karme !!

Your eye twitched in annoyance as he hit the villain with several blasts of darkness.

Nightfall's powers were the opposite of yours; he could form anything out of darkness and disappear into the shadows like nothing. Umbrakinesis, you're pretty sure was what it was called.

His powers also didn't have even half of the negative effects yours had on you.

What annoyed you most about this man wasn't the envy you had over his powers—it was the fact this man was a villain, and a villain who had the audacity to act like some kind of know-it-all dad.

He refused to hurt you. You'd honestly prefer if he did over the way he'd gently scold you for doing your job. As if he cared about you, or even knew you.

You sighed and launched another beam of light, the villain knocking over another car as he tried to dodge the attack.

"Why are you helping me?" you asked through gritted teeth.

A tendril of darkness curled around you and yanked you away from the villain's next punch. It carefully set you down further away.

"I'm against children getting hurt, including ones playing dress-up and pretend."

"For the last time! I am not a fucking kid!" You used your anger to shoot a larger blast towards the rock-villain. It made direct contact, and he slumped to the ground with a groan.

You leaned against a wall and took deep breaths, feeling the migraine setting in.

"I'm not a child," you repeated weakly.

Nightfall sighed. "Could've fooled me." He didn't sound like his usual smug, teasing-self. Now he just sounded exasperated and worried. "Sit down. You're injured."

"Don't need your help," you grumbled.

A shadow curled around your leg and tugged you down to the ground. "Humor me."

You huffed and sat against the wall, trying to blink away the fuzziness.

"Oh, honey," he whispered, so quietly that you couldn't hear it over the ringing in your ears. He took off his coat, ripping at the sleeve.

"What're you doing?" you practically slurred.

He ignored you and tied the makeshift bandage around your arm. Your suit had been torn during the fight, and you hadn't even noticed you were bleeding. The pain felt numb, distant, like everything else around you.

You felt yourself being lifted, cradled against his chest. You peered up. Despite your blurry vision, you could see his dark purple mask. Even if it hid his expression, you didn't need to see it. You knew he was concerned and pissed off.

You wanted to hit him. You wanted to fall asleep in his arms.

"Nightfall!" a nearby, familiar voice yelled.

Even through your sleepiness, the voice made you jolt. You looked over to see your mentor, Smolder. His power was the ability to create and control fire. He was a top-hero, and he was the one who taught you how to fight and control your powers.

"Smolder," Nightfall said coolly. "Seems you're a little late. It feels as if I'm playing hero more than you as of lately."

You wiggled in his arms, but his grip tightened. "Put me down," you said, your head swimming.

"Shh, just rest. You've done enough," he murmured.

Smolder stepped forward, flames curling around his fingers. "Give me Prism."

Nightfall let out an annoyed huff. "I think you're just intimidated that I obviously care about their safety more than you. But very well." He carefully set you down on the ground.

You stumbled towards Smolder, your legs shaking. "H-hey, thanks for showing up—"

Smolder gripped your shoulder tightly, making you wince. "Get in the damn car, Prism." As you struggled to get in, Smolder glared back at Nightfall. "I don't know what you're playing at, but you need to back off. And stay away from my protégé."

Nightfall tilted his head. "Funny. I'm not the one who lets them get injured."

Just as Smolder lunged forward to grab Nightfall, the villain disappeared into thin air.

...

It took you a few days to heal, and although you wouldn't say you were anywhere close to being fully recovered, you were well enough to return to the agency.

There had been an anonymous tip to you, that there was suspicious activity coming from a warehouse down by the docks. It was probably a trap, but you decided to check it out anyways. You didn't want to risk anyone getting hurt.

And besides, you were itching for some action.

You crept into the warehouse, looking around. It was dark, save for a few scattered, dim lights here and there. Crates were stacked high, and there was a faint smell of sea water and mold in the air.

You held your hand out, a small ball of light forming in your palm to illuminate your surroundings.

There was nothing. No sounds, no people. You were about to leave, when something shifted behind you. You spun around and raised your other hand, ready to fire a blast.

You froze when you saw who it was.

Standing there, just a few feet away from you, was Nightfall. He was wearing his dark suit, his hands in his pockets.

"Great, it's you," you dryly said.

The corner of his lips quirked upwards. "Good to see you too, Prism. How's the arm?"

"What do you want?" you snapped. "And don't play coy, I know you're the one who tipped me off."

He hummed and took a step closer. "I'll admit, I wasn't sure if you'd come. I figured you'd be smarter than that. Do you blindly obey every anonymous tip you get?"

"No. But I wasn't just gonna ignore it and hope no one gets hurt. What the fuck do you want, Nightfall?"

He took another step forward. You tensed, feeling a little more nervous. His powers were the only thing that could counter yours. And in a place this dark, he was practically at his best.

"I'm simply trying to have a little chat with you. I'm concerned."

You raised an eyebrow. "You barely know me. Why the hell would you be concerned?"

He chuckled and crossed his arms. "Is that what you think? That I don't know you?"

You frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I know more than you think I do, [Name]."

You took a step back, raising both your hands, ready to fire. "Okay, what the fuck—how the hell do you know my real name?"

"I know a lot of things. I know you spend long nights alone in your apartment, staring at the wall and wondering if anyone actually cares about you. I know you've been skipping meals, not getting enough sleep. I know you've been having migraines so bad you can't even open your eyes without feeling nauseous."

Your breath hitched as he stepped closer.

"Your "best friend" is your coworker, Whirlwind—also known as Ivy Floris. Did you know she talks badly about you behind your back?" He circled you like a vulture. "Your birthday is in two weeks. No one will do anything for you. You'd be lucky if anyone even remembered, including your mentor and supposed best friend."

You didn't want to admit it, but he was right. It was like he'd been watching you. And it scared you. It scared you more than any fight you'd been in before.

"Stop," you whispered.

But he didn't. In fact, he began speaking with even more conviction. "Your favorite color is [favorite color], your favorite animal is [favorite animal], and your favorite food is [favorite food]. You love [favorite hobby], but you don't have time for it because your job keeps you too busy—"

"Shut up!" you yelled, firing a blast.

Nightfall sighed and waved a hand, the blast absorbed into the darkness. "You're so worked up. It's sad, really. All you want is to be loved. Taken care of. You want someone to tell you it's okay to rest. Or someone to at least acknowledge all your hard work and tell you they're proud of you."

Tears were pricking your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. "I don't need someone telling me that! I don't need anyone to take care of me—I'm a hero! My job is to take care of others!"

He sighed deeply and lifted a gloved hand. Your breath hitched once again as he took off his mask.

Nightfall looked pretty average—short auburn hair, gray eyes, and an aquiline nose. The only thing that seemed striking were the dark circles under his eyes.

He gently tucked his mask into his pocket before holding out his arms to you. "Come on. Come here. It's okay, I promise."

But you couldn't. You were frozen in a mixture of fear and confusion. If he were Smolder, you would've jumped at the opportunity, but the fact of the matter was, this guy is not Smolder. You couldn't pretend otherwise.

"You're insane," you finally said. "I'm leaving."

You turned away and stormed off, but stopped in your tracks when the shadows shifted in front of you, creating a black wall.

"You're not leaving, kiddo," he said softly.

"Don't call me that!" You turned around and fired another blast, your eyes burning. You felt so tired, so drained. And the attack barely left your hand before it was swallowed up.

Nightfall looked you over with a sad expression, before sighing. "You're not gonna make this easy, are you? Stubborn little thing."

"Fuck off!"

His eyes turned darker. "Watch your mouth. I'm trying to help you."

You almost choked on a laugh. "Help me? You're a villain, how the fuck are you helping me?!"

"I'm giving you an out. I'm giving you a life where you don't have to put yourself in danger. Where you don't have to hurt yourself to help others." He gestured towards you, his expression softening once more. "I can give you the life you want, honey. You don't have to be a hero anymore. You can just... be a kid."

It almost sounded like a good offer. The thought of not having to be responsible for everyone's lives, not having to use your powers... it was tempting. But you couldn't do it. You couldn't give up being a hero. It was all you'd ever wanted.

"No," you said firmly. "I'm not going with you."

He shrugged, a small smile on his face. "I had a feeling you'd say that."

And then, the floor opened up beneath you, and you screamed as you fell through the darkness.

...

When you woke up, you were in a bed.

You jolted up and looked around, panic rising as you realized you weren't in your room.

The room was large yet cozy, the walls painted a light shade of your favorite color. A large window was to your left, sunlight streaming in. You were in a soft bed, with a dark blue blanket draped over you. There was a white dresser in the corner, and a door that led to the bathroom. It looked like a room for a teenager, but it definitely wasn't yours.

What the fuck happened?

You pushed the blankets off and swung your legs off the bed, standing up. You felt a little dizzy, but not too bad. You glanced down and saw you were wearing a white t-shirt and black pajama pants.

You quickly stumbled to the door and tried to open it, only to find it was locked. You rushed to the window and tried to pull it open, but it was also locked. You lifted your hand to form a blast of energy, only for nothing to come out.

You stared at your hand in horror. No. No, no, no—

The door unlocked, and you spun around. Nightfall walked in, wearing casual clothes and a soft smile. You almost forgot this was Nightfall, so used to seeing him in his mask.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he said. "How are you feeling?"

"What did you do to me?!" you yelled, your voice shaking. "What did you do to my powers?!"

He held up his hands in a placating manner. "Calm down, [Name]. I didn't take them away, I promise. But I had to do something to keep you from hurting yourself. Or me." He lifted his hand and made a gesture to his own wrist.

You stared in confusion, then looked down at your wrist. There was a bulky bracelet—almost a cuff—attached to your right wrist. It looked sleek and dark. It was slightly heavy. You supposed it was the adrenaline that prevented you from noticing it immediately.

"This will dampen your powers. It won't completely get rid of them, but it'll prevent you from doing anything too drastic. Like, I don't know, blowing up my house?"

You glared at him, tugging at the cuff. "Take it off."

He shook his head. "No, I don't think I will. At least, not until I can be sure I can trust you."

"Trust me? You're the one who kidnapped me, you son of a bitch!"

"Language."

You sneered and tried to tackle him, only for him to effortlessly restrain you in the shadowy tendrils again.

"Okay, let's try this again," he gently said. "My name is Anton Jurkowski, also known as Nightfall. But you can call me Anton or dad."

You stared at him in disbelief. "Dad? Are you out of your mind?"

He chuckled. "Maybe. But I'm serious, [Name]. I want to take care of you. I want you to be safe. And I can't do that if you're out there fighting villains and hurting yourself."

"I'm a hero, it's my job to fight villains!"

"Well, not anymore. You're retired." He gently patted your head. "And I'll make sure you never have to go back to that life again."

You were so angry, you could barely see straight. This man, this villain, was trying to take away your life's work, your dream, all because he thought he knew better. You wanted to scream, to cry, to lash out. But the damn cuff on your wrist prevented you from doing any real damage.

You took a deep breath and forced yourself to calm down. Lashing out wouldn't help. You needed to be smart about this.

"Okay," you said, trying to sound as reasonable as possible. "I understand you're worried about me. But you can't just keep me here. People will notice I'm missing."

"What if I told you after I brought you to your new home, I detonated a bomb in the warehouse? The place where your suit and its tracker were last?"

You froze. Oh, fuck.

"Don't worry," he assured you. "No one was hurt. And everyone is convinced you died in the explosion."

You felt dizzy, and you suddenly wanted to throw up. "You... you made everyone think I'm dead?"

He nodded. "It was the only way, kiddo. I'm sorry."

You sat back on the bed, trying to process everything. This couldn't be happening. There was no way.

But it was. Anton was standing there, looking at you with such a soft expression, as if he wasn't the reason your life had just been turned upside down.

"Why me?" you quietly asked. "I don't understand..."

The shadows around you unfurled, and he sat beside you on the bed. "It's a little embarrassing to admit, but I've had my eye on you for a while. You were so young when you first debuted, and I couldn't believe the agency was letting a kid become a hero. I became your 'arch-nemesis' so I could keep an eye on you, and make sure you didn't get hurt. But the more I watched, the more I realized just how much you were struggling."

He shook his head, his expression turning angry.

"You're so sweet, and kind, and... the thought of you losing that spark, thanks to the trauma heroes deal with regularly... the thought broke my heart," he confessed.

"And you don't think getting kidnapped and having my death faked isn't traumatic?" you snidely remarked.

He winced and looked away, shame crossing his face. "I'm... aware of the irony. But at least here, you're safe. You don't have to worry about getting hurt, or having to hurt others. You can just... live."

You didn't know what to say to that.

At your silence, he added, "Of course I'm doing this for selfish reasons too, I won't deny that. I always wanted kids of my own, but the villain life isn't exactly conducive to raising them. When I saw you, I just... couldn't let you go. I wanted to keep you safe, to take care of you."

You stared at him, trying to see if he was lying, but you couldn't find any trace of deception. He genuinely believed he was doing the right thing.

You were in shock. You wanted to go home. You wanted your old life back. But as you looked at the man sitting beside you, you realized that wasn't going to happen.

He was going to keep you here, whether you liked it or not.

But you wouldn't give up. If demanding and yelling wouldn't work, maybe genuine pleading would.

You grabbed onto the sleeve of his shirt, making him look back at you. "Please," you whispered. "Please, let me go. I promise, I'll be careful. I won't push myself too hard. Just... don't keep me here."

He looked at you with such pity. It made your heart ache.

"I can't do that, honey. I'm sorry." He gently patted your head. "I know this is a lot to take in. But I promise, I'll make you happy here. You'll see."

You could feel the tears finally falling down your cheeks. "I hate you."

His expression fell a little, but he nodded in acceptance. "I know. But I'll love you enough for the both of us."

...

A day after that, you were allowed to leave your room.

"Your room isn't a prison, it's just a place to sleep," Anton had assured you. "As long as you behave, you can go anywhere in the house, except my office or the basement. Okay?"

He had given you a tour, showing you the living room, kitchen, and the backyard. It was a nice house, you had to admit. It was big and spacious, with lots of natural light and comfortable furniture. It was like something out of a magazine. If you weren't being held captive, you might've actually liked it.

There were no neighbors around for miles. The house was in a remote location, surrounded by trees and hills. You had no idea where you were, and you had no way of finding out. You didn't have a phone, and the cuff on your wrist prevented you from using your powers to even signal for help.

You were stuck.

After the tour, Anton sat you down at the kitchen table and gave you some breakfast. It was simple, just some scrambled eggs and toast, but it was still better than what you usually ate. You had to admit, he could cook.

He sat across from you, sipping his coffee and watching you eat. You tried to ignore him, focusing on your food, but it was hard.

"So, what do you want to do today?" he asked.

You huffed. "What can I even do? I have no phone, can't use my powers, and there's no one for several miles out here."

"There's me," he said, offering a soft smile.

You rolled your eyes and stabbed your eggs with your fork. "Great. My kidnapper is my only source of entertainment."

He chuckled. "I know this is hard for you, but I'm sure we'll figure something out. Maybe we can watch a movie, or play a board game. Or we could go for a walk in the woods."

He sounded so excited, like a dad trying to connect with his estranged child. It would have been almost endearing if the circumstances were different.

You sighed. "Fine. A walk, I guess." At least that'd give you the opportunity to map the area out a bit.

He beamed and stood up. "Great! Let's finish up breakfast and head out."

...

The walk was nice, but it was also frustrating.

Anton kept trying to make small talk, asking you about your favorite movies and music. You gave him short, clipped answers, not in the mood to humor him. He didn't seem offended, though. He just kept talking, telling you about his own interests and hobbies.

"Oh, look at that," he said, pointing to a small stream. "We could go fishing here, if you'd like. Or maybe have a picnic. Would you like that?"

You shrugged, not really paying attention. You were too busy trying to memorize your surroundings, looking for any possible escape routes. But the more you looked, the more hopeless you felt. You were in the middle of nowhere, with no idea where you were or how to get back to civilization.

Anton noticed your distraction and sighed. "You're not even listening to me, are you?"

"No," you bluntly said.

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "I know you're angry with me, but I'm trying here. The least you could do is meet me halfway."

"Why?" you snapped. "So you can feel better about kidnapping me?"

He frowned. "No. I just... I want to get to know you. I want to bond with you. Please, just give me something to work with here."

Maybe if he gained more trust in you, you could get this stupid bracelet off quicker. Just a little bit of your pride would have to be sacrificed.

You sighed and rubbed your face. "You seem to know me a lot more than I know you. I think I'd rather ask you questions." Your own sentence sent a shiver down your spine. You couldn't believe this guy was stalking you.

He perked up. "Okay. Ask me anything."

"Why did you become a villain?"

He blinked, as if not expecting the question. "Oh. Well... I've always had this power, ever since I was a kid. But when I started using it more, I realized I could do things no one else could. I could help people, but in a way that most wouldn't agree with. I guess I just... like the freedom of being a villain. I don't have to answer to anyone."

That wasn't a bad answer, honestly. You could understand where he was coming from.

"What about you?" he asked. "Why did you become a hero?"

You shrugged. "I have these powers. I owe it to the world to help people with them."

He shook his head. "That's a terrible reason. You shouldn't be putting yourself in danger just because you feel like you have to."

"It's my choice," you argued. "And it's what I want."

He sighed. "Well, it doesn't matter now. You're not a hero anymore."

You gritted your teeth, but didn't respond.

The rest of the walk was mostly silent. You asked him a few more questions, but the conversation was strained. You knew he was trying, but you just couldn't bring yourself to care.

Eventually, he led you back to the house. It was almost sunset, and you were tired from the day. All you wanted was to take a shower and go to sleep.

But Anton had other plans.

"We should celebrate your first day here," he said, as you entered the kitchen. "We could have a nice dinner, maybe watch a movie together."

You sighed. "I'm not really in the mood."

"Nonsense," he said, already going to the fridge. "I'll make us something nice. You go take a shower and relax. I'll call you when it's ready."

You opened your mouth to protest, but he gave you a look that told you he wasn't going to take no for an answer. You grumbled and trudged up the stairs to your room.

After taking a shower and changing into fresh clothes, you laid down on your bed and stared at the ceiling. You felt exhausted, mentally and emotionally. You wanted to go home. You wanted your life back.

But that wasn't going to happen. Not anytime soon.

You closed your eyes and tried to sleep, but you couldn't. Your mind was racing, thinking about everything that had happened and what you were going to do. You were stuck here, with a man who claimed to care about you, but had taken away your freedom.

After what felt like hours, there was a knock on your door.

"Dinner's ready," Anton called out.

You reluctantly got up and opened the door. Anton was standing there, wearing an apron and a bright smile. You rolled your eyes and followed him to the dining room.

The dinner was nothing special, just some spaghetti and garlic bread. But it tasted better than the meals you'd been making for yourself. You ate in silence, not really in the mood for conversation.

Afterwards, he insisted on watching a movie. You sat on the couch, as far away from him as possible, while he put on some cheesy action film.

About halfway through, you felt your eyes getting heavy. You tried to fight it, not wanting to fall asleep around him, but it was no use. You were exhausted.

You didn't even notice when your head fell onto his shoulder, or when he carefully wrapped an arm around you. You were too far gone in your dreams to care.

...

A whole month passed. You and Anton had settled into a routine, as weird as it was. He'd make breakfast, you'd go for a walk or do some chores around the house, have lunch, and then spend the rest of the day however you wanted. Sometimes he'd make dinner, other times you'd have leftovers.

He was always trying to get you to talk to him, to open up. You resisted at first, but eventually, you found yourself actually engaging in conversations with him. It was... nice, in a way. He was easy to talk to, and he seemed genuinely interested in what you had to say.

But you still wanted to go home.

You boredly watched him from the lawn chair outside as he watered the flowers. He was humming to himself, looking completely content. It was so strange seeing how different he was from Nightfall, like two separate people completely.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, not looking at you.

You blinked, surprised he knew you were watching. "Nothing. Just... how different you are from your villain persona."

He chuckled. "Well, Nightfall is a character, more or less. I have to put on a show, keep up appearances. But this," he gestured to himself, "this is who I really am."

You judgmentally looked him up and down. "A clingy, emotionally unstable old man with bad taste in fashion?"

He shot you a playful glare. "Hey, I'll have you know my fashion sense is impeccable. And I'm not old."

"Not denying the 'clingy, emotionally unstable' part?"

He smiled sheepishly and turned back to his flowers. "Well, I'm not gonna lie to you."

You smirked, but it quickly fell as you thought about the situation you were in. You stared up at the sky, bored once again.

Your boredom was interrupted by the sound of ringing.

Anton took his phone out and cursed under his breath. "Dad's gotta take this, okay? Wanna take over hose duty? Might give you something to do." He lifted the hose as an offering.

Was he really willing to leave you outside? He really trusted you not to run?

You shrugged. "Sure. Go take your stupid call."

He handed you the hose and walked inside, already talking to whoever was on the other line. You could barely hear him from here.

You sighed and started watering the flowers. It was mindless work, but it really was something to do. You looked around the yard, seeing the high fence surrounding the property. Even if you wanted to make a break for it, you wouldn't get very far.

You stopped watering and went to the fence, peering through the slats. Nothing but trees for miles. You were truly isolated out here.

But maybe if you just could get this stupid cuff off of you...

You looked around. Maybe there'd be something outside to break it with. You weren't really sure what would work. The cuff seemed pretty sturdy. But you had to try something.

You quietly made your way around the yard, checking every nook and cranny. There was nothing that seemed useful. Even all the rocks weren't big enough to do any actual damage.

But then you spotted the shed.

It was small, but it might have something inside. You quickly made your way to it, trying the handle. It was unlocked. You quietly opened it and looked inside.

There were tools. Hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches. Maybe you could use one of them to break the cuff. It was worth a shot.

You reached for a hammer, just as the door to the house opened. You quickly shut the shed door and turned around, trying to look as casual as possible.

Anton walked towards you with a frown. "What were you doing?"

"Just, uh, checking out the shed," you said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Wanted to see if there was anything interesting in there."

He raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Really. And what did you find?"

"Nothing, really. Just some tools."

He hummed, not looking convinced. "Well, come on inside. I'll make us some lunch."

You nodded and followed him, trying to hide your disappointment. So close.

...

Another day passed, but all you could think about was the shed.

You wanted to get in there, to find something that could help you get the cuff off. But Anton was always around, always watching you. It was like he knew what you were planning.

But you had to try. You couldn't just sit here and accept your fate.

That night, after Anton had gone to bed, you quietly snuck out of your room and made your way downstairs.

You crept to the back door, slowly opening it. You winced at the slight creak it made, but continued on. You quickly made your way to the shed, praying he didn't have cameras out here.

The crickets were chirping loudly. You hoped it'd cover up the noise you were about to make.

As you made your way to the shed, your face fell when you saw the door had a lock on it that had definitely not been there before.

Of course he would've locked it. He wasn't an idiot.

The bastard had noticed, smiled at you over lunch, and then quietly changed things the second your back was turned.

You tried to remember what hero training had taught you.

Observe and assess the situation before acting.

You circled around the shed, looking for any weak spots or windows.

There was a broken window on the side, but it was too high for you to reach, barely large enough to crawl through. You looked around for something to stand on. There was the small table by the lawn chairs. You quietly dragged it over.

Once it was in position, you climbed on top of it and reached for the window. You winced as the broken glass cut your hand, but you muffled a cry by biting your tongue.

You carefully pulled yourself through, trying not to cut yourself further. You ended up tumbling into the shed, hitting the floor with a thud. You groaned and sat up, checking yourself for injuries. Your whole arm was already beginning to bleed, but nowhere else had taken any damage. It hurt, but you had faced much worse before.

You stood up and looked around. It was dark, but you could make out some shapes. You made your way to the workbench and fumbled around, looking for anything that could help.

You found a heavy wrench and gripped it tightly. This could work.

You placed your wrist on the workbench. You took a deep breath, then brought the wrench down on the cuff as hard as you could.

The sound of metal on metal was deafening in the silence. You cringed and hit it again, and again, each time wincing at the noise.

Come on, come on...

On the fifth hit, the cuff finally cracked. You let out a sigh of relief and hit it one more time, the cuff falling off your wrist.

You quickly stood up and threw the wrench aside, feeling a surge of power run through you. You hadn't realized how much you missed it until it was gone.

There was no more time to waste. You blasted a hole through the wall. Normally your powers were dimmed at nighttime or in darker spaces, but it was as if not using your powers for such a long period of time had strengthened them.

You climbed through the newly-made hole and ran. You didn't know where you were going, but you knew you had to get away from here.

Noise was the last concern of yours now. You blasted another hole through the fence, running through it. The trees were dark and intimidating, but you didn't care. You just had to get away.

As you were running, you heard a distant shout. Anton had woken up. You pushed yourself harder, ignoring the burning in your lungs. You couldn't let him catch you. You wouldn't go back.

You didn't dare stop, but slowed only slightly to look up. There were no planes as far as you could see. No convenient heroes flying overhead.

Your legs were sore, your body aching. You'd forgotten how hard it was to run this much, especially in bare feet.

Looking up while running was apparently a horrible idea, because you tumbled down a hill, rolling in dirt and leaves. You grunted as you hit the bottom, your vision spinning.

You stood back up and blinked the dizziness away. You were deep in the foliage. There was a nearby shallow creek and several trees scattered around.

On top of everything, you were pretty sure you sprained your ankle. You leaned against a nearby tree to regain your breath.

"[NAME]!"

Anton's voice was still fairly far away, but you knew you had no time to spare. As soon as he sees you, all it'd take is one snap of his fingers and his shadows could easily bind you.

You wanted to flash your light at the sky to get anyone's attention, but you feared that'd just give your spot up to Anton even quicker.

The only other thing you could do was hide.

You stumbled behind the largest tree and crouched down, trying to calm your breathing. You heard Anton get closer, calling your name. You covered your mouth in a desperate attempt to muffle your heavy breaths.

"Do you know how much this is hurting me?" Anton sneered. You'd never heard him sound so angry, even when he was fronting as Nightfall. "I'm just trying to protect you! To keep you safe! And this is how you repay me?!"

You could hear his footsteps crunching on the leaves. You squeezed your eyes shut.

"Did you want to play hero again? Is that what this is?" He laughed, but it was humorless. "You're not a hero anymore! You're just a brat who doesn't know what's good for them!"

The sound of leaves crunching began getting unsettlingly close.

"They've already replaced you," he darkly continued. "Smolder's already got himself a new favorite protégé. Your 'best friend' did an interview and didn't even shed a tear for you. I bet they were less impacted than I am right now, just at the thought of you injured! And you still want to go back to them?!"

You could hear his footsteps stopping, just a few feet away from your hiding spot.

In a rage, he used his shadowy tendrils to grab a nearby tree, hauling it out of the ground. It crashed to the ground, echoing loudly in the forest.

For a moment, he was rooted in place, panting. He exhaled shakily and ran a hand through his dark hair. "I'm not mad at you, baby. I'm just... I'm hurt. I'm hurt that you don't see how much I care about you. How much I love you."

You could hear his voice cracking. He was seriously crying.

"If you come out now, we'll just go home and talk. That's all. No punishment, no yelling. And you're hurt, aren't you? We'll take care of that, too. I'll try my hardest not to freak out. Wouldn't you like that?" He took a deep breath. "I love you. And no matter what, I'll always love you. But you're scaring me right now, [Name]. Please come out."

He went silent. He was waiting for you.

But you couldn't. You couldn't let him find you.

After a few moments, he sighed.

You thought that was it, that maybe he'd walk away.

"Alright, fine. Hard way it is, then."

You felt tendrils of darkness quickly creeping around the tree, grabbing you before you could even run. You gasped as they pulled you out of your hiding spot.

Anton stood there with a grim expression on his face. He was sweaty and disheveled, his clothes dirty. But his eyes were what scared you the most. They were dark and cold.

You lifted a hand at him and let a burst of light escape, hoping to get him away. It hit him directly in the chest, and he stumbled back with a grunt.

The tendrils around you dropped you, and you used the opportunity to run.

You could hear him behind you, yelling your name. You pushed yourself harder, ignoring the pain in your ankle and the exhaustion in your body.

But you were too slow.

You felt the shadows wrap around you again, this time tighter. They pulled you back, and you fell to the ground. You struggled against them, trying to break free, but it was no use.

Anton stood over you, breathing heavily. He had a hand over his chest, where you had hit him. You could see the burn mark on his shirt. You felt a sliver of satisfaction at that, but it quickly faded when you saw the look on his face.

He was angry. No, not just angry. He was furious.

"[Name] Jurkowski, you are in so much trouble," he hissed.

You didn't even have time to express distaste at the shared surname before the shadows dragged you back to the house. You noticed he was still careful not to hurt you, even though he was clearly pissed.

When you got back, he slammed the back door shut and threw you onto the couch. He stood over you, his eyes blazing.

"Stay there," he ordered.

You wanted to fight, to run, but a shadow kept you tethered in place. You could fight it, but you didn't think it'd be worth the risk right now.

Anton disappeared for a few minutes, coming back with a first-aid kit. He roughly grabbed your arm and started cleaning the cuts you had gotten from the window. It stung, but you didn't show it.

You refused to look at him, staring at the wall instead. You were angry, but you were also scared. You had never seen him like this before.

Once he was done, he wrapped your arm in bandages and moved on to your ankle. It was swollen and bruised. He gently touched it, making you wince.

"You sprained it," he said coldly.

You didn't respond. You just wanted this to be over.

He wrapped your ankle and stood up, crossing his arms. "Now. What am I going to do with you?"

You finally looked at him with a glare. "Let me go."

He laughed, but it was bitter. "Oh, no. That's not happening. You've proven that I can't trust you." A shadow slithered across the wall and came back with a cuff like the last one, but it looked almost twice as bulky. You stared at it with wide eyes. "This," he said, holding it up, "is one of the prototypes. Less comfortable, but just as effective."

You tried to scoot away, but the shadow kept you in place. "You can't be serious."

"Oh, I am. You brought this on yourself." He sat down beside you and roughly grabbed your uninjured wrist, locking the cuff around your wrist.

It was just as heavy as it looked.

"There," Anton said, his voice still cold. "Now you can't go around hurting yourself or others."

You slumped in defeat. You were back to square one. No, worse than square one. Now he was mad at you. And you had no idea what he was going to do.

He sighed and rubbed his face. "Why did you run?"

"Because I want to go home!" you yelled. "I want my life back!"

Anton gave you a glare, then grabbed the remote to the TV.

Almost immediately, you were met with the news.

"Tonight we have a special segment on the new hero that's been making waves," the news anchor said, and your heart sank when you saw Smolder.

He looked different than when you saw him last. He was wearing a new suit, and he had a cocky grin on his face. He looked like he was having the time of his life.

But it was someone else that was next to him. A younger kid with bright blonde hair and a flashy suit. They looked excited to be standing next to their new mentor.

"Smolder," the reporter said, "how does it feel to have a new sidekick so soon after losing Prism?"

"Prism was never my sidekick, just a student," Smolder quickly corrected. "And of course we will all miss Prism, but we're heroes. Loss is simply... part of the job."

The reporter nodded. "And what about the rumors that you were planning on retiring Prism before their unfortunate demise?"

Smolder waved it off. "Those are just rumors. And who cares about that now? We have a new hero to focus on!" He placed his hand on the kid's shoulder. "This is the future. Don't worry about the past."

You felt like you were going to be sick. You couldn't believe what you were hearing. Anton wasn't lying. Smolder, the man you had trusted, was just... moving on. Like you meant nothing to him. And you knew that kid was going to be pushed to their limits, forced to grow up too fast, just like you were.

And Ivy... did she really not care that you were gone? Was the friendship you thought you had just a lie?

Anton turned off the TV, making you look at him. He was no longer angry, but he looked tired and sad.

"See?" he said softly. "They don't care about you like I do. They never did. You were just a tool to them."

You wanted to argue, to defend them. But how could you? The evidence was right there. They had moved on, just like he said they would.

"I don't care if they've moved on," you said, but your wavering voice said otherwise. "I don't care if they're celebrating my death! I don't care if everyone in the world thinks I'm the easiest person to hate, I still don't want to be here!"

He sighed and shook his head. "You're too stubborn for your own good." He stood up, grabbing a towel and change of clothing with his shadows's assistance. "Here's what's gonna happen, kiddo; you're gonna clean up, put on these change of clothes, and meet me back here. Can I trust you to do that without trying to escape again?"

You looked away and nodded, not trusting yourself to speak.

"Good. And one more thing," he said, making you look back at him. "I love you. And I'm not giving up on you. You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."

For a moment, you were frozen. You stared at the floor, and he didn't shoo you away. He only stared at you.

You finally shuffled to the bathroom. Your ankle still throbbed, but the pain was much better than before.

You took a quick shower, trying to ignore the sting of the water on your cuts. Once you were done, you changed into the clothes Anton had given you—a simple t-shirt and shorts.

When you came back, Anton was on the couch, waiting with crossed arms.

He didn't need to make any gestures or movements. You stood in front of him, avoiding his gaze.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked quietly.

You blinked back tears and finally looked at him. "I don't know."

"I'm not mad at you," he gently said. "I'm just disappointed. And worried. You could've gotten seriously hurt. What would I have done if you died, [Name]?"

You bit your lip and looked away. "I've been through way worse."

"That's exactly my point. You shouldn't have gone through that in the first place." He gestured to the couch. "C'mere."

You hesitantly sat next to him. He wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you close. You tensed, but didn't fight him.

"You're safe here," he whispered. "I won't let anyone hurt you. Not even yourself. And I'll do everything I can to make you happy here. But I need you to trust me, okay? Can you do that for me?" He felt you nod against him. "Good. Then you should understand what happens next."

"...what do you mean?" You pulled back with wide eyes.

He sighed and stood up. "Follow me."

Half of you was tempted to run and fight again, but you knew it was useless. You just tiredly followed him to a door that you had always overlooked before, at the end of the hall. Anton took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. You peeked inside, expecting to see a dark room out of a horror movie.

Instead, it was a small room—half the size of your room—with nothing but a mattress, a thin blanket, and a small bathroom attached. The walls and floor were stark white. The only light was from a dim lightbulb in the ceiling.

You turned to Anton with a horrified expression. "You're locking me in here?!"

"It's just a time-out room," he explained. "It breaks my heart to do this too, sweetie, but I can't just let you get away with what you did. I need you to understand that there are consequences to your actions."

You were speechless. You couldn't believe he was doing this.

"Please, don't do this," you begged. "I won't do it again, I promise."

He shushed you softly, guiding you in. "You'll still get three meals a day. I can give you any comfort items, but other than that, you..." He trailed off at the sight of you clutching your chest, breathing hard and sliding down against the wall. "Honey? Hey, hey, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

You couldn't answer. You were too busy having a panic attack. Everything just hit you at once. You were trapped, your hero life was gone, no one was coming to save you. You were never going to see your friends again.

Anton kneeled down next to you. His expression was almost just as pained as yours. "Oh, baby, don't cry. It's okay, it's gonna be okay."

You shook your head and buried your face in your hands.

He ever-so-gently pried them away from your face. "Come here," he whispered, pulling you into a hug. "You're alright. I've got you. Dad's here."

His words only made you cry harder. You no longer fought as he pulled you into his lap and swayed the both of you gently. He guided your head to the crook of his neck, burying his nose against your hair.

"Just breathe," he whispered. "Dad's got you, kiddo. Just breathe."

You tried to do as he said, focusing on his breathing.

He kissed the side of your head. "There we go, that's it. You're doing such a good job, I'm so proud of you. In for four, hold for four, out for four..." He guided you through the breathing exercise until your chest stopped heaving. He pulled back and wiped your tears away. "Oh, [Name]..."

"Please don't do this," you begged. "Please, Dad. I'll be good. I'll never run away again, I'll never disobey you again..." You desperately leaned into his hand and squeezed your eyes shut. You could already feel another panic attack coming on.

He pursed his lips and exhaled through his nose. He hugged you again, pressing a few more kisses to your hair. "I can't do that, sweetie. I want to, believe me, I do, but I can't. You need to learn."

You shook your head and clutched onto his shirt. "I promise, I promise I'll learn. Please, please, I can't stay in here—"

"Shh, it's alright. Just for a week, okay?"

"Just?!"

"And we'll see from there." He pulled back again, and you were once again met with a sad smile. "I know you hate me right now. But I do love you. And I'll see you in a week." He stood up, and you reached for him, almost instinctually. He took your hand and gave it a squeeze. "You're safe, baby. I'll be right in the house. I'll bring you your meals. Just take this time to think, okay?"

You opened and closed your mouth. "Can... can you at least stay for a few minutes? I—please..." You couldn't believe you were begging to spend time with your kidnapper. You felt pathetic.

He was quick to nod and sit on the mattress, beckoning you to sit beside him.

You sat next to him, your hands trembling. He took them in his and gently rubbed them.

"Would you like me to talk to you?" he asked. "Or would you rather I be quiet?"

You shrugged. "I don't know."

"That's okay. I'll stay as long as you need, okay? I won't leave you like this."

You nodded and leaned against him. He wrapped his arm around you and held you close.

You felt so small. So powerless. You hated it.

But for now, you just wanted to be held.

So you let him.

...

The first day was the worst.

You refused to eat, refused to do anything but sit on the mattress and stare at the wall. Anton tried to coax you into eating, but you ignored him. He sighed and left the food there, saying he'd be back later.

You didn't touch it.

The second day was a little better. You were bored out of your mind, so you actually ate the food. It was cold, but you didn't care.

Anton seemed relieved that you ate. He asked you if you needed anything else, but you just shook your head. He nodded and left.

The third day, you were starting to go stir-crazy. You paced the room, tried to do some exercises, anything to pass the time. It was miserable.

On the fourth day, you finally broke down and asked Anton to bring you something to do. He only sadly shook his head and said this was the point of the time-out. You cursed at him and told him to go away.

On the fifth day, you apologized. He didn't respond—he tried to avoid giving more than one or two words each time he came in—but you could see the pain in his eyes.

You were going crazy in this small white room. So crazy that you missed him so much.

The first few days you tried to deny it. But you couldn't anymore. You missed his hugs and his voice. You missed the way he'd gently pat your head or scratch your back. You missed feeling loved.

What if he hated you after this? Would he stop giving you affection? Would he be distant? Would he let you go?

Wait, shouldn't you have wanted the opposite? Wouldn't it be better if he hated you and let you go?

You didn't know what you wanted anymore. All you knew was that you were miserable.

On the sixth day, you saw the camera. It was placed only to make sure you wouldn't hurt yourself, but there was a small area of space for your privacy's sake.

You didn't take advantage of that small pocket of space. Instead, you pleaded, sobbed, and begged the camera—the man behind it—to just let you out.

Unbeknownst to you, there were several times Anton nearly caved. He'd been watching you all day, noticing how your behavior had slowly changed as the days passed. But he had to be firm, for your own good. It'd all be worth it in the end.

But fuck, he was tempted to break the rules and wrap you up in a blanket and cuddle you to sleep.

On the seventh day, you didn't even move. You laid on the mattress, curled in a fetal position.

You just wanted this to be over. You wanted Anton. You couldn't even think of how humiliating this all was, it didn't even matter to you anymore. You didn't even have it in you to think about your hero days, the days that had felt so long ago. All you could think about was the present and future.

Anton was right. He was the only one in this world who seemed to love you.

If he hadn't known your death was staged, if he had been in Smolder's place, he'd be hysterical in grief. You knew it.

He went through so much just to keep you here. Wasn't that the most ultimate form of love? No one else would do half of what he's done for you.

You didn't even hear the door open. You didn't even realize the mattress had dipped.

"Hi, pumpkin."

You lifted your head and stared for a moment. It took you a moment to process Anton was really there. You quickly sat up and threw yourself into his arms, clinging to him.

He hugged you back tightly. "I'm here. I'm here, it's okay."

You sobbed into his shoulder, muttering apologizes between each cry.

"It's okay, I forgive you. It's over now. I promise."

"Please don't leave me," you begged. "I'll be good, I promise. I won't run away again. I'll do whatever you say. Just don't leave me."

He rubbed your back and kissed your hair. "I won't leave you, ever. You're stuck with me, remember?"

You nodded and held onto him tighter. Your whole body shook with the force of each sob. He rocked you gently, humming a soft tune. You didn't recognize it, but it was soothing.

After a while, your cries subsided to quiet hiccups. Anton pulled back and wiped your tears away.

"I'm so sorry," you whispered. "No more. Please, Dad."

The title wasn't thrown on to manipulate him this time.

You meant it.

He smiled softly and kissed your forehead. "I know. It's all over now. Let's go get you cleaned up, okay? Then we can cuddle on the couch and watch a movie. How does that sound?"

You nodded, still sniffling. "Okay."

You barely paid attention to anything after that. Anton spoke, but you didn't register anything he said. You were too focused on being back in his arms and out of that damn room.

You took a quick shower, brushed your teeth, and changed into fresh clothes. Anton had prepared your favorite snack and drink for the movie.

You sat on the couch, Anton right next to you. He draped a blanket over the both of you and pulled you close. You rested your head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It was calm and steady, and it made you feel safe. You felt like you could finally relax.

He kissed the top of your head. "You okay?"

You didn't respond, only burying your head in his side and hugging him like a koala, much to his overjoyment.

Just a week ago, you would've thrown up at the thought of clinging to your kidnapper. Every movie night, you'd sit at the farthest end of the couch away from him. You'd argue, sneer, and throw insults at him.

Now you were snuggled up against him like a scared child. You didn't care anymore. You couldn't find the energy to even pretend to hate him.

He was all you had now. And you needed him.

"I do this for the good of Cookiekind, my child" Dark Enchantress said cooly "The Witches have fed us lies since the day we were baked. Only chaos can break the cycle they've stuck us in". "But-" You began feebly "They're just getting hurt. The Cookies we meet don't seem happy at all". "They don't understand that this is for them, too" Dark Enchantress continued "I won't let any Cookie stand in the way of Freedom"

Freedom. White Lily Cookie was meant to protect it, meant to help keep other Cookies safe so they could be free to live as they pleased. Your new mother was nothing like that. She sought freedom through destruction, and you'd already seen far too many Cookies run in fear to be convinced that this was a noble cause. Your silence didn't go unnoticed

"You will understand with time" Dark Enchantress said "We have to destroy what The Witches have built to create a land that is truly free for us all. They'll thank us when they can live in a society without fear". Your mind was too naive to understand such a complicated idea, and in all honesty you didn't know what The Witches did wrong to begin with. Your mom refused to tell you, and this version of her never let you ask. You'd kept yourself out of trouble by agreeing to her every word, but...

"They're still scared" You said "Of you". "They should be" Dark Enchantress responded, a bit firmly "If they won't obey me, then they're in the way". "That doesn't sound free" You pointed out in a mumble. The spellcaster's patience wore too thin, and she interrupted you with a sharp "Enough! I am your mother, I know what's best for you! And as a scholar of Cookiekind, I know what's best for them. You're too young to do anything but what I tell you. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am" You said softly, refusing to look at her. She sighed, turning her back to you "I will not let you make me the villain in this. Go to your room, and don't come out until I retrieve you". You stepped quickly, only being able to breathe calmly when you were out of the room. That wicked mage was nothing like your mom! White Lily never raised her voice at you, or made you feel so... scared. You quickly entered your room and closed the door once you reached it. At least in here you were safe

Or option 2: fail. Go back to all those hungry people and admit that you couldn’t bring food back for once. That you couldn’t fulfil your promise to keep them afloat.

You didn’t want to fail, but was it worth your head?

She scowled when it apparently took you too long to answer her, growling as she slammed the pan down against the back of the chair right next to your head. It made you jump and blurt out a panicked, “fine! Okay, I’ll take you there and back!”

“With no ulterior motives?” She drawled, making sure you watched as she slowly removed the pan from beside your head to run a finger along it. You just nodded, really not wanting to get hit again.

“No ulterior motives. I take you to see the lanterns and back.” You agreed, squirming when you felt your binds tighten, and eww, that was hair. Her hair, you were realizing. She’d tied you up in hair. Maybe this was the worst day you’d ever had. And your ears were still ringing.

The first problem came almost immediately. Her hair. After she’d untied you, you’d been left to stare in horror at the absolutely giant amount of hair she had. If you didn’t want to get noticed, which going into the city by the guards you did not, you’d need to do something about it.

“Can’t you just… cut it?” You asked, to which she shot you a very dirty look.

“Of course not, you idiot! Just put it up for me or something!” She demanded, raising her pan threateningly when you hesitated. You were really starting to hate her, and you made sure to sneak a few tugs into your attempt to put her hair up. Eventually, you settled on a very layered and thick braid that somehow kept her hair off the ground.

The next problem was also an issue. “Rapunzel? Your name’s Rapunzel?! Like the cabbage?!”

“Is there a problem with my name?” She hissed, glaring back at you. She was tightening her grip on the frying pan, and maybe you should de-escalate. 

“I’m not going to walk around going, ‘hi! This is my friend Cabbage!’” Nope, you weren’t backing down. You crossed your arms. “Find something else for me to call you.”

It took her a moment, but eventually she murmured, “Rosalynd.” 

Oh, great, like the missing princess. Like the name, the king and queen had made it illegal for anyone to name their kids after the princess went missing. Then again, you’d already committed treason and grand theft by stealing the missing princess’s crown, so what was a little more treason?

“Oh, fine! Come on, Cabbage!” You scoffed, pulling her towards the tiny window. “Uh… I assume we climb down.”

“Mhm, you go ahead, and I’ll follow you down. I need to grab something.” She said. You just rolled your eyes, carefully identifying your path down as you carefully began finding your way down the tower. 

Your arms and legs were burning by the time you reached the ground. You were also gross and sweaty and happily dropped the remaining feet onto the grass when you were close enough, panting. Not even a second later, two boots came into your line of sight. 

“This is quite pathetic, don’t you think? Maybe I chose the wrong person.” She huffed, not looking the slightest bit out of breath. She also still had her frying pan, which you were really hoping would’ve been left behind for this adventure.

“How’d you get down so fast?” You asked, massaging your still-aching arms.

“Stairs.”

“There were stairs, and you let me free climb down?!” You hissed, almost on the verge of tears.

“Well, you never asked if there were stairs. And it was kind of funny watching you struggle your way down for a bit.” She smirked, nudging you with the pan. “Come on. Get up. We have work to do.”

“I hate you.” You murmured, reluctantly climbing to your feet. “I think this is my karma for taking that stupid crown.”

“What was that?” She was playing with the pan, a knowing smile on her face as she made eye contact with you. 

“Nothing… Cabbage.” You muttered as you began leading the way out of the clearing where the tower was tucked away. 

𑁍⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆𑁍

“You shouldn’t have come anywhere near here. I have half a mind to kick you right back out with the kind of trouble having your face around is likely to bring.” The tavern owner was large and hulking, decorated in scars and fur. But he’d never turned you away before, and you really hoped he wouldn’t now.

“Just a little information, that’s all I need. Look, I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here.” You pleaded. You were sitting at the bar as he wiped down some glasses. Rosalynd was at some other table, chatting excitedly with a man who was proudly showing off his knife collection.

“Then why are you here, Y/N? And who is that? You still haven’t told me.” He huffed.

“Look, I was being chased by some stupid horse– don’t laugh! – but, yeah, a horse. There was a tower, I climbed up to get away from the horse, Blondie gave me brain damage and took my bag and refused to give it back unless I take her to see the lantern festival.” You groaned, letting your head thud onto the counter. “So here I am. Playing tour guide.”

“You could’ve just left it.” He sighed, nudging a glass of water your way.

“I’m already a wanted criminal. I’ve already committed treason. No reason to die empty-handed. Besides… the kids need the money. All of them do. If the last thing I can do is bring them home something to make the future a little easier, I’ll go to the gallows a happy person.” 

“You’re just a kid yourself.” He sighed. “Fine, you want information? Your face is on every poster from here to the next kingdom over. Wanted alive, Y/N. We both know what that means.”

You winced. Wanted alive was more of a death sentence than wanted dead. It meant they needed you alive for whatever punishment of horrific proportions was to be doled out for your treason and theft. 

You really hadn’t thought this through, you were realizing. Hadn’t thought anything through. Agreeing to this journey, stealing the crown. You had acted impulsively. Recklessly. You were probably going to die for it, too. Well, when they caught you. You weren’t delusional enough to think that they wouldn’t.

“Ready to go?” Rosalynd asked, suddenly popping up behind you. She looked way too pleased with herself, and you winced when you saw a brand new belt she’d acquired with two sheathed daggers.

“Where’d you get those? Wasn’t the pan dangerous enough?” She was still holding it, grinning at your discomfort.

“I’m very good at cards. People shouldn’t bet what they aren’t willing to lose, even if I do prefer my pan.” She grinned, grabbing your arm as she dragged you out of your seat. “Besides, are you going back on our deal?”

“No. But I do want to add something.” You murmured as you exited the tavern. “If, when we’re out, I get arrested, can you take the crown to the tavern? The man I was talking to, he’ll know what to do with it.”

She shrugged, plucking a green lizard off a passing tree. “Eh… fine. Not much I get in return, but whatever. Look!”

“Please put it back down. You don’t know where it’s been.” You grimaced, backing away from where she forced the lizard into your face.

“Where its been? Why, outside in nature, of course. I think I’m going to keep it.” She grinned, placing the lizard on her shoulder. It, unfortunately for you, looked quite content to stay there.

“What if it has a lizard wife and kids you’re taking it away from? Or husband and kids? Or just a family?” 

“Do you have a family?” She asked the lizard. You looked on in horror when it shook its head…? Wow, you hated everything about this, and this trip was just getting worse by the second.

“Oh my god… Come on, Cabbage, let’s just keep going.” You sighed. Hopefully, your luck would soon take a turn for the better…

𑁍⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆𑁍

The festival was beautiful, you had to admit. People running around, stalls handing out food and drinks. The whole city seemed alight with hope and happiness. Maybe this year would be the year the lost princess saw the lanterns and would come home.

“It’s my birthday.” Rosalynd offhandedly mentioned as you toured the booths. “You should get me something.”

“Is it? Seems a bit on the nose, don’t you think? Not only is the name you picked so you wouldn’t go by cabbage, the name of the lost princess, but you share her birthday, too? Should I march you up to the castle and hope it’s enough to clear the numerous charges I have against me?” You huffed, already thinking of something to get her. You’d grown weirdly fond of her and her antics over your day of traveling; you may as well. 

She got quiet at that, eventually drifting off to join some kids who were happily coloring the square with colorful chalk. You got her some flowers as well as a lantern to send up at nightfall. She looked at peace as she drew with the chalk, happy.

You looked around the square, pausing when your eyes caught a mural. It was one of the lost princess, an altar to her safe return. And then you paused, eyes narrowing as you glanced between the picture and Rosalynd. They had the same hazel eyes, the same golden hair, the same one-sided dimple on the left cheek, and the same array of freckles. 

It was just supposed to be a joke, your earlier comment. Instead, you found your stomach dropping as you realized you, the infamous thief, had somehow found the princess. The name made sense now, the birthday too. She must’ve remembered Rosalynd from the time before she was taken somehow, and clearly, whoever had taken her hadn’t bothered to change her birthday.

She caught your eye from across the plaza, happily waving you over to share her drawing. It was of her lizard in front of a star. The same star that was the royal emblem of the kingdom. You must’ve looked rather pale as you brushed her off, still stuck in your mind.

You could tell she valued her freedom, that she likely wouldn’t want to be dragged to the palace unless it was on her own terms. But was her life worth your own? Was betraying her to the palace even worth it if you weren’t sure they’d even bother to listen to you?

Instead, you forced the thought out of your mind, instead watching the way her eyes lit up when you offered her the flowers. She had you tuck them into her hair, smiling the whole time. It felt natural being close with her, and you decided to cherish the time you had left together.

Around sunset, you dragged her down to the docks, sitting on the very edge of the pier. She was working on a pastry, watching curiously as you pulled out a lantern.

“Here. I thought you’d enjoy sending up your own lantern after watching from a distance for so long.” You said, offering her a match. She grinned, eagerly striking it and lighting the bottom. The two of you held the lantern together, waiting for hot air to fill it.

She gasped, almost dropping it when the first lantern graced the sky, flying from the palace. Then more and more joined it from all over. Then your own lantern joined the rest in the sky, steadily floating up and up. She looked almost magical in the glow of the lanterns, or no, she was actually glowing. Her hair was glowing.

“Uh… your hair…” You muttered, dumbly pointing at it. She blinked, only to sigh.

“Sorry. I forgot it does that sometimes if I don’t discharge some of the energy. Uh, give me your hand.” 

“I’m sorry, discharge what? Why do you need my hand? Is this going to hurt?” You asked, nervously offering her your hand. She just rolled her eyes, firmly gripping your hand as she began to hum.

It felt like touching a live wire, but in a good way. You were filled with warmth, and your head felt fully healed. By the time she let go, you still felt fuzzy inside, and her hair was no longer glowing. Huh, missing princess with magicky glowy hair. Okay. Totally normal.

“Uh… are you not going to ask questions or freak out or something?” She said, reaching out to gently push a lantern back up into the sky from where it’d begun drifting low.

“Nope. I’m fine. Completely fine. Your lizard is staring at me weirdly, though, and I don’t like it.” You said, inching away from where the green creature was intensely trying to make eye contact. 

“He’s just a cute lizard! I don’t get what your problem is with him. He’s not going to hurt you or something.” She scoffed. 

You both stayed there for a second, just enjoying everything, when you heard a sudden shout. Then there were people running, and you realized someone must’ve reported you. It was in a moment of instinct that you shoved Rosalynd off the dock into the water as the guards finally found you, rifles trained as they shouted for you to get on the ground.

Your last moment of clarity was being struck with the butt of a rifle and wondering if the repeated head trauma would have any lasting effects. 

𑁍⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆𑁍

Rosalynd knew. She knew who she was, she knew where to find her real family, and most of all, she knew what she wanted.

It had always been her plan to leave that godforsaken tower to see the lanterns. It hadn’t always been her plan to never go back, but she wouldn’t lose sleep over it. Still, as she watched the guards drag your limp body away after you’d pushed her into the water so she’d be hidden under the dock, she knew what she had to do.

There was a dark stain of blood left on the wooden dock when she finally pulled herself back up, and it enraged her. She should be the only one allowed to hit you like that. She could heal what she’d done, fix her damage. Even if she broke you, she could put you back together with only a song.

The crown, the reason for all of this, felt warm against her leg from the hidden pocket in her dress she’d placed it in. It was time to put it to good use. She grit her teeth as she began storming through the kingdom, heading for the palace.

It was high time she spoke to her parents.

𑁍⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆𑁍

The guards hadn’t been gentle in their handling of you. Your mind was hazy with pain as you lay on the floor. There were people talking over you, people talking to you. Or was there? You couldn’t really tell over the ringing in your ears, the nausea, and the overall confusion.

It was getting harder to stay awake, even with someone’s hand buried in your hair, forcing your head up to look at them. Then you were being dropped back to the floor, which only made your head hurt worse. You were just so pained… so tired… maybe if you just closed your eyes, it would all go away…

𑁍⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆𑁍

Circe had never been the same after her daughter was stolen. Rune hadn’t been the same either, practically abandoning all of his duties in favor of searching for her, but she’d really changed.

When her daughter had been stolen, so had her joy. She knew she was alive somewhere, felt it in her heart. She just needed help to find home. That was why they’d started the lantern festival. At least, it was a festival to their people. To them, it was simply another hope that their princess would find her way back.

So to have some… dirty thief steal one of the only things they had left of their baby girl was simply unforgivable.

They knew who you were. Orphan, slum born, no family. Your face was plastered everywhere they could think of. They would find you, they would make you pay, they would make you regret it.

But then you’d been on the floor in front of her. Then her hand had been buried in your hair, and you were looking up at her with a swollen face and eyes that wouldn’t focus, and she remembered. She remembered holding her baby, what it felt like to be a mother.

You had been someone’s baby once, hadn’t you? No, you hadn’t, you were an orphan. She’d let you go as she recoiled in horror, only to realize she’d only made it worse when your head thudded against the floor, and you stopped moving.

“What are you doing?” Rune was at her side now as she fell onto her knees, gathering you into her lap. He’d always been good at reading her emotions, always trusted she knew what she was doing.

“They’re only a few months younger than Rosalynd would be…” She murmured, a sob breaking loose from her chest as she saw the bloody cuts along your legs and the large bruising bump on your forehead. “Oh, what have we done…?”

“Your highnesses!” A maid suddenly burst into the room. “There’s-!” 

“Get out! We are not in the mood right now!” Rune said, shielding his wife as he glared at the maid.

“But, the-!” The maid stammered. And then there was a girl shoving past her, armed with a frying pan with a little lizard clinging onto her shoulder. At once, he recognized her, freezing as she shoved past him as well.

Circe was frozen, watching as a girl she knew was her daughter effortlessly cut through the room to get to you. And then she watched as your limp body was pulled from her lap and cradled in her arms.

Rune hugged her, the two of them watching in awe as she started to sing, light pouring from her hair as she stared only at you. They watched as the bruising slowly faded, the cuts healed over, and she gently stroked a hand through your hair before she turned to face them with eyes that haunted Circe’s dreams.

“Mother. Father. I believe we should talk.”

𑁍⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆𑁍

You awoke with a groan, expecting pain, only to find none. Instead, you were lying in a soft bed, carefully tucked between the covers.

“You’re quite lucky, you know.” Rosalynd was sitting at your bedside, her fingers running along the edge of her pan. “I didn’t even have to do that much convincing.”

“Convincing?” Your voice was shaky as you looked around. “Where are we? What's going on?”

“Shhh. Lie back down. I had to bring you back from the brink, so you’re hardly in a state to do anything, much less get up.” She said, a firm hand resting on your shoulder as she refused to let you sit up.

“Convincing?” You repeated, even as you slowly began fading back into slumber. “Who?”

“My parents. Well, biological parents. To keep you.” She hummed, nudging her lizard onto the bedside table. “As long as you stay here and behave, they’ve agreed to help the people in the slums get better housing, jobs, and food. Aren’t the lives of all those people worth more than your own? You already decided that once.”

You had, hadn’t you. You’d stolen a crown. A crown that now rested on top of her head, looking like it was always meant to be. So you made the easy choice, you picked the option you knew.

He didn’t even say hello. "Where you at, chère?"

There was a pause, a shaky breath. Then your voice, wobbly and small. "Papa? I-I'm so sorry. I know I'm late. I just... I went to a party and..." Your voice broke, and you started to ramble, slurring your words in a jumble of apologies. "I didn't mean to go, I swear. I just... I wanted to go with my friends and they said it was okay... I'm so sorry, Papa. I didn't know what else to do."

Remy's heart hammered against his ribs. The world around him went still, all of his focus on your broken voice. "I need you to pick me up," you whispered.

"I’m already on m’way, petite," he said, his voice a low thrum of steel. "Tell Papa where you at. The party, where you at now?"

"I left the party. I’m by the pharmacy on Carter street. I didn't know what else to do. Someone... someone made me feel uncomfortable."

His fingers curled around the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The fire he’d been holding back blazed up, hot and dangerous in his chest. "Are you hurt, chère?" he asked, his voice low and sharp.

"No. Just scared. A little dizzy. I think there was alcohol in the drink I had."

He forced the fire back down. "You stay put. You hear me? Don’t you move from that spot. I’ll be there in five minutes."

"...okay."

"And ma belle?"

"Yeah?"

"You did the right thing."

When he pulled up, you were a small, huddled shape on the bench outside the pharmacy, arms curled tight around yourself. The moment the headlights hit you, you looked up, your body instantly uncurling and moving toward the car like a magnet pulled to its north pole.

Remy was out of the car before the engine was even off. "Come here, chère."

You practically fell into his arms, burying your face in his chest like you used to when you were a little girl. He wrapped you up tightly, one hand on your back, the other gently stroking your hair.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, your voice muffled against his jacket. "I didn't wanna bother you with this..."

"You think I care ‘bout that when m’baby callin’ me scared?" he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don’t care what time it is, not a bit. You mine, and I come get you anytime, anyplace." He held you a moment longer, just letting you feel safe, before he gently guided you toward the car.

"You feel wobbly?" he asked. You gave a small, wobbly nod. "Alright, bébé, lean on me." He helped you into the passenger seat, buckling you in as if you were still a child. He could see how your hands were trembling, how you were clutching the sleeves of your hoodie.

Back at the apartment, he helped you inside, his hand a steady presence at your back. He sat you down on the sofa and returned a moment later with a glass of water and a plate of the now-cold jambalaya. "Eat a little somethin', chère," he said, his eyes on you as you took a small sip of water. He got you into pajamas, then tucked a blanket around you, the soft one with stars you’d carried everywhere when you were ten.

"I was scared," you whispered.

"I know, bébé," he said softly, sitting on the floor beside the couch so he could be at your level. "You safe now."

You nodded, but your fingers were still trembling around the water glass. He reached over and gently placed a hand over yours. "You ain't gotta tell me what happened tonight," he said. "Not if you don’t want to."

You looked at him, tears in your eyes, guilt on your face.

"But I am gonna ask you tomorrow," he added, his voice low but gentle. "This is somethin' we gotta talk about."

You gave a hesitant nod, then leaned your head against his chest. He pulled you close, holding you like you were made of glass. "I didn't know who else to call," you murmured.

"Girl," he said, kissing the top of your head, "I'm yo’ first call. Always. Ain't never gonna be mad 'bout that."

"Even if I had a little vodka punch and ran away from a party cryin'?"

"Especially then," he said. "And lemme tell you somethin', chère-you did everythin' right. You felt somethin' was wrong. You got out. That takes courage. That takes heart. I’m so proud of you."

You took a shaky breath, but your shoulders finally relaxed. He sat there, holding you, until your breathing evened out and you fell asleep.

Later that night, after you were finally asleep, Remy sat awake, staring at the ceiling. He was still. But his mind was not. He didn't know exactly what happened yet. But he would find out. And when he did?

Whoever made his daughter feel afraid like that?