhausted, and he was touching on a sensitive topic. She couldn’t calm down. “It’s not like I had a choice - did you want me to just leave and let you all die?!”
“No, but I know you’re smarter than this,” he raised his voice a bit too, “why choose to stay when you knew bloody well that you can’t?”
“Because I’m IN LOVE WITH YOU, you asshat!!”
The silence was deafening. His anger vanished, and his expression was as if she had just shot him. There was pain and shock in his eyes, his mouth agape and quiet as he forgot to breathe.
Realizing she finally said it, she curled up even more and looked away to hide her tears, “...sorry, I… I didn’t know how to handle it.” Enduring a few more seconds of awkward silence, she then added, “...I can get over it, I just need some time.”
“No,” he quickly reacted, surprising her a bit, “...no, it’s okay. I just… need some time to think.”
Looking at him, she saw his worried and awkward look. It was adorable. Feeling better about it, she assured him with a smile, “I get it. Take your time.”
He relaxed a bit and smiled back, “Thanks… good night.”
“Good night.”
He got up and moved towards the doorway, hesitating a moment before leaving to turn in for the night.
Looking down at her sketches, Fiona reached for the clipboard and smiled, feeling certain about a design for the necklace.
The next morning, she was feeling a bit better. While she didn’t want to keep her hopes up since he only said he needed time to think about it, she felt relief to at least have said it and no longer feel awkward about it. In hindsight, having that conversation with him, even if it was heated, just made her even more certain that she would refuse to let The Indifference take this home away from her. And even if he would do it one day, she did not regret anything, and it wouldn’t stop her from continuing to be the best friend she could be.
And while she wasn’t very comfortable showing her face in public yet, she now had a full wardrobe to use. So with a casual outfit, cap, and glasses, she headed out to deliver her sketches.
Quincy had a bit of a laugh when it took a moment for him to recognize her. And seeing the sketch, he urged her to go with him to talk to Matilda about it, to make sure the seamstress got to go over a few things before starting the project. It was nice, Matilda being sweet and excited, and they had a nice chat about the design. She had been quite busy with projects ever since she moved into the mall and seemed a bit exhausted, but the idea of working on the dress seemed to give her quite a lot of energy.
Then Fiona headed over to Aoi with the sketch and necklace. Arriving, she noticed Eleanor was already there, talking to Aoi about something. Seeing her best friend, Aoi perked up and smiled.
“Oh, hey, Fi! Nice disguise!”
“Heh, Quincy almost didn’t recognize me,” she shared and noticing how Eleanor was smiling, “...what? Enjoying the good vibes?”
“Something like that…”
“Soooo… got a design for me?” Aoi noticed the paper and necklace.
Handing it over, she took a deep breath, “Yeah, you can remove the gems and turn the metal into a pendant.”
Looking over the design, she giggled, “Aw, the Hex symbol and a teddy bear?”
“Yeah… a reminder of the most important people in my life,” she explained.
With another aw, Aoi glanced down again, “Who’s the teddy bear? Rose?”
“Heh, don’t need a reminder for her.” She looked away, “…No, it’s… someone else.”
Her two good friends smiled warmly at her, seemingly getting the hint. Knowing Eleanor, it was likely that the echo Fiona had in her head – what she said to Arthur last night – hadn't gone unnoticed.
“Don’t worry, darling,” Eleanor assured. “It’ll be alright.”
Fiona took a deep breath and nodded, then watched as Aoi used her powers to warp the metal that held the jewels, letting them drop down into her hand. Then, putting them aside, she shaped the pendant and attached it to the thin silver chain.
Putting it on, Fiona smiled at Aoi’s craftsmanship, thanking her and pocketing the jewels, planning to give them to Matilda later on.
As she was heading up to check on Lettie, she spotted Arthur returning to his station after a mission with Amir. He looked over and spotted her too. It didn’t feel right to go and ask if he’s made up his mind, since she had told him to take his time. So she simply smiled at him before continuing up the stairs.
The day would continue as normal, the two calmly avoiding each other a bit and keeping conversations short. She headed out with Aoi and got her mind off of it, having fun shooting every speaker that played Viktor’s propaganda and having a playful bet of who could kill the most Techrot.
And by the end of the day, she again caught Arthur looking at her, and again simply smiled and looked away.
Early in the morning, she decided to go on the computer and see who was online. Everyone except Arthur was. Quincy had sent a message, sharing that Matilda was almost done and was ready to show the final product later in the evening. She then had conversations with both Lettie and Aoi that had her quite distracted, both wanting to make sure she was alright and cheering her up in their own ways.
When checking in with Eleanor, they got on the topic of what The Indifference had said. She had let Eleanor hear it, and she wanted to ask how Fiona was handling it. She assured Eleanor it wasn’t just because of what she felt for Arthur, but for everyone else, too. They were family, and she is staying, simple as that. Eleanor then wondered if she had talked to Arthur yet, but no, he was offline. She responded with “Can’t imagine why…” and a winky face before going offline.
Moving on, Fiona noticed a message from Amir, asking if she could “pretty please” join him and Valdemar for a game of KineCart. She accepted the invite, assuring she’d be right over.
Getting dressed in her casual disguise, she headed through the portal. But just as she was about to turn to walk down the corridor, she froze in her tracks, seeing Arthur lean against the wall right in front of the portal.
“Got a minute? …or were you in a hurry?”
Removing her glasses, she turned to him and tried to act casual, “No, I got time… what’s up?”
He smiled and glanced down at the floor, “...never been called an asshat before.”
“...sorry about that.”
“Nah, it’s alright, I get it. I got on your nerves,” he sighed. “Just to make sure… you’re serious? You’re in love with me?”
She took a deep breath to prepare herself, taking a small step closer to get away from the portal. Looking into his eyes to show sincerity, she nodded, “Yes. I honestly can’t stop thinking about you.”
Pausing for a moment to let it sink in, he nodded, “Well, it’s… It’s mutual… but I figured you’d need a fair warning first.” He took a deep breath. “Relationships with men like me aren’t easy. For a long time, I considered myself already dead. And when I became infected, even more so. But… when I met you? I don’t know… I felt, for the first time, like I really had someone who I could share the weight with. I felt like I could shut my eyes for even just a moment and everything would be okay,” he smiled, thinking about all the times she had been so quick to volunteer, and how she cared about everyone. Made things easier.
He continued, “With you here, I can breathe. And I… find myself smiling more. Laughing more. And I have you to thank for it. …but I have to ask… why me? Why… this?” he gestured at his protoframe body.
Feeling the weight of the moment and touched by his words, she was a bit hesitant to make sure she found the right response, but the words came rather naturally. “Arthur… I… I’m surprised you’re even standing here, seemingly interested to give *me* a chance! Me, this completely nuts gal from the future, spat out from some alien mouth, wielding freaky space magic and can possess your body - like seriously, how am I not locked up?!”
He burst out laughing at her delivery, lightening the mood.
Calming down, Fiona relaxed at the sound of his laughter and continued. “I don’t care what’s happened to you - it hasn’t changed *who* you are… you, Arthur James Nightingale… that’s who I want to be with.”
Looking at her with a warm smile, taking in her words, he relaxed, “Of everything that’s happened in this cursed year…” he paused, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, “You really want to try this? Us?”
Stepping closer, she nodded, clearly nervous but excited to show just how sincere she was and not about to look back. “Yeah, I do. …and you?”
He chuckled, unfolding his arms to reach for her cheek, “yeah…” he seemed to try and find more words, but the way he approached her had her freeze up a bit.
She didn’t step away, just a mix of excitement and fear, clearly being new to this. It kind of clicked for him. This explained her way of confessing, the frustration she felt because she didn’t know how else to handle it. He knew the feeling. And right now, the once tough and confident gal now stood with big eyes and shallow breaths, letting herself be at his mercy.
It was adorable how she behaved. So he let out an amused hum before removing her cap, pulling her closer by the waist, and giving her a tender kiss.
Parting, she took deep breaths, calming down after the suspense, “...so that’s what it’s like. …never been kissed before. …I like it,” she confirmed his suspicions.
With a grin, he felt more certain about this, “Heh… then I’ll show you what you’ve been missing out on.” Holding her even closer, he kissed her more deeply, feeling her adapt, wrapping her arms around him and kissing him back with glee.
After a moment, they pulled away to simply smile and enjoy being in each other’s arms. That’s when he looked down and noticed her pendant. It was showing the side with the teddy bear, and it had him chuckle.
“Did you seriously get my teddy bear on the pendant?”
She giggled, “I know it’s silly, but it’s a precious secret, and I just wanted something to remind me of how much I enjoy talking to you.”
“Heh… anyone ever told you how adorable you are sometimes? Might be my job now,” he leaned down to give her a quick peck as he gazed into her joyful eyes. Leaning back a bit, he remembered she was on her way out. “You had plans for today?”
“Yeah, Amir just invited me to play KineCart with him and Val,” she answered as they began walking together, “...you wanna join?”
“Sure, could be fun.”
MissEmberMenia on Chapter 3 Sat 03 May 2025 02:50AM UTC
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SharkDreams on Chapter 3 Sat 03 May 2025 06:42AM UTC
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