#bastardization arc

"They aren't worth the damn team Brass," Criss-Cross slumped over the table, holding her head in her hands. "You wouldn't understand the tough decisions I have to make,"

"This is Snowy, not whether to retreat or keep fighting-"

"Not a word more Brass!" Criss-Cross shouted. "Or I will send you to get Snowy on your own. Is that clear?"

Brass looked at her, face hardened to a steely glare. "Perfectly,"

"Good, now go on and see if Gecko needs help,"

-

Snowy came to slow. Their head ached, their whole body did in fact. They had been too close when the blast went off, and the ensuing rubble probably hadn't helped either. Their fault anyway.

Snowy sat up, looking around. This wasn't the sickbay, or their bunk. It wasn't anywhere they recognized in fact. It was a bedroom, presumably, the only indication that it was happened to be the bed they were sitting on and the fact it didn't look like a prison cell.

"Hello?" Snowy called out. No answer came. "Hello?" They repeated, standing from the bed and almost collapsing.

"Is anyone here?" Snowy breathed deeply and continued on. They approached the door, and slowly opened it, peaking their head out of it, still no one. But there was the sound of singing, and cooking.

Snowy exited and approached the room where the sound was coming from slowly. Their wings tucked close to their back, making them smaller, less noticeable.

They nearly jumped when they saw who was in the room. The three villains, one cooking, and the other two sat at a table watching and listening.

Snowy's heart rate spiked, as domestic the scene was, it was still Them. And Snowy was unarmed, defenseless.

"Snowy?"

Shit, Drift noticed them. Think think think-

"You're awake!" Drift rushed over and began checking them over. "Are you okay? That was a pretty nasty blast you got caught in. I apologize no one was there when you woke up, we thought you'd need all the sleep you could get-"

Mockingbird walked over from her place at the stove and set a hand down on Drift's shoulder. "Breathe Drift, the poor thing just got up," She looked over to Snowy. "I am glad you're awake though, you looked something awful after all of that,"

"Wha-"

"Yeah, listen to Songbird Drift," Blackout joined the conversation. "The poor helpless thing just woke up, wouldn't want to break their fragile wings,"

Mockingjay flicked Blackout's head. "Hush,"

"I'm just saying, Snowbird here isn't weak or fragile, small as they are,"

"None of us said that," Mockingjay sighed. "Anyway, as Drift was saying, how're you feeling?"

Panicked, confused, vulnerable, weirdly comfortable, all apt words to describe the feeling Snowy was having. Confused was most of it.

"I-uh, alright? I...guess," Snowy said. "I-uhm, why aren't you keeping me prisoner?"

"Prisoner?" Drift asked, confused. "You were hurt, we couldn't keep you in any old cell,"

"But I'm with Criss, they're your sworn enemy," Snowy added, bewildered.

"Yes, but I'm afraid they aren't with you darling," Mockingbird said. "And we don't stoop that low sweetheart,"

"Not...with me?" Snowy said. "She's my friend, my best friend, her and the team will be here to get me in a few days, I know it," Snowy was surprised at their own defiance in the trio's faces, but didn't regret it yet.

The trio looked at each other, a sad look in their eyes. Even Blackout's.

"Honey," Mockingbird began. "It has been days, you were out cold,"

"No," Snowy said. "It can't have been, we were just freeing the hostages yesterday..."

"Look, we aren't messing with you Snowbird," Blackout assured. "Drift's not doing anything, Songbird isn't, and I'm not, it's been days since your team and you attacked,"

"You will stay with us while you heal," Drift said. "Wait and see if-" A look from Mockingbird. "When, your team comes back,"

Snowy knew better, they should have rejected the offer and tried to get out. But they, against all logic, felt safe. And it wasn't like Snowy was going to get out any time soon on their own in their state.

"Fine," Snowy said.

"Great," Mockingbird said, smiling. "I'll get you some food,"

"Oh, Snowbird," Blackout began. "Do you have a name? A real name? Tell me yours and I'll tell you mine,"

For as trusting as they were being, they didn't feel that safe. "Not one you'll be hearing,"

"Alright, alright. Spicybird,"

-

Weeks passed, weeks. Not a sign from the team. Not even the smallest clue that they'd be coming to save them. They even continued fighting on against the villains without them.

"There we are," Drift removed the final bandage from their torso. "That should be if for your chest. It might feel weird without the slight compression, so you should build back that part of your core once you feel well enough,"

"Uh, thank you, Drift," Snowy sighed.

"Hey, are you okay?" Drift asked.

"I'm fine, I'm only being held prisoner by my team's sworn enemies," Snowy lied, they didn't feel like prisoner. Maybe that's what they wanted, make them turn over to their side. But Snowy didn't have much in them to care, it felt nice. The care and attention, physical affection that stopped at the drop of a word, Snowy liked it.

"Is it your team?"

Snowy sighed and nodded. "They still haven't come back for me. They should've found me by now, but they haven't," Confiding in a villain, add that to the things Snowy knew was wrong but didn't have the heart to care anymore.

"I know," Drift sighed. "Truthfully I do wish they came back. You deserve a team who will do that for you,"

"It's...okay, I'm just the sidekick Drift, they have more important fights to win," Snowy sighed.

"Hey," Drift said firmly. "Don't...don't discount yourself like that, just because they can't see how great you are, doesn't mean all of us don't,"

Snowy looked up and blinked. "What do you mean?"

"We think you're amazing, Snowy," Drift smiled. "Even Blackout, xe would kill for you,"

"You...do?"

"Of course," Drift said, taking Snowy's hand. "You're strong and smart and sweet, so small and cute too. Oh, the others would have to agree to it, but I'd love to have you on the team," 'Team' felt like so much more than team, and Snowy didn't mind.

"I-"

"You don't have to say yes, I won't make you," Drift said.

"No, I..." Snowy thought a moment. This would forever separate them from everyone on the good side. They could never go back. Part of them didn't want to. They had left them for dead, didn't even seem to care, but the villains did, ironically. Blackout had gritted teeth watching Criss on the news, acting like nothing happened to Snowy. They cared. And maybe, just maybe, Snowy was tired of acting all rights and no wrongs. "I want to join. If the others allow me too,"

Drift blinked, then grinned. "Oh, really? Well, why don't we go ask then?"

"Now?"

"Yes! Come on!"