Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Fenris is our destiny..."

"...two sides...light and the darkness..."

"We belong together..."

"...always in conflict...

"Andy is one of the terrorists..."

"...know each other's strength..."

"I know things...about us, about Fenris..."

"It's like he's probing my mind...searching for weaknesses..."

"...embrace your opposing forces..."

"...trying to warn me...the darkness in our family..."

"...be whole..."

"No you don't understand!"

Lauren opened her eyes to a red-tinted sky. Ashes fell around her, and she breathed them in, unable to distinguish whether they were of wood or flesh.

She was lying on her back. She turned her head to the side and faintly registered the flames surrounding her. Lauren lay in a patch of sweet, green grass, lining her body amongst the charred earth that spread in every direction. Her limbs felt heavy, as she sat up to survey the destruction.

The world was burning, and she was too numb to feel anything when she saw her brother in the midst of it.

He and the others fit in so well, black clothing and hellish laughter accented by the walls of fire on all sides of them.

When did Lauren get so close?

She looked down; she hadn't moved. She still sat in the middle of her grass. Her outfit, too, she realized, fit in with her own small world: soft pants and her favorite jacket, colored white. Her shirt was white, as well, and Lauren's eyes were drawn to the only splash of real color on her being.

A locket, adorning her neck and chest with Fenris gold.

She raised a hand to grasp it, but paused. An unknown forced compelled her to look up again.

The Inner Circle danced around her now, faces clear, and Lauren glanced at them all before resting her eyes on her brother. He stood still, in front of her, a pillar within chaos. He held his hand out to her, as if to help her stand, and she looked down at her own, still in the air.

"We're the only ones who understand each other..."

She found herself reaching for him, momentarily forgetting the others, the flames, the ashes. Her fingers were just about to graze his when the hem of her sleeve suddenly darkened into black. She paused, again, and looked down at her grass.

In her arm's journey, she had breached the edge of her small sanctuary -for that's what it was, a sanctuary- and she knew she had a choice to make. Take her brother's hand, and let him pull her into the flames, or reside here in the grass, to help it grow.

Lauren looked into her brother's black eyes, and slowly took her hand back. He frowned, and she saw his fingers twitch. She knew he didn't know what to do, for he had never been the one to approach her; he merely waited for her to go to him, to beg, to plead, as she always had before.

No more.

"...we can do anything we want here..."

Lauren stood on her own, and her brother stepped back, completing the circle of terrorists that now surrounded her. She turned slowly, meeting the eyes of every person that stared back at her, putting names to their faces: Lorna, Esme, Fade, Pheobe, Bulk, Sophie, the White Queen... Andy.

Her brother's name is Andy.

She couldn't read his expression, but she knew his heart, and its beats echoed in her blood, flowing throughout her entire being. She raised her hand again, and his eyes followed the path it took to where the locket rested, next to her own heart.

For this moment, it was her own, though his seemed to be trying to overthrow her veins.

Her fingers closed around the locket in a gentle grip, and the smallest wave of power entered her, meeting Andy's presence and pushing it away.

Her brother's eyes fluttered, and Lauren knew by the brief flash of Fenris that appeared in them that he had felt it, too.

She watched them take a step closer to her as one, and felt rather than saw her sanctuary expand. She felt her brother's heart jump when he and the others were forced back, and then she was lifting her arms and her shields were aiding her defense -for that's what this was, self-defense- and she felt his denial when he and his new family were driven away.

The numbness was gone, and as her sanctuary grew to cover new ground, Lauren felt free.

Chapter Text

Lauren opened her eyes to a dark, wooden ceiling and the misshapen hole where her ceiling fan used to be. She grimaced, but it was a relief not to see it engulfed in flames.

Her dream came back to her, slowly, and Lauren pondered the fact that her brother was there, but he wasn't there. It wasn't...comfortable, she decided. In fact, now that she was awake, she was already beginning to feel the strange hollow feeling in her chest where half of her heart should be.

Half of her....

Lauren sat up, abruptly, eyes wide. Her dream, her mind, and her heart had been completely hers. She had been stronger for it; strong enough to resist Fenris and the power it grants Andy to pull her to him.

But Fenris gave her power, too.

She raised her arm across her chest in an echo of her shield. Protect.

She slanted it, and felt the promise of her weapon to wield. Attack.

Lauren lowered her arm, and she could almost see the particles spreading throughout her room, creating a sense of safety that made her sigh in content.

She got out of bed and made her way to her window. She opened it, and a strong breeze flew past her. When she held her hand out, Lauren could feel the air moving; even without her power, she treasured the feeling of manipulating the wind with the small, simple movements of her hand.

She thought about her dream again, and among the memories of dancing demons and her brother's flames, she pictured the locket that set her soul free.

Fenris, she mused, but not Fenris. The Wolf did hide in the gleaming jewelry, but it didn't overcome her like the full force always does...

When she was nine years old, her parents bought her and Andy their first bikes. The bikes came with helmets, of course, and there were training wheels attached. Andy, despite being two years younger, stubbornly refused them, but Lauren jumped at the opportunity to avoid more scrapes and bruises.

By the time both siblings had mastered the act, Lauren was proudly uninjured, and Andy was checkered in cartoon band-aids and purple skin.

The locket was like a set of training wheels: a small semblance of power that held Andy at arm's length, giving her the chance to master her light force as Andy did his darkness-alone.

Lauren pulled her hand back into the room and slowly closed her window. She made her way out of the room and towards the kitchen table, where her parents and the others sat. Glancing at her father, Lauren knew she had to stop taking his medicine.

...Right after she found the right necklace, for she already had an inkling of the source of Fenris that it would hold.

"A piece of my sister and a piece of myself, intertwined to become one..."

Supressing that part of herself wasn't controlling it; it only allowed her power to control her.

If she wanted to tend to her sanctuary, she had to build it first: a new base, a new home, a haven for all that needs it.

She could protect and she could attack, but it takes a lot more than raw power to defend.

Oooo

Lauren didn't often think about her old life. Everything important to her -boys and parties and popularity- seemed so irrelevant now. None of it felt real. As far as she was concerned, her life only truly began that night in the school gym.

Now though, standing in front of the local mall, surrounded by carefree, oblivious teenagers, she was forced to remember. She had to take a moment to regain the muscle memory required to walk and smile at the same time, to wink at cute boys and give tiny waves when other girls smiled at her.

Fifteen minutes in and she was already exhausted.

She nearly cried in relief when she saw the sign for a nearby jewelry store.

Walking in, Lauren sent a quick smile to the woman at the counter before browsing the glass cases. She scanned the necklaces until she found a row of lockets displayed in the corner of the store.

The woman walked over to her and gently asked the standard question: did she see anything she liked?

Lauren surveyed them and pointed to a silver-white locket that stood out among the gold-plated and pure white sheens of the others. The chain looked a little thin, but Lauren was sure she wouldn't be so completely careless as to damage something that would become so important to her.

As the woman picked it up and held it out to give her a closer look, Lauren fell in love with the subtle intricacy of the swirling engravings that edged the necklace, itself; it reminded her of free-flowing air.

She thought if she wore it, she could feel free, too.

The locket wasn't cheap, but Lauren had swiped a healthy amount of cash from a local ATM with one of her father's tweaked credit cards. With a grey hoodie and her hair hidden in a tight bun under a cap, any camera that picked up on her actions would hardly be able to send out an accurate APB; as for the machine's security cam, Lauren took a bit of pride in how she managed to locate and avoid the small device.

Being a criminal probably shouldn't have been that fun, she thought to herself. Oh, well. She was already a wanted mass murderer, may as well add thief to the list.

Lauren kept one hand in her hoodie pocket the entire way home, carefully fiddling with the secret to her salvation.

Once back at the apartments, she barely paid any attention to the familiarly empty atmosphere, knowing her parents were busy at the clinic by then.

Upon entering her room, she closed and locked the door and turned to the music box on her dresser. The temptation to listen to the song was strong, but Lauren forced herself not to pay it any mind. She quickly dug around for the quirky heirloom Andreas had left, pulling it out and almost slamming the box closed. Lauren shut her eyes and took a moment to stroke the smooth wood before trailing her fingers across it and walking away.

Lauren sat on her bed and opened her new locket, taking a deep breath as her great-grandfather's words echoed in her head once again.

Only when you know each other's strengths and embrace your opposing forces, will you be whole.

"Okay, Andy," she whispered, carefully placing the entwined hair strands into the necklace. "Let's see how strong I can get."

The locket closed with a small click. Lauren walked over to her mirror, staring at her reflection for a moment before slowly raising the necklace and clasping it around her neck. She imagined the golden gleam that encased her brother's eyes in her dream and smiled.

Let's get to work.

Chapter Text

This wasn’t what she meant.

Lauren wasn’t sure who decided that her mother - who took one course on treating mutants, years ago - was qualified enough to run a clinic catered to them, but she certainly wasn’t going to object. Having real patients to look after kept her from monitoring Lauren too closely, though she had to work hard to shake her after the first few days of taking her dad’s medicine. She doesn’t remember much from the first extreme reaction. It was almost like having the flu when she was twelve: blurry figures talking over her, a sweat-dampened pillow adding to her discomfort, and fever dreams that she couldn’t recall when she came back to herself. It wasn’t fun, but she thought it was the only way to get some sleep.

Well, that, and she didn’t want to disappoint her dad any further. She knew it hurt both of her parents to find that note, but she was sure it would have affected him more; he had been against her building her power from the start, afraid of what it would do to her and Andy, of what they could become. Her success in joining the Inner Circle would have been his worst nightmare come to life: the Von Strucker siblings, Fenris reborn. It would have been over. She would have trained with Andy and used their combined power to completely turn the tide. Reeva Payge would win, and the Underground would lose. Mankind would lose.

It was easier to think now that her mind was clear, and it was all she could do as she took inventory for the clinic. As much as she wanted to pin all of the blame on her brother, she knew it was ultimately her choice to abandon her original plan to run away and start running to him instead. She had attacked that police car, and she had probably made things worse for that poor family instead of helping them. The shame was hard to ignore, but it also made for good motivation to think about her next steps. Lauren felt better, stronger, with her new locket resting underneath her shirt, but it felt wasted with the Underground.

Her thoughts were running in circles. She huffed and focused on her task, noting that they were running low on antibiotics and gauze.

Once Lauren was finished, she dutifully turned her report into the front desk, knowing her mom was busy with a patient. She lingered in the lobby, taking a lollipop from the little cup by the sign-in sheets and trying in vain to settle her thoughts.

A commotion by the doors stole her attention, though, and she sighed, preparing to enter nurse-mode. One look at the group of three teens that stumbled into the clinic, however, served to make her lose her composure. The wounded brunette that looked no older than Andy was barely conscious, leaning heavily on her companions who each had one of her arms slung over their shoulders. One was a blond boy whose familiarity nagged at Lauren, but it was the identity of the other boy, taller and dirtier than she’d ever seen him before, that shocked her into speaking.

“Wes?”

****

Purifiers had attacked them during a routine supply mission.

Well, mission was a bit of a stretch. Wes and his friends - Skyler and Naya, two kids that Lauren remembered fighting beside during the attack on the Atlanta Underground base - were dressed down for a trip to a grocery store to stock up on food and basic hygiene supplies for themselves and the people they lived with. They had been on the lookout for cops and Purifiers, but they must have been a little too on guard. The store clerk that went up to them originally thought they were there to steal something.

“She told us to drop everything and leave,” Wes explained with a scoff, “We tried to explain that we had money and weren’t planning to leave without paying, but she wasn’t in the mood to listen. She called Security over to the register: a real musclehead who kept one hand on his baton.”

“He was a brute,” Naya interjected, wincing as a volunteer shone a penlight into her eyes to check her pupil dilation. “He grabbed Skyler and tried to drag him to the door. He wouldn’t let go, even when other people in the store started to wander over. I tried to pull his hand off, and he shoved me into a pillar. I knocked my head against it, hard; my ears were ringing and things got pretty blurry for me.”

“Skyler got really angry when she hit the floor,” Wes continued, reaching out to pat the younger boy’s shoulder when he looked down in slight embarrassment, “He held up his other hand and let out a big burst of repulsion. The jackass went flying.”

Lauren grinned at the mental image, feeling a small pang in her chest at the memory of her brother sending people through the air in a similar manner. She urged Wes to continue the story, not wanting to get lost in her head again.

“The other people in the store went crazy. They started running away and screaming that mutants were attacking. We helped Naya up and ran out the front doors, but the guy started to chase us. We made it about a block away before some Purifiers saw us and then things got really bad,” Wes sighed, bringing a hand up to rub at his temple. “We managed to duck behind a dumpster in an alley, and I put up a quick illusion to hide us while everyone ran past us. We stayed there for like half an hour until the area cleared and we were able to get further away.”

“I remembered that John and Marcos had mentioned an Underground clinic around here before the Baltimore station got raided,” Skyler explained, glancing up and shyly meeting Lauren’s eyes before looking over at Naya. The brunette gave him a quick reassuring smile while the volunteer examined the bump on her head.

Lauren’s joyous mood faltered at the memory of Marcos’s grief over Shatter, and she felt familiar helplessness seep in at the realization that Skyler must have been displaced yet again.

“Where are you guys staying now?” She asked them, mentally going through the shortlist of M.U. stations that were still standing.

“We have our own place a little way into the city,” Naya said, carefully climbing off the examination bed and stretching her arms over her head. “It’s not an Underground spot, but there are some other kids there that we’ve stuck with. We really should get back there soon.” Her last sentence was aimed toward Wes and Skyler, who both nodded and stood up from the uncomfortable chairs for non-patients.

“You have your own hideout?” Lauren asked with an unmistakable yearning that Wes picked up on. He looked a little closer at her, eyes lingering on the still-pronounced eyebags she undoubtedly sported. Lauren fidgeted in place, flushing slightly at the reminder that she didn’t look as put-together as she did all those months ago.

“Yeah,” he answered, not commenting on her worn-down expressions. “Where have you been staying?”

Lauren sighed, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. “My family and most of the Underground are renting space in an apartment complex nearby. We’ve been here ever since Atlanta’s collapse, taking in mutants and trying to keep them...safe.” She hesitated before finishing her explanation, recalling how badly they’ve failed at that.

“The clinic is nice,” Naya commented, “It’s good that there’s a place where mutants can get indiscriminate help.”

Lauren nodded, eyeing the unsteady shifting of the other girl’s stance. Naya waved off her obvious concern, thanking the volunteer for checking her over. She stepped up to stand next to Skyler, who suddenly perked up with a questioning gaze.

"Hey, where is Andy?" He asked. "I didn't see him around."

Lauren stiffened, unease twisting in her gut she remembered how often Andy has hung out with Skyler and Naya back in Atlanta. Of course, they would want to know where he is.

“Oh, right. Andy, he…” She trailed off, wringing her hands together uncertainly.

She didn’t know what expression she was making, but her heart dropped like a stone straight to her stomach when the younger boy’s eyes dimmed.

“Is he…?” He asked, quietly, voice breaking slightly.

Lauren shook her head quickly, raising a hand to her necklace.

“He’s alive!” She stated, noting his and Naya’s relief. “He’s just…not around,” She finished lamely.

“Oh,” Skyler replied, confusion apparent.

“I’ll tell you guys more about him another time,” She reassured, straightening up. “You guys probably have better things to do right now.”

“Talking to you is fun! We do have to head back to the others though. We've been gone for a long time. Do you maybe want to come with us?” Naya offered, smiling when Lauren’s brows rose in shock. “We could always use a strong ability like yours to help us out with our rescue missions.”

“Rescue missions?” She repeated, her heartbeat speeding up with excitement. Was this her chance?

“There are some popular patrol spots for Purifier teams that we like to stalk. When they get called to raids, we try to get there before them and help the other mutants escape.” The brunette gave a sheepish smile and played with the hem of her shirt before continuing. “We don’t always get there in time, but we’re usually able to give them a good fight.”

“We want to be able to do more, but only a few of our powers are good for defense. We have to worry about not getting hurt ourselves, which can be pretty bothersome,” Skyler piped up, passion lacing his words as his nerves eased. “Your shields could be a big help!”

Lauren’s hand came up to rest over where her locker lay nestled under her shirt, as she contemplated her options. This was exactly the kind of opportunity she had been waiting for, to be able to help more than just herself away from the often smothering presence of her parents.

Wes reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling when she met his eyes. She knew she looked much brighter and more determined than she had just a minute ago, but he, again, didn’t comment.

“We’ll let you think about it for a bit. Maybe we can come by and visit you tomorrow. You can join us on another supply mission,” He offered with a wink.

Naya clapped her hands together in excitement, and Skyler gave her an awkward thumbs-up. Lauren felt a laugh bubble up; their good mood was contagious. She lightly shrugged Wes’s hand off, playfully rolling her eyes at his mock-offended gasp, before leading them out to the front desk to pick up some pain meds for Naya.

Lauren watched them leave from the lobby, mentally noting the delay in figuring out which direction their home is from the clinic. She guessed they really were in a rush to find the clinic and didn’t pay much attention to their surroundings. Hopefully, they didn’t have to walk too far.

“Lauren?”

She was startled, turning around to face her mother, who looked at her with confusion.

“Oh,” She stated eloquently, “Hi, Mom.”

Caitlin raised an eyebrow before speaking, putting Lauren a bit on edge. “Hey. Peggy told me a few friends of yours stopped by?”

Lauren blinked, thinking back to the volunteer who had worked with Naya. She hadn’t known her name, so it was a bit disconcerting that she had reported on her to her mother. Did all of the volunteers do that? Is that why her mother asked her to help in the clinic so soon after recovering from her father’s medicine?

She wasn’t sure she liked that.

“Wes came in with a couple of his friends. I recognized them from Atlanta,” She explained, swallowing back the accusations that wanted to pour from her throat.

“Oh!” Caitlin exclaimed, a genuine smile flitting across her face. “It must have been nice to catch up.”

Lauren allowed herself to smile back. “Yeah, they wanted to come by again tomorrow to visit.”

“That’s great, sweetie! I just wanted to ask you something…”

Lauren’s smile dimmed at her mother’s suddenly pensive tone, bracing herself for whatever she was about to hear. Caitlin reached for her shoulder and led her away to a corner of the lobby that was absent of patients and nurses.

“Peggy told me that they asked about Andy,” She began in a low voice, gently rubbing Lauren’s forearm to ease the tension that sprang up at hearing his name again. “His involvement with the Inner Circle isn’t public knowledge, and I was thinking we should try to keep it that way. He’s confused right now, but I don’t want him to be outcasted when he comes back to us. I was hoping that you could make up a quick story about him helping out at another Underground base when you talk to Wes again. Can you do that for me?”

Lauren was stunned; she stood there, gaping at her mom in disbelief. Did she seriously still expect him to come back? Didn’t she remember what happened after they rescued John?

“What if they ask about the Inner Circle?” Lauren questioned, struggling not to let her feelings bleed into her tone.

“Oh, I don’t think anyone outside of the Underground and the Morlocks know about the group,” Caitlin stated, clearly thinking it over. “I think you should definitely warn them about the Frost sisters, Sage, Fade, and Reeva, but you should leave Lorna and Andy out of it. Does that sound reasonable?”

No. What if they come face to face with the group? What if they are blindsided by Andy’s and Lorna’s powers? They’re not part of the Underground, and Lorna has proven eager to injure, maim, and even kill. She may not hesitate to attack them. That’s a completely unreasonable request!

Lauren’s left hand slipped behind her back. Without much thought, she crossed her fingers tightly while her other hand gripped her necklace. Caitlin glanced down at it.

“I can do that, Mom,” She replied, faking a smile. “No problem.”

“Thank you, Lauren. I’ve also been meaning to ask where you got that necklace from? I don’t remember you buying it.”

Lauren panicked for half a second before speaking a plausible lie, “A patient gave it to me as a thank-you gift.”

“That’s lovely, Lauren. It's very pretty. You can take your friends back to the apartment tomorrow if you want. Your father and I will be here.” Her mother went on to summarize the day’s work, thanking her for taking inventory earlier. Lauren nodded along, dutifully, before Caitlin was called back to work and she was allowed to return home for the day. She did so with pep to her step that she hadn’t experienced since first opening her ancestors’ music box.

Whether or not she would leave with Wes and the others wasn’t really the question; she just had to decide how she would tell her parents that fact if she decided to at all. They would most likely be against it, not wanting to lose another kid, but Lauren would still visit. Sometimes. Probably. She still loved her parents, after all, and wanted to be updated on the situation with the Inner Circle.

...Maybe she did need to think about it a little more.

****

Lauren spent the remainder of that day and a good portion of the night thinking over her options. She kept the sliding doors of her bedroom open while she debated with herself, wanting to keep an ear out for any visitors. John and Marcos were meeting with the Morlocks that afternoon; she held out hope that they would bring her into the loop when her parents weren’t around, but they never did. It was another fact among many that were pushing her to leave with Wes and the others. Lauren considered writing a pros and cons list, but she was admittedly too paranoid to leave that kind of evidence around for someone to find before she could make her choice. She settled for mental columns, briefly wondering if Andy had done the same before his outwardly impulsive departure.

Pro, she thought to herself, I gain more independence from my parents.

Con: I lose my shelter and source of income.

Wes’s group seemed to have their own money, at least enough to make regular trips to the grocery store. But she didn’t know where it was coming from or how much of it they had. There was a chance she would be leaving to become a penny-pincher worse than her father. It was something she needed to ask them about during their day together.

Pro: She was free to improve her powers with other mutants at a similar stage of development as her.

That was something she missed from Atlanta: like-minded sparring partners with the same drive that she had. She knew Naya’s ability, in particular, could help her with another aspect of her power that she had long given up on…

Con: she would lose access to her father’s knowledge of their family and her mom’s medical expertise.

Lauren knew very little about the Von Strucker twins beyond what the old articles and wanted posters recorded, and she cherished the book that she and Andy had huddled over when they heard the name, Fenris, for the first time. She knew even less about their grandfather, as Reed was pretty tight-lipped about the details of his death. Though, she had a feeling he was deliberately hiding something big from her and Andy at the time, most likely out of the same fear that drove him away from the music box. As it stood, she wasn’t confident that she could weasel any more information out of her dad than she already had, and she didn’t need to stay at the Underground to look for more sources of her own.

As for any possible injuries she or the others may go through… well, it was clear from their haste in getting to the clinic that they didn’t have much in the way of medical supplies. Lauren had learned basic first aid from her mom along with the other volunteers in the clinic, so she was confident enough to teach it to the others. Most of the content in a first aid kit could be bought on their supply runs, too, so she decided to bring it up with them the next day. Even if she didn’t end up joining them, they should be prepared; they were fighting on the front lines, after all. Maybe she could take some of the extra inventory she had noted during her shift.

Pro: Wes, Naya, and Skyler trusted her.

That almost stung to think about. These kids who Lauren hasn’t seen in months were more open with her than Marcos or John ever have been, and she knew it was because they were kids. They were fighting now the way Lorna had taught them: fast and furious, with no room to hesitate or hide behind someone else. The political aspect of war had always been left to the leaders, and without the knowledge of her bloodline and how entwined the Mutant Underground was with the Inner Circle, they were almost carefree in their endeavors. They saw her as one of them: not just a weapon or a weakness, but a soldier, and a strong one at that.

Con: She didn’t know if the rest of the group would trust her.

Lauren was pretty sure the other mutants in Wes’s group weren’t much older than her, else they would’ve been the ones out running errands. The odds were high that each one was either wanted by Sentinel Services or even more traumatized than she was. Lauren had fought alongside the others and earned their respect, but it would take time and effort to build that kind of relationship with everyone else. She wasn’t against putting in that effort to ease any discomfort her arrival may cause. She wanted to try, at the very least.

And that was the clincher, wasn’t it? Lauren could continue coming up with dozens of pros and cons, but it wouldn’t change the fact that she was anticipating the next day for the first time since her brother had walked out of her life. This was the opportunity that she had promised herself and her ancestors she would take, the first step on the path to atoning for Fenris’s sins and redefining her family name. There was nothing else to think about.

Chapter Text

Her resolve to leave stayed steady, carrying Lauren into the next day with relative ease. She thought it would be hard to pretend that everything was normal as she ate breakfast with her parents, but it wasn’t. She felt some melancholy at the reality that this may be the last meal she eats with them for a long time, but it was overpowered by her excitement to learn more about Wes, Naya, and Skyler’s home. She made an effort to listen and react appropriately to her mother’s instructions to lay low while out with her friends, appreciating that she didn’t try to dissuade Lauren from going out at all.

Eventually, the three of them made their way to the clinic. Her father kissed her mom on the cheek and squeezed Lauren’s hand before heading to his hidden office. Caitlin turned to face Lauren, pulling her in for a quick hug.

“Be careful, sweetie,” Her mother reminded her, pulling back with a slightly concerned smile.

“I will, Mom. We won’t cause any trouble,” Lauren promised.

Her mom laughed a bit before wishing her a fun time and leaving to check in with the reception desk. Lauren glanced around at the near-empty lobby, deciding it would be less awkward to wait outside of the building. She quickly grabbed a couple of lollipops to snack on while she waited for Wes, Skyler, and Naya to show, realizing that they never decided on a set time to meet. What if they had come earlier and she missed them?

She wasn’t left alone with her thoughts for very long though, as a happy shout of her name pulled her attention towards the bus stop at the corner of the street. Naya was there, enthusiastically waving at her while Skyler and Wes stepped off of the bus she stood next to. Lauren grinned, walking down the sidewalk to meet the trio halfway. She found herself laughing with the other girl when she was pulled into a tight hug, wondering if Naya always had this much energy when she wasn’t suffering from a concussion.

“What’s the mission goal today?” Lauren asked, playfully, falling into step with the others when Wes motioned towards the crosswalk.

“We want to make up for yesterday’s mission failure,” the older boy answered, flashing a familiar grin while Naya linked arms with Lauren. “You live close by, right? Where do you usually buy groceries?”

“There are a couple of stores nearby,” Lauren replied after thinking for a moment. "There’s a Whole Foods a few blocks down-”

“That one’s a no-go,” Skyler interrupted with a thoughtful hum. “It’s the one we got chased out of yesterday.”

“Dang,” Lauren sighed, “The other store is almost thirty minutes away. Are you guys all right with that?”

“We can handle some cardio,” Naya stated with a wink. “Let’s go!”

****

“We can handle some cardio,” Naya repeated, mockingly, nearly an hour later.

The brunette turned towards Wes and Lauren, who were leaning heavily against a wall that Skyler was resting his forehead against, panting. “Never listen to me again,” She directed them, sagely.

Lauren and Skyler laughed, while Wes quickly assured her that they wouldn’t. Well, Lauren laughed; Skyler was still trying to catch his breath, so his chuckle came out sounding more like a wheeze.

The walk took a little less than thirty minutes, but it was a hot enough day to make them regret not risking Round Two with the security brute from the day before. They had been loitering just inside the entrance of the grocery store for close to twenty minutes, catching their breath in the blissfully air-conditioned building. Lauren was sorely regretting her decision to stop the workout routines Lorna had taught her months ago out of spite towards the deserters. She knew she would have to work on getting back into shape before she started sparring with anyone, though it didn’t seem like her companions’ stamina levels were much higher than hers.

Wes was the first to straighten himself out, letting them know he was off to find a cart. Lauren sighed and made a mental note to grab some water bottles for the walk back. She wished she had thought to bring a hat, or at least tie up her hair like Naya did. She felt uncomfortable sticky as she and the remaining two went to catch up to their de-facto leader.

Skyler pulled out a folded piece of paper from his backpack that turned out to be a grocery list. Lauren listened carefully as he read out the essentials that they needed, wondering how often they made these trips. She asked them once there was a lull in the conversation, and Naya answered while scanning the aisles they walked through.

“Groceries are a weekly trip. The three of us were put on errand duty this week, but-”

The brunette paused to grab a few bags of the same brand of chips, pouting and returning all but one when Skyler raised a judgemental eyebrow.

“-the job usually falls to the only three people in our group who aren’t known fugitives,” She finished with a sardonic smile.

“Are they not mutants?” Lauren asked, curious as to how someone could fight Purifiers on the regular without earning an arrest warrant.

“Two of them are; they just avoided getting ID-ed,” Naya replied. “The other one - a girl named Marie - doesn’t have a mutation, but she’s really passionate about our cause.”

“The three of them also have part-time jobs in the area to keep the rest of us afloat,” Wes added, handing control of the cart over to Skyler.

Con: I lose my shelter and source of income.

“I was wondering how you guys had money,” Lauren confessed, glancing over all the items in their cart while Wes and Skyler double-checked their list.

“Worried you would join us and be broke?” Naya guessed, laughing at Lauren’s sheepish smile.

****

They decided to catch a bus back to Lauren’s apartment, unwilling to brave the heat again.

(“It’s not laziness,” Naya stated, scanning the schedule display that still bore the scars of Lauren’s breakdown a few weeks back. “We have milk and eggs. It’s just logic.”)

The ride back was a far more relaxing experience than the earlier walk. Lauren enjoyed sitting with the others in the front row of seats, clutching grocery bags securely in their laps while talking about their “roommates.”

“We mentioned Marie earlier. She’s fifteen like me,” Skyler said, one of his knees bouncing. “We met her the same day as Tamara, who’s fourteen. That was about a month ago, I think.”

“Wire, er, Wyatt moved in with us a few months before we met the girls. I used to hang out with him before I met up with you,” Wes explained, holding Lauren’s gaze with some uncertainty.

Lauren blinked a few times, vividly recalling the arrest warrant that had initially led to the premature end of their relationship. “I’m glad you were able to see him again,” She stated, cautiously, wanting Wes to know she was past the point of judging other mutants for what they had to do to survive.

Struckers were hypocrites to the end, but she wanted to change that.

Surprise flickered over Wes’s expression before a relieved smile made his dimples appear. Lauren smiled back, happy that he registered the acceptance behind her words.

“Who else lives with you guys?” She asked, keeping up the sloppily coded wording to ward off any suspicion from the other passengers.

“It’s just Simon left. He’s the oldest of us: nineteen. Wes and Wire are both eighteen now, I’m sixteen, Marie and Skyler are fifteen, and Tamara is fourteen,” Naya rambled. “Simon, Marie, and Tamara are our worker bees.”

“Who’s the queen?” Skyler asked, pointedly.

“The position has yet to be filled,” The brunette responded without missing a beat, winking at Lauren, who laughed.

Eventually, the bus pulled to a stop near the apartment building that the Mutant Underground called home. They shuffled into the lobby, where they came face to face with the landlord. The man froze when he saw Lauren, eyes passing over her friends before meeting her steely gaze. He smiled awkwardly, before wishing them a nice day and scuttling off to his office. Lauren watched him go, torn between feeling guilty for traumatizing him and being proud that her mere presence was enough to discourage harassment. She would have to pay him another visit to ensure the safety of her parents before she leaves.

She led them to the elevator, knowing they were all too tired to climb the stairs to her family’s fourth-floor apartment. Skyler and Naya were jabbing at each other with childish taunts about who was able to carry more bags than the other while Wes looked on, fondly. Lauren was glad he was able to settle on people to protect, though she felt a sharp stab of envy at the sibling-like relationships he had established. Was it wrong to look forward to adopting quasi-siblings of her own?

The memory of Lorna leading Andy away by his shoulder flashed in her mind, and she nearly crushed the bags in her grasp.

“Are you okay, Lauren?”

She startled. The elevator doors had opened, and she was the only one lingering inside. Wes was looking at her with concern, while Skyler and Naya stood a few feet behind him.

“Sorry,” She told them, hurrying to take the lead again.

It felt strange to have people outside of the Underground in the family room; they’d spent so long fostering their reputation as a normal if reclusive group. Lauren helped them reorganize their groceries, placing the bags with perishable foods into the fridge until they left, before busying herself with pouring everyone cups of iced lemonade. Her friends took them eagerly, settling down on the couch while Lauren made herself comfortable in her dad’s armchair, facing them and cradling her drink in her hands. She watched them all exchange glances and braced herself, having guessed what they wanted to talk about first.

It was Naya who broke the silence.

“Hey, Lauren…You said yesterday that you would tell us more about Andy when we had the time. Can we talk about it now?”

She didn’t answer right away, taking a sip of her lemonade and setting the cup down on the coffee table. She scooted back on the chair and brought her knees up to hug them to her chest. The others straightened up themselves, undoubtedly picking up on the pure despondence in the air.

Lauren sighed.

“How much do you guys know about what happened after Sentinel Services attacked the Atlanta station?” She asked them, taking in their confused frowns.

“Not much,” Skyler answered, hesitantly. “Naya and I were there, of course, but we were rushed away with the injured to another safe house as soon as everyone settled in that abandoned warehouse. I was fine, but Naya had gotten cut by some debris when we were escaping that big safe. Your mom was worried it would get infected, so I went with her to make sure she would be all right.”

“I’m always the one getting hurt,” Naya interjected with some humor, rolling her eyes before continuing the story. “The cuts did sting, but not enough to justify the sight I swore we were running away from.” She searched Lauren’s gaze. “I thought I was hallucinating when the building got engulfed in that weird glow. I didn’t know what to think when I looked back again a few seconds later and the whole place was gone.”

“Weird glow?” Wes repeated, raising a brow at the younger teens. “What does that mean?”

“That was me,” Lauren stated, bringing all of their focus back to her. “Me and…Andy.”

All of their eyes widened, and Wes opened his mouth to speak, but Lauren raised a hand in the air, wanting to finish explaining.

“Mine and Andy’s powers were inherited. Our great-grandfather and his sister were twins: Andreas and Andrea Von Strucker. They had the same abilities that we do; science called it molecular manipulation, but history called it Fenris. I pull air molecules together to make my shields, and Andy pulls them apart to destroy things or send them flying. Our powers are opposing forces, and when they come together…” Lauren hesitated, remembering the horror in her parents’ eyes when she described the power and the terrified expressions of the Sentinel Service agents who were lost forever in that all-encompassing glow.

“Together… you destroy the molecules completely,” Naya finished for her, eyes alight with realization. “That’s why the building disappeared. You and Andy disintegrated it.”

Lauren slowly nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat as she waited for them all to process what she’s already said. She didn’t dare try to dissect their reactions, not wanting to see their fear. She couldn’t stop there, though, no matter what. They deserved to know the truth about what happened with Andy and the Inner Circle. This was their war, too, and they were missing crucial information. Even if they didn’t want her to join them anymore, they needed this knowledge to continue fighting.

“We can only use that power - Fenris - when we hold hands. It’s very strong and very dangerous. We killed everyone who was left in that building: thirteen Sentinel Services agents and the two Hounds they used to attack. There was nothing left when we were done but ashes,” She explained, letting go of her knees to grasp her locket.

“Fenris, huh,” Wes repeated, curiosity apparent. “I think I’ve heard some rumors about that name from some rogues around the city…”

Con: she would lose access to her father’s knowledge of their family and her mom’s medical expertise.

Lauren sighed, and let her legs slide back to the floor. She looked up at them, gauging their conflicted emotions. Wes was still muttering to himself about finding more information about Fenris, but he didn’t look afraid. Skyler was looking down, probably still processing the full magnitude of what she’d revealed, and Naya-

She blinked, quickly rubbing her eyes to be sure she was seeing correctly. Naya looked awe-struck. She stared back at Lauren with excitement, obviously impressed by her story.

“You saved us, Lauren,” The brunette stated. “I knew you and Andy had stayed behind to give us time to escape, but I didn’t know you guys did it alone. The two of you faced off with Sentinel Services and mutants boosted by Kick, and you kicked ass.”

“Language,” Skyler murmured, finally breaking his silence to fix his friend with a chiding look.

Naya huffed, shooting a rebuttal without pause. “Tamara isn’t here. I’ll curse all I want.”

Lauren couldn’t help it; she laughed. Loudly and hysterically, until her giggles became sobs as her relief gave way for long-buried despair. She bent over in her seat and would have fallen forward completely if not for the gentle but strong hands of her friends suddenly holding her steady. She felt dizzy with the whirlwind of emotional responses her mind was forcing on her body. The guilt was still present; Lauren didn’t think it would ever truly go away, but it was coupled now with gratitude. She had killed, yes, but she had done it to save people. To save her parents and all of the mutants that had put their lives in her and her brother’s hands. She knew Andy didn’t regret what they had done that day, and she had never understood it before, but right then? At that moment, allowing herself to accept the comfort that Wes, Naya, and Skyler were offering, she was endlessly thankful for the horrifying power she wielded.

I understand, Andy, she thought, easily conjuring a mental image of her brother’s frustrated form on that rooftop. If the time to use it comes again, I won’t cower. I’m not afraid anymore.

****

“We are the last Mutant Underground station.”

The tapping of Skyler’s foot on the tile stopped. It had been the only real sound in the room since the others had led Lauren to lay down across the couch. The trio were all experts at dealing with PTSD-related attacks, which was apparently something she had been dealing with without realizing. Go figure. They explained that they had all experienced pretty ugly scenes while rescuing mutants from Purifiers, and were steadily collecting more medical supplies and knowledge.

Con: she would lose access to her father’s knowledge of their family and her mom’s medical expertise.

She stared up at the slowly rotating ceiling fan, remembering how she used to sprawl across her bed like this and try to follow a single blade with her eyes. That was before the music box, and so, it was before she knocked down the fan in her room with a careless wave of her hand. The act used to strain her vision and give her a headache, so maybe it was for the better.

Wes and Naya stayed silent from where they had been drinking lemonade at the kitchen table. Neither of them seemed to know how to react to her statement and the implications of it, but Skyler, whose shyness seemed to have all but disappeared in wake of the revelations she had hurled at them that day, had no such reservations. He shot up like a rocket from where he had perched on the armchair Lauren had vacated, a baffled look on his face.

“What do you mean by last,” He asked, looking afraid of her possible answer.

Lauren stared at him out of the corner of her eyes, unsure if he was truly ready to hear it.

“Most of the Underground was organized and led by a woman named Evangeline. She was a lawyer, I think, and everyone really respected her. John and Marcos treated her word as law, and I’m sure the other station leaders across the country did the same. They all converged here in the city to attend a meeting that she was leading. John and Marcos caught wind through an…informant that the meeting would be attacked. The information was true, unfortunately. John and the others got there just in time to see the aftermath. No one survived. The other stations are without leaders or resources, and John, Marcos, and the clinic are all that’s left here in Virginia,” She revealed, wishing she were truly as calm as she sounded.

Lauren pushed herself up, shifting to sit upright on the couch. She grabbed a decorative pillow and held it as a shield of sorts, already knowing what their next question would be.

It was Wes who broke the silence this time.

“Was it Purifiers?” He asked, his tone solemn.

“No,” Lauren replied, gesturing for him and Naya to return to the couch. They did so without saying anything else, and Lauren gathered all of her courage to keep going.

“It wasn’t the Purifiers, Sentinel Services, or even rioters. It was a mutant terrorist group that calls itself the Inner Circle. The informant who warned about the attack was a prominent member that recently realized the error of their ways,” Lauren nearly spit out the words, brows pinching at the thought of Polaris. “They’re currently acting as a double-agent, though I don’t know all of the communication details.”

“Why haven’t we heard of them before?” Naya asked, prompting nods from the boys.

“Because there has been no formal announcement of their presence in the state,” Lauren answered, shaking her head in disappointment.

“Then they’re not very effective, are they?” Skyler murmured, coaxing a short chuckle out of Lauren.

“Oh, they’ve done a lot. They just haven’t bothered taking the credit. Did you guys hear about that mass murder at a bank a month ago? The one that started all of the protests and riots?”

“That was them?” Wes asked in horror and disbelief.

“Yeah,” Lauren confirmed, “They were also the ones behind that big prison break. I’m sure they have more up their sleeve. Their leader is a monster.”

“Lauren, what does all of that have to do with Andy?” Naya interjected, looking very queasy from the current topic.

For a split second, Lauren almost wanted to lie. The story that her mother had fed her at the clinic sat on the tip of her tongue, and she was tempted to follow through, but she knew she didn’t have to protect Andy. He was proud of the cause he had joined and would just be insulted that his mom and older sister were trying to hide his actions. Besides, his involvement in the Inner Circle wouldn’t stay a secret forever, especially now that the Mutant Underground wasn’t around to play patsy. He had made his bed, and soon he would have to lie in it, whether he would change his mind in the future or not.

“Lorna is John and Marcos’s informant. She, Andy, Fade, Sage, and Bulk have been with the Inner Circle for nearly eight months now,” Lauren stated, watching as their faces twisted in horror.

“No…” Skyler gasped out, eyes becoming glassy.

“They’re terrorists?” Wes whispered out loud, a heavy sadness present in his voice.

“Lorna isn’t really, though, right?” Naya asked, desperately. “She’s a double agent, so she probably avoided the big attacks-”

“Lorna only changed sides a few weeks ago,” Lauren stated, hating to see the brief hope in the brunette’s eyes fade. “She was a major player for those events and a big factor in convincing the others to join their group. She made sure to let us know that she doesn’t regret most of her actions but claims that the bank massacre wasn’t planned; apparently, a mutant that they had broken out of a mental asylum went rogue.”

“Shocker,” Wes said with venom, the horror in the air mixing with rage.

“My parents and I have tried convincing Andy to come back to us, but every time we’ve met each other face-to-face, he seems to have changed even more. The first time I saw him again was six months after he left when they were breaking that mutant out of the hospital. We weren’t able to stop them, and the two of us fought. He was stronger than me, then, so I got a concussion for my efforts,” Lauren explained further, fiddling with her necklace and picturing how differently another battle between siblings would go.

They sat there for a long while as Lauren retold every interaction between the Mutant Underground and the Inner Circle and how critically overpowered the terrorist group was. Her friends listened avidly as she recounted how Lorna and Andy had allied with them temporarily to rescue John from the Purifiers, looking vaguely sick when they learned about her brother’s declaration of his new beliefs. Naya was especially intrigued by the small details that she let slip about the connection she and her brother had, though Lauren made sure to keep quiet about the music box, her necklace, and the dreams, both the ones she shared with Andy and the ones she didn’t.

She also ended up admitting that she had given up her powers for a time, having only recently begun to refuse doses of her father’s medicine. Her parents had relented, as they were running out of it much quicker than any of them would have liked.

After Lauren had fielded all of their questions about the past year, she drained her now water-ed down lemonade and checked the clock. It was late in the afternoon; her parents would be making their way back in a couple of hours. She analyzed her guests again, impressed that they had managed to regain their composure after processing the civil war that had been taking place right under mutant society’s noses. Talking to them about all of the crazy stuff she had been through made her feel less alone in her mixed opinions. It was a welcome change from being the only realist in a room full of optimists.

She missed Clarice. She used to be the bridge between the Struckers and John and Marcos. With her gone, John was close to waging war with the Morlocks, Marcos was caught up in keeping Lorna safe once again, and Lauren and her parents were left largely to their own devices. Though, that reminded her…

“Did you guys talk to the others in your group about a possible recruit?” Lauren asked, nervously, not wanting to step on any toes.

Naya brightened.

“Totally! They were really impressed when we told them about your shields. They’re probably going to ask you a lot of questions about your power and the status of the Underground, but everyone is excited for you to join us,” She assured her, easing some of her nerves.

“We’ll help you explain the situation with the Inner Circle and Fenris if you want,” Wes added, while Skyler nodded, enthusiastically.

Con: She didn’t know if the rest of the group would trust her.

Warmth bloomed in Lauren’s chest, and she gave them a grateful smile.

“That would be awesome. Thanks!”

The future looked very bright.

Chapter Text

Between the four of them, it took no time at all to pack Lauren’s things. She took only the bare essentials like clothes and toiletries in the duffel bag, handing it off to Wes to be delivered ahead of her arrival. Her more personal belongings were gently placed into the same backpack she had thrown into the closet after her first desertion attempt: some of her fragile accessories, the cash she had withdrawn the day she bought her locket, the music box, and her brother’s sketchbook, hastily rescued by Lauren amidst the Sentinel Services attack on the Atlanta Underground. When that was done, Wes, Skyler, and Naya said their brief goodbyes, giving her the space she needed to draft far longer ones.

Lauren spent a long time sitting at her writing desk, staring at the first blank page in a journal that she had accepted from her mother but never used. Caitlin had initially given it to her to use as a diary of sorts, hoping that the young woman’s conflicting emotions surrounding those weeks of hell in Atlanta could be put to rest through venting on paper. Needless to say, Lauren wasn’t in any state to face her feelings before the current day, and the journal, pages decorated with a snowflake theme, had been shoved into a desk drawer to gather dust. She wondered if her mother would recognize the paper underneath the words she would leave for her.

A couple of hours and a cramped hand later, two folded-up pieces of paper, labeled with her parents’ names, were left sitting on the dining table. Two more were slipped under John and Marcos’s doors on her way out, and one more, shorter but no less serious than the rest, was left in the landlord’s mailbox in the lobby. Once she was outside with her bag secured, she took a deep breath in and turned her feet towards the clinic.

****

There weren’t many patients waiting in the lobby, and the few that were there didn’t seem in need of emergency attention. Lauren was glad that they wouldn’t be overwhelmed, though it would have made it easier for her to sneak out. As it stands, she would need to enact the plan that Naya had come up with: Lauren was to inform her parents that she had a date with Wes, allowing for her old beau to pick her up and lead her to their hideout without raising any alarms. It was a good plan, but the blonde couldn’t help but feel awkward at the reminder of the complicated end to their relationship. Wes didn’t have any qualms; he only shot her a playful wink and promised to wait for her in the lobby.

Lauren found her mom putting together first-aid kits in the supply room. The clinic liked to have some on-hand to give out to those who couldn’t come to the clinic often, so she must have been taking advantage of the slow evening. Seeing them reminded Lauren that she wanted to take a couple with her, but she decided to come by again after talking to her dad.

“Hey, sweetie,” Caitlin greeted her with a smile, motioning for her to sit with her at the small table. Lauren obliged with an answering smile, hoping her nerves don’t show on her face.

“Did you have fun today?” the older woman asked, “What did you guys end up doing?”

“We ran a couple of errands. It was fun hanging out with Wes again.” Lauren allowed her cheeks to flush before continuing, “He actually asked if he could come back alone so we could hang out together.”

“Just the two of you?” Her mom asked with a teasing tone, smile growing wider.

Lauren nodded.

“Well, I think that sounds great. I know things didn’t end well between you guys, and that was largely mine and your father’s faults,” she stated, sheepishly.

That surprised Lauren, who didn’t think her parents claimed any responsibility for that mess. A lot has happened since then, though, so maybe time has given them better insight.

“I think you should go. It’s nice to see you opening up to people again. I’ve been worried about you,” Caitlin admitted, pulling her daughter closer to kiss her on her forehead.

Lauren smiled, feeling guilt curl in her chest as she stood up and left her mom to her work.

Mom,

I’m not running away I have to leave. I’m not going to the Inner Circle, and I’m not joining the Morlocks. I’m leaving with Wes and our friends. I can’t promise to sit out the war, but I swear to stay as safe as I can. I have no plans to be captured again. If I am, don’t come for me I have to do this for myself and our family. You and Dad can’t fight the same way that I can, but I am proud of how much you both have committed to the mutant cause. Please, continue to provide other mutants with the healthcare they need and expand your knowledge of how to treat those with different mutations. These days, you and the other volunteers may be all that they have.

Thank you for supporting my efforts to get stronger. I know it wasn’t easy to oppose Dad in those late-night arguments, and I know your determination to help me wasn’t an entirely selfless act. I can forgive you for that even if Dad won’t and I don’t blame you for things going too far, so please don’t blame yourself. We were all in over our heads, but I finally know what I have to do going forward. I love you, Mom, and this decision wasn’t made to hurt you.

Please listen carefully: I’m not going to come back until this fight is over, and Andy won’t either. I don’t know what the world will look like in the end, but I doubt either of us are or will be the same people that you remember us to be. I can’t speak for him, but I think your obsession with keeping our family together is unhealthy. You’re so focused on rebuilding a bridge that was burnt long ago that you choose not to see the other bonds that are wearing thin. I want you to take better care of yourself and work on your relationships with the others: Dad, Marcos, and John. Your world can’t revolve around me and Andy, anymore. This is a battle for the Von Struckers, and the two of us have committed to it; you and Dad weren’t built for this war, and that’s okay. I would feel better knowing that you two were as happy and safe as you can be, far away from the front lines.

I don’t know if I can save Andy
I hate that I have to fight him
I miss him
I love you so much. Please try to understand why I’m doing this.

- Lauren

Her dad was in his hidden office, printing out more forged documents to assign to those on the waiting list. Lauren slipped into the room quickly, hoping that this conversation would go as smoothly as the one with her mom. Her dad looked up at the sound of the door closing, smiling tiredly when he saw her. She thought he must have had another restless night of sleep.

“Hi, Dad.”

“Hey, honey,” he answered her, standing up to stretch and hug her. He glanced at her backpack, concern flashing in his eyes. “Going somewhere?”

“Out with Wes,” she replied, fidgeting with the hanging straps at her sides.

“That’s right,” he said, carefully, glancing over his workstation to make sure he was at a good stopping point before leaning against the table and giving her an encouraging look. “Your mom said he was part of the group you were with today?” He asked, hesitantly.

Lauren nodded, doing her best to ignore the awkward tension in the room. While things with her dad improved after their heart-to-heart about the influence of their heritage, he had taken to walking on eggshells around her since she started refusing doses of his medicine. It was like he expected her exhaustion and anxiety and anger to return with a vengeance. Lauren didn’t exactly feel good about it, but the increased distance had made it easier for her to settle her mind without worrying about the “perfect daughter” facade.

“He’s going to come by again by himself,” She explained, averting her eyes with faux-embarrassment.

Her dad laughed, giving her shoulder a few pats and wishing her a good time. Lauren smiled again and gave him another hug when he settled back on his chair. She made her way out of the room and lingered, resting her hand against the hidden door.

Dad,

I’m sorry for worrying you so much over the past year. I know that I’m not the only one to blame for all of the chaos, but I also know my relentless pursuit of strength hurt a lot of people around me. I was acting no better than Mom Andy, pushing my own wants ahead of everyone else’s regardless of people’s warnings. I’ll be more careful from now on.

I know it hurt you that I didn’t go to you with my identity issues, but I guess I was still uncomfortable afraid hesitant to let you guys in. I hid my powers from you for so long before that night in the school gym that it became normal for me to work through this part of me on my own. Having Andy to talk to was a relief. I’m leaving now to join others who will help with that and understand me better than the people here, but I won’t be a terrorist. I promise.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to me about Fenris and our ancestors. I know the pressure you feel is different than mine, but having you there to talk me down from my breakdown meant so much to me, especially knowing how afraid you are of your powers. I don’t know what your plan is for when the medicine runs out, especially since what remained of your father and Madeline’s research was destroyed, but please don’t give up. Andy and I may not be with you for a while, but we love you, and I’m sure the last thing either of us or Mom wants is for your fear to get you killed. Take care of yourself, and I’ll take care of Andy and I’ll do the same. Leave the Von Strucker legacy to me; I hope to make you proud.

Stay strong, Dad. I want many more hugs when this war is finally over.

I love you.

- Lauren

Her mom wasn’t in the supply room anymore when Lauren poked her head in; she must have been called away to help a patient. Lauren grabbed two fully-stocked kits and packed them neatly into her backpack, making sure to grab a few extra bottles of hydrocodone and a handful of clean syringes. She pushed down the shame of stealing from a free clinic, focusing on making her way to the lobby where Wes was waiting for her.

He had cleaned up a little, no doubt to help sell the idea of the “date.” Lauren walked to him quickly, hoping that her eagerness came off as excitement for the night ahead instead of for the rest of her life. She nodded to the receptionist when grabbing her usual lollipop, feeling a pang of sadness at leaving her routine behind for good. It was stifling and more than a little boring, but it gave her a sense of normality that she desperately needed while reeling from the separation from Andy. Now, she was off to change the course of this long-suffering war, leaving her old life behind for good. She would focus on her training, practicing her abilities and expanding her arsenal (She was particularly excited about a seldom-used aspect of her powers that Naya could prove very helpful in exploring), until she was strong enough to wrest control of their family legacy from her brother and the ghosts of their ancestors.

She was Fenris.

*Landlord*

If anything happens to my family and friends while I’m gone, I will return stronger, smarter, and with more fun abilities to try. And I won’t come back alone.

Tread carefully.

- Lauren Von Strucker