Tri:Power || A HMS (Chonny Jash) inspired fiction

-tallyinghalls-

#34 | TRUER HEART

OKAY JUNO! Don’t FREAK THE FREAK OUT! You found out one of Red’s secrets. It’s not like you’re gonna spill it all like you always do! I DIDN’T MEAN TO EAVESDROP ON A THERAPY APPOINTMENT. I KNOW I DIDN’T.

I just used the power I had when I was Heart. Harmonia? Are you still with us? I’m going to take a deep breath, as it was only once. I don’t have my magic anymore. This stupid necklace isn’t anything to me, but it really is a lot to me.

If only I could see the world through the lenses of Harmonia. I took a bite from my cheese pizza. “Juno?” I think maybe if I call it again it would work? What if I say it out loud? “Juno?” What would happen if I used my power on Harmonia? “Juno.” What if I used my power on the Reaper when they were alive? “JUNO!” Atlas gripped my shoulder, shaking me out of my near trance. “Juno! Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Just thinking. It’s my favorite hobby, you know.” Atlas scoffed. I don’t think he believed me. But then again, how would I know? Do I at least try to use the power on him? Would it be able to be replicated? Can I see his mind like I did with Red? The sharper outlines on his figure threw me off. It was like I was always transformed but without proof that I actually was. My wings even, seemingly invisible, still flapped and fluttered with my reactions.

“Thinking? Really? You?” I hated when he teased me like that. He earned a weak shove, and a ‘shut up’. “What?! I’m just saying that you’ve been thinking a lot lately. I’m worried.” He gently took my hand in his, the silhouette of his head tilted slightly. “Is it IB music theory? I can help, I love music theory. Or is it something else?”

“I-I think I’m still Heart.” I admitted. “I think I still have the magic.”

“oh.” Atlas was stunned speechless. It was a bit scary admitting that. Especially if I don’t know for sure, but if it was serious, I’ll tell it. If I still believe I am Heart, he should understand, right? “What? I thought Harmonia was dead.”

“I thought he was dead too.” I suddenly thought the pizza I held was really bad in taste for some weird reason. I set it down. “But I can still see the outlines. I used my power like- a few days ago. On Red. It was an accident! Trust me!”

“I trust you.” Atlas paused for a moment, thinking about all the things that could and did happen. “How about you try it on me and tell me what you’re feeling.”

I didn’t even need to say my power out loud last time. It just happened. On accident. I don’t even know how I activate it. Is it something I think about? Do I just try to figure his True Heart? OH. THAT WORKED.

His heart was pounding in my chest, head slightly dizzy from nerves. It was so weird. How was he able to stay this calm? I admire that. I felt a little warm thinking about… something. It was hazy, but I could imagine their coils. “You have something going on tonight?”

“I do.” He admitted. “I’m nervous.” That’s why my heart was pounding. And that girl? I shook her out of my head, trying to get in the present moment. “I’ll do good, right?”

“Yeah! Of course you’ll do something good! You always do.”

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #35 | 血淋淋的爱

I was at her door. I really hope Apollo answered instead of Mori or her parents. I looked to the welcome mat, * it. I should have brought something. I really should have brought something. Like what? What would I even bring?! Stupid, stupid Soul! Flowers? Do I just get her flowers while we’re… Oh hey. There’re flowers in my arms.

That makes this easier. I rang the doorbell again, watching through the window as someone scrambled about before opening, her face flushed. She looked at me once, then again. “Flowers? For me? Atlas, that’s so kind.”

“Yeah, Apollo!!! I got ‘em for you.” Even though the magically appeared in my hand, but who freaking cares? The plot is gonna move without me, might as well give a white lie. “Tulips!”

“You do understand those are for apologies, right, Atlas?” My face dropped and suddenly I was much more embarrassed than the woman in front of me. Apollo just smiled at me, like I was something to be fond over.

“Eh- yeah. I knew tulips were for apologies.” I lied. I actually didn’t. Flowers have meaning?! What would that mean? Does that mean I gave mixed messages often? Does anything else have a meaning? Oh jeez. “I apologize for being late! C’mon. I’ll take you to my place.”

Apollo looked over to my bike, then me. “How did you even carry those over here? Your bike doesn’t even have a basket.” I just looked at her awkwardly. Honestly, how do I tell her the flowers magically appeared in my hand like the boulders did when I was Soul? I don’t know!

“I’ll show you, let’s just not focus on that.” I set her on the spokes, just making sure she was safe (honestly, I don’t ever think she has ridden on the back of a bike like this before). She gave a small thumbs up before I took my seat, and we were off to my place.

She just kinda awkwardly sat there in front of mama’s chicken and rice curry. I gently placed a hand on her shoulder, watching as she stared blankly. It was silent, mama, the beautiful soul she is, looked over to her plate, then frowned. I knew how hard she worked on the curry. “Apollo, are you alright?”

She looked up from her rice, staring at my mother with those same dazed eyes she used in the cafeteria when she zoned out hard. “Uh- yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry.” I think it reminded her of the times she starved. I hated that.

“Can we talk?” I whispered, gently pulling her from the table. Yes or no, I need to tell her it’s going to be okay. Even if we were in the kitchen cabinet, a little bit too close. “You alright?”

“I just kinda feel like everything’s so much. It’s hard to even imagine myself as Apollo.” She admitted, hiding herself in her arms like she always did. She always crossed her arms and tilted her head downward to look at those cute shoes she wore. She didn’t even need shoes to be taller, she was already at least 2 inches higher than I was, but she still wore cute platforms for some reason. “I feel like he’s a different person.”

“And what’s the issue in that? Apollo’s the cutest girl I know. She’s smart, funny, resilient and super confident when she isn’t thinking her brains out! It’s oozing from your skull! Oh no!” I pulled her in, forehead to forehead. Those crystalline blue eyes looked at me like she always knew this would happen day in and day out. “She’s not a different person from her past self, but she’s grown so much! She has learned and laughed and cared and loved! Sure, she may think of her past self as foolish, but she was so strong for not giving up earlier.”

“Thank you.” She smiled, pulling back just for a moment so she could giggle at my rounded features. “You’re so sweet, Atlas. The curry just reminded me of something.”

“No girl like you should EVER starve herself!” I pulled her in for a hug, gently lifting her into my arms. She snuggled in nice and cozy before she got a bit too heavy for my liking. “And it appears to me that you’re healing!”

“No, you’re weak. I’m still underweight.” She teased, rolling her eyes. She booped my nose, same confident energy she always displayed as Mind. I love her confidence. I liked a lot of things about her. However, nothing would prepare me for the fright that had just happened.

A bowl dropped, shattering on the floor. We jumped in the cabinet before opening it. Our eyes adjusted to the light to see no one. Not even mama. She glanced at me for a moment, then the glass on the floor. She watched as it reflected the amber skies trailing above us. Slowly it was shifting in hue. “So, uh- why is this giving Reaper?” I muttered, staring wide at the sky.

“I don’t know, but we must transform- oh wait.” Apollo probably just realized she wasn’t Mind anymore. Her gaze stuck on her ring before my bracelet. She gently held my hand. “Atlas. Help.”

I took the knives from my mother’s knife brick, stuffing a few of them into my belt loops. The butcher’s knife now rested on the counter. “There should be a baseball bat in the supplies closet. I had a little baseball phase.”

“Why baseball of all things? Cricket is more interesting.” Apollo muttered, looking in the old supply closet for a moment before pulling a red tipped bat. “Hell, maybe even pickleball.”

“Well, you’re biased to pickleball, so don’t even with me.” She slung the bat over her shoulder, standing tall with that smug look on her face that slightly stretched the blue lipstick she wore. I have never wanted to be more stained in blue ever.

We looked out the window to see a couple things we wished we didn’t. Worst part was zombies. I didn’t even think zombies existed, but here they are, roaming the streets. It was so weird, were we just out of sight out of mind? Apollo spoke before me, her voice a bit higher pitched than usual. “All because I couldn’t eat the curry?”

“No, mama isn’t like that.” I muttered. I adjusted the butcher’s knife in my hand, it fit perfectly after years of cutting meats. “Whoever it is, though, is definitely angry.” We backed away from the apartment window, glancing to each other to see if we really wanted to risk the two-story jump. No, we didn’t.

We dashed down the stairs, because taking the elevator would most certainly be a death wish. She was already tying her hair back, grinning at me. “You know, maybe they taste nice?” She gestured to the knives in my belt. “You may be able to prepare them nice and healthily.”

“Have you seen any zombie movie, Apollo?” I watched one zombie fall to my hand. The knife definitely unusable now. “Plus, I don’t think having you as a zombie would be a cool Atlas choice. Even though it’s metal as hell.”

“Well why wouldn’t you eat it with me?” She bashed in someone’s skull. They disintegrated into dust instead of the normal zombie stuff you would usually suspect. Kinda weird. It was more like a flash of glimmering light, then the dust was glitter. “I thought you trusted your cooking skills.”

“I do. But this is a medium I haven’t worked with.” We stepped out of the apartment, glancing around to find only this hivemind of people turning their heads to Apollo’s scent. Wait. “Plus, I think you can’t eat glitter. Especially in this proportion.” She took my hand, and we were already running.

It was crazy how she could run in those heels. Quick, focused huffs escaped her nose like she had done this a dozen times over. We did in a sense, but we had magical suits protecting us and we weren’t just normal civilians. I guess I could wear the mask of Soul. Just for tonight. She already seemed to adopt the Mind persona.

“Okay, Miss logic queen, what’s the situation?” I had my back to her, glitter staining every bit of my clothing and knives. They deserved a good wash. “Anything you notice?”

“Just glitter and how easily they fall.” She threw the bat to protect me from getting bashed in the head from behind. She was defenseless now, but she was kicking and fighting. I love that about her. The way her eyes narrowed as she bashed two heads together. “Their steps too. It’s like they know where I’m about to go.”

“Do you know where they’re about to go? I thought you had that power.” I muttered. Oh. Did I spill that? I blinked, staring at her. “N-Not like you would…”

“No, continue.” She urged, sliding to grab her bat to help cover me. “What was that?”

“Heart was able to use his True Heart on me. And the flowers I gave you magically appeared in my hand. I manifested them.” An arm was sliced, dissipating into glitter like the rest of their mob. “I don’t know how, but I’ll get to it later.”

“No, no. Like Harmonia said, control over matter. Matter can be manipulated on an anatomical level. Probably rearranged the atoms in air or something.” She bashed another zombie, watching it fall to its knees before poofing away in a cloud of glitter. “Are you saying we might still have our powers?”

“I think. I don’t know about you, and I haven’t tried using my ability.” I watched as she looked at whatever the hell might be going on around us, and I must admit, it was messy. “I guess you could try to mend your mind, but I don’t know if it will work.”

She was silent for a moment, comprehending that we might be accidentally permanently transformed and have no idea on how to fix that. She stood over the glitter that surrounded her, glancing to the rest of the mob. It was a lot. “Give me a second.”

“I’ll give you all the time you need, princess.”

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #36 | 一歩ずつゆっくり

I watched as they stepped, the glitter spilling out from their shoes like they were already disintegrating. “ATLAS, CLOSE YOUR EYES.” I yelled, shoving him away from the biggest mob. “It’s probably my mother again!”

“Nice to know that it’s your MOM! Who else would be ticked that their daughter had run away, especially since she held the family name and everything.” I could practically hear the sarcasm dripping from his tone much like how the glitter dripped from whatever these zombies were.

“Well, we were in the cabinet when the entire thing started right?” I remember Miss Venison dropping the bowl, hearing it shatter, stepping over glass. “You can’t blame me for thinking that when her entire gimmick last time was the…” I looked downward; glitter was actually quite entertaining.

My neck cracked as Atlas threw my head back, smacking sense into me. “THE SHOES.” He yelped the end of my sentence like he was scared for his life, and honestly, I was scared for mine too. We weren’t the same. We weren’t Soul and Mind; we were just Atlas and Apollo.

“Okay, so fun fact, last time we did this we had super suits and massively amazing powers.” I backed into him, now I can see how much taller I was than him, he was kinda cute. No more focusing on that. “This time we’re just ordinary teenagers who literally know NOTHING!”

“Apollo, you know that isn’t right.” He rested his head between my shoulder blades, letting my hair run over his face. A poof of glitter suddenly appeared behind me. Probably got a bigger one. “Remember the flowers? Remember how you can see just a second ahead? We aren’t ordinary teenagers. We know Harmonia is alive somewhere. And if he’s given us this ability to fight our way through anything, then how about we give him a little show?”

I giggled at that, both because he tickled and that maybe he was right. It was probably best to give him a little show after everything we’ve gone through. I stepped away from him, tapping the baseball bat against the ground. “C’mon, batter up! I’m on two strikes, Atlas.”

“THAT’S MY GIRL!” He started luring them into my range, each got a respective smack in the skull. My Harmonia, I love this so much. Atlas looked like he did too, as at some point he really couldn’t take his eyes away for half a moment before battering more up and luring the pitches.

It was only a couple moments until we were standing in an empty pile of glitter. We looked together, chests heaving with labored panting. I glanced around the city until I found the Daybreak’s residence. Hated to call it my previous home. I pointed the bat to it. “That’s home base. Maybe if we can get there, we might be able to find my mother and get this entire thing to stop.”

“That’s risky, implying that there are a bunch of zombies between us and the home.” Atlas glanced over to me, then the hoard, much less than before, but still enough to make someone run away. “We would have to get through all of them as well. Some of them have the faces of the people we love.”

That’s right. I remember bashing in the face of Red, the deterioration hit him full force. I shook that thought from my head. I must have gotten Green and Blue as well. “Those faces don’t matter when the damage is restored by the end. If they’re stored in the glitter, they still exist, and therefore, Harmonia can fix it.”

“You’re putting a lot of faith on Harmonia.” Atlas muttered. He was afraid of a future where Harmonia couldn’t. It wasn’t this future. I had complete faith in my god, the god that loved me consistently and showed it, instead of just implying its existence.

“Because I believe in my god.” I was already running to the past home where everything crumbled around me. My brain was already flashing through horrible memories of scolding, starving, the medication, everything. My parents would hate to find me like this. But I’m not theirs anymore. Hell, I’m 18. “You gotta believe in Harmonia too if you wanna catch up to my level!”

He rolled his eyes for a moment but then saw how happy I must have looked. I really did feel like Mind again, the confident, slightly egotistical logic madwoman who always made it work out. I guess I was still her, just reduced to an inner form. Who she was on the inside, without all the walls built. Atlas started booking it over to me. “Alright. I’ll bite.”

OW. * IT! I felt something nick my shoulder. I turned to see absolutely nothing. That’s okay. Deep breaths, Apollo. It probably didn’t do anything. Just keep fighting. I bashed more skulls in, watching them cave before combusting into a glittery cloud. God forbid. I think he saw me struggling. He whipped his head, did a double take before finishing the hoard and running over to me.

He rested my head against his shoulder and checked mine. He saw the ripped fabric and suddenly his face dropped. “Apollo, are you aware that you got bit?” He whispered, massaging the deteriorating flesh.

“I gotta advance, Atlas.” I tried standing up, but my legs wobbled from underneath me. Eventually, Atlas helped me up, running his hand against my cheek. “I-I gotta.”

“Apollo. Are you sure you can?” He nuzzled into the noninfected shoulder, repeating my name over and over again. He always did that cute little thing. He would repeat someone’s name when they’re down in hopes to get a small giggle. It took a bit before I let an amused huff escape me. “I trust you Apollo-pollo. Don’t turn on me.” He giggled. He tugged at my cheek before standing up straight.

“I won’t turn on you, Atlas.” My shoulder and claws suggested otherwise. Time was such a valuable thing, and now knowing that I was running out, and quickly, I just started avoiding the zombies in general. I pulled Atlas along, watching him stumble about. “We don’t have time to fight every single zombie. It’s probably best to get to the source.”

“Yeah. I see that.” Atlas shook a zombie off his ankle, sprinting much faster than I had. I tried to keep up but struggled ultimately. Pain shot through my shoulder each time I tried to swing my bat. I still need to advance.

Third base, my old gate. The same gate father threatened to impale me on if I failed the test. He didn’t do it because I passed with flying colors, but it still scared me to this day. We hopped it. I never hopped a fence before, it was exhilarating being somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be. Atlas looked like he had done it time and time again.

We rushed up the stairs and burst through the door I had once had the key to. I still have the key; I just keep it somewhere where I don’t have to think about it day in and day out. We rushed up the stairs to my parents’ room. I was never allowed in my mother and father’s room. It was weird seeing the separated beds, individual closets and everything. Everything was separated like they were more like roommates rather than in love.

I looked around for a moment, shoulders dropped in quiet astonishment. Atlas placed a hand on my good shoulder, looking at the entire place. “What was that about not being allowed in here?”

“My parents forbade it.” I whispered. Now I see why. I went to the closet, where the beams of light were coming from. I hesitated for a moment. Then I realized it was probably best to keep our identities safe from the public. We grabbed one of the masks my parents kept stored away. It was weird the number of masquerades we had gone to. I handed one to Atlas, with my good arm.

Now masked and concealed, we opened the closet to see my mother quietly breathing, knees to her chest. She was sobbing. “Ma’am?” Atlas crouched to her level, tilting his head, “Are you alright?”

She couldn’t speak through her tears. She looked breathless, her chest heaving with panic. She was just like me in a way, how I panicked half the time when I was in this house. Now I don’t panic so much, and I have a reasonable support system. She doesn’t.

“She’s panicking.” I whispered, taking a seat next to him. “Hi, Mrs. Daybreak, do you mind following me for a second?” I helped her up and sat her down on what I assumed to be her bed; it could have been my father’s bed. “When I panic, I usually think about the things I feel. Can you recite the things you feel to me?”

She didn’t answer through tears. They were just pouring on and on with no signs of stopping. We looked at each other for a moment. I really did see the softer of my features in her. Especially my eyes. I recognized the blueness from anywhere. I stood there with her. Eventually I went on my knees, so I didn’t look as intimidating.

“It’s okay if we can’t.” I stated simply, “We just need to focus on the small things. Do you know why you’re like this?”

“My son is gone.” She whispered. Well one, I’m not her son. And two, I left on my own merit. “Just disappeared suddenly, and now the legal system won’t do a thing about it.” My chest suddenly felt hollow for her. I didn’t realize how much stress I could have brought her by leaving. I was just being a selfish Apollo.

“Well, I can tell you Apollo’s safe.” Atlas kneeled next to me, much like a knight to his queen. “Apollo isn’t in danger and is allowed to be herself. Maybe she felt like she was in danger and left? It’s a normal human instinct.”

“No. What Apollo did wasn’t okay, and she needs to apologize for it.” I said behind the mask like I wasn’t Apollo. I was Apollo, though. This temporary shield of Mind would only work for as long as she’s a villain. “She hurt her mother, and probably feels really guilty. But she also wants to state that she felt like she was in danger constantly. She doesn’t want you to be upset, nor cut you off completely. Maybe just let her be herself? The family blood continues, as she has lots of sisters that probably want to keep their last name.”

I watched Atlas look at me with a small smile. I apologized in my own way, and I think that’s all that matters, right? I don’t think I would be able to face my parents without this persona I put up, but it was one I liked. Her breathing stabilized after a moment, and she leaned into my embrace with a quiet murmur. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. We all make mistakes. What matters is that we fix them. Do you have any idea what happened?” Atlas placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling warmly like he did as Soul. With a little bit of hesitation, she gestured to the heel of her shoe.

She didn’t say much of anything about the heel. Just said “break it.” And that’s what we did. The heel snapped, and we watched the dark seep from the heel and into the floor. The feeling of my mother returned; I felt her warm hands in mine.

“Harmonia. Please bless this woman and restore all damage she had done when not herself.” I whispered against the dark of the shadow. Nothing happened for a good second, then another. I was starting to lose hope before my shoulder stopped stinging suddenly. Thank you, Harmonia.

“And we didn’t even need to use our powers.” Atlas chuckled, smiling through everything. “Have a good one ma’am.”

“Wait. Mind, Soul.” She stopped us, tilting her head slightly. “Will Apollo be okay? Will he excel?”

“She excels where she wants to. And yes, she is excelling.” I bragged just a little bit. It was a little weird having my mother call me Mind, but it’s okay. “She will be okay. Alright?”

“Alright.”

-tallyinghalls-

#37 | TO TRI:POWER

“YOU DID WHAT?!” I shook Atlas’ shoulders, literally beaming with joy as Apollo and Atlas explained the situation to me. “I KNEW IT! I KNEW HARMONIA WAS STILL ALIVE!” I could cry happy tears.

“And that I am! Nice meeting you three again.” Harmonia’s silhouette greeted. It was so weird; I wasn’t used to knowing Harmonia existed in the physical space. We also weren’t used to Harmonia just appearing when he wanted to. We yelped out of surprise, all giving collective agreement that we were happy to have him back. “Wish I couldn’t say the same for Devil.”

“Devil?” I asked, tilting my head. Who’s Devil? Was that a Dante’s Inferno reference?! Oh my god, Dante’s Inferno? Charlie’s Inferno?! THAT HANDSOME DEVIL REFERENCE? Well, I could have gotten there from just the name Devil. Focusing now. Focus, Juno.

“That’s the name of the Reaper. His name is Devil.” Well, it would have been nice to give him a name before we just started calling… him?! THAT’S A MAN?! Harmonia could see that my jaw was dropped. “Juno. They use any pronouns.”

“Yeah. I knew that.” I whispered. I did not know that. I genuinely thought it was just a thing, not a person. But now I guess it is a person? Kinda? Feeding on people’s negative emotions? Kinda weird.

“During my little nap-” Harmonia’s nap was like- a month and a half. What do you mean ‘little nap?’ that’s half my life, basically. “-I’ve been working on something. Apollo, Atlas, Juno. Look at me.” Wow, way to say that to the blind boy. I looked in the general direction of his voice, where I noticed his arms were out wide. “Come into my embrace, children.”

DIDN’T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE! I basically ran into his arms. I wanted to chirp so badly, but I wasn’t Heart. It’s a shame. He patted our backs, but then his voice got really low. Almost quiet. “Heart, Mind, Soul? Three of you combine to make The Whole, a pure essence of what I am as a being. And each of you, have little subsets. I’m giving The Whole the power to distribute magic to those who seem fit. This is more temporary than your magic but will work just as good as yours. Use it with caution.”

“WHAT? THERE CAN BE MORE?!” Atlas was radiating excitement. His hands shook against my shoulders as he shook me very violently. It was crazy! IT WAS INSANE! “Tell me this, is it like we give them a piece of jewelry and they transform into heroes with us?!”

“Yes.” Harmonia confirmed. That sounded really familiar for some reason.

“IT’S LITERALLY MIRACULOUS LADYBUG. HOLY HARMONIA.” Atlas seemed so excited about this. Maybe it was just like Miraculous Ladybug. I really liked hearing him yap about the series. I had no idea what he was talking about, but apparently it was a magical girl cartoon.

“Wait, that sounds cool.” Apollo sat up a bit straighter, my bed adjusted to her weight. “So, are you telling us that we could choose anyone?” I thought about the possibilities of who we might choose. It was so weird. “What about the kind of powers we give?”

Harmonia paused for a moment, considering what might be the case. “Any denomination you think of for your respective placement. Juno’s feeling and concept, Apollo’s logic and time, Atlas is spirit and physicality.” This will be fun. I was already thinking of scenarios in my head. “You make it together. Atlas forms the physical jewelry, Apollo sets the time limit, and Juno gives the courage.”

“That sounds sick.” Atlas said randomly. He was holding Apollo’s hand, rubbing the back of it. “I can make you a necklace, Apollo…”

“Awh, as sweet as that is, Red might enjoy a necklace more than I. A necklace with special powers, be it that.” Apollo shut him down almost immediately. I gotta love my favorite straight couple. “About these powers, what can they be about?”

“Anything. Anything you can think of.” Harmonia pressed his forehead to mine, gently pulling me in. “Juno. I’m trusting you three again. Make sure you stay positive, ‘kay?”

“Yes, sir.” I nodded. “It won’t happen again. I’m better now!” I gestured to the rest of us, the bad, the new, the conglomeration of tense emotions and worries, the misfits that no one suspected, “We are better now.”

“Yeah! I can make stuff! It’s really cool!” Atlas laughed, something about it made me feel a bit lighter.

“And I… I can do things!” Apollo cheered. Probably didn’t know what she could do. She’ll find out, I believe in her. I really do believe in her as much as I believe in Atlas and myself.

I nodded, pressing a hand to Harmonia’s heart. “We’ll get Devil. We’ll make sure you’re safe. You can count on us.” I felt how fast Harmonia’s heart was beating. I wanted to make it slow down so badly. I wanted to make him calm. I gently took his hand. “Harmonia, you mean so much to us. We would never, and I mean never let you down. We will track Devil down and make sure they pay for their actions.”

“Thank you, Juno. I appreciate you.” Harmonia planted a peck on my forehead before fading like he usually did when he left. It was weird, because he was there one moment, then the next, he’s gone and my hand phases through his chest.

“You hear that, boys?” Apollo stood up, brushing herself off. “We have a Devil to catch. And with a few tricks up our sleeves, and on our neck, and resting upon the finger, it’ll take no time!”

“Yeah!” Atlas helped me up, stoked as ever. “We can do it!” His silhouette put his hand in the center of us, palm down. I followed, then Apollo. “Okay, you know what teams do, right?”

“Yes, I’m not a 5-year-old.” Apollo groaned, she adjusted her stance for a moment, giving time for everyone to register what we were doing. I already knew what we were doing. “On the count of three. 1, 2, 3.”

“TO TRI:POWER!” We all yelled. Probably wasn’t the smartest idea, but hell, was it fun! We cheered laughing and carrying on.

“Oh, you’re gonna do so good as Heart again!” Atlas hugged me tight, pressing his face into my curls. It was crazy that I was much shorter than them. Weird.

I can’t believe it, though. Us as Tri:Power again. It feels like a fever dream I don’t want to wake up from. I can’t believe it that the next time a villain comes around we’ll all be working together again. We’ll make more friends, be together!

Atlas’ phone rang. He quickly answered it and put it on speaker. “You’re on speaker, Eleven. It’s Juno and Apollo.” OH ELEVEN! The random dude that keeps getting suspended because they ‘doesn’t want to conform to normalcy’. I mean, okay, Eleven. Do what you want to, I guess. They’re actually quite chill, they’re in our music theory class.

“Hey guys.” Their voice chirped. There was ambience of a pen clicking, probably Eleven doing their schoolwork from home. “So, I’ve been thinking about something. I meant to tell just Atlas this, but you two can know too. I wanted to start making music with you guys. I know it’s kinda weird to say ‘put me in your band’, but I mean sound engineering. I don’t gotta play an instrument.”

“Ah…” Atlas thought about it for a moment, then looked to Apollo like she knew. She did not. She muttered a general ‘dunno’ then Atlas was on his own again. “Yeah, sure, why not. Go ham.”

“Thanks. Also, Juno, you left your jacket in the choir room.” Eleven ended the call and we just kinda sat there as the phone beeped once, twice, thrice then turned off. Hm.

Atlas kinda stared at his phone for a moment before hoisting his fist in the air, parading it wildly. “Anyways, TO TRI:POWER!”

Apollo giggled, hiding her face behind her hands which muffled the sounds. Everything seemed just a bit brighter when I knew she was giggling. It was like a golden standard. “This is not a toast, Atlas.”

“Well, what do you want me to do?!” Atlas defended rather harshly. “Do you want me to spin around and do a little dance singing about rainbows?”

“Alright, I’ll pity you.” Apollo teased, raising her fist. “To Tri:Power.” And suddenly I felt really lonely that I didn’t have my fist in the air. So, I raised it to the sky, blocking the sun’s rays from that lonely window of my loft.

“To Tri:Power!”

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #38 | MR. WOOD

I was a man who kept my word, and Harmonia forbade Eleven was a horrible sound engineer. They were actually AMAZING. I saw them work and occasionally pointed something out, but it was done before I even pointed it out. It was crazy how quickly they worked and for how enthusiastic they were about doing it.

Eleven leaned back with a yawn, resting their hands behind their head as they looked to me with a smirk. “Whatzit, Deer Meat? Thought I wasn’t good?” No, I didn’t doubt them for a second. Honestly, with all the time they spend out of school, I wouldn’t expect anything different.

I couldn’t tell them that, though. My ego was admittedly too fragile. “Well, one, just because my last name is Venison, doesn’t mean you get to call me Deer Meat, and two-” I started adding bells to the prechorus, adjusting it slightly so it sounded a bit airier, and a bit more echo on the piano. “You forgot that.”

“You son of a gun.” They rolled their eyes, that smirk still insistent to stay on their face even though I proved them wrong. “Fine, I guess I won’t call you what you are, sorry Atlas.” Really? Are they kidding? No shot.

“I’m not accepting that apology because I know it’s fake.” I winked at them, giving a huff of laughter just to humor them. “Maybe a little more respect, Eleven?”

“Right, right. Sorry.” They muttered, clicking about on the software before saving the changes. “I shouldn’t be too into my head. My fault.” At least they admitted to their mistake. It sounded much more sincere than the first apology.

“Yeah, don’t worry. That’s an apology I forgive.” I rested my head against the table. Harmonia’s entire deal still had a strong grip on my shoulders. I felt horrible knowing I pursued him. I shouldn’t have done that, and now I know for later, at least.

Harmonia was something, alright. It was scary to pinpoint what he was exactly, as doing such would cut him out of some of the beauty in his soul. It’s weird how everything spins so quickly until you notice something’s off, then it slows down so much you think it’s frozen. It isn’t, but it feels like it, so time moves on without you.

There’s nothing much in this world that can be missed, it’s all so glorious in its own, unique way, whether it be elegance, cuteness or everything in between. Some sort of glistening, refractive nature of the world can’t be boiled down into one experience. I need to experience it all to even consider making a good assumption on the world.

“Atlas? Are you okay?” Eleven gently shook my shoulder and I stumbled to look up at them again. My eyes were a bit unfocused. Their face was hazy, like someone tried to color pick their skin and brush over it. “You look out of it.”

“Yeah.” I said to the faceless persona in front of me. “I’m fine.” It only served to remind me of the time I let my guard down to the stupid, stupid reaper-Devil(?) thing. “Thanks for the help, Eleven.” I stared at their eyebrows instead of their eyes.

“Anytime!” They cheered, twirling their keys in their hand. The metal glinted in the light, nearly blinding me from what I was already blinded from. They were out before I could ask them to stop.

I shut the blinds in my room, encasing my world in temporary darkness until I sort it all out. Maybe I won’t, maybe I will. It’s only a matter of time before I must get out of here anyways. Tri:Power needs Soul in a way. I think they need me, at least.

I glanced out the window, the blue light from the sky was blinding. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary yet. I might as well just head out to chat with mama or something. My hand rested on the brass doorknob of my room, hesitating like it always had before cautiously opening to the hallway. Mama was probably in the living room, right?

What if I told her? What would she think of me? Would she think of me less as Atlas? Would I be less of a person when I tell her? I stood in front of the living room doorframe, knocking twice on the wood with the knuckle of my index.

“Hello, Atlas.” Mama said from the sofa. She looked beat. Maybe now wasn’t a good time to think about it.

“Hey, ma! Are you okay?” I checked her temperature. It felt quite normal, at least that’s what the back of my hand said. I’m not a doctor. Maybe I could get Apollo? She’s basically a doctor.

“Yeah, just another long shift.” She muttered. “And me being worried over my little fawn. What’s up with you lately?” She pulled me down, hugging me and letting me rest with her. “You haven’t been home much.”

“You’ve met her before, mama.” I didn’t wanna through Apollo under the bus like that. Maybe she’ll know later. It was weird to tell her now of all times.

“You’re a real lucky man. Treat her well. She deserves the world, and you’re shouldering it.” She squeezed me, fluffing up the back of my hair before letting go. Her smile scrunched the edges of her eyes, making the crow’s feet more visible. Yeah, I’ll take care of Apollo.

I grabbed my keys, waving myself off. Apartments were always weird, because technically, you have dozens of roommates, while also you don’t. They just live in the same building, which was weird. Run down the stairs because we’re only on the second story, the run out. No need to say goodbye to anyone, as no one was there to notice me take my bike and ride out.

I remember my mother telling me stories about biking to separate commutes. This was about the time where she didn’t have a car. She biked as fast as she could holding goods that probably shouldn’t be biked. But she did it. That’s my super mom.

I was headed to Mori’s house, because I forgot to drop something of Apollo’s back at her place. I also wanted to catch up with Mori. We haven’t talked in a bit. Also, I just really think Mori’s sick as hell. I thought she was just another prissy rich bloke, but turns I was wrong. I usually am wrong about rich people.

I abandoned my bike in their front yard and chained it up to their fence. I rang the doorbell, holding the tulips and just shoved them in the arms of whoever answered, which was Mori. Oh, * it. “Sorry, I thought you were Apollo. I wanted to say she forgot these at my place yesterday.”

“Nah, it’s fine. We’re just about to have dinner. You wanna have some?” Mori gestured to the kitchen where what I assumed to be chicken alfredo was cooking. I go feral over chicken alfredo (a very humble way of announcing my favorite food), and the bike ride made me ravenous.

Also, also, last time I ate with Apollo, a random zombie apocalypse burst out. Is eating with other people really that cursed? Maybe eating with Apollo was cursed. Last time, we were getting ice cream, Heart got possessed, then the time we brought her for dinner, zombies. Maybe.

I shrugged, you only live once. “Yeah sure.” And she let me in and pulled up a chair for me. Mori’s parents were quite kind, also very eccentric. I don’t know how they got so y’know? Like this?

They knew how to laugh and throw their heads back, they referred to Apollo with the right pronouns and stuff. It was weird, because it was like meeting her parents, but this was Mori’s parents. Her father looked at me and tilted his head, the little charms on his glasses dangled a bit. “So, Atlas, what made you wanna take this one?”

Mori laughed awkwardly, elbowing her dad. It was so awkward to sit with someone else’s parents who are technically your partner’s caretakers, but actually aren’t. I saw Apollo shrink from beside me. She looked like she wanted to disappear.

“I uh… we’ve been through thick and thin Mr… Uh… Wood?” Why did I blank on his name? Mori nodded at me, but my heart felt like it almost dropped in my chest when I thought I got it wrong for a hot second.

“Eh. Right. Sorry.” Mr. Wood fiddled with one of the table decorations, it was a small plastic plant. The paint was slightly chipped on the bottom, I noticed it when he tilted it a little. “I just wanted to see what the buzz was about when it came to you, Atlas.”

“Yeah. Don’t worry.” I must have looked distracted. I kinda was, because I was looking at the general state of the house. Mr. Wood stood up suddenly, tugging at his collar. “I’m sorry, I need to take care of something.” Wonder what the hell he could be taking care of.

“Wait, dad-” Mori stood up, trying to follow him. I saw a trail of black follow his step. I nudged Apollo, who was already getting up from her seat and abandoning her alfredo. I took a few quick bites before running after. Then Mori was running back, tugging me by the arm. “Look mate, my dad’s literally freaking out.”

“I don’t know what you- OH MY GOD.” Apollo stumbled backward, now pulling me into the living room. Her breath was heavy. “IT’S LITERALLY A FREAKING ANGEL OF DEATH, MATE. WHAT THE HELL?”

We started running out. I gestured for Apollo to head one way while I take Mori to safety. She seemed like she knew how to ride a bike with someone else driving because she immediately stood on the spokes like she has done this dozens of times before. I had such a bad time with the lock on my bike, but after about a minute and a near brush of death, we were out on the road.

Okay! So, there’s an angel of death either chasing me, Mori or Apollo, and I think it’s probably me. WHY AND HOW?! “Mori! What the hell is up with your dad!?”

“He gets really existential. I’m sorry about him, I really am.” Mori tried speeding us up when we went downhill. “He gets all loaded up about death and stuff, so he leaves randomly. Trust me, it’s nothing about you.” How did she know I was thinking it was my fault? I brushed that thought off, pulling through with the entirety of life like it always had with me. I pedaled faster.

“Well, nice to know that.” I huffed, abandoning the bike somewhere in an alley. I set her down and held her shoulders. “Stay here. I’m going to see if I can get help, alright? Just STAY.”

“Yeah. Thanks, Atlas.” She watched as I ran off, down the street and through the hubbub before reaching another alley to transform. Except it didn’t work the first time.

I tried again, no flash of red, nothing flashy at all. “Eh… Harmonia?” I muttered into the abyss. I tried again, and once more. “Harmonia, c’mon, I thought you were better than this. You’re usually so much faster.” OH WAIT. Am I not believing in myself?

I can do this! Hell yeah! Pump myself up! Hell YEAH! I GOT THIS MATE! I’m the best Soul to ever exist! HELL YEAH! I punched the air, hopping a bit like a boxer. Maybe this would help. It did, the last time I punched my shadow, it was with a red gloved hand. Thank you, Harmonia!

Okay, so it’s been a bit since I’ve been in the suit! Hope I still got it, as much as I wish I did. Crazy Harmonia’s here. I just kinda stared at what I was dealing with. Hands upon hands, upon hands, upon hands. I looked to Heart whose jaw was dropped in shock. “WHO IS THIS GUY?” He yelped, headwings fluttering about. Headwings?

“Do I look like I know!? I just met him today!” I shoved Juno from whatever the hell that seemed to be. A scythe? Sword? I don’t know. Mind’s jaw was also dropped in shock, quietly staring at whatever was in front of us like she hadn’t seen it before. “Oh, shut it, Mind. You’ve seen this thing.”

“It gets scarier every time.” She noted simply. “It’s like he gains another set of arms.” She shuddered, parading her ribbon wand like it would do something. She slung back the sword, an arm parted, but two grew in its place. “Oh my god, it’s a hydra.”

“No, hydras do that with their heads.” Juno stated, “I took a mythology class.”

“Woe is me that I was comparing something to a hydra.” Mind rolled her eyes, glancing around the area. “I can’t think of anything.” She pulled me to her side as the building where I stood started crumbling.

“WHY SWORDS?!” I hid my head in my hands, pulling my hair back into a ponytail so nothing got shaved accidentally.

“Actually, they’re falchions, which are basically machetes that have disarming capabilities.” Mind noted. Why does she know that? How and when did she figure that out?! Alright, you know what? I don’t care anymore.

“Yeah, we better get outta here if we don’t wanna be chopped deer!” I pulled Heart and Mind by the arm until they got the deal and started running away with me. We were fleeing, how weak of us. It was so weird.

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #39 | MEMENTO MORI

“Okay, so imagine this, you’re eating dinner, then the man of the table walks away and either becomes an angel of death or summons an angel of death.” I explain, chest heaving with labored breaths. I don’t think its following us anymore, that’s a good thing. “I really don’t know what happened.”

“Mori said her father’s really existential. Maybe one of those thoughts got to him?” Soul asked. We were crouched in a random alleyway, shade covering most of our features, not that the indicators didn’t cover our eyes already.

“I could see that, but what could we even do? We don’t even know what his existential thoughts are about.” Heart fiddled with his fingers, ‘looking’ over us. His headwings flapped a bit, trying to get a better listen (headwings?). “Like they could be anything.”

“Yeah. We don’t know what triggered them.” I completely agreed. It was so hard to tell because we didn’t even have a history on it. Heart’s True Heart might work, but it might just make him more scared or something. Searched Soul? I don’t know. What does he even want? We don’t know! That’s the issue.

It could be anything that he’s freaking out about, and maybe his greatest desires make him spiral further. We couldn’t spare any chance against this… thing. It would be nearly impossible to find out what’s going on with whatever his thoughts are about. It’s existential, might he be thinking about death? How he doesn’t believe he’s real?

Who would know? Mori. Mori would know, that’s her dad! She knows him like the back of her hand. How would she even be safe though? There’s no shot she’s facing that angel thing. She’s just an ordinary girl, just like how I was. Wait. Just like how I was. I looked to my ringed finger, then back up at the other two. “Mind doing something for me?”

“Yeah, what’s up?” Heart adjusted his position, large wings covering our conversation and giving us a shield.

“Remember that one time when Harmonia said we could give anyone temporary powers?” I looked over to Soul, who nodded immediately. I was thinking about this for a total of two minutes, but it’s so crazy that it just might work. “How about we give Mori a little buff-up?”

“Mori?” Soul looked to his bracelet for a moment before nodding. “Alright, Mind. I’m trusting you.” First the clip was born, it was a struggle with Soul’s focus, but it looked right in the end. Then Heart, who blessed it with a peck, supplied the courage that came along with being one of us. Then I, the one who sets the limits, bless it with the power it provides. Inevitably, we all will experience it. Soul nodded to me. “She should be a couple buildings thataway.” He pointed south.

South, I go, I guess. I hopped couples of buildings, making sure to keep myself in the safe spot of an alley every time to make sure the coast was clear. I didn’t know how far Mori was, but I did notice Atlas’ bike peeking out. I remember Mori riding away with him.

I slipped into the alleyway. It seemed like I magically appeared for Mori, as she turned around and yelped. I placed a hand over her mouth, preventing her from yelling. “Hi, yes, it’s me, Mind. Mori, we need you. You know your father more than anyone else.”

“W-what do you mean?!” Mori stepped back, pressing herself against one of the alley’s buildings. Her hair and clothing stuck to the bricks with the amount of static. “What do you need me for?”

I presented her the hairclip blessed by the Whole. It was so weird seeing her expression change from fright to curiously stunned. “Mori Wood, this is the blessing of Thanatos, one of the many types of knowledge of the Whole. You will fight alongside us to save your father using the magic provided and explained. Can we trust you to keep your identity private and to fight for good?”

She looked to my face, the clock detailing covering the most of it, then back to the hair clip. Her hands shook as they hovered above the blessing. She looked to me again, almost looking for confirmation. Honestly, I thought it wasn’t real when I was blessed by Harmonia as well. I nodded, giving her that little nudge to accept it.

Mori combed the hairclip through her hair, the skull brightening with the intense amount of excitement that she displayed. She tilted her head at me, ash hair covering a bit of her face before she pushed it out of her way. Then, her arms came to hold herself. “Thank you, Mind. What do I do?”

“Manifest, I assume. That’s what I did.” This blessing of Kronos was silly of mine. This was huge, but nothing at once. Now, the offspring of this magic was being used to protect one of my closest friends. Mori. I loved Mori, I think though everything, she was there with me. I’m happy to finally return the favor. “Just believe.”

In a shimmering phase of pink, she was… I don’t think she had a name yet. She smiled, showing off the fangs. I couldn’t see her eyes, as the shadow of the hood mostly covered them, except for two pinkish dots that shimmered with a brighter light. “Oh *!” She looked about herself for a moment, giggling. “I look pretty!” She raised a cuff-covered wrist, smiling at how elegantly the baggy sleeves fell.

“You do look pretty.” She looked amazing. I could just hear the brightness in her tone, how everything came together to create her. The hues sparkled magnificently. “Now, what do you know about your dad?”

“He’s been thinking about… y’know, a lot recently. Thanatos stuff, actually.” Mori admitted, fiddling with the ends of her costume’s cuffs. “I’m worried about him, usually it isn’t so bad that he transforms into whatever Azrael knockoff this is.”

“Death, I presume?” I suggested, looking to the multiarmed angel. Soul and Heart could only hold them off so far. “Let me tell you this, the blessing of Thanatos allows you to see what others cannot. You can sense danger from miles away, yes, but your main thing is realizing people’s fears. You know that inevitably, we’re gonna die. You just tell us what he’s fearing right now and use this fear against him to basically immobilize him so we can purify him. Does that make sense?”

“Eh… yeah. I got it. So, my powers are sensing danger and realizing other people’s fears? What’s that gotta do with time?” She paused for a moment, probably realizing she sounded a bit ungrateful, or at least what she said next gave that illusion. “Wait- I mean, not that I’m upset you gave it to me, it’s an honor to receive this blessing, but I’m just a bit curious.”

“Often fears are linked to how we died in a past life. And we all know death is a matter of time.” I gently took her hands, gesturing upwards. “Much like how Heart and Soul are a matter of time if we don’t do something about it!”

“Alright! Alright!” She already hopped onto one of the buildings, struggling to make it on top before giving me a thumbs up. That made me chuckle. I was after her though, stumbling through this city like it was some place I hadn’t been to in a while. She laughed at me, obviously.

Heart and Soul were still trying to handicap the knockoff Azrael, failing spectacularly. I gripped them both by their belts and hoisted them down. It almost seemed like they disappeared. The two stared at this new hero, not quite Mori, but still Mori all the same.

Soul looked way too astonished for this kind of game. His smile did break through like the sun did clouds. “*, Mind! What’s her name?” I nudged her.

The girl in the cloak looked a bit stunned for a moment, trying to think of something. It took almost a moment before finally deciding on something. “Memento.” She finally rested on that. Oh, that’s cute, it finishes up her little thing, Memento / Mori. Cute. “We thought of something. Basically, you three will distract them long enough so I can use my power, which reveals his fear. Then I could potentially immobilize him with fear and then Heart can purify him.”

“Good choice, Mind. She’s a smart cookie.” Heart said simply. His wings flapped once, holding out his hand for Soul to take before blasting back off into combat. “Good luck, you two!”

“Good luck indeed.” I muttered under my breath, adjusting the ring on my finger. “You understand what you’re going to have to do, after, right? We’re going to have to scare him out of his wits.”

“Yeah. I know. I’m good at that sorta stuff. You should see what I do to Apollo.” I saw what she does to Apollo. Hell, I experience that as Apollo. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if she knew that I was Apollo. I pushed that thought deep. I remember her pranks and frights, but this goes so much further than a temporary scare. Not to mention this was her father.

“Alright. I trust you. Stay here.” I hopped out, catching a couple of his hands with the ribbon attached to my wand. This inevitably wrapped around him. I tightened the hold, watching as “Azrael” struggled against my grip.

Atlas stuck his trident into this cocoon I made, getting a proper ledge to hang from and started lowering the angel of death in hopes that it would be just in reach for Memento to bring her scythe down to simply tap him with it.

“MEMENTO, NOW!” Soul shouted, twisting himself out of the way to reveal the fears of the angel we constrained. The magic words were sung, the scythe poked the angel’s wing. Her shoulders shook for a moment before she shoved Soul out of the way.

“Yeah? You really think you’re going out that way?” She hollered. I don’t think my ribbon wand can hold much longer. The ribbon snapped into a burst of light, temporarily blinding me, but I still heard Memento’s voice. “You really think that? He’s a kid! He’s just a little kid, sir. Best of all, it’s completely out of his character.”

The angel was silent, but it dropped to the floor. I regained vision quickly, and saw it hold its arms out. The multitude of voices spoke. All different thoughts of his scrambling to make a comprehensible sentence. “You remind me of my daughter.”

“I’m sure your daughter would tell you the same thing.” Memento gently took one of the angel’s hands, that soft smile under the fang and fear. It was calming that we didn’t even need to scare him too much. “Do you really think so lowly of the man whom your daughter loved for a time?”

“I wouldn’t.” The angel whispered, the voices all aligning into one straightforward tone. Memento pressed her forehead to “Azrael”, keeping her breaths level and consistent. I think it’s time.

“Will you let Heart purify you, sir?” She quietly asked. I let Heart behind the victim, and let the drawstring pull back as quietly as a hare’s breath. As soon as the deteriorated angel nodded, Heart took his shot.

Mr. Wood rubbed his head, glancing around for a moment before, looking to his transformed daughter, unaware of her civilian state. “Thank you four.” He stood up, brushing off his shirt. “And you, what’s your name?”

“My name’s Memento, sir.” She held out a hand and shook his. “It’s a pleasure meeting you, and I’m stoked that you allowed us to purify you. Thank you again.”

“No, no. It’s my fault I was taken in the first place. I should be thanking you. I gotta get back to the kids, they’re probably really stressed.” OH, RIGHT. We were eating at Mori’s. Oh, * it!

I looked to Soul who realized the exact same thing. We looked at each other for a moment then to Mori, who looked more stunned than the rest of us. “How about I collect the blessing of Thanatos, and you just go home?” I was already running away with Mori.

Once in her room, she appeared as herself once more in a shimmer of pink. She held the hair clip one last time, before handing it back over, smiling warmly. “Thank you, Mind for the opportunity to fight with you. It was an honor.”

“Thank you for your help, Mori.” I stored the blessing in my wand, perching myself on the window before looking back to her and her slightly concerned expression. “And one more thing, make sure your father is loved.” I hopped from the window, and detransformed in her yard. I needed to run up to the door anyways.

I made the best impression to be breathless and rung the doorbell. “Hey, it’s me again!” I laughed, ‘nonchalantly’ leaning on the doorway.

“Hey, Apollo! You have no idea what just happened!” Was she really going to rat herself out to me? It wouldn’t make much of a difference, but it would be hell.

“Yeah? What happened?” I had to play stupid, though. She didn’t know I was Mind, so why would I know about her time as Memento?

“Uh… my dad found me and poofed me away! It was crazy!” She made an entire story up about this fake Azrael’s powers. It was cute in the way she exaggerated a couple of details to make it a bit more believable.

At least now I know we can trust her as Memento.

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #40 | NULL

Green fiddled with the pencil at his desk. He looked to me for a moment, sliding a piece of paper. He whispered something, but I couldn’t really catch it. I took my accommodated headphone out, subtly enough that the teacher couldn’t see it. “Pass it to Red.”

I hated being the separation between Green and Red. They were always concerned for each other and passing notes and stuff. They were already talking so much they had to separate. Now, I slid notes under the table for Red beside me, Green gets notes, they’re just… there.

No one knows that they’re twins, well I do now, kinda. I didn’t mean to use my power on Green in class, but it accidentally happened when I thought about our little encounter with this fake Azrael and Memento.

It was so weird, now that every time I heard Mori’s voice, it was in that same tone of how she spoke as Memento. I took a deep breath, turning up the volume on my headphones so I can ignore the rest. I gotta do my schoolwork anyways. The voice was now screeching in my ears. Ugh.

I hate this. I always hated this entire ordeal. Day in and day out, I would have headphones in and be completely defenseless. It made me especially nervous since I became Heart. Imagine if I was taking a test, and a random villain appeared? And now that Devil knows who we are, who knows what could happen!

He could infiltrate the mind of someone right next to me! That’s really scary. I already noticed that Red was a bit off kilter today. Are we seriously going to make that happen? What would I even do? I could only see a rough silhouette, a faceless abomination. How am I supposed to know if he’s okay or not?

Green tugged on my sleeve, pulling me away from whatever Red was at that moment. What’s happening? I pulled my headphones off, resting against Green. “Mate!” Green shook my shoulder. “Run, now!”

“You didn’t tell me what’s happening!” I squawked, pulling him out of the way of WHATEVER THAT WAS. I don’t know, but we were blocked off. I could try to contact Apollo and Atlas, I guess! I dunno!

“WELL, IT’S MY BROTHER!” Green was already running back in, trying to save more people from the classroom. What happened?! How did I not notice the negative energy? It feels like my head is fuzzy from how quickly this changed. I tugged on Green’s sleeve.

“No! Green, Red is dangerous right now! We gotta wait for Tri:Power!” I continued pulling back on his sleeve, trying to get him to stop. It was way too much for 10 AM. I feel like I just woke up and now there’s a random villain that I know nothing about. Is it Candelabra or someone else? I DON’T KNOW!

“I CAN’T LEAVE THEM.” He tugged away from my grip, running into classroom again. I scrambled to reach for him once more, but eventually, I realized it was no use. There was nothing I could do to get him back. The best thing I can do now is transform into Heart, right?

I tried finding a secluded place, struggling for about 5 minutes. I didn’t want to go in the men’s bathroom. I looked around for a moment to find any witnesses before ducking in. I rested against the mirror, checking my racing pulse.

There was no way I could do this so quickly. There was no way. It seemed like a massive threat and Green just threw himself at there with no cause or reason. Maybe it was because Red was his brother? Maybe because there were still students in there? Why did he throw himself away?

I knew Green, always seemed like something he did, but I never know why. The thought disappeared with my civilian identity in a glimmer of purple. Large, powerful wings sprouted behind my back and flapped like second nature.

Maybe if I could alert Apollo and Atlas? I called them from my necklace, holding the moon charm like it was the final thing I had in this world. Maybe it was. But I wouldn’t take any chances of me being the only thing here. Green was still there. “Hey! Hey!!” I called when Apollo picked up.

“Hi, Juno, what’s up?” Apollo called from the other end. “Is there a reason why you’re calling me?” Her voice was chirpy, polite even.

“RED’S BEEN POSSESSED, I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG I CAN STAY HERE, GREEN IS PRACTICALLY THROWING HIMSELF AWAY, HELP. SOS.” I yelped from the bathroom. * it, it’s way too hot for this. I rushed out the bathroom, taking note of the kids outside and the Green inside. Oh, stars no.

“W-what?!” Apollo didn’t get an explanation before I closed our call. She didn’t need an explanation, she just needed to do. I need to do. Don’t think. Just run.

I burst back into the classroom, brushing away all the smoke. A distinct metallic smell filled my senses. I couldn’t think right through the haze. I tried pulling Green out, but he wouldn’t budge an inch. It was crazy.

I tried once more, his grip to stay was strong, I felt the salt sting at my eyes much like it did Green’s. Was there even a way to get him out? “HEART, NO! IT’S MY BROTHER, I HAVE TO STAY WITH HIM!” He yelled at me, his voice booming in the near silence of the room.

“Green. You don’t have magic. You gotta let me take care of it, okay?” I reasoned, pulling him back from the worst of it and shoved him with the other kids. I hated that. I hated how he pounded on the door and demanded to be let in. It made my stomach churn with something I couldn’t quite place my finger on, but it was something.

The pounding eventually stopped, and Green gave up trying to fight. That’s a good thing, because I couldn’t bring myself to pay attention to his sobs. I spoke through the smoke and the fire created. The building was crumbling quicker than a cookie. “Candelabra? Can you hear me?”

I was met with silence. That was scary. I took a couple steps back to where I thought he was, but my back bumped against someone’s chest. Okay. Candelabra was right there. I stumbled forward, aiming my bow into the nothing that I saw. The smoke covered the soul that I could sense, the silhouette dazed into the background.

“Who?” The voice asked, surrounding my senses. Okay, was he behind me, in front of me, next to me? I hate this, I hate this so much. I could feel the tears pour down my eyes. “Candelabra? I haven’t heard of that name.”

“A-Alright! W-who are you then?! Where are you? How and when?” I don’t know why I asked those last two, I was panicking, okay. I couldn’t think straight. Something about this stupid smokey haze really struggled with me. I need to clear my head.

There was no response. Of course, this stupid haze of what I once thought. I backed up more, back bumping into that same chest I bumped into a minute ago. WHERE WAS HE? BEHIND? IN FRONT? FOREWARDS, BACKWARDS? I CAN’T THINK. I just need a moment of clarity!

My necklace buzzed, Soul’s voice coming in loud and definitely not clear. I tried to make it out, but it sounded muffled to me, like someone talking into a pillow. Eventually I pieced together a general summary. “The entrance is blocked; we can’t get in.”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T GET IN? CAN I GET HELP?” I yelled above the mist. My shoulders rose and fell with breaths faster than a cheetah and I was more out of breath than one after a run as well. My head felt light, and I started to feel dizzy.

Soul’s voice rung again. “There’s a crack, in the bottom. You better be thinking about someone.” I think I know what they were suggesting. I whipped my head around. There was an exit, and I pounded on the door before realizing it was likely unlocked. I swung open the door. “Head to the cafeteria, kay?”

Green was still there, still trying to keep people safe. He was still there and mostly sane, I guess? I ran down the halls which seemed to only elongate the longer I was running up and down these ways. Wait, my head was clearer. Was the mist causing my panic? What is up with that? I should think.

So, if the smoke causes panic or paranoia, or just general haziness in thoughts, would that mean Red’s feeling lost? Is he confused or panicking just like the mist causes? I slid onto my knees and felt the rubble blocking Mind and Soul from me. “Hey, what’s up?”

“You have an idea?” Mind’s voice asked from the other end, already blessing what sounded to be a belt chain. “You better. I’m trusting you, Heart. What power?”

“I’ll take care of it.” The belt chain was slid from under one of the smallest cracks, I felt the small adornments and thought of them as adorable. I just need someone, anyone. Mori was in IB literature, The Tiny Man Band in band, Eleven? No, they were upstairs in his algebra class.

Green. I need Green. I think I can trust him mostly, I’m just a little nervous. I shoved the chain into my fist, running back down the halls. I felt his spirit dwindling, just a little bit, but it still was as strong as ever. There’s no going back. I must ask him for help.

“Alright, kids!” I rallied up some of my classmates, pointing to the cafeteria. “I cleared the way, Mind and Soul should be on the other end of that rubble. Trust me when I say you’re safest there.” I started evacuating a lot of the classmates. These voices were ones I hardly recognized, but they stilled mattered, nonetheless. The scent of metal still lingered in my senses the closer Green got. Was he okay?

Green was hesitant, just like my plan. I took his hand, pulling him away from the rest of our classmates. It was do or die, and I don’t want to meet that fate right now. “Green Anatoliy, this is the blessing of Aletheia, one of the many knowledge areas of the Whole. It provides clarity and truth when in doubt. You will use the blessing to save your brother and Australia. After the mission, you will return it to me, and no one will know your identity. Can I trust you to fight for the greater good?”

Green took the belt chain graciously. “I-I don’t know what to say, Heart.” He hesitated for a moment before I heard the metal clink against his thigh. I guess I could safely assume he accepted our blessing. “Do I need to say something?”

“No, just manifest, it should be simple.” Everything I once knew about Green was washed away in a flash of green light. Quite ironic that his name and power is green. The metal of his suit clinked together in a bright melody that resembled wind chimes.

He took my hand quietly, the metal was cold, unlike his heart. I knew it radiated high temperatures from the moment he started saving people from the affected classroom. I knew he was kind. I just needed an opportunity for him to prove it. What better way than this? “D-does this mean I can save my brother?”

“Yeah! C’mon, mate!” I was already pulled along by the new hero, stumbling over cracks in the rundown psychology room. “Your like- special power thing is used to make people see clarity. I trust you.” We stood outside the door for a moment, preparing ourselves for what might happen. “In three… two… one…” We kicked down the door, the haze rushing out of the room, but it still filled it.

The new hero rushed in, waving a lot of it away. “Red! Hi, my name’s uh… Null.” I don’t know why he chose that name, maybe he was panicking a bit. He seemed much clearer than I was. I was hacking out my lungs and trying to keep my mind focused. “It’s nice meeting you. Do you mind telling me what’s wrong?”

There were no words that Null spoke to, just silence against the classroom. I should have known. I tried to mutter my power under my breath, but nothing happened. Did I not have confidence in myself? My mind ran blank, right, because of the mist.

“Red? I understand your pain, but you need to come here so we can fix it.” Null spoke calmly. It was insane how quiet he could be when the dust and mist and haze filled our senses. I saw his silhouette reach out a hand. “Take my hand, please?”

The smoke dissipated from the room, and I thought we already did it, but it just formed a hand on Null’s. “Okay.” The voices whispered surrounding us. They didn’t seem as scary with Null here.

“Cleared Conscience.” He whispered, taking deep breaths. “It’s going to be okay. We need to breathe, and we’ll let Heart purify you, okay? Take it from your good friend.” He was distracted enough.

“Tri:Power Heart: Purify.” I whispered, drawing back the string of my bow. I aimed for the smoke that held Null’s hand and fired. I didn’t think it would do anything at first, it scared me a bit. But eventually, the smoke recollected itself in Red’s shape and gartered his face again. I couldn’t believe it. That worked.

“You are you feeling?” Null asked quietly, holding Red’s hand in his. “Are you okay? Do you water or just something to get you back to reality?”

“Uh… no thanks, Null. Thank you. Heart too.” I felt Red’s soul warm up a bit. Everything felt a bit clearer. All thanks to Null. I noticed the power weaken in Null’s heart, just a little bit.

“Someone needs to get away.” I gently led Green out of the room holding out my hand. Without trouble, he gave me the belt chain. It was cold in my grip, but I was happy to have it back. I stored it in the Whole’s storage. “Thank you again.”

“No, thank you, Heart. Thanks to you, my brother is okay.” Green took my hand again, looking to the floor. His hands shook a bit against mine. “And uhm… being Null was really fun. I look forward to the next time you need me.”

“I do too.”

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #41 | ARACHNID'S MALL

I stared at the ceiling, my group partners, Xavier and Green occasionally took turns tossing about ideas. It was an art project, and as much as I love throwing paint at a canvas, this wasn’t the kind of thing that allowed spontaneity.

“I mean we could make a sculpture of the Greek god?” Green suggested, he absentmindedly tossed a ball against the wall and watched it bounce back. Toss, bounce, catch, toss, bounce, catch. “I’m just saying the men they depict are beautiful.”

“Well, I guess we could, but I’m sure everyone’s gonna do that. This has to be something memorable.” Xavier leaned against my bed, resting his head against my bicep. He smiled lazily, like a cat on a sunny day. “Suppose you don’t have any suggestions?”

“Someone who changed history like magic? Why would people choose Greek gods of all things.” I fluffed up Xavier’s hair a little bit, running my hands through the perfectly conditioned curls. My waves were nothing like that, unfortunately.

“Dunno, probably because of the ‘like magic’ part.” Green rested his head in Xavier’s lap, now just way too tired for this entire world for what it has to offer. “Y’know, since Greek gods are magic and stuff. They probably changed history, as they are a religion and belief.”

“Checks out.” Xavier rested an arm on Green’s chest, feeling it rise and fall with each breath. “Green, are you okay? You sound a little nervous.”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just stumped and it’s making me on edge.” Green admitted. A ghost of a smile grew on his face when he tried to admit he was fine. “If we get points for originality, what will happen if we aren’t original?”

“Probably nothing.” I soothed. I sat up from my bed, vision blurring with vertigo before straightening up again. “But c’mon. We might get some ideas when we head to the mall, right?”

“Yeah, sounds possible.” Green agreed, stood up and stretched. He then helped Xavier get up. The former grabbed his leather jacket, adjusting the sleeves before noticing Xavier. “Mate, you want this? It’s fine, I have a long sleeve, you don’t.”

“Uh… thanks.” Xavier flushed a bit before graciously accepting the jacket. He threw it around his shoulders. “Didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to.” Green said simply, leaving my room before I could even consider opening the door. Then Xavier followed suit. That leaved me to trail behind slower than a caboose car. I shoved my hands in my pockets.

It was the same way down the apartment, and we all popped into Xavier’s car. It took a few moments before starting up. It was an older thing from his parents that he inherited when they got a new car. Naturally, he hadn’t fixed it up yet.

And we were off to the Chadstone Mall. It shouldn’t be too far, just a drive, right? Green was in the passenger’s seat, next to Xavier, and I was in the back. Believe it or not, I really like the back seat, it lets me relax and take a nap.

Downside to taking a nap is that your friends drag you out of the car laughing. “Atlas, get outta here.” A voice called, hoisting me by my shoulders. Okay, that was definitely Xavier. I bet he could deadlift twice my weight, I’m being so honest. “You suggested this.”

We walked up to the door; it was oddly cold. I checked in with Xavier for a moment, who looked a bit more perplexed than I was. Either way, we opened the door and entered the slightly off Chadstone Mall.

We looked through the stores, all just a little bit different than when we originally went to the mall. We looked at a couple of the stores. One was just a Sephora store, but something seemed off. I couldn’t place my finger on it. Do you know how Sephora’s usually black? This one was a muted beige.

Green stopped at the entrance, tilting his head for a moment. He went in with little to no warning but called us all over anyways. We hovered over one of the products, squinting at the label. It didn’t seem like much of anything at first. Slowly it rolled into sight. Dehydrating patches? In a skincare store?

Something was wrong. My bracelet itched against my skin, and I can tell Green’s expression fell as well. I was about to leave before I caught myself in the mirror. Huh. I didn’t have a button nose anymore, just pointed, a roman nose. My cheekbones were just a bit higher, sharpening my features a bit. That was so weird. I looked just like mama.

Something didn’t settle right in my gut. This wasn’t the Chadstone Mall I knew. I tried looking for some sort of villain, but there was no one there. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Then I saw her, she was a beautiful woman, sharper features, sure, but her voice something else. She ran over to me and gripped my shoulders. “Atlas. Oh wait, sorry, I thought you were my friend.”

“No, no, I’m Atlas. What’s up eh…?” Friend? I don’t know this woman. I glanced her over once more. She looked oddly familiar, like a memory that wanted to repeat itself, but couldn’t. Like I was only allowed to steal one glance then I had to draw her from memory.

“Apollo. It’s Apollo.” She clarified. APOLLO? THAT’S APOLLO? Okay, I’m a big one for trans rights, but I really don’t think estrogen can do that much that quickly. How much did she even have?! That’s crazy! “Something’s up with this place.”

“You think I didn’t notice? I look like if my mom was born a dude and went back 17 years.” I gestured to my face, whereas Apollo just kinda stared at it for a moment.

“I didn’t know you were Italian.” Apollo muttered under her breath. “Anyways, this isn’t a normal mall anymore. There has to be someone under the grip of Devil right now.”

“Yeah. I see what you mean.” We watched as Juno rushed in after us, still that same old Juno we all know and love. “Yo, Juno.”

“A-Atlas?” He chirped, waving a bit. He was out of breath, probably from running up and down this mall to no avail. “I-I was with a friend, and I was accused of stealing, then they got possessed, and I ran all the way here.”

“I can see that.” I muttered, glancing about the corridors of the mall. If anything, we could try our best to bring it down. I glanced towards my bracelet, then to my two friends behind me. I swallowed that lump in my throat again. “Juno?” I gestured back to Green. He nodded and ran one way.

I went with Apollo in the other, once in a safe place, the shimmer of red and blue that refused to get old appeared. Okay. So, best transformation in this mall? Mind. Definitely. Even she flushed at herself, putting a gloved hand to her chest.

“Yeah. I can’t wait 4-5 years.” I muttered under my breath. I was then smacked in the back of the skull. I guess I couldn’t be mad at her. I would also be furious if someone said that to me about my transition.

I caught up with her, meeting Null and Heart about halfway. Null already glanced toward his whip, wrapping it around his wrist. Heart crossed his arms, shifting his weight and tilting his head. He asked, “So, this mall is apparently…?”

“Basically, what I learned is that it displays the best of what you want.” He glanced over Mind and I for a moment, noticing the changes from our usual features. It was so weird. It felt like I was wearing someone else’s skin, not actually being Atlas (Soul) Venison. “It shows your dreams, the ‘what could be’s, basically.”

“That sounds just about right.” Heart started walking about, boots ticking against the ground and echoing through the mall. “My big question is why this over some thief?”

“I wish my power told me that.” Null admitted, following Heart. Mind and I also followed, but I stayed in the back of the pack, trident readied. It was just in case. I didn’t want to risk anything stupid happening.

“Maybe they wanted eyes everywhere to capture the thief.” Mind looked at a camera, narrowing her eyes. She stood like that for a moment, fixated on the blinking red dot.

Maybe this villain was in the security room? That means they could have eyes everywhere, and the name kinda makes sense too. Security, like emotional security or security in satisfaction or something. They probably just want security in their job.

I started to run ahead to the security room. This reminds me of that one time when I worked at one of the sporting stores here. It was the worst summer job of my life, and I’m thanking Harmonia that I work at my mom’s restaurant sometimes. Anyways, I gently knocked on the security room door, nothing special of the sort happening.

I knocked on the door again. There was a hiss of a spider, louder than what I originally thought a spider could sound like. It sounded oddly familiar to the spider we fought earlier. The one who did Charlie’s photoshoots. Then it made sense. Photographer in front of a bunch of cameras making anyone who steps into a mall no longer insecure. Perfect model contestants.

“So, who doesn’t have arachnophobia?” Heart joked, holding the handle of the doorknob. He jiggled it a bit before shrugging. “There’s no key. Man, I wish we were super powerful superheroes that could do any we wanted if he put our mind to it.”

“Yeah. A big shame we aren’t that.” Mind pouted, putting her hands behind her back. She still looked at me and tilted her head. I couldn’t say no to those icy blue eyes. I kicked down the door, holding my trident up.

“Hey Mr. Long Legs. Long time, no see! Where were you?” I rolled my eyes, knowing I would probably get nowhere. I pinned him with the trident, watching the 8 legs struggle against the triple-headed spear. “Heart?”

“Tri:Power Heart: Purification!” He drew his bow and shot it. I don’t even think the spider was all that mad. None of us had to use our powers. That was kinda weird. But I guess it didn’t work, as we have everything reset to normal. Mind was Mind again, I looked like my dad existed and Null looked a bit more like his brother. All’s well that ends well.

That actually had me thinking, as Green, Xavier and I were walking through the mall to gather supplies. What if we did Tri:Power? I know, quite egotistical to think that it would work, as we didn’t really rewrite history yet, but it just might work.

So, I explained the idea to them. Green was stoked, Xavier too. So, over the next 3 days, we made a painting of our favorite heroes. It was a stained-glass replicate, where Green gave it a cool effect to reflect a little bit of light, just like actual glass.

We displayed it. I didn’t think we would do too well, but we got an A+. We were one of the most respected pieces out there. I guess since they could see, feel and hear the magic from the trio, they could believe it. So, I guess believing isn’t just seeing. Believing is understanding that it is how it is.

I probably wouldn’t have gotten that, if I’m being honest.

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #42 | THE WRITING ON THE WALL

My head hurt. I looked to my gloved hand, the bare one holding a ring, no recollection of what had happened. What was happening? My vision was hazy, hazier than what I hadn’t remembered it as. What? Did I always need glasses? Where are my glasses? I looked up to the wall, noticing the square, skull, trident and moon drawn in blue lipstick. Beside was a spilled packet of glitter. What the hell?

I looked to my side to find no one else, but a hooded girl. The bright pink glitter of an eye replaced what I had once thought of her. I looked at her for a moment. Who was that? Why am I in an elevator with a stranger? “Hello?” I whispered, cautious of her presence.

“Hi.” She whispered, collecting the scythe that had broken in her grasp. It was so weird. Did I know this girl? She had ash hair in a sort of bob, when I pulled back the hood, it fell to cover one of her eyes. She laughed. “Yeah. It’s like that, I guess.”

I chuckled warmly, taking her chin. “What’s your name? I didn’t think I caught that.” My eyes made note of her skull hairclip. Was that the same skull written on the wall? What about me? There’s a square on the back of my glove, am I that square?

“I uh… I actually don’t know.” She said, standing up. She stumbled a bit, using the elevator’s bars for stabilization before handing help to me. “I don’t remember my name. Do you?”

My name? Yeah, I remember my name. My name is… uhm. I shouldn’t be drawing a blank on my name, I must have heard it dozens of times before. I laughed at that. My ring constricted my hand a bit tighter. “I don’t remember my name either.” I admitted.

“Well, let’s get outta here first.” The girl tried opening the elevator door by force, having nothing happen. She looked like she felt silly, as she flushed before pressing a couple of buttons on the elevator. “Elevator, duh.” That was cute.

I tried to stay up without her help. My legs were jelly though, I fell back down. My ring was only tighter around my wrist, and I saw pink sparkles start to consume the girl. What was happening? What’s up with the pink sparkles? She looked a little concerned as she tried to kick them off. The sparkles only revealed more of that black converse and cargo jeans. They eventually climbed to the laced top and eventually, the hood. She looked at her uncuffed wrists.

“What the? Do you know what happened?” The girl asked. I drew a blank, I didn’t really know. I squinted at her. She looked like any ordinary girl. I don’t know why the pink sparkles wanted her. She pulled out her phone, looking at herself through the blackened screen. She held the black screen up to me so I could see myself.

Was that what I looked like? Hey, I have blue lipstick on. Wait, was I woman or man? This suggests woman but my anatomy suggests man. This is confusing. I looked toward the symbols written on the wall in the same blue. Wait. I must have written that. I looked to her skull hairclip. She was in pink sparkles. She must have been the skull. That means I’m the square. My ring felt way too tight.

Then I was covered in blue sparkles. It started from my ring, and slowly, a green blazer appeared over me. It was the same blazer the girl wore. I squinted at the logo, then the logo on my blazer from the black screen. It’s the same. School uniforms often have the logo. Maybe she goes to the same school. “Hey, you go to the same school as me.” I pointed out.

“Huh, yeah, I guess I do.” She shrugged. I pulled out my phone. Maybe I could call the authorities and tell them about amnesia. How would they fix amnesia again? I feel like I should know, but I don’t. I turned on my phone, blocked by a password. I showed it to the girl. “Uh yeah. Let me try.” She opened her phone, blocked by another password. She placed it in her pocket.

Pocket. Would she have a wallet? Do I have a wallet? I probably do. I slid my phone in my pocket, trying to feel around for my wallet. My hand brushed against something that’s vaguely leather. I pulled it out. Congrats, I found a wallet! Wait! That means an ID is inside. “Hey, if you have a wallet, an ID might be inside. I wouldn’t want to call you random girl.”

I scanned the ID for a moment, squinting at the faced used in the photo. Apollo Daybreak, male, 18. Interesting. The girl looked up from her ID. “Apparently, my name is Mori Wood.”

“Apollo Daybreak, pleasure to meet you, Mori.” I held out my hand, allowing her to shake it. She didn’t. How rude, you always shake the hand of someone. At least I think you do. What Mori did suggests otherwise. The elevator door opened revealing the rest of what seemed to be a school. Was it our school? We should try to look for the symbol on our blazers.

We roamed the halls for a moment. Everything seemed so empty compared to a normal school. Shouldn’t a school be bustling with people? Especially during switching periods. The bell rung, but no one moved into the hallways. Weird. I looked to a bulletin board to see a man with blue lipstick, coily hair- wait. That’s me. Who are the other two? I must know them somehow, right? If I’m depicted with them? One had wavy brown hair and a button nose. The third had short curls and a blindfold.

I held Mori’s hand, stopping her from going further. “Mori, do these people seem familiar to you?” I gestured to the bulletin board. ‘Be SUPER kind!’ it said, with the flashy costumes and people all together. Wait, where was the hooded girl, Mori?

“No, never seen them in my life.” She looked at the board for a little bit before walking through the school once more. Something happened. A locker slammed shut, then another. Singing. Someone was singing. I don’t know what they were singing, but it was a haunting voice.

“Hide, hide, hide away, don’t let your hair give you away…” And it repeated. Each time with a different body part. The voice got closer, and the slams became louder. We should run. My legs pumped to go. I couldn’t leave Mori here. I tugged her by the arm, rushing out. I wish I was looking where I was going. I bumped into some random boy. His eyes were frosted over. He was wearing a moon necklace.

Was that the same moon I found in the elevator? “Hi.” I said, helping him stand up. “I’m Apollo, the girl behind me is Mori.”

“I can’t see.” He said simply, rubbing at his eyes. Oh. Right. I should have known that he couldn’t see. I feel so stupid for that. “I wish I could. Uh… Apollo, right? I’m uh…”

“Here, check your ID.” I watched him scour through his pockets, struggling with it before pulling out something vaguely card shaped. It had his face, so I’m assuming it’s him. I read it aloud to him. “Artemis Baker, so you’re Artemis.” He winced at Artemis. That’s weird. Why would someone wince at their own name. “Do you prefer a different one?”

“No, Artemis works.” He said, taking back the ID from me. “It just caught me off guard. There’s another boy here somewhere. He has wavy hair, I think. His silhouette was blurry. I’m kinda scared for him. He ran off without any rhyme or reason.”

“Which way did he go?” The wavy haired one, the same on the bulletin board. Was that the trident I drew? But then again, what about the glitter? I then realized how stupid of a question that was, as the boy couldn’t see. “Wait, sorry.”

“No, don’t worry about it. We can just go look for him. He said he wanted to find shelter. We encountered something earlier. He was big and a bit scary. His voice was hazed, and he just threw light-up cards at us. I didn’t know what they were for.” So, what place has shelter? Also, the man. The big and scary man, was that the person who we heard was singing?

The computer lab had a lot of shelter. Does this school have a computer lab? I think so. We started looking for a computer lab. It felt like I should have known these halls by heart, as my legs felt like they knew where to go. Weird, I’ve never been here before. I opened the door to the computer lab, noticing the red, flashing light.

We ran to it, noticing a boy with brown wavy hair covered in sparkles. This time, the sparkles were red. Then it made sense. The glitter was these sparkles, and now that this boy was transforming back, he was basically covered in glitter. His breath was quiet, slightly panicky. “W-who are you?!”

This was like- the 3rd time I had to tell them who I was. This was getting slightly annoying. It’s okay though, I’m a patient man. “I’m Apollo Daybreak. The girl is Mori Wood, and the dude behind me is Artemis Baker. Who are you?”

He hesitated for a moment, his drawl sounding much more prominent now that I heard him speak after a long ‘er…’. “I think I’m Atlas, that’s if I didn’t steal this ID.” I giggled. Okay, he was cute and funny. But I was probably dating someone, because I had a note in my wallet. It was a cute message marked with a trident. I looked to him for a moment, tilting my head. He flushed when we made eye-contact. “Yeah, Hi Apollo. It’s a pleasure to meet someone like you.”

Now that I think about it, maybe I should check to see who matches this handwriting. “Hey, Atlas. Mind writing me something?” I looked for the note in my wallet, opening it and reciting the message written inside. “Hi, Apollo, is there any way you can make my day sweeter? I would go out for ice cream with you, but I’m afraid they would serve me you!” It was cute. I flushed a bit at the letter. When he was done writing, I compared the handwritings. It even had that same taper on the ‘t’.

So, Atlas was the trident. Meaning the glitter was supposed to be what we were as heroes maybe? Is that why I was covered in blue glitter before my glove disappeared, leaving only the tan back of my hand? Wait. Was I a hero? “Uhm?”

“Yeah?” Artemis gestured for me to go on. “We’re listening.”

“I think we’re supposed to fight that thing.” I said quietly. My hands were shaking against the floor and note that I held. “So, uh- Let’s do that maybe?”

“Yeah, let’s do it.” Atlas sat up, tying his hair back. “So, do you know how I get that cute outfit again?” He asked. It was so weird; his face was cute. He had an adorable button nose, and I could really see that he was the red hero.

“Do I look like I know?” I snapped; my hands were still shaking. My chest started caving in. Was I panicking? My vision blurred, hands becoming hot, then cold, then hot again in sudden flashes. “I just… I dunno, believe?” I can believe in myself, right? Even when I’m panicking? Well one, I need to calm down. I ran my hand over the carpet that was probably riddled with germs. Honestly, I don’t even care, the texture was nice. The blue sparkles appeared again.

“WOAH! WAIT!” Mori cheered, shaking my shoulders as she noticed the clock appear in front of my face once more. “YOU DID IT, APOLLO! Guys! Just believe in yourself!” She was already covered in pink sparkles, the hood appearing once more. Then purple sparkles from Artemis and red sparkles from Atlas. IT WAS A MIRACLE!

“Okay! There’s probably a super scary villain we gotta fight, right?” Artemis stood up, his head turning to me despite the blindfold. Huh. Maybe he got superpowers and could see? Do I have superpowers? That would be cool. “How about we just make a LOT of noise?”

“Sounds cool to me!” Atlas cheered, resting on his trident. Wait trident? How did he summon that?!

“Why do you have a trident?” I asked, squinting at the engravings.

Atlas explained, “Just manifest it. All this stuff is believing in yourself, right?” I tried manifesting a trident. I would say I failed, but I got a really cool ribbon wand instead. Atlas chuckled warmly, looking at my ‘useless’ weapon. “What is that?”

“No time.” I said, running out. I started yelling at the top of my lungs, waving my hands around. “HEY!” I yelled, dashing about and prancing. Artemis followed me as well, waving his hands around and shouting at the top of his lungs.

“I FOUND YOU!” The voice laughed, throwing a card next to Artemis’ head. “MIND? HEART? WHAT A PLEASURE.” He was loud. Then I saw it, the vague shape of a person hand with what appeared to be claws. Wait Mind? Heart? Who was Mind? Am I Mind? I have squares, would that make me Mind? Artemis has hearts. I think that would make him Heart. So, he’s Heart and I’m Mind. “IS SOUL AROUND?” That must be the other person on the bulletin board. “AH, WHATEVER, YOU’RE GOING TO FORGET HIM IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.”

WHAT?! I don’t want to forget! These people are my friends! I already started running up, dodging cards that came my way and wrapped the ribbon to restrain him. How was he still throwing cards?? Mori got hit. Again!? She rubbed her head, looking around. I gotta stop him from throwing cards.

I did the only logical thing. I sliced through the arm from right below the elbow. I watched as it fell, no fluids escaping. It was like a phantom. Now utterly harmless, I stepped away. I looked to Heart, who looked stunned at the man now in two. I looked to the bow in his hand. I guess Heart gets him, right?

That’s what he did, he pulled back and took his shot, right between where the eyes would have been. An ordinary kid took his place. The arm below his elbow wasn’t there still. Heart slammed his bow on the ground.

I don’t remember what happened during most of the fight, I only remember… Why is Green missing half an arm? Heart looked just as stunned as me. Memento looked like she was going to hurl. Soul? Where’s Soul? Oh. He was staring wide-eyed from the door.

What do you mean it’s gone? Like gone-gone?! What happened for his arm to be? WHY DIDN’T HEART FIX IT!? I thought slamming his bow on the ground fixed collateral damage. I suddenly realized that this wasn’t collateral damage.

Last edited by -tallyinghalls- (Aug. 5, 2026 15:51:10)

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #43 | PREENING..?

Harmonia was scolding me of all people. I don’t remember a thing about that battle, I just remember hearing Green horrified that he lost half his arm. But now, I guess, he was gently brushing a headwing, treating me like a child in the dream state. “Heart, what happened? I thought I told you about this.”

“No, you didn’t.” I had repeated that sentence almost 5 times now. He didn’t tell us anything about permanent damage. “And even then, we would have forgotten. The villain erased memories, Harmonia. I didn’t even remember my name.”

Harmonia gently brushed my wing again. I don’t know why he liked doing it so much, but it was basically every time I met him in the dream state. I would curl up against his chest and he would preen my feathers. I never realize how much I enjoy it until it happens. He was warm, his hands were warm, everything about it was warm. I heard his heartbeat, just a gentle pulse under my ear, and everything seems alright.

“I understand.” Harmonia gently held me closer, as if everything would be fixed if he just fixed me first. I wouldn’t mind being fixed, I’m already a little broken. “Your life is so fragile. I just get a little heated when someone’s hurt. Is he okay?”

“I hope so.” I whispered, nuzzling into his shoulder. He smelled like vanilla, like my room. I probably was just smelling my room instead of him, but I like to think that he would smell like vanilla. “When’s Apollo coming?” I asked. I don’t know what time it was, maybe it was 11PM? I was beat after today, went to bed at 9.

“Eventually. I hope.” Harmonia brushed my wings again, getting out a few of the feathers that stuck out weird. It was nice and calming. Preening always made me feel better, I don’t know why I don’t do it to myself more often.

We waited another hour before Apollo slumped against Harmonia, resting her head into his arm. “Hi.” She said, voice weak. I would probably be weak too if I stayed up until 12:32 am. “Sorry, I was in the middle of something.” She whispered. “I needed just a little bit of tutoring… I still didn’t grasp the concept.”

“Can I guess it was about music?” I laughed, giving her wary body just a little bit more room. It was really tired. That’s what she gets for staying up past midnight, especially when she’s Apollo.

“Yeah.” She said quietly. “It’s music, alright. What did you wanna talk to me about?”

“You cut someone’s arm off.” Harmonia mumbled. Awh. He stopped preening me. It kinda was an important moment, but it still kinda hurt. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You had permanent damage that no one can undo. He’s like that now. I can’t rewrite enough history to give him his arm back.”

“I did that?” Apollo looked to her hands in her lap. She huffed, looking toward Harmonia. “I-I didn’t mean to, sir. I apologize.” It was weird seeing her in the dream state. I didn’t know what she looked like. Ever. I liked to imagine she had an Egyptian nose, even though it was definitely wrong.

“I can’t undo anything done to people’s bodies I don’t have control over.” He gently whispered. “And they always say an eye for an eye.” Wait. Harmonia wouldn’t do that, would he? That sounds odd to me. He has control over us, which means that he could do something. Oh.

“What.” I stared at him, his perfect hair and such. “Harmonia. Are you suggesting something?” I gripped the god’s shoulders. “HARMONIA. DON’T DO ANYTHING STUPID.”

“It’s as per my protocol. Actions have consequences, and I am the god of balance.” Harmonia whispered. He gently took Apollo’s hand, glancing down at the baren fingers. His ring was on his right hand, I knew that, because the left suggested marriage. “And with it all expanded, past and future alike, this soul is right-handed, the other to smite.”

That was a weird spell. It was really awkward, as I had never heard a spell being cast. Magic was a little finicky with me, and I could never understand the combinations spoken. It was like a small poem, as cute as it was. Apollo’s hand whirred as it clenched around Harmonia’s. It must have been a jab of pain or something.

“I’m sorry, Harmonia.” Apollo whispered. She then took my hand with her left. It was cold as metal, the grip tighter than steel. “I’m gonna get back to my dream. I’m sorry.”

And she faded away quite quickly. I was then pet again. I looked to Harmonia once more. His expression looked grave, and his warmth was much less noticeable. “Harmonia. What did you do?”

“You’ll find out.”

Last edited by -tallyinghalls- (Aug. 6, 2026 23:17:20)

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #44 | BRUNCH

A/N: Another short one, IK… longer ones are soon (I hope)… kinda fluff? morning after 43.

Actions have consequences. I woke up with her. Her hand was holding mine, this time it wasn’t soft like it usually was. It was metallic and cold. “Apollo.” I whispered to her, gently shaking her. She didn’t get up. Anxiety spiked my heartrate as I shook her again. “Apollo, wake up.” Relief washed over my body like a tsunami when I heard her yawn.

“Hi Atlas, what’s up?” She saw my face, way too concerned for some reason. Just the way those sky-blue eyes looked at me through dark, messy coils. A true sight to behold.

“What’s up with your hand?” I asked, gently holding the metal between my fingers. It was cold, a cold I could get used to, but also weird. It doesn’t seem like something that should be on Apollo, but it also does at the same time. “It’s a funny prank, but you can stop joking.”

“No, Atlas, it’s not a prank.” She sat up, stretching for a moment. She looked down to me, tilting her head just a little bit. Probably to catch me in that morning light we both liked. “Remember yesterday, with Green?”

“Funny to ask if I remember anything from that fight.” I sat up, resting against the headboard of my bed. I ran a hand through the messy waves, I saw her pupils dilate a bit. Cute. “I uh… his arm, got cut off, right?”

“Well, that’s why my hand’s gone.” What. She said it so simply. She said it with little to no hurt in her voice, like it just was how it was. “I hated lying to them, though…” It looked like a hand, just metallic. The hinges at the knuckles still worked like knuckles. It was so weird. “It’s going to be okay, Atlas.”

I was stunned speechless as she wrapped her arms around my shoulders. It was a gentle, warm embrace. It was a stark contrast to the metallic smell of her hand, the one that will now always be there. I swallowed that lump in my throat. That scared me a little bit.

I pressed my forehead against hers, smiling through every little thing that cracked my heart. It probably hurt. I shouldn’t think about her hand. It functions like normal. I laughed a little bit, finding levity in it all. It’ll be okay, I hope! “Well, that’s nothing for Miss Apollo of Australia! Miss Sun! Crown her pageant queen RIGHT NOW!”

“Stop!” She giggled through a flush. There it was, that bashful little smile. She had a habit of hiding it. “You’re too sweet, Atlas.”

My hands naturally found her waist, pulling into a hug. It was nice. I rolled my eyes at her sweetness comment. “Not as sweet as you. Y’know, you’re just about as-”

“-as sweet as the sweethearts ice cream. I know, you’ve told me dozens of times before.” She nuzzled into the same spot she took last night, smiling against the crook of my neck. “And yet you never buy me an ice cream, no matter how sweet I am.”

“Just look at yourself, dollface.” I lifted her off me and held those tanned shoulders for a little bit longer before getting up officially. “Look at that reflection and get all the candy you want.” I shrugged my big jacket over her shoulders.

“Shut up.” Her ears turned pink. I was doing the job I needed to do. I threw on a random T-shirt I had lying around, Will Wood’s “In case I make it,” shirt by the way, “You’re saying that just to save a fiver, huh?”

“Yeah, actually. You’re the rich one.” Her hand malfunctioned and gripped my sleeve. I think her left hand almost broke my right… sleeve (saved it). She pulled back almost immediately, clenching and unclenching her fists. “*, are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.” She stood up, slightly taller than me. “Thanks for having me.” She graciously took my hand with her right, the good one, and blessed it with her forehead. “Also, your mother’s cooking is exceptional.”

“Unfortunately, she isn’t here this morning.” I said, helping her steady herself, as she did seem just a little bit wobbly. I rubbed my eyes and glanced over to the alarm clock that sat on my nightstand. It was easier than opening my phone honestly. *. Had we slept for that long? It was like- 11 am. “C’mon, you want brunch? I’m sure we have something.”

“No, please, I’ll take us out, my treat.” She took my hand in hers again, didn’t even let me get out of my pajama pants. What an eager girl.

Last edited by -tallyinghalls- (Aug. 7, 2026 05:13:16)

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #45 | THE BUS

A/N: Well I gotta be fair to 'em all and give them all shorter chapters

Hinges of a mechanical hand of a mechanical life that was strictly automated and built to scale this robot parents’ strict belief to worship an innovative god that had given life to automata who try to expel any automation that doesn’t fit in their perfect mold. These hinges, giving my left hand life and preventing biological disrepair of the wedding finger, creaked slightly when I moved my fingers and curled them like I normally would in the cold. Now they don’t curl naturally in the cold.

I was standing on the bus, mechanical hand curled against the pole. Some kid kept looking at me. I tried to ignore him the best I could. It was weird to be stared at, I was already stared at before. I was already getting looks from men and women alike. Those people would then walk up and tell me things I wish I shouldn’t have to repeat. This kid was no different, as he looked to me, then his mother, then me again. “Mom, why does that man have a robot hand?”

I almost spat out my water from laughter. The plastic bottle crunched under my tighter grip. I looked to him, barely even keeping it together. The mother looked to me and narrowed her eyes for some reason, like I was the problem her kid can’t keep to himself. “That man did something very bad and went against the lord’s name. The lord smites people like him.”

I was all for the crazy stories parents told their children. I didn’t care how you raised your child, but using me as an example of religion? I cleared my throat and crouched a bit to his level. I took the time to look the mother in the eyes, beautiful blue meeting boring brown before redirecting my gaze to the child. “Actually.” I said, “I was in a freak accident! See, a supervillain took my hand away, and Tri:Power had to get me a mechanical one. They worked so swiftly that you could barely remember that they were there!”

Her child was ecstatic now, bouncing about. That’s what she gets for using me as an example for her religion. Who even cares!? It’s a mechanical hand, they’re sick as hell! “COOL! He got to meet the superheroes, mom! Can I meet them?”

I tilted my head and smiled. “I’ll tell you this, I’m friends with Mind. I’ll tell her to swing by and say hello if she sees you and has the time. Alright, superstar?” The woman looked like she was fuming. She knew. She was looking at my longer skirt and cardigan with a scowl. I knew. I grinned at her like the most innocent little Apollo. I stood up and adjusted my hair, pushing the coils out of my face. “Next time, tell your kid to not point out disabilities. It’s a bit embarrassing for us all.”

She frowned at me. I felt like I just ruined her day, but honestly? I don’t care if I ruined her day or not. She was trying to spread lies about me to easily malleable kids. Plus, she called me a man. Not that that matters much, even though it does, it’s just a small, itty bitty plus. “Don’t tell me how to raise my kid. Where the hell are your parents?!”

“I’m not telling you how to raise your kid, and I’m 18.” Thanks for the compliment that I look young, I guess. I checked my nails, painted black and slightly chipped. I need to reapply another coat later. Not now, though, as it was almost my stop, and I agreed to chat with Juno for a little while.

“Well, you look like a certain Apollo Daybreak, that’s all I’m saying. A shame someone should tip the police and get the monetary reward.” She wouldn’t. I’m 18. She can’t just do that, I’m legally an adult. I’m on my own and can make things work. Is she seriously suggesting that I’m not suited to just exist?

“Well, you look like a woman who should mind her own business, that’s all I’m saying. A shame someone turns you in for harassment.” I rolled my eyes. It should be my stop any second now. Couldn’t time go any faster? My mechanical hand fiddled with the pole. I probably need hand sanitizer after this. “Look, your kid is happy and knows the truth, isn’t that all that matters?”

“No, he doesn’t. He shouldn’t turn out like you!” Really?! Shouldn’t turn out like me? Honestly, I would hate to be her. They’re all following the same thing like cattle. Just bugs attracted to the nearest light because they can’t see the right sun.

“What’s so wrong with me?” I raised an eyebrow. I knew nothing was wrong with me, at least nothing that she could tell immediately. She was speechless for a moment. I knew everything was alright when the bus stopped at my destination. “Toodles~!”

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #46 | BUILD A BEAR

She never had received a plushie as a gift until we gave her that Cinnamoroll plush. So, we were at Build a Bear. Atlas tapped at his phone for a moment, showing a picture to her. “This is it, right? Build a Bear?”

“Yeah, Atlas. Do you want one too?” I tilted my head. For some reason she was holding my hand. There was a small jingle of her necklaces. Hm. I took her arm and turned to her with a smile. Her grip weakened a bit.

“Thanks.” Apollo whispered. I guess just going into a toy store “It means a lot to me. You guys really shouldn’t have taken me here.” Suddenly Atlas was now on the other side of Apollo. Curse him and his teasing stuff.

“Well, we had to.” Atlas tilted Apollo’s chin in his direction. “Unless girls like you are too good for a cute little bear?” Honestly, it was a little sad that she had never gotten plush. It’s just a reminder that misogyny is taught, not hereditary.

“Shut up!” Apollo gripped me a bit tighter. Was she really this anxious over getting a small bear plush thing? It doesn’t even have to be a bear. Whatever. “I-I… uhm…”

“I mean, c’mon, you’re perfect!” Atlas teased. Apollo held my arm tighter. That mechanical hand has one hell of a grip. Wait. I think she’s frozen. Her hand was shaking against my bicep. That could just be the mechanics malfunctioning in her hand. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt. “Too good for a plush, I see?”

She was frozen still. I tried to just move inside the store, but she didn’t even budge an inch. Oh no. “Apollo? You know he’s only joking with you, right?” She didn’t really speak, but just pulled me along.

It took about a minute of apologies before she took a deep breath and pushed down that anxiety. “No one is perfect, meaning I don’t have to be perfect. Can you stop saying I’m all these things? I’m clearly not, Atlas. Don’t you understand that I’m done trying to be perfect?! I’m sick of this stupid pedestal people put me on because it doesn’t seem like me. I AM A HUMAN TOO. It may not seem like that in your perfect little doll-like fantasy world where all the women you’re interested in have no flaws whatsoever, but I have flaws. I’m not some perfect robot for you to compare yourself to, and Juno? Don’t get me started on Juno, he can’t tell me what the hell is wrong, but he can sure tell me what is right! ISN’T THAT FUNNY?”

She then stormed off. We didn’t even get to buy her a plush. Atlas took my hand instead. It was a little weird seeing her like this. But hey, who’s to blame? We still went in the Build a Bear to make a bear for her. We didn’t know what she wanted, so it was just a guessing game. Atlas looked at a random scent pack and shoved it to my nose. “This is good, right?”

“Never do that again, mate.” I pushed the horrible smelling synthetic strawberry scent away. I was still recoiling from how utterly strong that was. “You really shouldn’t ask me, my smell’s a bit boosted.”

“What? Why?” Atlas was like a cute puppy dog in the way that he was so utterly clueless. I kinda see it in the way he smiles so brightly. “It can’t be that bad.”

“I’m blind, my body overcompensates.” I whispered. I zipped up my jacket and shoved the hood over my head, it was cold as hell in here. “And yes, it is that bad. The scent’s overwhelming and could hurt her. Especially when she’s panicking.”

“Right, right. Right.” He looked through more of the scents, the drawl lasting on just a little bit longer. It was weird, his tone was much heavier than the rest of ours. It resulted in a long, confused “Er… Chocolate?” He picked up a scent pack and handed it to me. It wasn’t as overwhelming as the strawberry scent.

“Yeah, chocolate, I think.” He picked it out and placed it carefully in the bag. Honestly? I think he deserves her. He was always so cautious when taking care of someone. I liked that. “You think she’ll like it?”

“Eh… I think. I feel really guilty, y’know. I just wanted to let her know that she’s great.” He looked at the bag filled with seemingly soft stuff, except the fact that the stuffed bear was basically gutted. “Y’know, right, Juno?”

“Yeah. I know. It’s alright though. You’re not a failure for having good intentions. It was just a swing and a miss.” I pulled him in for a hug, smiling at him. I didn’t stop holding him until his shoulders shook with held laughter. “Don’t get too twisted over it. I’m sure she’ll love the gift.”

“Thanks, Juno.” Atlas’ face felt a little warmer. “You always know what to do.” I wish I always knew what to do. I’m just good at making people feel better. That’s probably what was up with Atlas. He was down and I just made him feel better. He was happy and smiley, and it made me happy and smiley.

We collected the stuff; the cashier raised an eyebrow as they stuffed the stupid bear. Their eyebrows wiggled. That was stupid. “Getting something for your girlfriend?” They teased. “You’re a lucky girl.”

“None of us are girls.” I whispered quietly. I think they were just teasing; I really do think they were. I’m masculine enough, obviously. “Unless you’re referring to the girl behind us? If so, she’s not with us.”

Atlas whipped his head to see Eleven and waved. He turned back and put an arm between me and this stupid person. “I’m getting this for my girlfriend. Juno isn’t my girlfriend, but I am quite lucky to have him as a friend. Please, mx, just stuff the bear and leave us be.”

He defended me. I was touched, as no one really defended me like that. Eleven even placed a hand on my shoulder. I don’t know why Eleven even tried to fight for me, but I didn’t mind. “Yeah, dude. Not cool. I don’t even like guys.”

They just handed me the stuffed bear. They didn’t hand it to Atlas, which was a red flag. Then again, I could just hand it to him. Eleven looked at the bear, then us. They started laughing. It wasn’t loud, but it yelled volumes about the basics of the situation. It was so stupid.

They didn’t even walk out with a plush, just put the stuff back and followed us out. They yawned and shoved their hands in their pockets. I heard the faint jingle of metal. They were probably fiddling with the change in there. “*, they were a-”

“Eleven we’re in public.” I interrupted them before they could say something too insulting. I knew you couldn’t stop the beast, but I was going to try. “But yeah, they were horrible. Do I really look that fem?”

“No, not at all, don’t worry.” Atlas cheered. He doesn’t even know, huh? I swallowed the lump in my throat. Of course he doesn’t, only Apollo knows. She only knew about that when 20XX tried to swap our bodies. It worked, by the way, both of us were probably euphoric the entire time. “But maybe fit a little bit more comfortably in your masculinity, mate.”

Yeah, okay. Maybe I’m a little bit uncomfortable with where I am sitting on the contrasting masc / fem sort of thing. It’s fine, y’know what? Who cares if I’m a dude, who cares if I’m a girl.

“Juno. What was that.” Atlas gripped my shoulder and pulled me back for a moment, watching the car rush by. It was so much faster than your average car. Not even just speeding, like it was as fast as a train. I felt the wind rush behind it, the silhouette of a soul was barely readable. That wasn’t normal. “Juno, dude. Why is that so fast?”

Eleven didn’t move. I was a bit nervous, so I tugged them a little bit closer to just feel their warmth. Thank stars they’re alive. “Okay. So, what the hell?” I laughed at them. It was the way they said it, like it wasn’t even a question.

“We should split up.” I said immediately. This was probably a problem for Tri:Power. This was DEFINITELY a problem for us. “Atlas and I will head east, you head south.” I was already running and dragging Atlas along.

I didn’t hear Eleven’s swears as they struggled to find where south was. It was weird. It was like I knew north, south, east and west by heart. Just directions we yell to each other, and we’ve figured out positioning and direction. Atlas was already Soul now, gently taking my transformed shoulders.

“Okay, dude! What was that?!” Soul was restraining his laughter. It was kinda funny. I couldn’t help myself from doubling over. We were like hyenas. *, that must be hilarious. Imagine a car drives you by way too fast and your first instinct was to cuss them out. “Alright, in all seriousness we should probably lock in.”

“Hopefully Mind knows what’s up.” I muttered under my breath. I adjusted the glove, fingers stretching into the fabric. “Do you think she knows who it is? It seems like something she would know. She knows everything.”

Soul felt uncomfortable. I could tell in the way he crossed his arms a little bit. Okay, maybe I shouldn’t speak so highly of Mind. It was a bit awkward considering she just stormed out on us.

Soul quietly sighed, pulling his act together quite well. “If we want to get a good look, then we need to see for ourselves.” He was already walking away without me.

“And we’re leaving without me, thank you so much, Soul, I absolutely love the fact that you’re being a loser about it.” I rolled my eyes and followed him through the buildings. His silhouette only got weaker until it flickered then disappeared in the distance. I couldn’t help but resent him just a little bit.

I shouldn’t think, I just need to do. But it was such a harmful thing to do without thought. It would be running round like a chicken, I’m no Darrell. I was still trying to follow him, time moving much faster than I had anticipated. Maybe Soul was just fast, and I was slow.

I was always slow, slow in learning, slow in walking, slow in understanding, slow in seeing, slow in knowing, slow, slow, slow. You only reap what you sow, and when I’m slow, I don’t think I sowed anything. Sow? Sew? Sewed? I don’t care. Words are hard, probably why I can’t read. At least not anymore. I remember having to wear headphones before I went blind. I remember wearing gloves too when it got bad. Hm.

I still think about that accident with Apollo. I know she didn’t mean to, and she had her own little scare from it. Now, this blindness has covered most my world in frosted glass. I remember giving a bit of the financial compensation to a friend. I don’t remember which friend, but it was probably Atlas.

Now both were fighting something and saving people while I stayed here being the slow kid again. I ran after them, collecting my sorrows and pushing them deep inside. No one would want to know about how I feel. Positivity is the best, isn’t it? Let me be positive.

The world tried its best to catch up with the speed of everything happening around me, seemingly narrowing on one thing. Mind looked furious still, refusing to talk to Atlas and just focusing on getting it done.

I can’t stop thinking about Eleven. What sort of danger might they be in? I swallowed that lump in my throat while trying to catch a ride on the car that is speeding against the laws of physics. I failed miserably. Nothing can go that fast, NOTHING.

I watched the two argue once more, just slinging insults at one another. My heart pounded against my ribcage, prisoner to the hurt happening inside. I felt it and I understood both sides. I hated seeing them fight like this.

“You never listen to me when I tell you to stop!” “NO ONE IS PERFECT! I AM JUST SAYING YOU’RE GREAT!” “Great is just like good.” “YOU LITERALLY SAID ONLY ‘GOOD’, MIND!? I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN!” It got on my nerves. I wanted to stop them in their tracks before they run themselves a marathon. “You know you always put me up on a pedestal, and I hate it!” “Well, it’s easy to win first place when your opponent is me!” “There we go with the self-deprecation.” “What do you mean?! You think it’s a manipulation tactic or something?!” “It’s always a manipulation tactic.” “NO, IT’S NOT?!”

I’ve had enough of this.

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #47 | “LET'S GO DOUBLE THE SPEED THEN”

“WILL YOU TWO EVER SHUT UP!?” Heart yelled at the top of his lungs, scaring Mind and keeping us from thrashing into each other more. God, I was ticked off. Everything forbade that I compliment someone. “Come on! Sure, it wasn’t cool of Soul to accidentally trigger your trauma, but it also isn’t cool that you categorize the hatred for himself as manipulation. Same with you, Soul. It wasn’t cool, I know you were trying to compliment her, but just say pretty or some bull men say, don’t bring up something her parents call her. Right now, we need to FOCUS. Eleven is out there with literally NO way to defend themself.”

Heart put a hand on Mind and my shoulder. We were then squished together like a cartoon when they want them to be friends. I gently took her hand in mine. She smiled, just a little bit, turning her blue tinted frown into something that I knew by heart. Just an itty-bitty smile. “Alright.” Mind started, moving out from Heart’s grasp and now taking my shoulders from behind. “They’re fast, we’re not. We need something cunning, something quick, something that can survey quickly.”

Okay WOW. That was such a pretty voice in my ear. She was also pretty close. I swear to god, was she manipulating me? Why am I so scared about that? I know she isn’t. Maybe. “Hermes?” I quietly squeaked, she turned and tilted my head to her, just to see the waves fall and the gleam in my eye. I think I was a bit too quiet. I also saw Heart flush. He hid his face behind his hands.

“Sorry, hon, what was that?” She pleaded for more volume, as I was a mere cat’s purr compared to the speaker I usually was. “Repeat that?” Was this a manipulation tactic? I need to stop thinking so little of her when she could just be accidentally doing this.

“Hermes.” I said a little bit louder. She seemed pleased and dropped my chin. “We could use Hermes, the god of thievery and travel.” Heart waited patiently for me to explain more, but honestly, my mind was already heading to the girl that was behind. Heart smacked her hand and Mind retreated. “We could get Eleven?”

“Eleven? I thought you were going to say Red.” Heart chirped, twirling the bow between his fingers. Eventually it did rest against his side. I was already starting to make whatever. I don’t really think when I start making these things, it just happens. The earrings laid in my palm as Mind and Heart blessed them. It was weird.

“They’re in danger. I gotta help.” I was already fumbling with the jewelry; it was getting harder to even contain this feeling inside of me. It ate at my bones and was suffering from whiplash. One second, she was upset, now, she was loving on me. So weird. “‘Kay, bye guys! Don’t die!”

I heard a collective of a promise, hopefully they don’t die, but it was likely. I’M KIDDING, BY THE WAY. I don’t think they will, but Eleven might if I don’t hurry up. I need to run off, gotta find Eleven. I don’t know where they are, where is Eleven?

I searched across the speeding streets, unblinking to any car that passes me by. The headlights would never scare me, same with any light that is shining. Just like the sun. I can’t be scared, not when someone’s in danger.

“Soul!?” Eleven’s voice called, from one end. They started running. That was the stupidest thing someone could do. Just running right for me? “Hey! Do you know what’s happening?”

I leapt for Eleven, pulling them off the death space that is the road. “Hey! Uh! There’s something I gotta tell you, ‘kay?” I held them to my chest, watching their breathing slow down like they were conserving air. I was already leading them to the alley.

“Yeah. Sure, what’s up?” They spoke breathlessly, pulling away from me. The earrings sparkled in their eye as I presented them. It was a pretty teal, unable to be camouflaged until the wearer was selected. The selected person was just as stunned as I was. “Woah, okay, what’s that?”

“This, my friend Eleven, is the blessing of Hermes, one of the many areas of knowledge in the Whole. You know who Hermes is, right? Messenger god? God of transportation and thievery? Well, yeah, you’re that. Remember to use this for the power of good and to return it to me after the mission, alright, Eleven? Can I trust you?” I looked to check if we were alright to go. “C’mon, time is moving, and it’ll move without us.”

“You can trust me any time.” They clipped on the earrings. The silver dangled from the cuff of his ear, very couture. They looked to me for a moment, raising an eyebrow. “I uh… how do I transform?”

“Just kinda believe.” I shrugged, but I watched the teal flash over and a new hero take their place. They stretched and felt the bones more fragile and lightweighted. They were a bit shocked at the flittery bits. There was about half a skirt at their hip, and they were already doing the skirt go spinny. Jeez, people, ammirite? “Do you have a name?”

“I think I want to be… uh…” They glanced at their gloves for a moment, then felt at the replacement of a mask covering their face. It looked like a wing in a way. “Double-Time?” HA! I love that! Yeah! I think I’ll like them.

“Hell yeah, mate. Sick.” I looked them over again, watching as Double-Time fixed their hair and adjusted their earrings. “You look awesome, don’t worry about anything.” They smiled; it went from ear to ear.

“Weird as hell, if I can say that.” They checked themselves over, trying to cover up just a little bit. “I uh… It says a lot about me.”

That’s what I noticed about these suits. It speaks more about you that you can’t even know. No one knew Mind was trans until she pulled up in her super suit, and I didn’t know she was cute until she was… cute. I guess. Eleven stared at me with a look in their eyes, just a bit nervous in it all. I knew why. I was also nervous.

I held the shaking hands in mine, letting them catch my eye covered by the mask. “It’s going to be okay, Double-Time. It will take 20 minutes maximum. You need to focus, okay? Speed is your strong suit after all.”

“Let’s go.” Double-Time was gone in a puff of smoke like the cartoons. I couldn’t believe my eyes for one second. I was stunned, it was crazy. I couldn’t even digest what had happened. I started running north, even though I was 98% sure they were already halfway in beating it. It was vile how quickly they worked.

“Y’know,” Heart’s voice said from the distance, drawing the string back on his bow to possibly contain the enemy. “everything we do could be documented.”

“That’s what’s happening, dummy!” Double-Time laughed, trying to manhandle the driver. “Haven’t you seen the news?”

Oh. Then that means they’ve heard us arguing… and the way she held me. You know what?! I’ll focus on that later! There’s a villain right now, and we gotta get ‘em out and I gotta make sure I steal the earrings back and all’s well that ends well! I hopped over, watching as they were… already purified.

What do you mean. They didn’t need me?! Not at all!? This is weird as hell! And they just did it. HUGOUJH? HOW. AND I WAS RECEIVING THE EARRINGS? HOW? ALREADY? THEY THANKED ME AND LEFT? HOW? AND I WAS DETRANSFORMED? HOW?

AND I was… in my room… how? I was looking at the metal… how? I was in shorts… how? I was in a tank… how? I was stinging… how? My phone buzzed, and I answered it. I saw the lines on my arms. “Atlas? You left suddenly. Look, I’m sorry. I was angry at you, and I wanted you to know how I felt, but I shouldn’t have done that.” I didn’t answer. I just stared at the boxes and lines and wet drawings on my arms. “You aren’t answering. Are you still mad at me?”

I couldn’t be mad at her. I was in the wrong anyhow. I stared at the hands of a killer, which shook against the phone I held. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to say anything anymore. Words were such a bore to me now.

She didn’t say anything for a little bit. “You’re still mad at me, aren’t you?” I didn’t respond to her as more drawings were found on my thighs. It wasn’t a manipulation tactic; I don’t want to manipulate her. I don’t want to hurt her. I want her to be happy and confident, is that too much to have? “I’m heading over. Don’t move.”

She didn’t hang up. I heard the phone, not hanging up either. Now I wasn’t in shorts or a tank, just the jeans and sweater I wore earlier today. It was warm and red. I think. I heard her on the other end starting up her car. No way. She was raging at the road, slamming her fist into the horn, yelling into rolled up windows, the entire ordeal.

She took one look at me and frowned. “Atlas. Why are you on the floor?” She helped me up, letting me rest against her for a moment. “Look. I didn’t mean to do anything harmful. You must realize that.”

I didn’t move. I don’t really want to move; it hurts my thighs and arms a lot. I also don’t want to say anything. She held me a bit tighter, breathing in the wavy hair. “I love you a lot, Atlas. You just need to tell me these things before they happen. I hate knowing I could have prevented it.”

She set me down letting me look to my fiddling fingers and bitten nails. She also had bitten nails, much less visible in mine, though. Her nail polish was a little bit chipped. I hadn’t worn nail polish in a bit. “Atlas. Will you talk to me?”

She didn’t touch me anymore than helping me up just a minute ago. She tried her best to keep her anxiety in, but I could see it in the way her shoulders tensed a little bit that she couldn’t take it for long. “You know, it’s okay. It didn’t matter in the first place. I’m no longer a Daybreak, anyhow.”

I felt a cardigan wrap around my shoulders and the girl sat next to me in the lightweight shirt. It was cute. The cuffs on her wrists were adorned with a… a uh… a button, I think. “It’s been a lot on me. You know? I just don’t want to be associated with that. But I do need to learn that not all praise is because of my family name.”

I nodded, the first coherent thought I had this hour. “I’m sorry.” I whispered amidst the confusion I had. It was a lot to take in. “It’s my fault. You are worth a lot more than how you are to me.”

“Yeah.” She tugged on her sleeves a bit. I took her hand in mine. “Atlas, please.” She stopped my hand on her wrist. “I-I need to talk to you first.” She took a deep breath. “Y-You know that it’s a common experience for us to go through this and I- I just-” What? Gender dysphoria maybe? “You don’t know. It’s hard.”

“I know. I know how difficult it is.” I held her wrist, keeping her from pulling too far away. I can’t just stand by like this. “What matters is that we overcome it, whatever the reason is.”

She didn’t say anything else, just stared blankly at my hand and bitten nails, then to my cracked lips, it was split. She gently wiped a bit of the blood away and struggled a smile for me. It was weird seeing her smile like that. “Yeah… I uhm.” She took a deep breath. “I need to tell you something, Atlas. And you need to promise me you won’t tell anyone else, not even Juno.”

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #48 | ME TOO

He looked at the lines, then back to me, then the lines again. He didn’t say anything, just stared at the lines. “Did you clean them after doing it?” No. I didn’t. I shook my head. That’s probably why it was so messy. “You gotta clean them up.” Atlas moved to look for anything in his nightstand, eventually pulling out a box of tissues. He gently dabbed the stinging on my arms. “They hurt more if they aren’t cleaned. Run it under water then dab it with a paper towel if it happens again.”

I nodded as he felt at my pulse. It thumped under his fingers and only seemed to increase with my panic. I hated this. I looked at him, though and everything made sense. Maybe just for a second. I knew he knew. He knew I knew. I pulled him into a hug, resting my head on his shoulder. He deserved the world.

“Thank you, Atlas.” I whispered. He didn’t trace his fingers over them, he didn’t make a big deal, but he did know what he was doing. “It’s a lot.”

“How long have you been doing this?” He asked politely. He didn’t budge in more than he needed to, hell I didn’t even know if it was directed towards me or the air in the room. “You don’t have to tell me if you aren’t ready.”

“A while. Two years give or take? It was on and off, but now it’s just… on for 5 months.” I hated admitting that, but it felt natural. As natural as it should have been. I’ve been trying to grip at the control until it slipped me by, and I could no longer even consider not. It was hard. I didn’t even write about it.

“Me too.”

Last edited by -tallyinghalls- (Aug. 15, 2026 19:34:26)

-tallyinghalls-

CHAPTER #49 | X

Hey, guys. I just wanna let you know that this is fiction. In this, these people are completely unrelated. I also want to let you know that aside from HMS, ever character in the CJ universe is fanon, as many people tend to forget that. Remember to not harass others for their headcanons or for how characters would interact, and if you ever feel uncomfortable, tell me, and I'll see what I can do. ‘Kay? And even then, HMS are only concepts of the Heart, Mind and Soul. They only have canon personalities, actions and feelings. Nothing about their designs are canon unless said by Mr. CJ himself. Also remember it’s a heavily inspired fiction.

“Nah, mate, this is how you do it.” I heard Xavier say, and another man laughed. It was cute having them here for band practice. Green awkwardly held the sticks in his hand and was failing miserably. Fortunately, Xavier played drums. “See, this is why you’re more of a guitar person, right?”

“It gets confusing.” Green whispered. He set the drumsticks on the snare, sighing quietly. Right. Because his hand was gone, it was replaced with a prosthetic, he couldn’t do the proper fingers on a guitar. He would have to learn it all over again, which sounds like hell.

“I know. I’ll try to find you something, ‘kay?” Xavier encouraged. My cheeks flushed a little bit. Curse Heart’s magic, curse the total empathy. Xavier’s voice laughed and I felt Green’s heart clench at the ribcage, crashes connecting with the calcium containment. I felt eyes on me. “Juno, are you alright? You look a little red there.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just thinking about something else.” I covered. I hate Heart’s magic so much. I hate that it affects my civilian life. I don’t hate how I can see the silhouettes of things, but I hate the biological and hormonal effects. Sometimes, it just happens, and I can’t stop myself from feeling flustered or funky.

“Alright.” I heard Xavier’s smile. I liked it when he smiled. I know Green did too. They always tried to get each other to smile, Green was always a little harder to crack but Xavier cracked as easy as an egg. He loved to smile, he had since he was a little boy. I know this because I was in his class in first grade. He was always so friendly and popular. When I was blinded, he was the first one to ask if I was okay and helped me to the nurse’s office.

Xavier was someone, alright. He loved kindness as much as he loved video games. He also had a pretty big magical girl hyperfixation when he was younger. I remember listening to him talk about Madoka Magica and Precure. I don’t remember much about Madoka, but I watched Glitter Force when I was 9. He then told me it was Smile Precure. I liked that about him. He was up to correct people, but he never spoke too loud about it, just calmly reminded you.

I guess Green needed that. I remember him always sitting in the back of the class, his pen scratched in a notebook every single minute of the day. Even the times where we were watching a documentary, he would just write in a notebook. I never got to see what was in the notebook. He said it was something for him, and that he never had any notes for school.

I barely heard him call ‘here’ when teachers called role. They would talk to him after class, and I would have to catch up with my other friends. I wondered what happened in those conversations. I thought, just once, I could be a good friend and be there for him, but he pushed me away. I remember it like the texture of my hoodie, I can replicate it exactly.

I remember walking up to him during lunch, where he sat alone, in the corner near the window. He didn’t speak to me for a moment, and I thought I was doing good. I asked him if everything was okay, if he was struggling in any way. I guess he wasn’t ready for the conversation, just pushed me away further than Odysseus’ journey. He told me to shut up, and that I should mind my own business and leave him alone. It hurt, but I see why.

I don’t see how Green and Xavier clicked like they did. Green pushed people away while Xavier held them close. Opposites attract, they say. As they both absorbed the Saturday afternoon light, laughing and carrying on with each other. They deserved each other. They look happy, or at least as happy as Green can be.

Green even showed Xavier that notebook a month ago. Xavier hugged him tightly and whispered to him. I couldn’t make out the whispers, but it seemed important at the time. Green whispered back to him, and they were just kinda inseparable the rest of that day. I didn’t see Green for two days after that, but when he came back, he went right to Xavier again and showed him that notebook again.

I think they’re meant for each other. Xavier sits at Green’s little corner and shares his food with him, because Green doesn’t bring anything. Xavier never asked why, he just brought an extra serving so Green wasn’t alone during lunch. I like that.

The world was too big for someone like Green, where everything felt way too loud, and nothing was clear over everything. But Xavier was loud, yes, he spoke at a louder volume, but he was also loud with his actions. He liked being the kind of guy that you would take out for dinner, only to find the money for your meal sent to you the next morning. Green was too. Just quiet, I think. Quiet and scared of what might happen when he finally pulls the pin and lets the emotions burst. I think Xavier’s aware of that.

“Juno?” I heard Green’s voice call, quiet as a mouse. “Do you know where the others are?”

“Oh! Yeah! Rose is with Mori, they’re shopping, Atlas is taking Apollo to get her first dose of estrogen, I think Red is doing an art project with Blue, tutored by Mr. Mystical, Day slept in, Icarus is getting a tattoo, Eleven is hurdling, Charlie’s getting a photoshoot done, and uh… I think that’s it.” I knew everyone. It was weird to admit that. I just was expected to know what everyone was up to, and I did. I know a lot, actually. A lot more than what meets the eye, I would like to think.

“Oh. See? Yeah, they aren’t dead, Green.” Xavier soothed, laughing brighter than the spotlight he was always in when he was younger. Now he was just a weird kid that dressed weird. I liked how he dressed. It was a transition goal of mine. “You gotta stop worrying so much. Hell, they’re doing what they love, and I’m sure they couldn’t change the appointment to get that estrogen or that tattoo or get tutored, uh… it’s just a busy Saturday, mate.”

“Yeah, Yeah. I know, I just freaked out a bit. I didn’t know.” Green held Xavier’s hand, and I felt the room warm a bit. Green never liked physical touch, he often kept to himself and panicked when someone tried to touch him. I guess it was different with Xavier. Everything was different with Xavier.

“You wanna try flute?” Xavier suggested, holding up the metallic instrument and letting Green feel it up a bit. “I dunno how to play flute, but we can ask Mori.” Green didn’t say anything, but I heard the pathetic attempt of someone trying to play the flute. I guess Green might have wanted to try. “Yeah, we’re gonna have to get Mori.”

“I’m so bad at this!” Green chuckled warmly. He was laughing in Xavier’s arms; I call it a win. It was weird. If anything, I would have expected Green to tell Xavier he was Null, but I don’t think Xavier knows.

Does Xavier know Green is Null? I guess I would need a reason for them to know their identities. Wait. I have an idea. Could I tune into someone? Just anyone who feels like they have reached a dead end, that nothing matters? I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and dropping my head.

Who was that? I knew it was someone. A girl(?) trying their best to keep the act together. It killed me. I slipped out of the room while hearing Green and Xavier talk with each other. I don’t think they noticed my departure. Shortly after, I came through Green’s window, smiling warmly through the glass and knocking on it.

“Heart? What are you doing here?” Green, my lovely Green, was already on full alert. Xavier was starstruck, I noticed it in the way his stance changed a bit. “Is something wrong? Do we need to evacuate?”

“Actually, I need you two.” I remember making a jewel with Mind and Soul one day, it hadn’t been used in the mall. I handed the brooch to Xavier and the belt chain to Green. “Xavier, this is the blessing of Apollo, not your friend, but the Greek god Apollo, one of the various areas of knowledge in The Whole. Apollo is the expression and light of the world. Right now, someone is in danger of a dampened soul, and I need you and Null to help me. Can I trust you to use this for the greater good, and to give it back to me when you’re done?”

I saw Xavier pause for a moment, looking to Green with wider eyes than usual. “I knew.” YEP! I knew Green told Xavier. I can trust Xavier though. Hell, it’s why I’m giving him a blessing. “Thank you, Heart. Tell us where and we’ll go.”

Xavier and Green transformed as per usual. I saw Null immediately pull the newbie in for a hug, nuzzling into his hair. “You look so pretty!” He reminded me of Madoka except for a slightly more adult appearance. At least from his silhouette I can see that. “This is everything!”

“You two really like each other.” I whispered, climbing out the window before throwing one last thing over my shoulder. “I like that. And you better keep up with me, newbie.” We were off into the distance, where I felt the repression of someone, whoever it was, we would help! I like that. It’s going to be okay!

It was on the other side of town in an apartment. Someone laid on their bed, trying to sink into the mattress. The newbie hopped in, tilting his head slightly. “Cath?” He spoke. Did he know them? “Hey, Cath, it’s me! Uh… X. Yeah. I’m X.” Of course. “Are you alright.”

Cath (I think that’s their name) looked to us with a weak smile. “Yeah. I think I’m fine.” They huddled into themself, pulling their shoulders deeper and pressing their head in their knees. “Just a bit down. I don’t think I’m accepted.”

“Awh, that’s hell, innit?” X crouched by the bed and took Cath’s hand in his. The two remained like that for a moment. “You know, I was like that too. I was never accepted, until I decided their opinions never mattered, mate. Think of it like a video game. You’re player one, bud, have some fun.”

Null pressed his head in his hands and refrained from laughing. I would have laughed too if the closest boy I’m with starts telling other people they’re only playing a video game, but then again, Cath seemed happier. Null collected himself. “Clarity comes when identity is fixed. Your identity is a cyclone of hell, but when you figure it out, it becomes better. Don’t repress yourself.”

“It only causes problems in the future.” I finished, holding out my arms. The person basically tackled me down, then X came to snuggle, then, very, very reluctantly, Null. “What matters is that we keep moving forward, and that we stay positive. It’s what all of us in Tri:Power would do, not just me.”

That was simpler than I thought. We were back at my home; blessings were retrieved, and Heart hopped off and Juno took his place. I then sat down with the alibi in my hand that I couldn’t be Heart. I set the boxed cookies from my bag and onto Green’s table. He eyed it for a moment before taking a bite with Xavier’s encouragement.

They really are a neat duo.

Last edited by -tallyinghalls- (Aug. 17, 2026 00:32:09)

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