Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Curses were something that you would believe were caused by spells.

That poisonous apples and pricked fingers were made by old hags in leaf-based huts in the middle of a haunted forest. Like those in the old fairy tales we were told as children. That curses could only be given if you did something horrid. If you did something unforgivable. At least in the eye of the caster.

But for me, and the Aquato family, it comes with our name and our name alone.

We are cursed. In a way that no one on earth could ever understand. We were not put to sleep by a finger prick, and we never entered into lands that we were not meant to. Our curse is nothing along those lines. No. Ours is much more unique. Much more dreadful.

That curse? It's that we're alive.

I stared out the window at the passing trees as our caravan carried down the dirt road that was starting to feel like a dusted road to nowhere.

We're the offspring of the Mux family line. The last ones with the blood of the great Maligula. The ones with the ties to the great Deluge of Grulovia. We, her sister's children and grandchildren, are the feared possible psychics that wield her great powers over water and the tides.

I swallowed hard as I looked down into my lap. The back of my gloved hands rested on my thighs as I looked over the worn leather covering my palms.

But what they didn't know, was that the fear of another hydrokinesis psychic was well-founded. That fear of another possible Lucrecia is understandable with the existence of one of us.

I curled my hands into a tight fist as I pulled my attention away from my hands and back to the trees passing by.

Because of me. Razputin Aquato. The great-nephew of Lucrecia Mux.

And a hydrokinesis specialist himself.

"Pootie?" I snapped my attention over toward a strained older voice that joined beside me. "Are you well?" The woman who had joined me on my little window seat was none other than Lucrecia Mux herself. Better known now as Nona. After losing herself as the great Maligula, she was rather shattered after her battle with her former Psychic Seven members. Her brain was scattered and a bit confused, so they let her live the rest of her days, unsure of who she really was and what the world knew of her. To everyone else, the great Lucrecia is dead. But to us, she lives on as a small secret between us and the world.

"I'm well, Nona." I smiled softly at the older woman as her hands tremored in her lap. She smiled in return in a sweet way that no one else that looked upon her would have known who she truly was or what she used to be capable of. Her body shook gently, never enough to bother her completely, but enough to be noticeable to anyone who watched her from a distance.

Such a soft and fragile woman. Obviously, nothing like she's supposed to be. Nothing really to fear.

My hands tightened a bit more as I swallowed dryly.

But still, the world would never forgive her. They'll never forgive any of us. Not until we give them a reason to.

Not until I'm the best fucking Psychonaut they've ever seen.

"You are anxious." I snapped out of my thoughts as the older woman placed a shaking hand on my knee. "You bare high expectations. Ones you give yourself." She patted my knee before leaning back into her seat beside me. "You must give yourself a break before you break yourself." I sighed a little as I let my fingers uncurl from the fists I was making.

Easy for you to say. The world doesn't look at you as a monster in training. You're freed from those burdens Nona.

"Hard not to be when the world already has thoughts on how you are." I leaned my head back so the back of my air force cap was meeting the glass of the window behind me. "Of who you are. Of what you're to be."

"You are an Aquato, is true." Nona nodded softly before giving me a look of great pride. "But, you're Razputin in the same breath." I gave her a curious look as I straightened up my posture beside her.

"What do you mean, Nona?"

"I mean," She adjusted how she was sitting so she could give me more of her attention on the little bench seat. "You are your own being. You are Razputin." She smiled wide, which caused her jaw to shake just a little, but the sweet and sincere nature was still there. "Each one of you is much more than our curse. Much more than just our family name. You prove that to the world by being yourself. By being Razputin. Just as much as the rest of you." Suddenly, the caravan slowed down to take a turn, but we continued to move in a rather slow motion. Telling us that we have met our destination as Nona made sure to make her final point. "And your time here will prove this, I am sure."

I hope you're right, Nona.

I turned my head to look out the window as my father found a place to park. The big wooden sign for the camp I would be staying at looked back at me as if it was truly aware of my presence as I heard the sound of unfastened seat belts ring from the front.

If not, I'm sure the kids here will make my stay a living hell.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly before getting up onto my feet. Grabbing my backpack and small luggage bag my mother had packed with me that I had resting on the bench seat to my right.

I at least want a small chance at becoming a Psychonaut through this after all.

"Ready to go, Razputin?" I turned my head toward my father's voice, who was still sitting in the driver's seat. I looked over toward Nona, who just gave me a gentle nod in reply.

At least I know my family has faith in me. That they believed I could change our curse.

I looked back toward my dad with a determined look taking over my face.

And for them, I'll try my hardest to do just that.

"I'm more than ready now." I put my backpack over my back before reaching up and adjusting the goggles on top of my head.

I'll show them what I'm made of. That Aquatos are more than just our past. No matter what it takes.

So here I come, Whispering Rock. Get ready for Razputin Aquato. Your next big Psychonaut.

Chapter Text

I swallowed hard as I passed under the big wooden sign for the camp. My family's last few goodbyes to me before letting me go on my own rang through my head as I followed the small path toward the heart of the camp.

"You got this, Pootie."

"Just don't fuck up." A hard smack was given to Dion as Frazie gave him a hard glare at the same time. "I mean, you got this?"

"Better."

I smiled to myself a little as Mirtala's soft goodbye was within my mind at the same time.

"Will you be back soon?"

"In a month and a half."

"Not soon enough." I chuckled at her as Queepie stayed silent beside her. His ever-so-silent demeanor still screamed volumes as he placed a hand on his slightly older sister's shoulder.

"I'll be back. It's just the first step for my goals here though."

"Kick those goals in the butt!" Mirtala gave me a determined smile as Queepie nodded in agreement.

"I promise I will, Mirtala." I smiled a little to myself as I continued on my path. "I promise." I adjusted my bag so the strap was resting across my chest as I looked over the scenery around me.

For such a big name camp for psychics, it's rather small.

I switched what hand was carrying my other luggage bag into the other as I looked over toward where I could tell it was a lake in the distance.

I can feel the small tides of the water from here. Its gentle and calm nature causes this fuzzy little feeling in the back of my brain. Its energy is soothing and beautiful and I could feel it grow with each step I took.

I felt my smile widen as I followed the sign that pointed in the direction of the main campground.

When all else fails, I'll have the tide to calm me down. Hopefully, I won't have to rely on it, but I also doubt this adventure of mine will be anything but smooth.

"Who in the hell are you?" I flinched at the rather harsh voice as the sound of footsteps came up behind me.

And speaking of not being smooth, here's my first bump in the road.

I turned my attention toward the figure that had called out toward me, but I was welcomed by two different kids instead. They looked about my age, but rather rough. The one had teeth that reminded me of a piranha, while the other looked like his puffer fish friend. The one with jagged teeth gave me a snarl as he took a step closer.

"Are you dumb or something? I asked you a question." The red-haired boy crossed his arms as his silent friend just nodded beside him. I quickly grew annoyed with him as I tried my best to remain calm on the surface.

"Sorry, just took me a moment to register that my first 5 minutes here was met with someone yelling at me." I adjusted the strap of my bag once more as I looked over the other two boys. "My name's Raz."

"Fresh meat, huh?" The redhead smirked as he extended his arm to poke his index finger at my chest. "You better understand one major thing here, newbie."

"And what's that incredibly powerful overseer?" Sarcasm dripped over my words as I was honestly already done with him.

"Hey! Don't you try and be smart with me! I'm the big boss out here!"

"Last I knew that was Sasha Nein and Milla Vodello," I smirked as it was obvious I was annoying him just as much. "If you think you can make me fear you though, you can think again." I slapped his hand away from me as I gave him a serious look. "I've been threatened with much worse."

"I'll make your life a living hell here, kid!" I rolled my eyes at the comment as I leaned my weight onto my left leg.

"Again, been threatened with worse." The other kid reached out and grabbed the collar of my undershirt, but the notion didn't cause me to flinch in the slightest.

"Quit fucking with me, asshole! I'm Bobby fucking Zilch! I run this joint!" I smirked at his anger as a dark chuckle released itself from my chest.

"And I'm Razputin A-."

"What in the bloody hell is going on over here?" I snapped my attention over toward a girl that wasn't far from the three of us. Her dark red hair was put in little pigtails and she wore a thigh-length dress, but she oozed an aura of confidence. Her leather jacket, fingerless gloves, and combat boots only proved she was not your typical preteen girl. I felt myself swallow hard as her dark brown eyes looked between me and Bobby, who was still holding me by my shirt collar.

"Stay out of this Zanotto!" I looked at the girl with wide eyes as the weight of her last name was monumental in the history of the Psychonauts.

Zanotto? Like...  The  Zanottos? As in Grand Head of the Psychonauts Zanotto? It couldn't be. Why would someone like that be at a summer camp like this? Wouldn't she be personally trained and all?

"Well, from the fact that you're holding what looks to be the only new kid we had here in years by the neck, I don't think I will." The girl gave him a smirk as she slowly made her way closer to us. "So how about you drop the new kid and walk off as if nothing happened?"

"Or what?" The girl gave him a smooth smirk as she tilted her head ever so slightly.

"Or would you like some personal training hours with Nein again? I'll gladly tell him you volunteered." Almost instantly, Bobby let go of my collar with a growl. He turned his attention toward me once more with a hard poke to my chest.

"This isn't over, Freshy." With that, Bobby and the unnamed boy took their leave. I groaned as I watched the two boys leaving while a small curse was muttered under my breath.

"Mudak." I grumbled a little as I straightened out my shirt. It wasn't the most impressive shirt and had some holes, but it was still one of the few Nona was able to keep in one piece for me.

"I don't need to know what language that was in to agree wholeheartedly that Bobby deserves it." I snapped my attention toward the girl once more as she walked up to take up the space in front of me. "What language was that anyway?"

"Russian."

"Ah, no wonder it sounded angry." I couldn't help but smile a little at the girl's comment as she put her hands in her jacket's pockets. "Sorry about that though. Bobby likes to play King of the Camp so whenever there's a new kid, he tries to make them submit rather quickly."

"Sorry for him, I was raised to do the opposite." The girl gave an approving hum for a moment as she gave me a curious look.

"You're different." I quirked up an eyebrow in response.

"Yeah?" She gave a small smile before pulling out her right hand from her jacket.

"I like it." She extended out her hand toward me with a lopsided grin that caused this swirling feeling in my stomach. "I'm Lili. Lili Zanotto. Nice to meet ya."

"I'm Razputin." I extended my open hand out to take hers before shaking it once.

"Razputin what?" She gave me a confused look as I swallowed dryly in reply.

"Um," I pulled my hand out from hers before trying to clear my throat. "Well, I don't want you regretting your decision to help me out there." I reached up with my free hand and scratched the back of my neck nervously. "I know my family history wasn't all too," I hesitated for a moment as I dropped my hand to my side. "Kind to yours." Lili just gave me a curious look as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"So you think your last name would make me regret putting Bobby in his place? I'll do that shit for free."

"My last name makes a lot of people regret knowing me." I felt a dark look take over my face as I looked her in the eyes. "I know my family caused yours to lose something dear to them and I know quite a lot of people that hold those things against my family still. Even after two generations."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm an Aquato. Razputin Aquato." I waited for a moment as silence rang out between us. Her eyes just looked into mine as an emotion swirled within her eyes that I couldn't pinpoint.

It's not anger. I've seen much of that thrown in my direction over the years. Disgust is out of the question, too. Fear looks nothing like that as well. Could it be horror? Or regret? Or-?

"I knew you were interesting."

Wait, what?

"I said, I knew you were interesting." I swallowed hard and grew quite embarrassed by not realizing that I spoke my last thought there out loud. "I could tell there was something about you, but I wasn't expecting that bombshell." She gave a small chuckle as the lopsided grin reappeared. "Sorry for me looking like a deer in headlights for a moment. I'm used to big names rolling through but I never thought I would ever hear Aquato."

"You're not-? I mean-?" I gave Lili a confused look as I tried my best to construct somewhat of a sentence, but I was failing at every turn.

"What? You think I would want to drown you in the lake for something you did to my uncle?" Lili giggled a little at the thought, but I just gave her quite a serious look in reply. "Oh, shit people have actually wanted to do that, huh?"

"You'll be surprised."

"Good god, what the hell?"

"People think that my family is responsible for the pains of their past." I gave her a small shrug as I adjusted my back once more. "They fear we'll lead to another Maligula. That we'll cause more pain to others."

"And they think treating your family and yourself like shit is gonna stop that?" I shrugged once more as I let out a sigh.

"Your guess is just as good as mine. But it's why I'm here."

"What do you mean?" She gave me a curious look as I continued.

"I want to prove the world wrong about us." I felt my determined gleam take over my face as I spoke. "I want to prove that all because we're tied to Maligula, doesn't mean that we're all evil. I want to prove that the Aquato name can bring good." I put a lot of emphasis on the word as I gave Lili a proud smile. "And I'm going to. I want to become a Psychonaut. The best one the world has ever seen. I'll prove them wrong about my family. I'll show them that I'm so much more than Maligula's blood. That I can save the world just as easily as she caused destruction to it." For a moment, Lili just stared at me. It was as if she wanted to say something, but she decided to keep it to herself for the most part.

"Well, I can say this will teach ya at least the basics of putting that into motion." I shrugged as I gave her a small cheeky smile.

"Honestly didn't know where else to begin anyway." She nodded in agreement before shaking herself out of whatever mindset was causing her to go rather distant mentally.

"Well hey! How about I show you the cabins? I think I know someone who wouldn't mind bunking with ya in the boy's cabin."

"Really? Even with the whole Aquato idea?"

"Trust me, he's too scattered-minded to really give a fuck." She shrugged at that as I gave her a confused look.

"Zanotto said what now?" Without even answering me, the girl started making her way toward the cabins with a wide smile.

"Come on, Raz! We got a whole new world to show ya!" I swallowed hard as I hurried along with my things to follow Lili without much hesitation.

This girl is going to bring quite a fire into my life, huh?

Chapter Text

"And that's the main places of the camp!" Lili gave me a proud smile as we took the first few steps into the heart of the camp. "Have any questions from your favorite personal camp guide?" I couldn't help but smile right along with her as we started making our way toward one of the cabins.

"Not at the moment, no." I adjusted my bag a little on my shoulder as we continued walking down the main little path together. "Thank you for pointing everything out for me though."

"Eh, it's no biggy." She just gave a small shrug as she slipped her hands away into her jacket. "Rather that than you getting lost in my forest home away from home."

"You're a usual here then?" I gave her a curious look as she neared the cabin she had pointed out as the boy's sleeping spot.

"Been coming here since I was old enough." She just shrugged it off as if it was nothing. "My dad always explained it as 'train your abilities and make friends and something something something wants me to be social'."

"And how's that going for him?" She gave me a wicked smile that was matched with a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Let's just say I raise some hell from time to time." I swallowed hard for a moment as my mind simply went silent for a moment.

This girl is something, huh?

"Guess I'll have to see first hand, huh?" I tried to laugh it off a little as Lili just smiled proudly for a moment.

"You bet your ass, Raz."

"Stop saying such mean things to me!" I snapped my attention toward the yelling voice as I saw there was a shorter boy not too far from us. The most unique thing about him was the little tinfoil hat he was wearing as he cupped his ears with both of his hands. "Mean squirrels! Mean squirrels!"

"That's Dogen." Lili seemed to pick up on my curiosity as she leaned over to speak to me in a whisper. "Dogen Boole. He's a Zoolepathy specialist but also is probably a bit dangerous."

"Wait a moment," I gave Lili a wide-eyed look as I started to get even more curious than before. "Boole? As in related to Compton Boole?"

"Yep!" She nodded for a moment as she gave Dogen a once over from a distance. "Just as crazy too. Seems to run in the family. Though his craziness comes from the fact that he argues with squirrels and has a habit of blowing people's minds."

"With his abilities to speak with them?"

"Oh no, I mean literally blow people's minds."

"Wait what-?" Before I could question her further, Lili turned her attention over toward the smaller boy once more as she started to wave him over.

"Yo Dogen! Come over and meet the new kid!" Dogen seemed to snap out of his now silent argument with the squirrels before recognizing that he was being called over. He slowly made his way over to us as he gave Lili a meek little nod.

"Hi, Lili. Hello, new camper." The kid looked as if he was present in our conversation, but also absent-minded as he spoke as if it was toward no one in particular. "Don't mind me. The squirrels are spreading rumors again and it's on my mind."

"Well, Razputin here isn't one for spreading squirrel rumors." Lili smiled at me as she placed her left hand on my shoulder. "Right, Raz?" I nodded along with her words as I got the idea that she wanted me to roll with what she had to say.

"That's right. I'll see them in hell before I listen to them." I saw Lili give an amused look out of the corner of my eye as Dogen gave me a pleased look.

"So you'll be a friend to Dogen. That's nice. I need more of those." I nodded as I gave him a kind smile.

"You haven't given me a reason to not be."

"Just be sure to not listen to the squirrels." He turned his head a little to glare at the little creatures that didn't stay too far away from us. "Whatever they try to tell you, they're lying." Dogen put a lot of emphasis on the word as he glared at the small animals.

"I'll take your word over it." I gave him a simple nod as Lili seemed to be pleased by our interaction.

"Glad to see you two are getting along." She gave a smile before slipping her hands away into her jacket once more. "After all, I can't show you the inside of the boy's cabin." Lili gave Dogen her attention for a moment as she nodded her head toward me. "Can you show Raz the cabin and where he can sleep? I gotta get some stuff together before Basic Braining anyway."

"Basic Braining?" I gave her a curious look and she just smirked in return.

"You'll see soon enough." She smiled wickedly once more before turning her head toward Dogen. "Right, Dogen?"

"I don't like Basic Braining." The boy seemed to have paled at the thought as his brown eyes glossed over. "Oleander's brain is scary." I looked between Lili and Dogen for a moment as I tried my best to understand what the hell they were talking about, but neither seemed to answer my silent question. "But the cabin is nice and safe. You can bunk with me. I'll let you even pick if you want top or bottom."

"Alright." I tried my best to shake off the nerves that the idea of Basic Braining had given me as I looked over toward Lili once more. "Want to meet up before going to whatever this braining thing is? I still don't quite know where I'm going."

"Sure thing." She nodded her head in the direction of the cabin not far from the one we were standing by before she continued speaking. "I'll be right over there anyway. Just gotta make sure I have some stuff put away before the other girls decide to fuck with it."

"Sounds good." I gave her a nod as a small smile graced my lips. "Thanks again for showing me about."

"No problem." She shrugged once more before turning on her heel to take her leave. "Just don't go off and go wandering into the woods, alright? I won't be able to help you find your way back from there." I couldn't help but smile wider as I called out after her retreating figure.

"No promises, Zanotto!" After a moment of silence between Dogen and me, the smaller boy spoke softly as it was obvious he was unsure if Lili could hear him from the distance between us just yet.

"It's rare for Lili to like people." He tilted his head a little before looking up toward me. "You should consider yourself lucky."

"Yeah?" I tilted my head a little, just like him, as he just nodded in reply. "Good to know."

"She's a nice person as long as you don't mess with her." He seemed to aimlessly talk for a moment as he made his way into the cabin with me following close behind him. "Nice person. Unlike the squirrels."

Is this who she meant by scattered-brained? It makes sense, honestly.

I shrugged it off as I entered the cabin and followed the smaller boy over toward our now shared bunk bed.

At least he didn't grab me by the collar. It's an improvement already.

After a little while of putting things in their new temporary homes in the cabin, I made my way out of it to hear the overhead speakers kick in.

"Alrighty, maggots! Get yourselves ready for your Basic Braining training! You know what to do. MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT!" I cringed a bit at the raspiness in the voice as it left a little bit of ringing in my ears.

"Who in the fuck?"

"That's Oleander for ya." I nearly jumped out of my skin as Lili's voice wasn't too far away from me. I spun on my heels to see that she had kept to her word about meeting up, and was leaning against the far part of the cabin's main wall. "I feel like he's stuck in like, Vietnam training or some shit." She shrugged a little as she pushed herself away from the wall to walk over toward me. "Just roll with it though. He treats everything like an army drill and it won't change."

"Crazy BootCamp Man, got it." Lili let out a snicker that brought a smile instantly to my face. "I didn't know there was a third counselor though. I heard it was just Agent Vodello and Agent Nein that ran this place. At least from what I read in the comics." I reached up and scratched the back of my neck awkwardly as I felt as if I let out how cliche of a nerd I was.

"Eh, don't believe all that's shown in True Psychic Tales. Ironically," She gave me a witty grin as she pulled me along in a general direction to follow her. "They're not all true."

"Really?"

"Yeah some of them were twisted just the slightest. At least from what dad says." She shrugged about it as we started walking side by side toward wherever she was leading me. "It's why I don't take all of it to heart, ya know? Even then, I was raised around the myths themselves so it's a little nulled out to me."

"I bet even Superman would look dull if they were like, your everyday acquaintance." I rubbed my chin with my right hand a little as I let the idea sink in. "Makes sense."

"You like your comics, huh?" Lili gave me a teasing smile that made me blush a little as I jumped to defend myself.

"I see them more as visual novels but nonetheless."

"You literally said comics like two seconds ago."

"That was a miscommunication."

"Miscommunication my ass." I blushed deeper as I tried my best to not let the joyful laugh Lili gave mess with me any further.

Yep, definitely bringing some fire to my life already.

"Anyway," I tried my best to not act too flustered as I went to change the topic. "What exactly is Basic Braining?"

"Basically like checking to see if you know the basic shit. Like how to move about someone's mental plain and to see if you can handle the beings that come about within it. Simple shit."

"Then why did Dogen look as if he was having war flashbacks when you brought it up?" I gave her a curious look as she rolled her eyes about it.

"Cause he's failed it for the last five years he's been here. Seriously don't know how his sister is an intern at the Motherlobe but his ass can't handle Basic Braining."

"There's an intern program?" My eyes lit up as I thought of all the different agents I would love to shadow in my future.

Oh wow, if I could get someone like Agent Nein as a mentor, that would be amazing! I wouldn't pass up Agent Vodello, though. Oh! Maybe if one of the Psychic Seven heard about me, they might be willing to let me shadow them.

"There is. But sometimes it's literal trash, though. Like someone had to shadow the mailman of all people." I grew disappointed at the thought as I visibly lost interest.

"Yep no I would refuse." Lili shrugged as she seemed to agree.

"I wouldn't blame ya. Though all agents go through it. Gotta get through that to be a Junior Agent and all."

"Well, I hope my future goal is not stalled out on being stuck as a mailman." Lili laughed wholeheartedly at that as she gave my shoulder a hard slug that hit hard enough for it to sting but not enough for me to complain. It was at that moment, as we made our way up a spiral little ramp toward the little main area of a wooden tower, that I realized a kid was glaring at me from not too far behind Lili and me. "What's his problem?" Lili looked over her shoulder toward who I was talking about to see that a kid in a sailor's hat and pieces of the standard Whisper Rock camper uniform was glaring at me directly and sighed.

"Elton. Don't let him get to you. He thinks I'll be his girlfriend one day which I highly doubt."

"You wouldn't wanna go on a date with Moby Dick over there?" I turned to give Lili a smirk, but she just rolled her eyes at me with a smirk of her own.

"Only in his wildest dreams."

"So I don't need to worry about another person threatening my physical safety?" I chucked a little about the idea, but Lili seemed to take the note seriously.

"Trust me, if another person puts their hands on you, they gotta go through me." She gave me a serious look that made a chill roll down my spine. It was obvious by the pure determination in her eyes that within the last few hours of knowing me and showing me around that she seemed to care quite a lot for me as a friend. Something I felt rather happy about, honestly.

"Let's hope I don't need any saving, ya?" I smiled at her as I tried to let her know that I was purely joking. "Wouldn't want my first time at camp being a rescue mission for myself, you know?" Lili cracked a smile at that as the serious demeanor she had seemed to soften by the second back into her laid-back and fierce aura once more.

"I'll have to be the Superman to your Louis Lane then, huh?" I blushed a little at her comment and I ended up letting out a witty comment of my own.

"My nerdy comics are relevant, huh? Guess I'm not the only nerdy one here." I smirked a little as I tried my best to play down the burning feeling in my cheeks.

"Hey! Superman is a basic hero! Isn't like I made Ant-Man or Green Lantern reference."

"You just showcased that you know more than you lead on." My smirk only grew as it was obvious my comebacks were messing with her just enough to fluster her a little.

"Maybe I will let them harm you just a little to make up for this."

"Aw, what about being my Superman here?"

"You lost that with calling me a nerd."

"I only said I wasn't the only nerdy one. Not that you're a nerd." I just chuckled as Lili crossed her arms over her chest as we entered a small room at the top of the little tower.

"Shush." I smiled nonetheless as I followed her to a little bench seat that was in front of one of the open windows of the room, and joined her as she sat down with a small huff.

Well, I can at least say I have some colorful company to share my time with.

I chuckled a little at the thought as Lili crossed her legs so she could bring them up into the seat with her.

"Anyway, Basic Braining is basic stuff and I hope you step on a thought lego." I nearly burst out laughing at her remark as a man in military-like attire put himself in the middle of the room as the last few kids entered the room after us.

"Alrighty, soldiers! Today you begin your basic training for this year's stay at Whispering Rock! You must pass today's course to continue with the lessons you can learn here during your stay this summer. If you do not pass, you will stay and repeat the lesson till you do. Do I make myself clear?" I gave who I figured was Agent Oleander a determined nod as he took everyone else's silence as a 'yes sir'. He pulled a small little rectangle from his pocket and I instantly recognized what the device was from my training with my family. It was a camouflage-colored psy-portal he then raised it over his head and placed it on his forehead.

"Then enter if you dare." I felt a wide smile take over my lips as I pulled down the goggles resting on my forehead down and over my eyes.

Oh, I dare alright.

I closed my eyes as the entering of someone's mind through a psy-portal was second nature to me at this stage of my personal training.

I bet this will be a breeze.

Chapter Text

The next thing I knew, I was welcomed to the sounds of gunfire and explosions as I could hear airplanes flying low nearby. I opened my eyes slowly to be greeted with the sight of what I figured was similar to war trenches.

"Jeez." I looked around the area for a little bit as I let the scenery sink in. "Definitely stuck in his war days, huh?"

"Wait till you go a little further into his brain." I snapped my attention toward Lili, who was standing close beside me as some of the other kids had already started dashing toward the course. "He's a weird guy." She tilted her head a little as she took a small step closer to me. "You wear your goggles down in the mind field?" I gave her an awkward smile as I shrugged a little at the comment.

"Yeah. I just find it more comfortable. Some of this can be a bit overwhelming and all, ya know?" I looked out toward where all the kids were already starting to run toward the course. My mind floated off toward a memory as their retreating figures were getting smaller.

"He's one of them!" I winched at the amount of venom dripping in the man's voice as I took a step back away from him. "Look at his eyes!" I swallowed hard as I reached up to grab my goggles from the top of my head as quickly as possible.

"Aquato!" I tried my best to flee the situation as I did my best to fit my goggles over my eyes as I ran. Their words yelled out toward me in the distance despite I had aided the small family that had noticed my family's unique characteristic.

"Monster!"

"Freak!"

"Yellowed-eyed demon!"

It was the last time I helped strangers with my psychic abilities without wearing my goggles.

"Raz?" I snapped my attention toward Lili, who I felt put a delicate hand on my shoulder. "You there?"

"Shit," I muttered the word under my breath before trying my best to give her a small smile. "Yeah sorry, just a memory."

"You sure?" I nodded my head as I smiled wider at the worried gleam in her brown eyes.

"What? Getting soft on me already, Zanotto?" She scuffed at that as the delicate hand on my shoulder left to form a fist.

"You wish." She knocked her knuckles into my shoulder as a small snicker released itself from her.

"Aw, here I thought you cared." I laughed a little as she just rolled her eyes at me. I looked out toward the course before us once more as a determined smile took over my lips. "Guess we show these kids how it's done till then?"

"Let's do it, Aquato." Lili gave me a wicked grin that caused me to swallow hard in return.

"Last one there is a rotten egg then, Zanotto."

"Where in the world did you learn how to move like that?!" Lili gave a shining smile as we ran down toward what looked like a wooden bridge in the middle of the army trenches. "You're like some kind of gymnast! You just flew through the air like it was nothing!" I smiled proudly as I felt the urge to show off just a tad bit more to the girl beside me.

"While growing up, I was taught to train not just my psychic abilities, but my physical ones!" I started running sideways for a moment before jumping into a handstand and springing myself back up into an upright position without even losing my position next to the fellow psychic. I went back into a normal running stance as a cocky smile took over my lips. "The Amazing Aquatos for sure!" Lili just scuffed for a moment before giving me a teasing smile.

"Show off."

"Show off?" I laughed a little as I looked out ahead of me. "I could do a lot more if given the chance! My family has been living as acrobats for years!" I decided to do a quick cartwheel beside her running figure before backflipping back onto my feet with a wide smile. This caused me to start running backwards as I was now just a few inches ahead of Lili. "It honestly helps so much in minds like this-!" I felt my right foot slip suddenly as I was cut off from my sentence. "AH!" I felt myself falling backward as I quickly realized that what I thought was a bridge before, was instead a drop-off.

"RAZ!" Lili reached out toward me quickly to try and see if she could grab me, but I was already a little out of her reach by the time she tried to. I closed my eyes tightly as I felt myself free falling for a little bit down into the dirt before suddenly, I stopped. I snapped my eyes open to look up toward where Lili was to see she was holding two fingers to her temples and was deep into concentration. I looked to see what caused me to come to a halt and realized that an orange telekinesis hand had stopped me from hitting the ground with a hard thud. That hand, I quite quickly realized, was Lili's.

So much for showing off.

I swallowed hard as I hopped off the hand and landed softly on the ground that wasn't even two feet away from where Lili caught me before looking back up toward her.

"I'm okay!" I smiled as she dropped her fingers with a visible sigh before jumping down. She landed the good twenty-foot drop with ease as she stuck the landing like some kind of superhero before looking me over.

"Jesus you frightened me there." I gave her a nervous toothy grin as I just scratched the back of my neck with a gloved hand.

"Was not expecting that to be just a big drop like that. I honestly thought it was a bridge."

"It used to be! One that would wobble as you ran across it to make the younger kids frightened." Lili's eyebrows knitted together as she looked up toward the other side of the trench. "That's odd. Oleander never changed the Basic Braining course. It's been the same since I was six." I felt uneasy with the thought as I decided to take a little look around in the ditch we had ended up in. I swallowed hard as my father's voice echoed in my head.

When the mental plan changes, it's normally due to dramatic events or thoughts. Small changes may occur, but they would be subtle things. Like tiny details within a painting or a new stitch to an old t-shirt.

My stomach dropped as my father's voice finished what I remembered from one of his old lessons.

But when the brain changes dramatically? Like a change of scenery or a change in its normal path?

Then, that's something you should fear. That's when the mind is actively going through changes. That's when dangers can occur.

"Has he been different than normal?" I hesitated for a moment as I continued to scan the area a little.

"Not that I could notice and I've lived with him around since I can remember."

"And you said this is a massive change." Lili hummed as it was obvious she was getting the same unnerving feeling. The skeptical look in her brown eyes swirled as she scanned about the area around us as well.

"Something is wrong." Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until I saw a little thing of green and red on the ground right behind Lili. "What else has changed? What didn't I notice on the way here?" She questioned softly to herself as she rubbed her chin a little.

"Well," I pointed out behind her as I noticed a small little red and green figure behind her. "Did the original course include that?" This caused Lili to stand to the side and the item to show itself completely. Finding out, it was a little plant, but it was one I had never seen before. It looked as if it was a piece of meat growing from the rough dirt underneath it. Like some kind of dandelion growing from under concrete.

"What in the hell?" Lili moved around the plant cautiously before kneeling down beside it. "What are you, little guy?"

"You've never seen anything like it either?" I grew immensely curious as I decided to kneel down beside Lili as she looked a closer look at the plant.

"I have been reading books about psychic herbs and plants since I was five and I have never seen anything like this." She reached out and grazed one of its leaves. "It feels real, but I know it's nothing but a figment of Oly's mind." I watched as she closed her eyes gently and a small orange aura came about from her hands. "Maybe I can make a connection with it. Maybe it can tell me something." I tilted my head in curiosity and tried my best to give her space as I knew making a connection like that for the first time could be difficult with an audience. But I desperately wanted to know what the plant's purpose was. I wanted to know why it was here.

"ONLY TEN MORE MINUTES, MAGGOTS! GET YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!"

I nearly jumped out of my skin as Oleander's voice boomed loudly in the distance. Lili instantly snapped out of her trying to make a connection with the plant as she looked up toward me with an uneasy look in her eyes.

"You go on ahead. If you stay back here with me, you won't be able to go on to any of the other lessons. I've passed this countless times, so I don't need to worry about it."

"What about this?" I gestured toward the plant that was making me more uneasy by the second.

"I'll keep trying to make a connection with it. I'll let you know when we're out if I got anything, okay?" I nodded my head as I looked over to see there was a ladder I could climb up toward the opposite side of the ditch to continue onto the course.

"Deal. See you when we're done."

"You got it."

It didn't take me long to finish the rest of Oleander's course, but I was thinking for sure that someone else would have beaten it before me. Instead though, I was welcomed to a rather empty little room with very little to it other than a large stage in the center.

"Huh." I continued to scan the area a bit as the uneasy feeling crept back into my being. "This isn't weird or anything no." I spoke softly toward myself as I wandered about for a little bit as I approached the stage hesitantly. I felt a dreadful feeling eating at me with each step I took, but I tried my best to push past it as I reached the stage.

What was it that Nona would say? A psychic's greatest ability is the ability to trust his gut?

I swallowed hard as I saw what looked like a little hallway in the distance. My mind instantly felt like it was being pulled in that direction, but for means that made my whole being shiver in response.

Well, my gut is telling me something is wrong.

I started walking toward the white little hallway as the dreadful feeling only grew more and more the closer I got to it.

Really wrong. Really fucking wrong.

I took cautious steps as I entered the hallway. The print on the walls didn't help with my nerves as I realized that they had a trim of little rabbits and carrots that led directly toward a set of red curtains on the back wall. I moved slowly toward the curtains, and once I was in reach, I moved one to the side ever so slightly to see the familiar look of blueprint paper.

"What in the-?"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!?" I jumped back from the curtains and turned on my heels to see Oleander standing behind me with a snarl on his face. "Weren't you taught that it's rude to wander around in someone's private sectors of their minds?!"

"Sorry, sir!" I swallowed hard as I tried my best to come up with a believable excuse. "I-I thought this was where the first person done was supposed to go since I didn't see anyone else by the stage." If my goggles were off from my eyes, I knew the man would have seen I was terrified about his response as he seemed to slowly accept my excuse.

"Well, maggot, I wasn't expecting anyone to finish that quickly. To be honest, I yelled out the time remainder cause I was growing impatient with the lot of you." The man put his arms behind his back as he gave me a simple nod in response. "You are dismissed, soldier! Good work finishing your Basic Braining. Meet me in the real world to receive your badge. You'll need it to get into the other lessons available." I nodded my head slowly as I closed my eyes. Allowing my mental presence to escape Oleander's mind and back into my physical world.

For the best anyway,

The dreadful feeling came back again as I thought to myself.

I need to tell Lili what I saw.

Chapter Text

"Hey!" My eyes snapped open as I heard Bobby's voice screech at Oleander. "No one actually finished! You normally don't shut off the connection unless someone does!"

"Someone did." I looked over toward Oleander, who gave a knowing smirk. His eyes were directed straight toward me as he pulled a small little item from his pocket. "Congrats maggot, you finished this faster than I thought anyone could." He extended a clutched fist toward me and gestured for me to do the same. I complied quickly with an open hand before he then dropped a small badge into my palm. "Your Basic Braining is complete." I couldn't help but smile proudly as I pulled my hand back to look over the little patch.

My first major step to becoming a psychonaut. I did it! I really did it!

"There's no fucking way!" My proud smile disappeared off my face as I shot a glare toward Bobby. "He's the new kid! Fresh meat! Just a stupid-!"

"That's enough out of you, Mr. Zilch." I grew wide-eyed as I looked up toward the new voice that had joined us in Oleander's little tower. "It should be obvious that this young man is not new to these got of things." I watched in awe as the man took a couple of steps closer to me.

Holy shit holy shit holy shit.

I swallowed hard as I took in the cool and relaxed figure that was before me.

My idol from all the True Psychic Tales. The man I looked up to, who was only second to my father in my mind.

I fought the urge to move my goggles from my eyes as I wanted to get a better look at the man before me, but I knew it was all too soon for me to show my eyes.

The one and only Sasha Nein.

"What's your name, boy?"

"Razputin!" I swallowed hard once more and cleared my voice as I tried my best to not come off as too eager to introduce myself to him. "I mean Razputin, sir." I laughed a little to myself as I felt a little nudge into my side.

"Sorry, Sasha, he's a bit of an eager one." Sasha gave Lili a small nod as it was obvious he'd been tied to the young girl for a while.

"Nothing wrong with being eager. Being eager to learn is one of the best qualities to have within this field." Sasha adjusted his glasses for a second before giving me his full attention once more. "If you're wanting to learn more outside of what we have set up for basics and things, you're always welcome to swing by my lab." I couldn't see the man's eyes, but I could tell his smile was knowing as his tone shifted ever so slightly. "I bet I have a lot to learn from you as well." I swallowed hard as that knowing smile had been used on me more than once in my life. That small little acknowledgment that they could tell something was unique about me.

He can't possibly tell I'm an Aquato, can he?  Coach doesn't even look phased by me completing the course and n o one has threatened me just yet. I can't sense any malice from him. More just... A hidden curiosity.

I rolled my shoulders a little as I tried my best to make it seem like I was weighing the idea in my mind.

Maybe he's just curious about the new kid? The new student that shows good potential? If Lili's right, I'm the first new kid here in several years. Not many people come here, I guess. I wouldn't put it past him to try and see whatever I'm made out of to make me want to come here.

"I might be interested, yeah." I shrugged my shoulders a little as I looked over toward Lili. "But is it alright with Lili comes along? I bet I'll still be wandering around lost without her at the moment." I gave her a small smile, and she just smirked in reply.

"Yeah, Raz will be like a lost puppy without me." I looked back toward Agent Nein as she slugged me in the arm, just hard enough for me to whence a little, but not enough for it to actually hurt. Nein seemed to be used to this kind of behavior from her, though, as she just rolled with it without question.

"Sure thing." He put his hand in his jacket's pocket before producing a button from it. "Just use this whenever you get to my secret lab."

"A button?" I took it curiously as he just gave a small nod.

"A kid like you should be able to figure it out quickly." He adjusted his glasses once more and then placed his free hand behind his back. "Nice to meet your acquaintance, Razputin." Without me saying goodbye, the agent turned on his heels and started making his way out of the tower. I instantly looked toward Lili as I figured the agent was out of listening range.

"Secret lab?"

"It's not really a secret." Lili just shrugged as I put the button in my jacket pocket. "Everyone has been there once or twice at the very least. It's his way of running experiments and tests on child psychics and things without HQ breathing down his neck." I swallowed hard and it was obvious Lili picked up on my sudden change of heart. "Oh come on! It's not that bad. Just get to explore your own psyche and all, ya know?"

"So I can go into my own mind?" She smiled as my voice had a little bit of hesitance in its tone.

"Scared of yourself there, Razzy?"

Scared of what scars my mental realm could have, honestly.

I tried my best to shake the thought out of my mind as I tried to steel myself.

From what I could see out of my own mind growing up, it's not that bad. Just... I know there are things hiding in there. Things that I know are what people expect from the spawn of Maligula's bloodline. I was always too scared to travel too far within my own mind. Too scared to travel to the deeper darker parts which I knew were there.

Most of all, I was too scared to see if I had a Maligula of my own.

"You alright there?" I snapped back into reality as Lili was giving me a curious look.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I reached up and pulled my goggles up so that they could rest on my head. "Just was thinking."

"Well, don't be thinking too hard, alright? I'm sure some training with Sasha will be fine. You don't have to do it if you don't want to anyway." I smiled a little as it was obvious Lili was trying to suppress her concern. "Or whatever. Whatever you wanna do."

"I might then." My smile widened just a little as I decided to tease the girl still sitting beside me. "You'll be there stuck with my lost self anyway."

"Cause you need a girl to hold your hand around the camp I know." She smirked as I tried my best to not make it known that my cheeks flushed at her words.

"Keep saying stuff like that and that kid you were talking about is gonna get really jealous of me."

"Again, in his dreams." I chuckled as I got up onto my feet.

"Well, might as well get a move on, huh?"

"You wait just a damn minute, Raz the Spaz." I rolled my eyes as Bobby's voice filled my ears again.

"Oh, how may I give you my time, oh great and powerful asshole?" I let sarcasm drip from my words as I turned my attention toward him. "If you didn't just hear Agent Nein, I got some personal training to do."

"You think you're so cool don't you?" Bobby snarled as he took a step closer to me. "Like some kind of badass." He growled out the word as I just smiled smugly in return.

"Well, I did just kick your ass in Basic Braining on my first try so." He narrowed his eyes as I saw his hands curl into fits.

"You're dead meat, Spaz." He lowered his voice as he leaned forward. "Dead. Meat." I gave him a smirk as I leaned in just as much as he did.

"A lot of people would like that, ya know." I gave him a wide smile that I saw caused a chill to run down his spine, but he wasn't going to break his tough-guy stance. "You're not the first to threaten that either." I leaned back as I adjusted the goggles on top of my head. "What's your problem with me anyway? I know why others have threatened me like that, but you?" I chuckled a little as I crossed my arms over my chest. "You just seem to have a problem with me in general."

"Alright, maggots." Coach stood up from where he was sitting and came over toward where Bobby and I were. "If you two keep at this, I'll have you both on drills till your bodies collapse! Know to leave your differences at the door!" I nodded at Oleander as Bobby gave a small snarl in return. "Don't give me that look, Slowy." I stood up onto my feet and looked over toward Lili before looking back to Oleander.

"I'm just gonna take my leave before things get worse here, sir."

"Best to do that, Spaz."

"It's-." Oleander just turned as he pulled Bobby along with him. As if to make sure there was no more conflict between us. "Raz." I gave a small sigh as I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"He barely listens. Don't take it personally, Raz." I shrugged as I looked over toward Lili, who was now standing beside me. "But hey, I can show you the way to Sasha's lab. I can show you the lake area too if you want?" I felt my face light up at the thought of going toward the lake. Lili seemed to notice as she just giggles a little in reply. "You just lit up like some kind of dog at the notice of a walk."

"Hey!" I smiled wide as I took a step closer to her. A small whisper as I continued speaking. "Us water psychics are very happy at any chance we get with water."

"I bet." She just smiled wide before taking her hand off my shoulder to knock it a little with her knuckles instead. "Now come on. If there was one thing I learned about Sasha from over the years, you don't keep him waiting." I smiled wide as she started making her way toward the exit of the little tower.

Might already have an enemy, but at least I also have a friend.

My smile grew slightly as I did my best to catch up with her.

And I'm very thankful for it. More than I ever had before, honestly.

Chapter Text

"Sorry Bobby is still on your ass there, Raz." I shrugged as Lili and I started making our way toward wherever Agent Nein's 'secret' lab was. "He needs to cut you some slack but I doubt he will."

"I'm used to it." I put my hands into my jacket's pockets as I kicked a small stone with my right foot as we walked together. "I am a little surprised that he's like that already though. I only ever had kids act that way to me when they realize my last name. I only told you, so I doubt he knows it."

"Are you ever going to tell the other kids though?" I snapped my eyes over toward Lili, who seemed to look nonchalant about the idea by how she had her arms crossed behind her head as she walked beside me. "You can't keep it a secret forever, after all."

"And get myself ran out of the camp before I even have a real chance to prove myself? No thank you." I rolled my shoulders a little to try to get the tension out of my system as we continued walking together. "I doubt I can keep it from the agents here, but I rather the other kids treat me like... another kid."

"I honestly completely understand." I gave Lili a confused look as she dropped her hands to her sides. "When I first came here, it was a breath of fresh air. For once I was seen as something other than the kid of the great Truman Zanotto. For once I was seen as another kid. Just another psychic in training." She looked over toward me with a distant look in her brown eyes. "It only lasted a week, but I would give anything to be treated like that again. Like my last name doesn't carry the weight of the world and all. After all, they treat my family like we're a line of martyrs." I couldn't help but smile a little as I pulled my eyes away from her for a moment.

"You want an escapee from being a savior and I want an escape from being the sinner."

"You're a lot kinder than I would be in your shoes though." Lili gave a short chuckle at the thought before reaching over and knocking me in the shoulder. "But hey, we're friends, right? We don't have to be anything we're not with the other then." I couldn't help but smile as a memory danced around my mind.

"Father?" I stared up toward the tall man with a curious gleam in my eye as I tried my best not to tilt my head too much as I presented him with a question. "Why do the other kids hate me? I didn't even do anything." I watched my father give a small sigh as he ran a hand through his auburn hair.

"Well, Razputin, you have to remember that our name is connected to pain. To the deaths of loved ones and the war of a nation." He kneeled down next to me before placing a hand on my shoulder. "That pain has been passed down through bloodlines. That fear along with it. Other children are going to be spiteful of it. Full of fear and distrust as they hear your name."

"How can I make friends like mama wants me to then?"

I snapped back into reality as I noticed the curious look Lily was giving me as she noticed I was silent at her side.

"You have to find the ones that are like us in a way. Those that carry expectations with their name as well."

"You good there, Raz?" She gave me a curious look as a smirk grew across her lips. "Don't tell me you're backing out of us having a heart-to-heart here."

"Or, to put it bluntly, find someone who just doesn't give a damn."

"What? Getting soft on me?" I gave her a smirk in reply as she just rolled her eyes at me.

"Again, it's called a moment, Aquato." She slugged me this time in a way that actually stung, but it was obvious she was still being playful with me. "Don't go around ruining each one we have now."

"Well, my nickname is Moment Killer."

"Here I thought it was Spazzy Razzy."

"Please never call me that again."

"Whatever you say Spazzy." Lili gave me a Cheshire grin as I decided to toy with her in reply.

"Whatever, Lilipad."

"Lilipad?" Lili gave a smile as she seemed to stifle a laugh. "That's the best you could come up with?"

"Hey! It fits!" I felt my face heat up a little as Lili just laughed joyously.

"But Lilipad?"

"Hey, it's better than what my family calls me!"

"And what's that?" I felt an embarrassed blush take over my cheek as I tried my best to ignore her question. I looked over the little lot of trees to our left to see an oddly shaped building not too far from our path. A bunch of fences and signs around it that made me rather curious to see if this was the 'secret lab' Agent Nein was talking about.

"Is that the secret lab? We should hurry and not keep Agent Nein waiting yeah." I started to walk faster as the girl beside me started yelling after me.

"Aw come on! It can't be that bad!"

"Nope rather die!"

"Come on, Raz!" I started running to the lab as I heard the hurried sound of running footsteps behind me. "I bet it's better than Spazzy!"

"I'm not telling you, Zanotto!"

"I'll get it out of you one way or another!"

"Never!" I started laughing joyously as I came to a halt at the opening of the gates. I turned on my heel just in time to have Lili playfully collide into me. It was just hard enough to cause us to stumble a little, but not hard enough for us to topple over. We laughed together for a moment as Lili then took the chance to hold my arms down my arms by wrapping hers around me from behind.

"Tell me your secrets Agent Raz!" I couldn't help but laugh as I playfully struggled against her.

"Never, Agent Zanotto!" I smiled to myself as I heard her laugh so happily in my ear. I decided to put my hands on top of hers before leaning forward so she was on my back.

"RAZ!" It was Lili's turn to struggle against me as she was trying her best to get back onto the ground. "Put me down, you asshole!" She laughed as she spoke which let me know she didn't actually mean her words.

"You struggle like a worm!" I chuckled as I thought of how Mirtala would wiggle just the same whenever I put her on my back. "You're doing the exact same thing as my baby sister!"

"Put me down, Razputin!" Lili was laughing still as she struggled on my back like a turtle that's been flipped onto its shell. "I'll make you regret it if you don't!"

"What ya gonna do from up there, huh?" I felt a smirk spread across my face as I decided to lean forward just a bit more to make it feel like we were tipping over. "When I can do this."

"RAZ!" She started to struggle a little more as I felt her arms tighten around me. "Don't do that you asshole!" I started chuckling at her as I leaned back a little.

"Exactly how my sister gets when I do that to her," I decided that Lili was messed with enough as I stood up straight so her feet could touch the ground again. "Though without the swearing." Lili dropped her arms from me before a hard punch met my shoulder. "OUCH! Jesus!"

"That's for being a dick!" I looked over toward Lili to see a flushed look on her face, which made me smirk in reply.

"Is Lili Zanotto a little embarrassed?"

"Am not!"

"I think she is!" I spoke in a sing-song voice as she just huffed in annoyance at me.

"You're an ass."

"It was fun though!" I smiled wide as she just crossed her arms over her chest.

"Do it again and die." I couldn't help but snicker in reply as the embarrassed look was still on her face.

"Whatever you say, Captain Zanotto." I smirked once more as Lili huffed once more and decided to start walking toward the entrance to the lab. "Still funny though."

"Shush!"

"Aw, but it great-!"

"Shush."

"You struggling about like a toddler and everything!"

"Raz, I will kill you myself."

"In your dreams, Zanotto." I smirked as we entered the main padded area of a dome-like little structure.

"Shut up and put the button in the Geodesic Psychoisolation Chamber." I gave her a curious look before looking around the little padded room.

"His lab is in a Geodesic Psychoisolation Chamber? We have those? Why do we have these?"

"Let's just say," Lili gestured around the room before continuing. "Some of the kids that show up here need a bit of isolation and nothing to hurt themselves with."

"I honestly didn't know some of the younger psychics our age could be struggling that deeply with their powers." My eyebrows knitted together as I took a look around the chamber.

"You'll be surprised honestly." Her voice was soft for a moment, but it went to a teasing tone as she continued. "Though we haven't used these since the '50s. Which explains why Dogen gets to wander around freely." Her voice came closer as I continued looking around the little room to see where a button like the one Sasha gave me was missing. "Though kids like Bobby also like to stuff others in here like it's some kind of prank that won't mess with a person." My eyes went wide as I snapped my attention toward her.

"Really?!"

"Yeah." She drew out the word as I watched her lean against the padded wall behind her. "It's messed up."

"To say the least." I turned to put the button in the middle of the floor, as I saw that's where the missing spot was. "I was isolated once like that when I was younger." I kneeled down to put the button in place before giving Lili a soft look. "That stuff messes with you." I looked back to the floor as I felt it shift to see that the padding moved just enough on the floor to showcase a hatch that I opened without a second thought.

"You were put into an isolation room? For what?" I cringed a little as some of the memories came back to me.

"You put my son in some isolation chamber like some kind of unhinged animal?!" My father screamed at the police officer in question as I hid behind his right leg. I remember how my body shook and trembled. I was in there for hours as my folks spoke and fought the police on a false allegation that occurred at our latest circus performance. Someone was trying to claim that I picked them up and dropped them seven feet off the ground. But honestly, the fellow performer fell off his stilts and I used my telekinesis to grab him before he fell too hard and softened his landing.

Yet I guess explaining to his boss there that he was dropped by the local psychic instead of not practicing like he should be less embarrassing than explaining he just wasn't fit for the job.

"He's a psychic, how would we know that he wouldn't have used his abilities on us?"

"Because he's a child."

"He's also a damn Aquato, just like you. Be happy that there are no charges. Anyone in their right mind would happily lock you bastards away."

"Did you just threaten my family?" My father growled as the office just narrowed his eyes at him.

"You should leave before it becomes a promise."

I shook myself out of the memory quickly. Though the damage of it was done with how my hands were trembling just a tad.

"It's-." I sighed as I tried my best to calm my nerves. "It's not the most fun in the world."

"I didn't think it would." I looked over toward Lili, who was now right beside me as the opened hatch was before us. "But hey, I promise nothing like that will happen here, alright?"

No one can promise that. Everyone reacts so horribly when they hear my name. Everyone makes me out to be the villain in the storyline right as they find out something went wrong and I was around. She can't promise that no one would want me locked away or that they wouldn't try to.

I watched as Lili held her hand out toward me to help me up from my kneeling position. There was a kind look on her face as a determined gleam danced around in her brown eyes.

But she's proven to be the exact opposite of what I've known so far.

I reached out and took her hand without a second thought.

So who am I to say that she can't?

Chapter Text

I felt my hand keep its grip on Lili's with every step we took down into the main lab. My mind was wandering as each piece of the stairs was covered by slow mutual steps.

This is like some kind of underground cave. It's somewhat similar to something like the Bat Cave in the comics.

I couldn't help but smile a little as I could see Sasha Nein as such. A symbol of justice despite the means by which it takes to get there. I always looked up to him for that aura anyways. It's what made him relatable to me. He and I both seemed to have something to prove. Like there was something in our minds that we were fighting for.

Though I doubt his goal is based on the idea of wanting to bring in a new era for your family name.

I shook my head out of my thoughts as I took in the rest of the lab.

That large machine should be the brain thing he was talking about. The rest of this seems like they're prototypes and things. Little tool sets and circuit boards with soldered wires half done and out of place. It all seemed organized, but as if he had his own specific steps to his projects. Like everything had to be in an organized order just for him.

"Ah!" I watched as Sasha stopped with what he was working on before turning toward Lili and me. "You both have made it! Here I thought you both wandered off for the rest of the day."

"Eh, Raz was a bit too eager to come to see what you had set up for him." I could tell Lili had a large smirk on her face by the tone of her voice as I still looked at the taller man in awe.

"Nothing wrong with being eager for knowledge." He adjusted his glasses for a moment before leading against the table that he was working at. "I figured taking a swing in the Brain Tumbler. A welcoming place of mind is always a great place to start, after all. It will also give me some knowledge about how you move about the subconscious and what you can do." Sasha turned his head as if to notion that he was speaking to me specifically since his eyes were blocked by his sunglasses. "Sound good?" I swallowed hard as I tried my best to give the agent a reassuring smile.

"Sounds good, yeah."

Sounds horrible, this is a terrible idea.

"Perfect then." Sasha turned to mess with something once more as he gestured his left hand toward the large machine beside him. "Whenever you're ready, step up to the machine and we'll get started." He glanced over his shoulder toward Lili's direction as he continued. "And remember to not get too close to the machine, Miss Zanotto. Don't want any interruptions with his mental field."

"I remember." Lili gave a single nod as Sasha gave a hum of approval in reply. He turned his attention back to his work as I felt a squeeze on my hand. I looked over to Lili to see if we had never lost our grip on one another. Our hands were still linked from when she helped me get to my feet.

We just spoke to one of the head agents of the Motherlobe while holding hands. As if it meant nothing.

The thought caused me to blush deeply.

I hope once he realizes who I am, this won't get her in trouble. I can tell she won't give a shit, but I'd rather not cause issues for her.

"It's a little rough at first," She spoke softly as she dropped my hand from hers. "But it's alright. Just don't try to fight it when it pulls you into the collective area. It might lead to some damage there that's really hard to mend." I nodded silently as I reached up with both hands to grab my goggles and slide them down.

"Thanks for the warning." A smirk grew on her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I just have a feeling you'll need it." I couldn't help but smile in reply as I slipped my hands into my jacket pockets.

"What? Don't think I can handle it?" I turned to step up toward the machine before looking back at her. "Or are you going soft of me still?" I smirked as she huffed a little in reply.

"You wish." I couldn't help but smile as she looked over toward Sasha. "Do I get to watch with you on the screen there?"

"If Razputin wishes." Sasha looked over toward me as she adjusted the screen before him. "Are you comfortable with that?"

"Sure." I swallowed hard as I knew my mental field was going to be displayed nonetheless. "It doesn't bother me."

"Ready then, young man?" Sasha looked back toward the screen before lowering it just a tad so Lili could join him.

"Let's go."

A bright light came from behind my head and I felt the back of my skull feel as if it was being pulled back as my projection was pulled out from behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut and gritted my teeth as I tried my best to just let my mental form be released into the machine.

Breathe, Razputin. Just breathe.

I heard my father's voice in my head as a bright light shined into my closed eyelids.

It'll be over soon enough.

"You're clear to open your eyes now, Razputin." I slowly opened my eyes as the bright white light of the collective subconscious shined before me.

"Christ," I cursed a little as I squinted for a moment. "Why's it so bright in here?"

"That's what I always wondered too." I heard Lili's voice this time as Sasha quickly replied.

"All the minds within this whole are connected to this one point. The Collective Unconscious." I looked about to see that there was just a ring of pavement that worked as a wall-less hallway. The ring walkway had little doorways attached even though there was no wall to support them from behind. "Each door leads to a person's mind. The only one that should be available to you is your own. Unless you have been minds of some others before you came here."

"I used to train in my father's subconscious a lot," I spoke softly as I walked toward a bright green door with an ocean wave carved into it. "But I think I know which one is mine."

"Perfect. Whenever you're ready, go ahead and enter." I nodded my head as I walked up to the door. I closed my eyes for a moment before reaching out and touching the wood of it. Its energy was familiar. Soft and gentle like a wave's idle tide. It was obvious it had some strength to it. I opened my eyes as I looked over the door's details once more.

This is mine.

I danced my gloved fingers over the details of it before slipping it over the handle and twisting it gently.

And I have no clue to be excited,

I opened the door slowly as a bright green light welcomed me. The glow of it engulfed me with grace as I took my first step in. My eyes closed gently as the light grew brighter with every motion I took.

Or dreadfully terrified.

The green light slowly subsided as I heard a soft click of the door closing behind me. I felt the shift of the ground under me change as my feet felt as if they were sliding just a tad. I snapped my eyes open quickly to steady myself as I then realized I was standing in shallow sand.

"Do you recognize the area, Razputin?" I looked up from the ground and was welcomed to the familiar sight of my family's caravan. The old dark wood is a striking contrast to the bright beach and sun behind it. I felt myself smile as I looked over the rest of the scenery to see the gentle tide of the ocean lap the shoreline ever so gently before pulling back in a soothing rhythm.

"I was born here."

"You were born on a beach?" I laughed a little at Lili's voice as I looked back over toward the caravan.

"My family lives in the caravan there. We work as performers at a circus to keep a low profile and make ends meet. We're acrobats, more specifically though. We're never in the same spot for too long. It's honestly for the best." I started walking toward the caravan as I slipped my hands into my jacket pockets. "I was born in the caravan, but this is the place we stopped for the time being. My mom makes an effort to come back here for my birthday each year. Something about how it was important in Grulovia to have ties with your birthplace and all." I stopped a few inches away from it before looking out toward the sea.

"It was one hell of a night from what she spoke of though. She said that the ocean waves rose and fell but never got too close to the caravan as a storm took over its idle flow. She remembered how rain pelted against the ground, but never seemed to assault our little home all too much. Thunder rang out, but the lighting was never all too close for us to see it." I felt my smile glow as I turned my attention back to our home on wheels. I reached out and placed my hand on the main door as a sense of safety radiated from it.

"Nona told me constantly that it was a sign of what I was going to be. That I had a natural connection with water." I chuckled a little as my palm was placed firmly against the old wood. "She spoke of how old Grulovia folk stories spoke of how what occurred during a person's birth meant more than anything. She would go on and on about how I was born to be a psychic and that night only proved it. That I was meant to take the world by storm." I smiled wide as I thought about it a little longer. "Never knew if she meant the little pun there though."

"So you're a hydrokinesis psychic?" Sasha's voice sounded intrigued as I moved my hand to grasp the doorknob. I opened the door slowly to be welcomed to Nona's old entry curtains. They had a gentle white glow behind them that felt more welcoming than anything else I have ever encountered in my life. It was familiar with how it was as bright and loving as the circus lights we hung for our performances.

The family tent. Our performance ring.

I felt a wide smile take over my lips as the next thought entered my mind.

The Aquato family's truest and most welcoming home.

"I'm much more than just that, Agent Nein." I felt pride fill my chest as I pushed the curtains aside. The muffled sound of cheers filled my ears as I knew exactly where this would lead.

"I'm an Aquato." A wide smile took over my face as I let myself be engulfed by the welcoming light.

"Razputin Aquato."

Chapter Text

I smiled wide as the familiar sound of circus music filled my ears while the bright performing lights of the tent graced my skin with welcoming warmth. The familiar ropes and platform towers in their familiar spaces as I now stood in the empty circus tent.

"Is this a circus tent?" I smiled wide as Lili's confused voice filled my ears. "I never really got to see one before. Only in pictures and stuff."

"I'll have to show you our tent then." I chuckled a little as I gestured out to the area around me. "Because when it's empty like this, it's nothing really. Wait till it's full of people. Their excited faces and endless cheers." I smiled wide as I looked out toward the empty stands, the echoes of cheers ringing in my mind as the goofiest smile took over my face. "It's the most amazing feeling."

"Would make sense there still cheers within your mind despite it being empty at the moment."

"Well even when it's empty, it feels like a second home." My voice softened as I lowered my arms to my sides. "Technically it is our second home. I spent nearly as much time here as I have in the caravan."

"Razzy!" I snapped my attention over toward a voice that was suddenly to my right. I smiled softly as I saw that it was my mind's depiction of my little sister.

"Mirtala." My voice was soft as I knelt down so the little girl could run straight toward me and jump into my arms. The interaction felt real as I wrapped my arms around her while her little arms wrapped themselves around my neck. "Moya kroshka." I whispered the words to myself as I squeezed the little girl tight.

It's been only a few hours, but I already miss her and the others more than anything.

"I'm guessing she's the sibling closest to you?" I let my little sister go as Agent Nein's voice echoed in my head.

"Kinda." I smiled as my brain's depiction of Mirtala gave me a confused look before reaching up to tug on my jacket.

"Let's go to the forest! I wanna play!" I chuckled as I reached down to take the little girl's hand off my jacket gently before gesturing for her to go first.

"Of course, printsessa." I smiled softly at her as she gave me a wide smile, just as Mirtala in the real world would give me whenever I called her as such. "I'll catch up in a moment, okay?"

"Okay! Keep your promise, rytsar!" I blushed at her old nickname for me as she ran off ahead. "Queepie! Razzy's coming!" I stood there smiling like a fool as she ran off with joy.

"Mirtala is my little sister," I spoke softly as I felt my heart ache with the thought of not seeing that smile in person for two more months. "Her and my older sister are probably the two closest to me. She looks at me like I'm truly able to change how my family is viewed in this world and has faith that I can do it. The rest of my family believes it too, yeah, but Mirtala has always been the one to say that I was going to be the knight of the family name. Her rystar." I couldn't help but chuckle a little as I placed a hand over my heart. "She's a weak spot to me in a way."

"And your older sister?" Sasha sounded curious as I felt pride swell in my chest at the thought of my older sister.

"Frazie? She's awesome! She helped me with my basic training as a psychic. She's the fellow psychic of us older kids and always had my back. She's the best big sister you can ask for! Especially since she actually understands me and everything else within my head." I tapped my knuckles against my skull for emphasis as I laughed a little to myself. "Her and Dion know me the best."

"Dion?"

"He's my big brother. He's also the oldest of us kids. A bit of a dick sometimes, but he has his heart in the right place most times. Just has a hard time of showing it." I shrugged a little as I decided to ramble about the rest of my siblings. "Queepie is my younger brother and is the youngest of us. He doesn't care for being the baby though and rather get left alone most of the time. Though Mirtala never lets that be a thing. In her eyes, being alone is the worst thing, and it's her job to make sure Queepie is never lonely." I laughed a little as I remembered Queepie's angered face as Mirtala decided to change the station on the little radio he was dancing to. "Even if Queepie hates it at times."

"So your family is a big part of your mental foundation. Quite normal for most, but good to know."

"I honestly haven't been too far in my own mental plan. I don't think I've gone any further than this, personally." I looked around the empty circus tent a little more before looking over toward the exit where Mirtala ran to. "I don't doubt it gets a little more unique the further we go."

"A circus tent and traveling home on a beach isn't unique enough for ya?" I could tell Lili was smirking by the tone of her voice as I started my way toward where Mirtala had gone.

"Well, this is normal for me, after all."

"Pootie!" I blushed hard as I exited the circus tent to be welcomed to a forest line. At the very front of it, my older sister smiled wide as she sat high up on one of the tall pine's branches. "Great for you to join us."

"POOTIE!?" I heard Lili's laugh chorus within my mind as I pouted at her reaction. "Fucking Pootie. Oh god, nothing is better than that."

"This is why I didn't want you hearing it." I mumbled to myself as Frazie's projection gave me a wide knowing smile.

Damn, even in my mind she seems to know when she's embarrassed the hell out of me.

"Dobryy vecher, sestra." I let the Grulovian greeting roll off my tongue as I made my way a little closer to her. "Poking around as always?" The older girl locked her legs around the branch with ease before spinning around on it so she was looking at me upside down.

"I'm practicing, actually." She gave a smirk as she gestured toward me with a knowing look. "Unlike some."

"I don't need to practice as much as you." I gave her a smirk right back as she scuffed and rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say, hotshot." She spun on the branch once more so she could sit comfortably on the limb once more. "I hear the gremlins looking around for you. Go join them before they end up hunting you down." With that she hopped up onto her feet without using her hands with a wide smile. "See you around, rechka."

"Rechka?" I heard Lili's curious voice as I smiled softy at her nickname for me. After a moment, the older girl disappeared as I heard Sasha speak in awe.

"Teleportation?" I nodded as I smiled with great pride at my sister.

"It's her best ability! That and tracing psychic waves. She's really good at finding people and teleporting exactly to them." I chuckled a little as I remembered why exactly she calls me rechka. "It's actually why she calls me rechka. It means Little River. Whenever she was told to go find me, she would teleport to where my psychic energy was and I was always by some small body of water. Normally little streams and rivers I found near our old campsites and forest areas."

"Speaking of forest," Sasha started to speak before taking a moment to seemingly take in the area through my eyes. "Does this area look familiar to you?" I scanned around the forest line before giving a small shrug in reply.

"I honestly don't know. Nothing unique is popping out to me."

"Maybe you should walk around a little?" Lili spoke this time as she seemed to get excited by the idea. "Maybe it'll lead you to something special! Or something that jogs your memory a little!"

"Good thinking, Miss Zanotto." I didn't have to see Lili to know she was probably smiling proudly toward Agent Nein as I slipped my hands into my jacket pockets before looking straight into the forest ahead.

"I'll go straight in then. That way if it leads to a different area or something, It's a straight path back out if needed."

"For the best, Razputin." I gave a small nod in reply as I started to make my way into the forest. "An Aquato, huh? I honestly didn't think a psychic of that would ever appear here at Whispering Rock."

"I always wanted to come here." I spoke softly as I kept my eyes straight ahead as I walked past some of the tall pine trees around me. "I read in little pamphlets my Nona found that it was a perfect place to go for young psychics. Especially those that want to become Psychonauts. Ever since I wanted nothing else than to get into the program."

"Is that your goal, young man? To be a Psychonaut?"

"Yes. But I also want people to see me as more than a curse upon humanity." I put emphasis on the word as I made my way deeper into the forest. "I always wanted to help people, and I know these powers will help me do so as well, but once people find out my name they see me instantly as some kind of living plaque. Like I'm a time bomb with a short fuse that will end their lives within a second's notice. I want to make people understand that we're not my family's history. That Lucrecia isn't all we are." I took a deep breath and released it slowly as I placed a hand over my heart. "I want to give my family a new start. A new beginning. I know once people see how I can help them and that I desperately want to, they'll see the good that comes from the Aquato name."

"That you're much more than you're family's past."

"Exactly." I felt that I hit something with my foot as I snapped my attention toward the ground. "What the fuck?" My eyes went wide as I saw that it was the familiar little meat flower that Lili and I had found earlier in the day. "Lili, do you see this?"

"Hey! That's the meat flower from Basic Braining!" Lili's voice grew confused as she continued. "What the hell is that doing in here?"

"I promise I don't have any real connections with meat." I raised my hands defensively as I looked over the little plant. "My family is nearly all herbivores, honestly."

"That's quite curious. Maybe it's there due-." Sasha's suddenly stopped as it seemed he was interrupted. "Sorry, I'm getting a notice from Agent Vodello, give me a moment here." I heard Sasha move away from wherever he was as Lili's voice pipped up.

"You should take a look around a little more. Maybe there are other things from Coach's mind that are in yours. If so, it might explain why things got so weird today." I nodded as I agreed instantly with the idea.

"Exactly. Good thinking, Lili." I started my way deeper into the forest as I kept a keen eye out for any other differences within my mind. Suddenly, I did see a small white rabbit cross my path and stop right in front of me. "What the-?" I stopped suddenly as I tilted my head at the rabbit.

"Have a history of rabbits?"

"Nope." I popped the 'p' with a lot of emphasis as I took a step closer to the rabbit. "Hey there, little guy. Where'd you come from?" The rabbit turned around from me and started hopping its way in the opposite direction. "Thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Chase that bunny, Raz!" I smiled wide as I started running after the little animal.

"Exactly what I was thinking!" The rabbit was much faster than me, but I was able to keep up a good bit with it as it ran through the thick forest. Slowly, but surely, the forest scenery started to change. From the welcoming bright greens of evergreens and pines, it switched to darker spruces and a not-so-friendly looking atmosphere. I came to a halt as a large tower appeared in the distance as I quickly realized that the animal was leading me directed toward it.

"I know I've seen some shit," I started as I looked over toward the large brooding tower as details started to become more defined to me. A large vine-like substance that seemed like a path to the top spiraled around the tower in many little twists and turns. It reminded me of some of the older European fairy tales that Nona would recite when I was younger. "But this gives like, evil stepmother vibes at the very least."

"Was going to say, that definitely gives Rapunzel vibes." Lili's voice was curious as she seemed to be left in thought for a moment. "I think we should check it out. Maybe it'll answer some of the questions we have." I started running toward the tower without a second thought as Lili continued. "I think something is colliding with your mental plane though. Like some kind of wavelength is altering it with another."

"So like in True Psychic Tales where a sleep broadcast was altering people's dreams and unconscious?"

"Exactly! Just like in edition 306!" I smirked as I got to the base of the tower a lot sooner than I thought I would have. I started making my way up the vine as I decided to tease the fellow psychic.

"And I'm the nerd, huh?"

"Shut up." I snickered just a little as I tried my best to keep my footing on the vine. With each step, I felt this pit in my stomach grow. It was as if everything in my being was telling me something was wrong with this place. As if I wasn't meant to be here and something dreadful was going to occur because of it. I swallowed hard as Nona's voice filled my head.

Always listen to your gut, Pootie.

I leaped across a gap within the vines as I continued making my way to the top.

It's the body's natural tool of survival. One that will out-smart your own mind at times.

The dreadful feeling started growing even more. I had to push past it, so I decided to move faster with each second as I knew I had to get to the top. I needed to know what was up here. We both do.

So when you feel that nasty twist in your stomach and your body gets that weight in it,

I lowered myself just a little as I had finally reached a window at the top of the tower. The sounds of screeching drills filled my ears as I felt my stomach hit the floor.

Then you have much more to fear than what you think.

Chapter Text

"WELL LOOK AT THIS!" I swallowed hard as I peeked into the window ever so slightly. I saw a man with blue skin and a shower cap covering his head as he seemed to squint into the mouth of a child he had in his chair. "Yep," He pulled back to reveal that the child he was looking at was Dogen as he adjusted his coat with a wide crooked smile. "A bad apple indeed. Must have many cavities."

"What do you mean, doctor?" The man gave a twisted laugh as I saw him mess with a tool that was off to his side.

"We'll be having to extract that brain of yours." What I could assume was supposed to be a dentist pulled out a giant tool that looked as if it was used in a torture chamber as it was filled with many little arms and drills spinning about. "Don't worry," He reached up and petted Dogen's tinfoil hat with a toothy grin that made my skin crawl just by watching. "This will only hurt." He stopped for a moment as he pressed a button on the large tool that made all the little drills start spinning with an agonizing screeching noise to it. "A lot!"

"Dogen!"

I tried to leap forward, but suddenly, I felt as if I was being pulled out of the scene in question. As if my astral projection was being pulled from my own mind and being slapped right back into my body. As if someone had realized I wasn't supposed to be within that area. As if I was never supposed to see what I saw.

I screwed my eyes shut as I tried my best not to fight the motion.

This is not just my mental plain. Something is really wrong here.

The image of that tool getting closer to Dogen's face burned in my mind as a bright light shined behind my closed eyelids.

And I have to figure out what's going on.

Curse or not.

"Raz!" I snapped my eyes open and nearly dropped to my knees once I felt that I was back in my body once more.

"Shit," I cursed silently as I took in a sharp breath. "That hurt. Felt like I was being pulled out of my own mind by force."

"I shut off the machine to force you out." Sasha's cool voice had a slight speed to it that made it sound urgent without messing with the tone of which he was speaking. "I have to go speak to Agent Vodello in person on a private matter and I didn't want to leave you in there without proper supervision."

"Are you okay?" Lili's voice was concerned as I looked up and saw she was closer to me than when I went in. "You look like you got hit by a truck."

"I feel like it." I stood up slowly before looking over at Agent Nein. "Is there anything I should be worried about with this 'private matter'." I used air quotes as I took a deep breath. "Because if it's about the whole Aquato thing, I'm sorry but I'm not leaving. I've come too far and begged too much just to-."

"Razputin," I stopped in my tracks as I saw that the agent had knelt down to be on my level before addressing me. "Trust me, young man, when I say that your last name gives me no reason to have to be removed from camp." He adjusted his glasses for a moment before continuing. "In all honestly, it gives us more reasoning to keep you here. Having proper training and control over your powers is important with your family history. Two things that we Vodello and I can gladly give you within your stay here."

"Then what's-?" I stopped as Nein reached out and put a single hand on my shoulder.

"It's agent business. Last rounds of paperwork needed from our last mission and all. You'll understand in the future." He dropped his hand from my shoulder before slowly getting up to his feet. "But there is no need to be worried, Razputin. You're more than welcomed here. You have no reason to fear." I felt a smile creep up on my cheeks as the agent then turned his attention over toward Lili. "I think you two need some rest. It was obvious from what I heard while speaking with Vodello that you two saw some things in the mind field that sounded like outcomes of mental exhaustion. Seeing things and all. You two sound get some food and some sleep and come back tomorrow. Maybe things will be cleared up."

"Mental exhaustion? But then what about the dentist dude? And Dogen? And the whole 'gotta remove the brain! Cavities!' thing?" Lili crossed her arms over her chest before gesturing to the machine behind me. "Either something is getting messed up by your machine or Raz has a fear of dentists we don't know about, and by the fact that even he was freaked out by all that, I doubt it's something with him."

"I still highly suggest rest and coming back tomorrow," Sasha spoke in a matter-of-fact tone as he now crossed his arms in reply to the girl. "That way we can be for certain."

"Are you serious?!" Lili looked outraged as she narrowed her eyes at Sasha. "Something is seriously fucked up here!"

"My orders stay true, Ms. Zanotto." Sasha looked over at me as he quirked up an eyebrow. "Unless Mr. Aquato already feels up to taking another swing in the Brain Tumblr." I felt nauseous just at the thought as I swallowed hard and put a hand on my stomach.

"Please no. Not yet. Or ever again." I saw Lili's features soften before a mumbled grumble came out of her slowly.

"Fine."

"Wonderful." Sasha seemed pleased with this as he then gestured toward the stairs. "Now, if you may? Agent Vodello will be arriving soon to finish what's needed for our paperwork. By the time we're done, it should be time for levitation training. How does that sound?"

"Levitation training!?" My eyes grew wide as I snapped my attention over toward Lili. "Does that mean we get to learn from Vodello herself!?"

"Well, yeah." Lili was pretty nonchalant about it as she gave a small shrug. "She teaches the lesson every year. Sasha does some lessons too."

"But like, levitation training from the Mental Minx herself! That's like getting Psi-Blast training from Sasha Nein!"

"Would you like some Psi-Blast training?" I looked over toward Sasha, who gave me a wide smile. "Sounds like you're more than interested."

"Are you serious?" I gave a wide smile as the agent gave a simple nod.

"Only if you get some proper rest after your training though." I nodded enthusiastically as Lili just rolled her eyes at me.

"He's like a fangirl at a convention I swear." She turned on her hills and started making her way up the stairs as I turned and followed her.

"Hey! This is my first time meeting them! You got to know them your whole life!"

"Exactly!" All of this got a chuckle out of Sasha Nein as we left. The man let out a small remark as Lili and I retreated up the stairs with our small bickers continuing without us knowing or hearing.

"An Aquato and a Zanotto. Quite the particular mix."

"Do you really wanna head back to the cabins and rest already?" Lili gave me a smug look as we started making our way up the path toward the main lodge. "Or do you wanna mess around and adventure a little more?"

"Well," I smiled widely as I could feel the essence of the lake growing closer with each step we took. "I remember someone promising me lake time."

"Are you specifically this connected with water or is it a whole family thing?" Lili's voice gave a teasing tone as I put my hands behind my back.

"Actually," My voice had a 'matter of fact' tone to it to counteract her teasing one as I continued. "I'm the otter of the family."

"Did you just call yourself a freaking otter?"

"What other animal loves water more than anything?" This caused Lili to laugh joyously as I couldn't help but just smile at her.

"You really are something, Razputin."

"So I've been told."

"What are you two kiddies doing out here by yo lonesomes?" I snapped my attention toward an older voice that had randomly joined us. "You two should be at the lodge at the very least! Not out here in the woods!" I tilted my head to the side as I tried my best to understand who exactly was speaking to us.

"Who the-?"

"We just got done with training with Agent Nein, Mr. Cruller." I felt my eyes widen as the name struck a chord deep within my being.

"Agent Cruller?" I looked over at the older man with anxious eyes as I tried to tie his features to the one that my aunt had been photographed with over 20 years ago. The small finer details matched as the older man gave me a curious look.

"Yes, boy?"

This can't be. It can't fucking be.

"Raz?"

This is the man who cursed us. The one who tried to bury my aunt away from history as if nothing had happened. The one who failed his final promise to her in the comics and stories.

He promised to hide us from the world. Protect the legacy that she started. To clear her name from the pain she had been put through and the blood she had shed.

I swallowed hard as I felt my hands curl into fists.

But here we are.

The damned Aquato and the righteous Agent Cruller.

"Proklyataya pylʹnaya tsyganka." I muttered the words softly to myself as I glared at the older man. "Guess I don't look like her as much as people claim now, huh? Don't recognize me, old man? Don't see the resemblance, Agent Cruller."

"Now, young man," The man had a slight trembling in his body as he narrowed his eyes at me. "I don't believe I have ever met you in my life but I can tell nasty words when I hear them though. Did I say something wrong?"

"So I don't look like Lucrecia like everyone tells me?" A bitter sound dripped with every word I said as I gave a pitiful laugh. "That's good to know."

"Lu-Lucy?" The older man looked to have been in shock as he looked over my features. "I-Is she well? H-How's her-?"

"Nona is fine, Agent Cruller." I put emphasis on her given name before continuing. "No thanks to you."

"Now young man, you're treating me like I had a choice within the predicaments that occurred."

"Could you blame me?" I crossed my arms over my chest as I gave a small huff. "Isn't like my whole life I've been treated like a parasite due to what you decided was best."

"I did my best to protect her."

"Yeah. Her. The rest of us had to fend for ourselves."

"Is there something I'm missing here?!" I snapped my attention over toward Lili, who was looking between Cruller and me in disbelief. "I thought Agent Cruller hid Maligula from herself? Gave herself the chance to forgive herself and all?"

"He did, yes," I spoke softly as I tried my best to cool my anger. "By erasing her memories and freeing herself from her past." I swallowed hard as I gestured to myself. "But people never forgave her. They never forgave us. He hid her from the world, but he could never save her legacy. He couldn't save us."

"What's your name, boy?" I turned my attention toward Cruller, who now had a soft look in his eyes.

"R-Razputin." I swallowed dryly as I gave the man a proud look. "Razputin Aquato. Hydrokinesis psychic."

"Just like her then." I nodded as his eyes seemed to have started to tear up in the corners.

"Just like her."

"I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for snapping, sir."

"You have every right." He let out a sigh as he put his hands behind his back. "I could have done more, after all."

"She's happy though." I watched as a happy spark seemed to gleam in his eyes. "Thanks to you."

"And you're now here. Practicing to be a true psychonaut. Making the old Lucy proud, I bet."

"I sure hope so." This caused the agent to give a small laugh as a smile broke out on his face.

"Trust me, young man," He reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. "The Lucy I knew would be much more than just proud." I couldn't help but smile at the man as it truly did seem that he cared for my aunt.

Maybe he did have his best interests at heart. Maybe he never meant for us to live in pain.

I felt a sharp pain in my chest as flashes of memories filled my head for a split moment before disappearing completely.

That doesn't mean his actions never caused us pain, though.

But I guess I'll go about this as Lucy would in her younger depictions.

I smiled at the older man before looking over toward Lili, who seemed to be a lot more comfortable in this setting than before.

Mission first, angry later.

Chapter Text

"So Lucrecia Mux and Ford Cruller had a history?" I shrugged a little at Lili's question as we walked toward where she said the dock was after our interaction with Agent Cruller.

"I don't honestly know much about it."

Lies.

I swallowed dryly as I went about with what I was taught was the closest explanation to the truth that the world would understand.

"They worked together and they were friends before Lucrecia lost her way. Beyond that, I don't know much." I shrugged as I tried my best to make my answer seem authentic. "After the drowning incident with the great flood, Nona only remembers so much."

"Still amazing how she was able to survive everything." Lili seemed interested in the idea as a curious tone filled her voice. "Does she remember how her sister was before the war? Or is everything mangled?"

"Honestly?" I looked over toward Lili as I knew I was able, to tell her the full truth from here. "She had a fear of water for years. She still doesn't remember much at all from her mother country. All she remembers is folktales and tiny pieces of how her life was."

"I knew a lot of the comics were off about how they told things, but the story of Maligula was always one I was curious about." I gave Lili a curious look of my own as she continued. "I knew your family line was depicted as some kind of monstrous being and I knew for certain that was wrong, but there seems to be so much that the story is missing, you know?" I nodded along as she gave me a wide smile.

You have no clue, Zanotto. No clue at all.

"Yeah, you and a very few who actually use common sense there."

"I just understand how it is."

"Yeah," I shrugged a little as I looked down at the path we were taking. I watched as the dirt little pathway turned into the familiar wooden boards I saw on docks and piers over the years as I continued. "I bet the life of a Zanotto isn't any fun either."

"People just expect you to be like a living Disney Princess." She scuffed at the thought as I kept my eyes on the wooden pathway. "Everyone expects you to be perfect. The purest form of maturity even though you're a kid. I'm watched by the world and criticized for any action I take that's not something they approve of. I'm to speak, but only when they want me to. But when I do, it's not what they want me to say. It's basically the highest form of 'Sit and look pretty'."

"And you are by far the opposite." I couldn't help but smile as I looked over toward the girl. Her chest puffed up with pride as she shot me a wide toothy grin.

"I've been told I'm quite like my mother. She was the same from what I heard." My smile softened as it is evident from the look in her eyes that she was proud of the idea, but it stung just a bit to speak of her mom.

"I read a little bit about her in the comics," I spoke softly, unsure if it was a truly sensitive topic for her. "Agent Martindale, right?"

"Rue Martindale." Lili seemed to soften while saying her mother's name. "Named after tiny yellow flowers found in Greece. Little herb flowers specifically. It's why I was named Lilian, actually." She gave a small laugh before looking out before her. "My mom wanted to make a tradition out of it. She wanted to name each of her children after a flower. It worked with how she married a Zanotto of all people."

"Do you remember much of her?"

"I didn't get a chance to know her. She died when I was two."

"Sorry."

"Don't be." She shrugged a little at the idea before looking back at me. "I was still lucky enough to have my dad. It caused him to grow rather protective, but I don't blame him. I'm all he has of her."

"For someone upset that the world expects pure maturity out of her," I smirked as I tried my best to lighten the mood. "That's rather mature of you." She rolled her eyes at me as a smile graced her lips.

"Oh shut up."

"Honestly though, it really is." For the first time, I saw Lili become rather bashful as she just pulled her gaze away from me and shrugged a little.

"You just grow to be thankful for what you have at times. Even if it's not the best situation. I have a good life. It's not all that I want in life, but I can get those things figured out with time."

"What do you want? In life and all?"

"Well," She grew silent for a moment as she stopped in her tracks. I stopped along with her as it was obvious she was deep in thought. "When I was younger, I wanted nothing more than to be the best agent the Psychonauts ever saw. By the time I was eleven though, that spark kinda dimmed out. I hated everything there was with the Psychonauts. Even my dad."

"Really?" I quirked my eyebrow curiously as I decided to lean the majority of my weight on my right foot. "You didn't give that kind of vibe at first there."

"Well, I'm fourteen now." She laughed a little as she turned to gesture toward the camp behind us. "I found out the hard way that I was just bored of doing the exact same thing over and over again. I passed all the tests, and I was put through the intern program, but I wasn't getting any further than I was before. I felt like I was running in place."

"So what made that change?"

"Honestly? It only really started recently." She turned her attention toward me before dropping her arm to her side. "I know it's only been the first real day at camp, but a lot of this just seems so much different. I feel like that spark is starting to ignite itself again, ya know?" I smirked proudly as I placed a hand over my heart.

"Us Aquatos have that effect."

"I actually do think it has a lot to do with you, Raz." She smiled softly before turning her head to her left. The thought caused this soft ping in my chest that made me swallow hard in reply.

Well... That's a first.

I felt the corner of my mouth tug ever so slightly as I let myself embrace the moment between us.

I don't mind it, though.

"For an Aquato though," I noticed the teasing tone in her voice as she turned her attention toward me again. "You seem to haven't noticed that the lake is right there." She raised her hand to point toward where she was looking before, which caused me to snap my attention to my right.

"LAKE!" I smiled wide like a joyful smile as I ran the rest of the small pier toward the lakeside. "Oh water how I missed you so!" I ignored the laughter behind me as I stopped a few feet before the water to pull off my old boots.

"You're like a little kid in a candy store."

"I'm a fourteen-year-old water psychic who hasn't been near a large mass of water in days," I spoke in a matter-of-fact tone as I struggled to hop on one foot while taking my socks off. "I'm going to be excited."

"Noted for future reference." Lili laughed a little more as I figured the look of me with my tongue now stuck out in concentration while I rolled up my pant legs was rather humorous to her. "Huh," Her laughter suddenly stopped as I looked over toward her curiously. "What's that?" I looked over toward the water to see a familiar hand have itself toward me.

"Galochio!" I smiled wide as the hand waved at me. "It's what my Nona calls my water spirit! I named them after her maiden name."

"Water spirit?" I shrugged as I looked back over toward Lili.

"It's complicated. Basically, I imagined him from a young age and that's how my hydrokinesis originated."

"Huh." I looked back over toward the hand as I gestured for the hand to lower back into the water.

"You gotta leave for now, buddy. I'll be connected to you again soon, okay? Just not here." The hand gave me a little thumbs-up as lowering into the mass of water with a small wave at the very end. After it disappeared I turned my attention back toward Lili with a wide smile. "Wanna join me?"

"After seeing a hand raise from the water like it's some kind of cursed lagoon? No thanks." Lili laughed a little at herself as I pouted.

"Aw come on! Galochio meant no harm."

"Still freaky there, Raz."

"Please!" I pleaded with her slightly as I turned to walk into the water with a happy smile. "See!" I looked back toward her as I felt a lot more at ease with the lake water lapping at my ankles. "It's nice and cool too!"

"You really do like your water, huh?" She gave me a teasing smile as she walked just a little bit closer to the shoreline.

"It's a home away from home!" I gestured my arms out a little as I made the water make a tiny wave behind me before crashing into itself. "Man, I missed that sound." I felt bliss as I looked down toward the clear water that submerged my feet. "Wanna see something cool?"

"Sure." I looked up to Lili to see she gave me an encouraging smile. "Show me what you got, Razzy." I leaned down toward the water without skipping a beat and cupped my hands under it. Without much thought or struggle, I pulled my hands back out of the water to show a perfect little ball of water within my hands. I rolled it about within my hands before looking up toward Lili with pride.

"This was the first trick I was shown." I rolled the little ball of water over my left hand and let it dance across my fingertips. "I can keep it in a consistent shape without really thinking about it. I can even make it part into pieces or a walkway."

"Dude." I could tell Lili had a bright idea of her own as she watched me roll the little ball over toward my right hand with ease. "Can I have you help me water my plants by doing that? I bet it would be a lot more effective than saturating the soil."

"That's a lot more laid back than I thought you would suggest." I laughed a little at myself as Lili just shrugged.

"My first thought was balloonless water balloons but I didn't think it was that clever."

"That does sound really fun though," I smirked as Lili seemed to catch onto where I was going.

"Razputin Aquato, if you throw that at me, I will burn you to a crisp."

"Aw, here I thought I was your favorite here."

"You are, but I will still burn you like a log in a campfire." I placed my free hand on my chest in a dramatic way as held the water ball in place in the other.

"You hurt me so, Zanotto." She rolled her eyes at me as I just smirked in reply. "Maybe you just need to cool off." I flung the ball at her feet, which caused the girl to jump back just fast enough to not get wet.

"Raz!"

"Hey, I didn't throw it at you." My smirk grew as she narrowed her eyes at me.

"You're lucky I enjoy your company."

"You just agreed I'm your favorite if I remember correctly."

"I'm leaving." Lili turned on her heels and started making her way up toward the pier walk up as I decided to leave the water and grab my things quickly to follow her.

"Does this mean I get one of those friendship bracelets?"

"Nope fuck off."

"Wanna measure my wrist just in case?"

"I will burn you."

"Aw, I treasure you too, Lils. HEY! OW!"

"I warned you!"

"That was my ass!"

"Consider it a warning!" We laughed together as I felt that soft swell in my chest once more.

Maybe the curse isn't so bad.

I felt myself swallow dryly as I took in the joyful look on Lili's face as we made our way back toward the camp.

Since it brought me here, after all.

Chapter Text

"Attention campers, due to delays of Psychonaut duties, levitation training with Agent Vodello has been moved to first thing tomorrow morning. Rest well and stay sharp." I gave Lili a sad look as we reached the heart of the camp, the sun setting slightly in the distance as I kicked a stone begrudgingly.

"Aw, man."

"Don't be a spoiled sport, Raz." Lili laughed a little as she reached over and knocked me on the shoulder with her knuckles. It wasn't too hard of a punch, but it was enough to move my shoulder just a tad. "You'll still get your levitation lesson."

"Yeah, but I was hoping on meeting her today. I got to meet Sasha Nein after all. Was just wishing it could be two birds with one stone."

"Yeah, sorry about that." Lili shrugged a little as she looked up toward the sky. "Once it starts getting dark, Milla thinks it's best to stop training lessons. But I think that's just the mother in her kicking in." I gave her a curious look as she brought her attention back toward me.

"She's a mom?"

"No, but she worked with kids before becoming an agent. Some orphanage in Brazil."

"Oh, that's cool."

"Kinda? She doesn't talk about it too much."

"Huh." I reached up and scratched the back of my head awkwardly as we kept walking together. "I get it I guess. My dad doesn't talk about his time at the orphanage back in Grulovia much either."

"That was during the war, right?"

"At the end of it, yeah."

"Do you think you'll ever go to Grulovia one day? Like, to see where your family came from and all?" I shook my head as we came to a stop before the girl's cabin.

"Not really. And honestly? Once they hear my name, I would probably be chased out."

"Well, that blows." I shrugged as I shoved my hands into my jacket's pockets.

"I don't really have a reason to anyway and it's not like my dad or my Nona would want to go back anytime soon."

"To be fair, I wouldn't blame them." Lili shrugged a little before leaning against the cabin wall. "Can I ask you another question? You can tell me if I'm poking too much or something." I gave her a soft smile as I rolled my shoulders back a little.

"I'm an open book. Well, as open as I can be."

"You said something about your family being in a circus right? To make ends meet?"

"Yeah?"

"How long as that been a thing?" I couldn't help but laugh a little as a wide smile took over my lips.

"For as long as I existed at the very least. I think it's what my dad found out was the easiest way of going about things. We don't have to say our family name if we don't want to, we can leave whenever we need to, and we're always on the move so no one can like purposely mess with us." I pulled my hands out of my pockets to show my undershirt a little more. The faded strips and patches still held strong no matter how many times Nona had fixed it. "This is actually one of my practice shirts. I didn't bring my performance clothes cause I didn't see the point in it."

"Shit that looks like it's been through hell."

"Thank you for the subtle way of calling me poor." I chuckled a little at my own remark.

"You know what I meant." She narrowed her eyes at me as I just laughed a little more.

"Just messing, Lils."

"Lils, huh?" She gave a wide smirk as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I like the sound of that." I felt a burning feeling engulf my cheeks as I reached up and scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Totally."

"Hey!" I snapped my head to the voice joining us as I saw the red-headed asshole from before coming in our direction. "I need a word with you!" I rolled my eyes as the kid came closer to us.

"Hello, Captain Camp Ass. How may I help you?" Sarcasm dripped off my words as I gave the other boy a small bow.

"You leaving is how you can help me." Bobby put a lot of spite into his words as he took a step closer to me. "You fucking Aquato!"

A-Aquato?

"Step off, Zilch." Lili calmly stepped between the two of us as I felt the color drain from my face. "What makes you call him that anyway?"

"Oh come on! Do you really think no one else saw his little 'tricks'?" He put air quotes on the word in question as he gestured at me with his left hand.

Tricks? Shit shit shit. Was he at the lake? Did he see me playing with the water? Or Galochio? Fuck! I should have-!

"It's obvious how he's got Agent Nein and him on his side! From those stupid Maligula mind shit!"

"Are you claiming he's using mind control?" Lili scuffed at the other boy, as I could tell she was rolling her eyes at him. "Even then, Maligula wasn't known for mind control and things along those lines. Only hydrokinesis, jackass." Bobby huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"You're only saying that cause he's got you trapped under it too."

"Trapped under what? You're IQ? I thought it would have to be a lot higher for me to be trapped under it."

"Doesn't stop it from being true!" Bobby nearly yelled out the statement as he looked over toward me. "You're an Aquato! I know it! And you bastards shouldn't be stepping a single foot in he-!"

"And what would you do if I was?" I cut him off sharply as I narrowed my eyes at the boy. "Huh? Beat me up? Chase me off? Attack me in my sleep? What, huh?" This caused the boy to stammer as I continued. "Because I can assure you, there's nothing you can do that I haven't had done to me before."

"Raz." Lili turned toward me as if she wanted to save me from myself. "You don't have to tell him anything." I swallowed hard as I weighed the options for a moment in my mind.

I could carry on as this living secret within this camp. As if no one would be able to figure it out, though I know they will accordingly. Hell, I bet everyone would see it in levitation training for sure.

I closed my eyes as I knew exactly what I was going to do.

Or instead of letting this asshole out me like a shameful bastard,

I opened my eyes slowly as I heard the boy gasp. Letting me be fully aware of the change in my eyes as I decided my new path.

Or take it with pride.

"I'm not ashamed of my family. I'm not shameful of my origin and where my blood comes from. Truthfully, the only reason I hid it at first was because of how I thought bastards like you would run me out of here." I stepped to the side so I could stare at him directly with Lili watching from beside me. "But now, I know kids like you have no say in that. That the agents themselves see no harm in me being here and training like anyone else."

"S-So you-'re?"

"Razputin Augustus Aquato," I smirked proudly as I took a small bow, as I had done before. "Nice to meet your dreadful acquaintance." This caused Bobby to swallow hard and shrink into himself just a tad. "What?" I stood up straight as I put my hands in my pockets. "Cat got your tongue now? Not gonna say how I shouldn't have 'stepped a single foot in here'?" This caused him to stumble back a little as he yelled out.

"St-Stay back you freak!" I closed my eyes for a second and opened them once more as I knew they had then changed back to their original form.

"Luckily for you, I don't like hurting people. I'm too empathetic for that."

"And unluckily for him," I turned my head to look toward Lili, who now stepped forward between us once more. "This Aquato is friends with a Zanotto. So if you even think about giving him issues, I wouldn't hesitate to get my dad to step into the situation. Understood?" I watched as Bobby narrowed his eyes toward both of us once more before stepping back again.

"Freaks sticking with freaks. I'm out of here." He turned on his heels and started jogging off before stopping and yelling back at us once more. "Killer!" I rolled my eyes as Bobby then continued onto his path.

"Asshole." I looked over at Lili as a small pang hit me in my chest. "You didn't need to threaten him for me."

"I said what I said and I meant it." The girl crossed her arms over her chest as she turned her full attention toward me.

"Even the being your friend part?" I grew kinda sheepish as the question escaped me before I could even think about it. "Even with my little secret being out?"

"I was the first to tell you were different." Lili smiled proudly as she reached out with a fist to knock it into my shoulder. "And I think we're on a friendly level here. Despite it being less than twenty-four hours and all."

"Well it is longer than I'm used to being in one place," I smirked as Lili gave a small laugh in reply.

"Joking in the face of hell, huh?" Lili smirked at me back as I shrugged a little.

"Looks like the good old Maligula eyes go a long way with the people here if Bobby is any kind of reference. And with you threatening him like that, I doubt he'll actually do anything."

"That was honestly really cool." She crossed her arms over her chest once more. "They were all glowing and golden."

"Yeah, every time I tap into my psychic energy and all, it happens." I reached up and tapped on the lens of my goggles with a smile. "Which is why I have these."

"Smart." She shrugged before continuing with a sly smile. "Though I prefer the green. It's more you." I felt the heat swelling my cheeks once more as she reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder. "But if anyone tries anything, you let me know. Okay?" I gave a small nod as I tried my best to respond.

"Y-Yeah. Totally."

"Good." She smiled wide before retracting her hand. "I guess I should head in for the night. Rest well, alright Aquato?" Her smile only grew as it sounded as if she took great pride in being able to call me that out in the heart of the camp.

"Rest well, Zanotto." With then, I watched her leave me lonely in the dimming sunset as she retreated into the girl's cabin.

An Aquato and Zanotto being friends.

I felt myself smile like a fool as I turned on my heels and walked over toward the boy's cabin.

Worth whatever hell Bobby wants to try and stir.

Chapter Text

I stared up at the ceiling above my head as I heard Dogen's snores from underneath me.

Just a little longer and I can sleep too.

I swallowed dryly as I leaned up onto my elbows to look over toward the rest of the dark cabin.

Just to be sure. Just to be safe.

I sighed silently to myself as I leaned back into my bed with a creak.

Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. Just enough to get a good night's rest.

I brought my arms up so I could put them under my head like a makeshift additional pillow. A small yawn escaped me as I tried my best to stay silent.

Already fucked up that one though. For better or worse. Maybe it's for the best, though.

I closed my eyes gently as I knew I could fight off slumber only for a little bit longer. A small creak escaped the bed as I relaxed my body into the mattress under me.

Best to rest now, after all,

A small smile spread across my lips as my Nona's words echoed in my mind.

'Rest now to live better'.

But as I drifted into sleep, I could tell her voice would invade my dreams.

"Forever we will be Aquatos, Razputin."

I turned onto my side as her voice continued in my mind.

"Till death do us part."

I snapped my head up instantly at the sound of a bugle horn sounding off as it seemed hours had passed in the few seconds it felt like my eyes were closed.

"JESUS CHRIST!" My head bonked the ceiling as I then held my head in my hand. "Motherfucker!"

"You okay, Raz?" I looked over to see Dogen's cap as it seemed he was trying to look up at me by climbing the side of the bunk bed, but didn't go any higher than that. "I know, the horn isn't the most friendly wake-up call. Better than the squirrels waking you up though. They use nuts." I rubbed my head as the memory of acorns being telepathically thrown at my head as a child filled my mind.

"Guess Frazie is just as nutty as the squirrels then I guess," I mumbled under my breath as I moved to climb down from the bunk. "Couldn't find something a little less frightening for a wake-up call though?"

"It's Oleander. What do you expect?" I gave a small shrug as I reached the floor.

"Honestly have no clue, but it wasn't that." I moved to gather some clean clothes from my drawer before slipping on some old sandals I brought as shower shoes. "Do we got enough time to shower though? Or is that a breakfast call too?"

"We get an hour between that and breakfast being available." Dogen moved about to do the same as me but then covered his tinfoil hat with a shower cap. "I can show you to the boy's area and stuff."

"Lead the way, little man." I smiled widely as Dogen grabbed his things.

"Lucky you are a friend of Dogen. Otherwise, I would tell the squirrels you said that."

"I glad I am." I chuckled a little to myself as we left the cabin with little to no stir from the other boys.

Guess I'm in the clear for now, that is.

I ruffled my wet hair just a tad as I followed Dogen back toward camp. There were prying eyes, but I couldn't honestly tell if it was because of my last name possibly being whispered about or that fact I wasn't wearing my helmet at the moment.

"So you can go without your helmet?" I looked over toward Dogen, who was slightly ahead of me. "Why do you wear it then? I wear mine cause of voices. Voices quieter. Dogen likes fewer voices." I smiled at the smaller boy as I gave a small shrug.

"It's a gift from my dad. It was his father's and I was fascinated with it as a kid. Once I got old enough to fit it, he gave it to me. I just," I stopped for a moment as I looked down at the helmet that was stepped to my belt loop at the moment. "Kept wearing it after. Kinda like a reminder of my family, ya know?"

"That's nice. Nicer than quieting voices."

"Yeah?" I chuckled a little as Dogen shrugged. "Hey, have you seen Lili while we were out and about? I haven't seen her yet myself."

"Lili has a thing about trying her best not to be bothered by the other kids. She's never cared for them as much. Lili is Dogen's friend, but no one else but you are really able to call her as such."

"So she's people dodging, I guess?" Dogen nodded at that as we reached the cabin once more.

"Normally, yes."

"Why's that?" Dogen just shrugged as he entered the cabin without another word. I shrugged it off myself as I followed to put some of the stuff away from the shower. "Better not to ask I guess then," I whispered to myself before ruffling my hair once more.

"Not going to hydrokinesis yourself dry, Aquato?" I rolled my eyes as Bobby's voice put emphasis on my name. "Or are you too chicken?"

"First of all, Off-Brand-Carrot-Top," I turned toward Bobby with a wide smile as I closed my drawer. "What's the point in that? I don't have anywhere to put the water after. Also, why the fuck would staying wet make me a chicken?"

"Don't make me kick your ass, Aquato! I'm not afraid of you!"

"Yeah and you backing away like a suka yesterday was so brave of you." I rolled my eyes before looking over toward Dogen. "Care to show me the way to breakfast? I have only been there once and I doubt I'll be able to find it again."

"Sure thing, Raz."

"You're helping an Aquato, you know!" I looked over to see that Bobby was crossing his arms over his chest defensively while giving Dogen a confused look. "You're not fearful or anything, weirdo?"

"Names. Names names name." Dogen looked off into the distance as he continued. "The squirrels whisper names a lot. Hurtful ones too. Dogen learned that names have no meaning. Especially the hurtful ones. Cause if they had meaning, people would be dead." He tilted his head for a second. "So no meaning, right? Yes, names have no meaning." I blinked for a second as the kid nonchalantly looked back over toward me. "Did you say something? Or did I? I can't remember."

"Alrighty then." I drew out the first word for a moment before changing the conversation. "Food?"

"Ah yes, food." Dogen turned on his heels and left the cabin without another word.

"Fucking psycho," Bobby muttered the words to himself before shoving me harshly into the bunk bed's latter. "A match made in heaven for you, Aquato." I rolled my eyes as he passed me by to leave the cabin before me.

Rather be friends with a psycho than share air with you, Carrot Top.

I sighed to myself as I pushed myself away from the bunk beds and made my way out of the cabin as well.

Okay, Raz, let's get some food and go about our morning. Maybe once we meet up with Lili the day will get better.

I ran a hand through my still damp hair as the cabin's door swung shut behind me.

Maybe.

I grabbed my little tray of food and looked over the mildly crowded mess hall as I let out a heavy sign.

Seems Dogen has already left. Still no Lili in sight too. Guess I have to try and mingle then.

I walked over toward an empty spot at the end of a table where a couple of the other kids were sitting. But after sitting down and looking over, I noticed they had started to gather their things as hushed whispers were shared between them.

"Better keep our distance." I overheard a girl with a space helmet on her head as she nodded her head toward a different table. "You heard how Aquatos get."

"Do you think Agent Vodello will have levitation class at the lake like she normally does? Or do you think it would be dangerous with you know who?"

"Did his aunt really kill her own sister?"

"She tried to kill her own friends, what else do you expect?"

I sighed as the whispers grew further away with each word. I grabbed a piece of the bacon on my tray and took a bite. The idea of eating suddenly made my stomach drop as bacon, of all things, tasted as if I was suddenly chewing those disgusting cube things my sister's horse would eat.

And everyone is afraid of me. Hazzah. Hurray. Other sarcastic happy things to say.

"Is everyone seriously forcing you to eat alone?" I snapped my attention up as Lili's voice appeared before me. She took the seat across from me as she started to peel the wrapping off a single muffin. "Did Bobby's mouth spread shit that fast?"

"I couldn't even take a shower without being remarked about how I should just dry myself off with my powers." I took another bite of my bacon despite the fast my stomach continued to twist. "Dogen doesn't seem to mind, but everyone else," I looked over the rest of the mess hall as I saw that the other kids were staring and whispering at any chance they could get. "Seem to care quite a bit."

"No one's gotten violent with you yet, right?"

"Other than Bobby being Bobby, nothing bad so far."

"Good," I turned my attention back toward Lili as she pulled a piece off of her muffin. "I'll make sure it stays that way."

"Yeah," I muttered the word to myself as I dropped the rest of my bacon strip onto my tray. "God I should be used to this by now but I had hopes it would be different here." I ran a hand through my hair as it was still a little wet from earlier. "I should remember that hope and the name Aquato mean nothing in this world."

"Hey," I stared down at my tray as Lili's voice grew soft. "It'll be alright."

"You can't promise that." I pushed my tray away from me a little as I moved to lay my head down in my arms on top of the table. "I feel dreadful though."

"You should still eat."

"Says the one only eating a muffin by pieces."

"I get sick if I eat too much in the morning." I brought my head up just enough so I could put my chin on my arms.

"And what if I say I'm the same way."

"Please, you're an acrobat. You'll burn more calories than this muffin in a minute. You wouldn't be able to function without a good bit of breakfast." She popped another piece of her muffin in her mouth as a soft look came over her face. She chewed and swallowed before speaking, unlike me, who was speaking with their mouth full earlier. "If this place is making you feel off or something, we can take what you can grab and go to the dock. What do you say? I bet bacon tastes better without assholes ruining it." She raised from her seat with a smile as she held out her free hand. "Here, I'll grab something for you too. Whichever you chose." I slowly brought my eyes back to my tray as I then handed her my own muffin from the tray before sitting straight up and grabbing the water bottle and bacon strips that were left. "That's more like it."

"Anything to get away from all these people, honestly."

"Then away we go." I stood and felt a small smile grace my lips as Lili came around the table and gave me a playful nudge. "Now, come on. Want to make sure my favorite person eats." My smile only grew as I felt a small blush tint the tops of my cheeks. We made our way out of the building as whispers continued behind us, though this time they weren't just about me.

But about how a Zanotto called an unlikely Aquato their favorite person.

Chapter Text

"Feeling more comfortable?" I sighed happily as I kicked my bare feet into the lake water. A muffin wrapper was crumpled up in my left hand as the other wiped the rest of the crumbs off the corner of my mouth from the blueberry pastry.

"Absolutely." I smiled wide at Lili, who was beside me on the dock as my free hand now flopped down onto my chest. "Thanks, Lils."

"I got ya." She gave me a smile of her own as she poked at the side of my boots that were resting beside her. "It can get a bit overwhelming and stuff with those kids." She moved the boots, now just a little more to the side as she moved to lay down on the dock beside me. "Out here is always better than being suffocated by those bastards."

"Do you chill by the docks a lot then?"

"Nah," She adjusted so she could lay her head on her arms like a makeshift pillow while staying up at the bright blue sky. "Normally with the little hidden flower garden I made in the forest."

"Guess you like flowers than most people then, huh?" I gave her a half smile as she turned her attention toward me once more.

"For the most part," Her smile turned into a smirk before turning to look up toward the sky again. "But you're not half bad either."

"I thought you just called me your favorite a little while ago there," I smirked as she just chuckled beside me.

"Maybe, maybe not. The world may never know."

"So I'm the equivalent of a tootsie pop to you?"

"Oh shush, Raz." I couldn't help but laugh as she moved to shove me with her hand.

"Guess I'm a sucker then!" I couldn't help but keep laughing as Lili just shoved me again.

"I said shush, Aquato!"

"Hey! You called me a lollipop first!"

"Did not!"

"What? The world may never know to that too?"

"I'll throw you in the lake!"

"Jokes on you, Flower Child, I'll enjoy it!" Suddenly, a new laugh joined us in our antics.

"Well, you children seem to be having fun together." I sat up to look over at the new voice, which caused my jaw to drop.

"Holy-." I couldn't finish my sentence as Lili sat up as well to look over toward the agent.

"Oh hey, Milla. How are you today?"

"I'm doing beautifully, darling." The Brazillian agent smiled wide as she placed a small pillow down for her to sit down on. "Just setting up for the levitation class." She looked over toward me as she adjusted her legs in her lap. "And you must be Razputin. Sasha has told me quite a bit about you, young man." My eyes grew wide as I felt a small blush tint my cheeks.

"A-Agent Nein told you about me?" I heard Lili giggle beside me as she adjusted so she could look at Agent Vodello completely.

"Now you're going to make his poor brain short circuit, Milla." I shot a half-hearted glare as Vodello just laughed joyously.

"Well I'm just happy you had finally made a friend here, Lili." It was Lili's time to blush as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I have friends."

"Dogen and his squirrels do not count, darling." Milla gave a smirk as she looked back over toward me. "So, Razputin, how is your stay so far? Is anyone giving you any issues or anything? Want to make sure you're being treated fairly here." She gave a wide and sweet smile that was much like a loving mother's as I just shrugged a little in return.

"Well, everyone knows who I am now so I'm waiting for a foot to drop here soon." I twisted around to sit before the agent and pulled my feet out of the water. "So far not too bad though. Not that isn't out of the ordinary for the life of an Aquato."

"Names and presumptions are a devious mix for sure." A small frown took over her lips as she put her hands on her lap. "Assumptions based upon memories of others are quite dangerous. After all, it gives the person the ability to form an idea of a person within their mind without the truth of their being."

"I've been told by a few here that my name means nothing though."

"Oh, but darling, your name means everything." I gave the agent a confused look as she continued. "It is your identity. It is who you are. Has nothing to do with your physical presence, but everything to do with who you are mentally. The name we bare and how we feel with it makes us who we are as people. Though it's the feelings others have with it that means nothing." She gave a wide smile as she closed her eyes, as if to focus on something in particular. "It is the meaning and feelings you have with it that means something." Suddenly, the woman started levitating with ease as she opened her eyes once more. "Do you understand?"

"Honestly, that's a lot to sink in."

"Years of wisdom does take more than a few seconds to understand, Razputin." Her smile only widened as she continued speaking. "It's why it takes years to get it."

"Congrats, Raz." I snapped my attention toward Lili, who had a wide smile of her own. "You've got your first Agent Vodello Wisdom Lessons."

"Is that the only lesson you take from me, Ms. Zanotto?" I could hear the smirk in the agent's voice as Lili just smirked right back at her.

"It's more than I get from Oleander."

"I'll take that proudly." The agent giggled a little at the idea as I brought my attention back toward her. "We have a little bit before the other children come around. Anything you would like to ask me before they do? You seem like the curious type."

Could you tell me why my mental field had a freaky dentist and meat flowers? I doubt that.

"Nothing really." I gave the woman a wide smile that she seemed to take in with pride. "Thanks though, Agent Vodello."

"Please, call me Milla. Agent Vodello always sounds so serious from you children." The woman gave a small laugh as she adjusted her hands in her lap to form the stereotypical mediation stance. "Even then, makes me feel older by the second."

"Sounds good, Milla." I smiled wide as I let the word fall from my lips with ease. This caused the woman to smile wide before looking over toward Lili.

"I bet you're keeping a good eye on this one?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Good." Milla gave a small approving nod before turning her attention back toward me. "Because you deserve much better than any form of harassment here, Razputin."

"Thanks, Milla." I looked over toward Lili with a wide smile before nudging the girl beside me. "I got this fire starter on my side though, so I bet I'll be fine."

"YOU KNOW IT, AQUATO!" Lili raised her hand up proudly as I instantly hi-fived her hand with ease.

"THE BEST DUO!" We started laughing together as Milla just smiled at us sweetly. Something was obviously dancing in her mind as she took in the scene, but neither of us cared.

I wonder if we remind her of Sasha and them? The perfect pair?

I smiled to myself as Lili's laughs subsided to little giggles.

I would think so after all.

"Are you sure it's safe to have levitation class out here, Agent Vodello?" I tried my best to not let the kid's stares unnerve me as I slipped my goggles over my eyes.

"Oh, darlings! We are completely safe out here! If the rumor of a lake monster is still messing with you, then I promise I'll protect you." Milla chuckled at herself as I swallowed dryly to myself.

The only lake monster here they fear is me.

I felt a nudge on my shoulder as I looked over to see that Lili scooted closer to me.

"Yeah, what makes you so frightened Elton? You a chicken?"

"No!" The boy flushed heavily as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Then what's wrong, fucker?" Lili gave a wicked smile as Milla gave her a shocked look.

"Language, Lilian!" The girl just shrugged as the agent looked back over toward Elton. "Even then, I know the only reason you children are frightened is because of Razputin."

"An Aquato." I heard someone hiss my name under their breath as I just let it roll off of me.

"Razputin is more than his family name, everyone." I tried my best to keep a neutral face as Milla put emphasis on my name. "Each of you has a name you're all tied to. How about I treat all of you all like your ancestors and all?" The kids instantly went silent as they seemed to weigh their options before the agent. "Good." She pulled out a small door before placing it on her forehead. "Now let's party shall we?"

Party?

I glanced over toward Lili, who shot me a wide smile before allowing her projection to get pulled in by the portal.

Well then. Let's party!

"This place is spectacular!" I smiled wide as I balanced on my levitation ball. Lili giggled to my side as I took in the disco-like vibe each part of Milla's brain showcased to me.

"I'm glad you enjoy it, darling." Milla's voice went over the dance music smoothly as a TV screen projected her face in the heart of the final stage area. "I am quite curious about an idea though, I wonder if your hydrokinesis and levitation will go hand in hand for you in the future." Milla smiled wide as a scuff was heard behind me. "After all, who knows. Maybe you can use it to glide across the water instead of needing a boat or canoe in the future!"

"I'll have to give it a try, honestly!" I smiled like a fool as I balanced one foot on top of the levitation ball. "Levitation is quietly becoming a favorite here for me. Might be the acrobat in my system though."

"You better not pull any water shit around me, Aquato." Bobby scuffed as Milla made a small gasping noise.

"Children! Language. I swear, I told Sasha to calm his use of swears around you all but here we are!"

"Even then, Bobby, I bet I could wipe the floor with you when it comes to levitation on its own," I smirked as I flipped so I was balancing on the levitation ball with my hands instead. "After all, for someone that has done this for years, you look a little shaky in comparison."

"Show off."

"Again, I'm an acrobat," I adjusted my stance, so now I was balancing on my fingertips before leaning my weight purely onto my right hand. "Showing off is in my blood."

"So isn't murdering people." I shot Bobby a glare before flipping off my levitation ball and letting it disappear.

"Can I be excused, Milla?" I looked over toward Agent Vodello's TV projection as I tried my best to not let my blood boil.

"Are you sure, Razputin? There's still the big levitation race!"

"I'm sure." I nodded my head as Lili pipped up from beside me.

"I can go with him if it makes you uncomfortable, Agent V."

"Alright. You two can go then." Milla gave a soft frown before quickly smiling once more. "I do hope you enjoyed the dance party! Don't be afraid to come back, rockstar!" Milla gave a wink as I allowed my projection to reject myself from her mind.

Don't worry, Milla, your mind was more than welcoming.

I opened my eyes slowly as I felt connected once more with my body.

It's those within it still that make me feel the opposite.

"Are you alright, Raz?" I shot Lili an uneasy smile as I got up onto my feet. My boots were now on, unlike when we were first talking to the Mental Minx prior to training.

"Better now, honestly." I stretched to straighten my back as I looked out toward the body of water beside us. "Can only handle the whispers for so long, ya know?"

"I get ya." Lili sniffled a little after that, which caused me to give her a curious look.

"Are you getting sick or something?"

"Maybe. Might be my allergies." She shook her head a little as if she was fighting off a sneeze. "Or a head cold. Either way, I doubt I'll be sent home on ya."

"I would hope not." I chuckled a little as I held out my hand for her to grab. "You're the only kid around here that seems to still enjoy my presence." Lili smirked and took my hand with ease as she used to it help herself up.

"Aw, what around Dogen?"

"It's Dogen." We chuckled together for a second as I then continued speaking. "Like the kid means well, but he can be a bit confusing for sure."

"That's cause I swear the kid is brainless." Lili giggled at her own joke for a second as I suddenly felt a little uneasy. As if something deep within me was warning of something emerging. I instantly looked over toward the water, figuring something was going to pop right out of the service to reveal my suspicions were correct. A familiar short figure with a tin foil hat started just walking out of the water as if it was nothing with a glossed-over look to him.

"TV." The shorter boy took slow but steady steps out of the water and onto the beach as his arms stayed locked to his sides. "Teeeevee."

"The hell is wrong with him?" I shrugged as I decided to make my way from the dock toward where the boy was standing. I jumped down from the dock area to walk right across the little bit of lake water before catching up with the other boy.

"Yo, Dogen. You alright?" I shook my hand before the boy's face, but his eyes didn't seem to recognize the motion. "Dogen?"

"TV." His head then leaned back as if he couldn't hold the weight of his own head up. "Tee~." I swallowed dryly as flashes of my time in Sasha's lab came to mind.

Gotta take out that brain of yours. It's no good.

I reached out to hold the boy steady so I could look for any kind of indication of acknowledgment in his eyes.

It can't be. He can't-. Is there even a way you can live without your brain? Can a body function like that?

I turned his head slightly so I could take a quick glance in his ear, only to be welcomed to nothing. It was hollow.

He's-.

I pulled my hands away from him gently before looking over toward Lili, who had now joined the two of us. I knew right then I must have been the equivalent of a deer in headlights as I looked back toward Dogen. I tried to speak, but my voice was barely above a whisper as I couldn't believe it myself.

"He's brainless."

Chapter Text

"Dogen normally acts brainless, you gotta be more specific here, Raz."

"No, Lili! I'm serious!" I pulled her over toward me and had her peek through his ear as well. "See?!"

"Holy shit." Her voice was wavering a little as she pulled back from our friend. "He's actually fucking brainless."

"W-What should we do?" I stammered a little as I tried to look and see if there was any sign of recognition in Dogen's eyes.

He's not even showing light recognition with the sun and shadows. No dilation in his eyes or anything. Jesus.

"Well, the best thing to do is to take him somewhere where he can't harm himself. Probably plopping him in front of the TV in the mess hall would be good enough."

"Like an actual brainless kid."

"Exactly." I nodded along as Lili then rubbed her chin. "Someone's gotta keep an eye on him too. Make sure he doesn't get into anything without anyone noticing. Milla's got her brain full of other kids at the moment and Sasha is normally busy with agent things, so that leaves good old Ford." My skin crawled a little as the old man's name was said.

"He's got a history of doing the opposite there."

"Raz, it's the best we got. Both of us are going to be busy figuring shit out here."

"What about Oleander?" She quirked an eyebrow at me as she put her hands on her hips.

"Really? Leave a brainless kids with Oleander? Hell no. Do you see how he treats normal children?" I swallowed hard as I nodded along with her decision.

"Fine. We'll leave him with Ford. But then we should get the competent agents involved. By then, Milla and Sasha should be free, right?"

"Hopefully. First priority is to make sure Mr. Tinfoil gets to the mess hall safe and sound." I nodded my head as I put an arm around the smaller boy.

"Come on, Doge. Let's get you somewhere with a TV, huh?" I turned him around to face toward camp before starting to guide him. "Slowly does it, buddy."

"Also," I looked over at Lili as we started making our way toward the mess hall. "We do not tell the other kids what's going on here or where we found him."

"You can't be serious, Lils. What happens if they end up losing their brains too? We gotta warn them that something's fucky here."

"Yeah, but try telling that to a bunch of kids who are being assholes to an Aquato camper who just so happens to have found one of his friends in the water, brainless." I felt myself run pale as Lili's voice grew serious. "They'll raise hell, Raz. They would treat you like some kind of witch in a Salem trial. Guilty till proven otherwise." She looked over Dogen's head toward me as a determined look took over her hazel eyes. One that left a chill down my spine as she continued to speak. "I will not let that happen. This is between you and me." I nodded my head as I felt her place her hand on my arm that was guiding Dogen. "Our secret for now."

"Our secret." I nodded as Lili seemed to try and comfort me by rubbing her thumb on my jacket. I crossed my eyes for a moment as I tried my best to calm my sudden nerves. "Was not expecting my first camp visit to go like this. I thought if I waited, that-, that things would go smoother but-."

"Hey," I opened my eyes to look at Lili as she pulled me and Dogen to a sudden stop. "This isn't your fault. Not like you stole his brain or anything. You didn't ask for this. Whatever caused your mental field to be screwy is what's the source of this. Whoever is behind this, we'll find them. You won't get blamed." I nodded along as I pulled my eyes away from her.

"But I'm cursed enough that even telling the truth to anyone else but two agents and a damned old man would lead to me being crucified."

"They won't know, Raz. I promise."

"Let's sure hope it goes that way, Lils." I looked over toward her with a broken smile as I tried my best to keep my composure as memories flooded my mind with ease. "Because if not, I can sure as hell say that shit is going to get ugly." I looked ahead of me once more as I tried my best to fight off the flashing images in my mind. One of a cold cell, the isolation chamber, and the police interrogation from when I was a kid. One of when I was held down by some of the other circus kids as they tried to 'teach the Aquato a lesson'. I felt a single tear escape my eye as Lili's soft motions continued on my arm once more.

Our little secret.

My mind mulled the words over as we made it to the mess hall.

Let's see if this one is kept safe.

"What in the tomfoolery?" I let out a sigh as I tried to sit the poor boy in front of the TV. "What's with the Boole boy and why is he acting more brainless than usual?"

"Well, Ford, that's cause he is," Lili stated the obvious simply as I made sure Dogen couldn't hurt himself with anything nearby. "We have a Psychonaut level issue here and it needs to be kept on a low profile."

"Quite scary how much you get like your father." The old man chuckled to himself as I turned to join them. "But how so?"

"Well, it started with the brain tumbler." I started simply as I put my hands in my jacket pockets. "Something was off with the fact that my own mental plan was starting to get mixed with one that was nothing like mine. There was a dentist dude who was talking about taking out Dogen's brain there, and then the next day, Dogen there walks out from the water brainless."

"Dentist dude?" Ford gave me a curious look as I just shrugged.

"He was talking about how Dogen's brain was a bad cavity or something. Had blue skin and a shower cap." Ford rubbed at his chin for a moment as he seemed to try and connect some of the dots together.

"I can look through some of the files in my little lair under the camp and see if there is anyone we've encountered in the past that meets that description. I believe we have, actually."

"What should we do till then?"

"I would just keep an eye out for anything unusual. Try and see if there is anyone asking out of sorts or at least, more out of sorts than normal. I'll have to speak to Milla and Sasha after lessons to see what they believe should follow."

"What about the water?" My voice was soft as I looked the man in the eye. "If anyone finds out about the water connection-."

"No one can find out about the water connection." His voice grew dark as his eyes glossed over. "They'll treat you the same. Even if you are both so different." I gritted my teeth for a moment as a thought rang out in my head.

But we're also so much alike too, huh? Which is it, old man?

"But you two will be my eyes and ears for now. If anything comes up, let me know and I'll do the same with you." I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes as Lili just nodded along.

"Trust is gonna go a long way right now, so we'll hold you to it." I looked over toward Lili as I noticed she glanced at me from the corner of her eye.

Guess she's saying that for me, too. She knows me too well already.

"Sounds good. Sasha and Milla should be done with their lessons and things, so I'll get them over to my lair. Stay out of too much trouble until then."

"Guess we can watch the water for now." I shrugged as Ford went on his way. "See if there is anything disturbing it. I might be able to sense something if I try hard enough too."

"You can sense things in the water?" Lili turned to give me a curious look as I just shrugged.

"Mainly it's the water talking, but yeah, sometimes. If it has a strong enough connection with the water itself."

"So like fish?"

"Not really," I pulled a hand out of my jacket pocket to scratch the back of my neck. "It's a little hard to explain."

"Well, water whisperer, let's see what you got. To the lake we go."

"So how does this work?" Lili moved to take a seat next to me as I began to take my boots and socks off. "Do you just go in a little or something?"

"Kinda." Once I had my socks and boots off, I shrugged off my jacket and held it out for her to grab. "I need to go in a little further. Submerge myself, basically."

"And you're going to do that in pants and a t-shirt? Do you circus boys not have a thing got swim trunks?"

"Us circus boys don't have money, my friend." I gave a cheeky smile as she reached out and grabbed my jacket from me. "Even then, it's not like I don't have extra clothes or anything. Water dries." I started to pull my shirt over my head as I continued. "Even then, I'm going in with just the pants. This shirt won't like the drying process very well. The patches are a bit older." Once free from the garment, I handed it out to Lili, who took it with a little bit of hesitance.

"Y-Yeah, I get ya." I gave her a curious look for a moment as her demeanor changed quite suddenly.

"Are you okay?" Lili glared at me as she put my shirt and jacket on her lap.

"Shut up and do your water thing." I put my hands up with a smile as it was obvious she was hiding a small blush.

"Whatever you say, Zanotto." I pulled my goggles from my head, which pulled my helmet off with it. "Just make sure these are safe for me too." She took them without a problem as she muttered under her breath.

"Fine just go already, Water Boy." I chuckled at that for a moment before jogging over toward the water. Once at the shoreline, I took my time walking into a deeper portion before taking a deep breath and diving in. The water rushed up over my head as the loving whooshing noise filled my ears. I felt a bit of joy in my heart as I swam down to sit on the lake's floor.

Alright, old friend.

I put my legs in my lap as before closing my eyes so I could focus on the connection between the water and me.

Tell me all that you're feeling.

It was silent for a moment, but then I snapped my eyes open as a crippling pain struck me in the chest.

Jesus Christ!

I placed a hand over my heart as I was allowed to feel the anguish of a creature within the water. My chest ached as it was obvious the creature was suffering. Its mind and emotions are filled with rage. Its heart was heavy and its mind was even heavier, as its body and mind seemed to be submerged in pain and despair as well.

That's enough, that's enough!

I blinked hard for a couple of moments as I tried my best to dampen the connection. My heart was banging in my chest as I pushed up from the lake floor so I could make my way back up toward the surface.

Whatever is taking kids into the water, I doubt it's doing this all on its own.

My head broke the surface of the water and instantly, I let out a gasp. The weight of the emotions now rolling off me as I let myself stay there for a moment.

Nothing in that much pain and distraughtness can ever truly know what it's doing. There's always a puppet master with those poor beings.

I swam closer to shore as a different pain spread across my chest, this one completely my own. My glowing eyes shone back at me from the water as I kneeled not too far from the shoreline.

After all, an Aquato would know best.

Chapter Text

"Raz?"

All that anger. All that pain.

"Raz? You okay?"

Feels so familiar.

"Raz!" I snapped my eyes up toward Lili, who was pulling me toward the sand with her. I knew my eyes were still glowing by how they reflected in her hazel eyes.

Is that was Nona felt all those years ago? That pain and regret?

"You look like a deer in headlights." I let her push me over so I landed on my back in the sand. "Just breath easy for now, okay?" I nodded my head silently as I stared up toward the bright blue sky.

If the creature in the lake feels like that, then we have an issue. They're on par with what Lucrecia felt before she was turned. If that's so and it's tied to Dogen's sudden brain disappearance-

"We've got a problem." My voice was shaken as I looked over toward Lili, who had my jacket and shirt dangling around her neck. "That being-." I hesitated as I went to push myself up on my elbows to look out toward the lake. Its calm waters hiding such a dark presence in life's ironic beauty. "Is so much like my aunt."

"Like Lucrecia or Maligula?"

"Both." I got myself to sit up straight as I looked toward Lili. "It's in pain." I put emphasis on the word as it seemed to not even completely fit the creature's feelings. "It's frustrated. It's filled with rage."

"So we got a water being that's having more emotions than a human on hormone treatments possibly stealing people's brains?" Lili sighed as she placed my boots and socks before me. "Great."

"I-." I fiddled with the sock part that was poking out from inside my boots. "I don't think it knows what it's doing. I felt betrayed. Like it's being forced and controlled, too."

"Could it be mind controlled?"

"I've read that there have been cases of mind-controlled animals showcasing their master's emotions." I reached up and scratched at my damp head. "Like in True Psychic Tales issue 267."

"Where Frontal Lobe realized that he could control more than just an army of brains, but the creatures that had said brains." I nodded along as Lili flopped onto the sand beside me. "But who around here would have that much anger? Who is that desperate to cause pain to something?"

"Other than Zilch? I have no clue."

"Zilch doesn't even have enough brain cells to understand his left hand from his right." Lili hissed out his name before sitting up beside me. "But this is a big step in the right direction. We can tell something, whatever it is, is possibly pulling kids into the water for someone. Trying to see who it is will be the main objective."

"What's the next step though? Watching and waiting to see if something appears?"

"No, I doubt anything would come out of the water at the moment. Especially since you made a strong enough connection with the water to cause yourself to go into a shock there." I nodded as I decided to slip my socks and boots on.

"Do-." I swallowed dryly as I looked over toward Lili once more. "Do you think we could help it? Like break whatever connection is causing it those feelings?"

"It's possible." Lili shrugged as she got up to her feet. "At this point, anything is possible." I nodded as I went back to putting my boots on. "But hey, if you want to try and save it, I wouldn't mind adding that to the plan." I looked up toward her as she gave me a soft smile. "My original idea there was burning it to a crisp, but I have a feeling you have a soft spot for it already." I gave her a sheepish grin before standing up beside her.

"I just-." I glanced toward the water for a moment before looking back toward her. "I think we can help it. It might be a long shot, but it's worth a chance, right?" Lili's smile grew for a moment before she shook her head just a little.

"To think people claim that Aquatos are heartless."

"But a Zanotto was the one wanting to burn a creature like some kind of fish dish." I smirked at her before getting my shirt and jacket flung into my face.

"Get dressed, Water Boy." I couldn't help but smile as I pulled the clothing off of my head.

"Whatever you say, Flower Girl."

I adjusted my jacket just a little as it was obvious I put it on a little too soon after getting out of the water and the walk back toward camp did not aid in it sticking to my shirt and skin.

"So where exactly would Ford be at this point?" I watched Lili as she walked nonchalantly up toward a tree stump.

"In his Crueller Cave, or as I call it, his loony bin." She knocked at the top of the stump, which caused some latch to open on the top. "After all, the majority of the people here are nuts." I walked over to peak into the stump to see that some kind of cart was straight down from us. It appeared to be on tracks that led to wherever the hell the old man's lair would be.

"Did the old man seriously set up some kind of fast travel mechanism for himself?"

"How do you think he's everywhere at once? The forest, the mess hall, the canoe storage."

"There's one at the canoe spot?"

"Yeah, I would have used it, but I haven't found that one yet. Old man can be a sneaky one, that's for sure."

"Tell me something I didn't know." My voice grew dark as Lili leaned over the trunk's side.

"Ready to go?" Lili shot me a smile as if it was obvious I wanted to speak about anything other than the agent.

"Ladies first?" I gave her a smirk as she just rolled her eyes.

"Just jump down, Aquato." I chuckled just a bit at the idea before swinging myself over the stump's side and letting myself slip through the hatch opening. The fall was quick, and I landed on the cart's seat with a small thud.

"Huh, not the softest landing, but it works," I muttered to myself as I looked over the small cart. "Coming down Lil-?" I spoke too soon as the smaller girl dropped right into my lap with a small thud of her own. It came with a bit of force, but it didn't hurt me any, though the wide-eyed look on her face would probably make any pain I did feel fade within seconds. The setup caused a deep blush to take over my face as her hazel eyes were locked with my green ones. I swallowed hard as my brain screamed at me.

Say something Aquato! Anything! Anything at all!

"H-Had a nice fall?" I mentally face palmed as Lili's eyes shot me a glare before scrambling out of my lap to take the small spot in the cart beside me.

Not that, dumbass!

"We don't speak of this ever again." My blush deepened as I glanced at the girl from the corner of my eye. It was obvious she was flustered about it all too but in her own unique way.

"Agreed."

"Talksprite!" The front of the cart lit up bright green on its screen as Lili seemed to have activated it. "To Ford's Sanctuary."

"Miss Zanotto, nice to see you again. To admiral we go!"

"This thing recognizes you?" I gave Lili a confused look as she shrugged. "What the-?" Before I could finish my sentence, the cart launched into motion. Rolling down the tracks with speed, but not enough to make your head spin.

"It's an AI that Ford installed ages ago. I just call it Talksprite. I recognize me from all the times I used it growing up I guess. There's something similar to it at the Motherlobe."

"The Motherlobe has something like this too?!"

"Not exactly. It's called the Otto B.O.N. It's used to transport bodiless brain agents around. Or a little thing like myself whenever I feel like I don't have enough time to get somewhere. I'll show you in the future." I gave her a curious look as she just quirked an eyebrow at me. "What? You want to be a Psychonaut, right? Psychonauts live there."

"I doubt by the time I do, I'll be small enough to use it." Lili gave me a smile before looking out toward where the cart was taking us.

"You never know, Aquato. Stranger things have happened." She looked back toward me as her arms crossed themselves over her chest. "Besides that, I demand you visit in the future." I chuckled at that as I gestured toward my tattered shirt.

"Circus performer, remember?"

"So? I'll still want to see my best friend." I smirked wide at the comment, which caused her to roll her eyes instantly. "Shut it, Raz."

"Do I get a bracelet now?"

"I said shut it."

"My favorite colors are red and green, just in case."

"I said shush!"

"Children! Yes! Wonderful! Come on over." I looked around Ford's lair as Lili led the way further into the heart of it.

Wide screens, big mechanical shit, and dark.

I looked over toward Ford, who was now gesturing to the biggest screen before him. A large amount of scribbled words danced across the screen as he turned toward us.

Fits.

"Your happy I'm waltz around uninvited for once." Lili crossed her arms over her chest as I stood proudly beside her. "What gives, Cruller?"

"What gives is that Sasha and Milla are gone on 'emergency official agent business'," The old man used air quotes before continuing. "Business I did not receive a notice of before they left."

"Could be true, dad doesn't like keeping you too up to date with things knowing how you get." I gave Lili a confused look as she gestured toward Ford. "My dad followed after him becoming Grand Head. But he never stopped wanting to know everything and anything. So my dad tells him what he needs to so other things go smoothly."

"It is my organization still." The old man crossed his arms over his chest before looking back toward the computer. "Luckily I still have access to the files and services attached to the Motherlobe's main archives."

"Much to dad's disliking."

"Well, you'll be happy with that when you see this." Ford clicked a single button, which caused a picture to appear on the widescreen. "Looks familiar?" I swallowed hard as a particular laugh and drill chorus rang within my mind.

Blue skin, shower cap, claw hand. Yep. That's him.

"Dr. Caligosto Loboto." Ford said his name with little to no emotion as he showed the crazed man's mug shots. "Born a psychic and driven made after a botched lobotomy his parents put him through, this freelance dentist is one hell of a nutjob, but also one hell of a scientist. He's known for his mutation work as well as psychic weapons. He's now a freelance contractor for the other madmen of the world." Ford glanced over toward us before bringing up a new page. "One of the most dangerous weapons he has is sneezing powder. Something he uses to extract his victim's brains."

"That's it." A light bulb lit up in my head as I snapped my attention toward Lili. "The betrayal, the pain, the mental plan! It's all connected to him! He's behind everything!"

"Mutation work." Lili rubbed her chin for a moment before lighting up like a Christmas tree. "Wait! Maybe that large fish thing that Elton claims he saw last year was real! Maybe he has a mutated fish or something capturing swimmers!"

"You two are quick thinkers." I looked over toward Ford, who was smiling proudly at us. "Make me think of a specific duo that would be proud of this moment."

"He's broken though." I felt my heart ache as my face fell. The memory of his emotions rattled my mind still as I looked down toward the cold metal floor. "I doubt he's working alone. Especially since he's a freelance worker and all. He must be contracted. Even then, he's definitely not stable enough to work on his own."

"Exactly what I was thinking." I looked over toward Lili, who had a determined look in her eyes. "Someone else is a part of this. Someone closer to camp than the dentist guy. Our next step is to try and find out more evidence for the other suspect."

"Well, I want to present an idea before you two go." I gave Ford my attention as he kneeled down just enough to look at Lili and me directly. "I want to dub you two official agents. At least for now. That way, I can give you two more aid without legal issues." I looked at the man with wide eyes as I soaked up the moment.

Temporary agent. A bigger step than I thought I would ever get at camp.

I smiled wide as I glanced over toward Lili, who gave me the same look.

"It's official then. Lili Zanotto, Razputin Aquato," Ford stood up straight as he put his hands behind his back with a small smile. His mustache was lopsided as he looked between us. "With the power in me as founder and past Grand Head of the Psychonauts, I give you two the titles of temporary agents. Congratulations." I felt a hand place itself on my shoulder, and I couldn't help but swell with pride at that moment.

Alright, Agent Aquato.

I looked over toward Lili as we shared a swelling feeling of determination.

Now to get to work.

Chapter Text

"So what should we do now?" I gave Lili a curious look as I looked up toward the dark sky above us. The moon shined bright as I leaned against the stump we had just exited from. "I bet Oleander has all the other kids asleep by now."

"If he's not sleeping in front of the mic at the base again, that is." I chuckled a little as she reached up to rub her chin in thought. "Does make me wonder the hell he is always mumbling about into that thing."

"Meat, probably. From what his brain showed with the meat flower and all." I shrugged a little as I gave Lili a confused look. "Oh yeah, did you know he has a random shrine hallway in the deep part of his mind? Like right after basic training, I found it. I pure white hallway with red curtains. As if it was a museum presenting its latest attraction."

"What the hell?"

"I know right?"

"He's getting weirder and weirder. And that says a lot when it comes to Oleander." Lili put her hands on her hips as she looked in the direction of the lake. "Everything is getting weirder here, honestly. My dad is not going to be happy when he hears all about this. I have a funny feeling about Milla and Sasha disappearing too." I shivered with how serious her voice had gotten. It was a side of Lili I hadn't seen before, but when she looked back toward me with a determined gleam in her eyes, I knew then that it was one of the purest expressions of herself that she had ever presented to me. "We have to figure this out."

"Well," I reached up to scratch the back of my neck as I tried my best to think. "Let's think of it this way, who would be able to get contact from the Motherlobe to ask for Sasha and Milla specifically to leave on important Psychonaut business?"

"It has happened before." Lili crossed her arms over her chest as she seemed to go deep into thought. "When I was ten, there was a psychic terrorist attack in Paris that they had to leave off to. Oleander got word from the Motherlobe through his com station in his tower. So normally anything really important comes from there. He never really lets them leave without fighting them on wanting to go too though."

"Seems this time there wasn't a fight."

"Yeah." I sighed as it seemed the two of us hit a brick wall with our train of thought. "What else is there to do then? Just sleep and hope no one else gets water-napped?"

"Got any better ideas?" I sighed as I stuck my hands into my jacket pockets.

"I guess not. Unless you want to camp out by the lakeside and see if anything weird happens?"

"We need our rest too though, Raz." I nodded along as I fought back a small yawn.

She's right. Can only do so much before you exhaust yourself. And if we are able to figure out what the fuck is going on here, I'm going to need all the energy I can muster. Psychic and physical.

"Guess we go to sleep then."

"It's for the best, after all." Lili put a hand on my shoulder as a small yawn escaped the girl. "And if you didn't agree, I would probably say fuck you and go to bed anyway." I couldn't help but chuckle at her as we started making our way toward the cabins.

"Nothing too bad should happen when we go to bed, right?"

"May not be peaceful," I felt her hand slip over my shoulders so she could guide me toward the cabins. "But we need it if this shit keeps going."

"True." I swallowed dryly as I tried my best to not be too worried about what could possibly happen.

As long as she's okay when the morning comes,

I let my arm wrap itself around her back as we walked together.

I guess it's fine to get some sleep then.

"Who am I kidding?" I whispered to myself as I stared up toward the cabin ceiling. "I'm not going to be able to sleep without knowing she's alright." I leaned up on my bed and glanced down at the side to see the other boys still in their beds.

Could I sneak out and check the lake? Just to make sure no one else is messing about there?

"People are going to blame you, Raz."

I swallowed hard as the memory of Lili's voice rang within my mind.

"They can't know. We have to be careful. Our little secret."

Our little secret.

I layer back down with a soft huff as I now looked toward the wall on my left.

I wish I could check up on her. To make sure everything was alright.

I closed my eyes as an idea sprung within my mind.

Maybe, just maybe, I can.

I brought an arm up to cover over my eyes just in case as I decided my best to focus on my connection with Lili.

How did Nona describe it? Focus on the link. Open the door to the mind. Speak with your thoughts.

My mind nudged ever so slightly as I felt a small pull on my mind's presence.

I guess you  couldn't  sleep either, huh?

I felt a wide smile take over my lips as Lili's true voice rang in my mind. I gently nudged her presence into my thoughts as a playful remark filled my head.

I think it says a lot that you were looking for me too there, Zanotto.

I'll close off this connection right now, Aquato.  Don't  tempt me.

And break my heart? How cruel, Lils.

Oh, don't be dramatic, circus boy.

But dramatic is my middle name!

I thought it was Augustus.

That's the joke, Zanotto.

Want me to light your ass on fire again?

What? Got that on your mind~?

I would punch you so hard right now.

I'm liking telepathy so much more right now. I couldn't help but chuckle a little to myself as I could tell she was rolling her eyes at me.

What? Never had a brain buddy before?

Actually, no. I haven't. I could feel her confusion within my mind as I continued. Well, my sister tried to connect with my mind before and so hasn't Nona, but it always ended in disappointment. Something about how my head is like a little mental tank. It takes a lot for it to be infiltrated.

Yet here we are. I could tell a smug look was taking over Lili's face that very moment. Maybe all it needed was the Zanotto Touch.

Or for me to actually want someone in my mind?

Don't burst my bubble here, Razzy. I could hear her yawn as it was obvious the night was catching up with her. We should rest up. Give me a ring if anything is out of sorts, okay?

You do the same if something comes up on your end.

Deal. Another soft yawn rang out which I couldn't help but chuckle at. Stay safe, Razputin. I smiled as hearing Lili say my full name was a rare occurrence.

You too, Lili. Rest well.

Agent Zanotto, to bed. I smiled as I felt her presence leave me slowly, but surely, until all that remained was my smile as evidence. My mind was full of this fuzzy lightheaded feeling as something light and beautiful swelled within my chest.

She really is something else. Like some kind of beautiful anomaly.

I placed a hand over my heart as I leaned my head deeper into my pillow.

And this feeling. It's like nothing I ever felt before. Is this what it's like to have a real friend? Because if it is, I don't want it to ever leave me.

I chuckled at myself as I turned over to face the cabin wall with my eyes still closed blissfully.

It's the most beautiful thing and I'll do anything to keep it and her.

My smile kept itself on my lips with ease as I slowly drifted off into slumber. But as my mind drifted, the sound of the cabin door being opened went unheard as a small blue light followed the motion.

"For once I'm glad one of you brats is here." A dark chuckled followed the near silent voice that inched closer toward one of the other kids sleeping away. "Thanks to you Aquato, no one is going to suspect a thing. At least," The light showed enough that a wicked grin was sprawled across the ivory-skinned man's face.

"Not of me."

Chapter Text

"HOLY SHIT!" I snapped up and hit my head on the slanted roof once more, which caused me to wince back into my bed. "WHERE'S BENNY!? Has anyone seen Benny?!" I looked over the side of my bed to see Bobby in pure panic. It was as if he actually cared for the kid that he would push around just as much as the rest of us. "Someone better talk or I'll be pounding heads open in a second!"

"Benny's his name?" I rubbed my head before swinging over the side of the bunk bed to land on my feet like a cat. "I thought it was Dumbo."

"Aquato!" Bobby ended up stomping over toward me so he could grab me by the collar. "Where is he?!"

"What the fuck man! Why do you think it was me!?"

"Who else would do something to him?!"

"I don't fucking know! I know I did jack shit to you're magical elephant buddy."

"You better fucking tell me what you did to him!" Bobby pushed me hard against the bunk bed's ladder, as I couldn't help but winch.

Lili, I don't know if you can hear me right now. I swallowed hard as Bobby's grip around my collar tightened, nearly suffocating me with my own shirt. But I really need your help!

"WHERE IS HE, AQUATO!?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" Bobby switched from my collar to straight for the neck as he lifted up his spare hand.

"BETTER START TALKING, WATER BOY!" Suddenly, the boy's cabin door swung open with pure wrath as a familiar voice screamed out toward the red-haired boy.

"And you better let him go!"

"STAY OUT OF THIS, ZANOTTO!" I felt Bobby squeeze my neck tightly, which caused me to gasp in pain. "Benny is missing and I bet your little boyfriend has everything to do with-!" Before he could even finish, Lili had stomped over and punched the boy in the stomach hard enough for him to drop his grip on me. I instantly fell to the floor in a gasp as Lili took a defensive stance between Bobby and me.

"If you dare lay a hand on him again, so help me God I will burn you all the way to hell, Zilch." She growled out her words like a wild animal before turning her attention toward me. "Are you okay, Raz? Anything aching?" I was trying at this point to even out my breaths, which caused Lili to pull me into a protective hug. "You're okay, buddy." I snaked my arms around her as she kept me steady at that point.

"You stay-!" I felt Lili's head snap toward Bobby as she held me tighter against her.

"If you dare to take a step closer, I will fucking kill you. Got it?"

"Stop," I muttered the word barely above a whisper as I put my head on her shoulder. "It's not going to help. Ford needs to know." I felt her turn her attention toward me once more as I felt her hand rub gently into my back.

"Yeah, let's tell Ford. He's the one in charge right now. Both about Benny and Bobby here being an asshole."

"Or can just tell him that the fucking Aquato kidnapping my friend!"

"Raz has nothing to do with Benny being missing, Bobby." Lili tried her best to keep her cool as she helped me up to my feet. Her protective grasp on me never faltered as she told the other boy off. "We were talking till dawn last night and I know my telekinesis isn't strong enough to keep a connection from too big of a distance. I could feel exactly where he was too and it was in this damn cabin all night. So if you want to keep jumping to conclusions and hurting others, be my guest, but you've got the wrong guy, okay?" Bobby didn't seem to take this seriously for a moment, but once Lili showed how heavily I was leaning into her at this point, he seemed to calm down quite a bit.

"Fine. Whatever. But Benny better be somewhere close. Or I'm going to pound heads in for sure!" Bobby stomped out of the cabin without another word as Lili grumbled in a near whisper.

"If he even dares-."

"Lili," She turned her attention toward me as it was obvious seeing me in this sort of state was bugging her deep within her. "Don't let him take our focus off of this. Ford's gotta know what happened here."

Most importantly, another kid is missing, and probably missing their brain, too.

Lili nodded at this as she silently helped me out of the cabin as the pain in my back was still making itself known to me.

I'll still burn him to a crisp if he hurts you again.

I couldn't help but chuckle at her thoughts as I tried my best to give her a side hug as a thank you.

At least I got you looking out for me.

Anytime, Raz. She rubbed gently on my shoulder as she kept me close to her. It was as if she was afraid of letting me go, honestly. Just call out and I'll be there.

My hero! I chuckled mentally, as I could tell she rolled her eyes at me.

Oh, whatever, damsel.

After a little bit of walking together and traveling to Ford's little lair, the slight pain in my back subsided enough so I could walk on my own, but it was obvious Lili didn't want me too far from her sight. She held my hand as we entered the sanctuary and never let go even after Ford noticed our presence.

"Ah! Children! Got me some news?"

"Another kid is missing," I spoke in a matter-of-fact tone as Lili tightened her grip on my gloved hand ever so slightly. "Benny in particular."

"Guessing Bobby isn't taking that too well." Ford's face fell a little as he looked over at his large computer screen. "It is like his only friend and all."

"To say he didn't take it well is an understatement," Lili growled out her words. I could hear her roll her eyes audibly as I rubbed the back of her hand to keep her calm. "Attacked Raz first thing in the morning and had him pushed up against the bunk bed like some kind of makeshift interrogation."

"Wouldn't expect less, honestly there."

"Luckily, I was able to reach out to Lili and she got me out of there before it could get worse." Ford turned to give me a confused look as he put his hands on his hips.

"You didn't bother to defend yourself, kiddo?"

"And prove everything he thinks of me? What's the point? It'll only make things worst."

"So you'll just let yourself get beaten up or possibly killed?"

"I'm an Aquato. Not a murderer or some shit." I narrowed my eyes at the older man as I tried to take a step closer, but Lili stopped me before I could. "Even if I did defend myself, I would get the guilty till otherwise treatment all over again!"

"What do you mean, Razputin?"

"I was thrown into an isolation chamber at the age of seven because of something like that! For forty-eight long lonely hours too. I'm not going through that ever again."

"They did that to a child?"

"An Aquato," I put a lot of venom into my voice as I spoke my own family name. "That was their excuse."

"I'm-." Ford seemed to hesitate as he tried his best to find the right words. "I'm truly sorry, Razputin." I fought back tears as I tried my best to focus on the feeling of Lili's hand grasping my gloved one.

It's your fault these things happened anyway, Cruller. You put me in this mess. You and your friends gave her up to the world and made your actions known. You have had us living in fear for the last thirty years. You saved her but didn't care for the rest of us. She's free from her sins, but the world may never let us be free. You just had to tell the world who she was. What she was. That line continued.

"It's not the worst thing I've been through," I spoke bitterly as I stared down at the tiled floor between us. "I can promise you that."

"Doesn't make it right."

"Doesn't mean it'll end."

"No one is going to truly trust an Aquato, Razputin." I snapped my attention up toward the man as a sorrowful look took over his face. "Even if you do all you can to clear your family name, no one is going to forget the Deluge of Grulovia. No one is going to just ignore the pains of the past generation and all those they lost. You can wash away the sins from bloody hands, but the feeling will always stay with them." He turned his attention back toward the screen as he decided to pull something up for us. "Trust me, I know."

Because you've tried for years to forget, haven't you, Ford?

I watched the man as he pulled up a picture of a building on the large monitor.

Must be quite pissed with Otto for destroying that machine you used on Lucy now, huh? I bet you would have made yourself forget everything, too, if he hadn't stopped you.

"But back to business." Ford stepped away from the screen to gesture toward what looked like an old abandoned building. "I was doing more research to think of any place that the lake is also connected to and I found out that there is actually an old asylum right in the middle of the lake. It's the same one that Dr. Loboto was actually sent to as a child."

"So you think he's still stomping around his old psycho grounds?" I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see Lili tilting her head to the side curiously. "It would make sense, honestly. Maybe that's where he's taking the kids." I looked over the image for a moment as I noticed the tower in the background from my time in Sasha's lab.

"Lili, doesn't the tower in the back look familiar?"

"Oh yeah! Look exactly like the one from your time in Sasha's brain-machine!"

"So that was also in your mental world?" I nodded my head as Ford's eyes grew wide. "This is a lot worse than I thought then."

"How so?"

"This building is on the opposite side of the lake, kids. For that to be in your mind and you saw it, then someone else here at the camp that's working with him."

"Only other person that could be around enough to cause that would be-." I felt my eyes grow wide as I looked at Ford with shock. "Oleander! The meat flowers! The changes in his mental world! It all makes sense!"

"Would make sense with how another kid went missing too. Especially after Sasha and Milla left."

"What should we do then? Go to this asylum find the fucker and knock his ass down a peg?"

"Honestly, going to the asylum wouldn't be a bad idea." Ford reached up and rubbed his chin a little in thought for a moment before continuing. "Figure out what exactly is going on and take a peak at what the two have planned."

"What about the other kids?"

"Honestly," Ford let out a sigh as he looked back toward the picture on the screen. "We can't let them know we're on their tail. Kids are going to keep going missing and brainless bastards are still going to appear. But this way, you two are out of harm's way for when they do appear and getting more intel." I wanted to argue with him at first, but once I let the idea settle into my mind a little longer, I couldn't help but agree. We needed the information. We need to find the brains. We need to know their plan.

"Is there anything we can use to get out there?"

"There's a little submarine I have set up by the docks. I normally use it to make sure there's no trash in the lake, but it should be good enough to get you two to the asylum without much issue. She's a good old girl."

"Got it." I nodded my head before looking over toward Lili, who had a determined look on her face.

"Let's get down to business then."

"You two stay safe and reach out when you can. There's a computer AI in the submarine just like on the railway out down here." Ford gave us a serious look as he crossed his arms over his chest. "And keep an eye out for that creature too. Whatever it is, it's definitely helping these bastards too and I bet it's hostile." I nodded my head with ease as Lili took the lead.

"Alrighty, agents," Lili wore a proud smile as she tightened her grip on my hand. "Let's do this."

Chapter Text

"Ever worked something like this before?" I gave Lili a curious look as we took our first steps into Ford's little submarine. "Looks a bit funky."

"There's stuff like this all over the Motherlobe. It's all brain powered through energy waves and stuff."

"Really?" I looked over the dials on the walls and dash as Lili walked right over to the pilot's chair as if she had been in the machine a million times before. "Even then, I bet if all else fails, we can try other things like pushing it through with your hydrokinesis or something."

"Plan B for the plan A, always good to have." I shrugged a little to myself as I decided to take the co-pilot chair beside her. "We should have a few other plans just in case though." Lili reached out and flipped a few switches before giving me a curious look.

"Nervous there, Raz?" I swallowed hard as I looked out the main window ahead of us. The lake water glistened in the morning sun still as I felt a pit grow in my stomach.

"Just, that creature." I closed my eyes for a moment as I let the memories of the creature's feelings wash over me. The pain, the fear, and the anger took me for a moment before forcing the connection shut once more. "It's out there and it's got a job to do. It's already a furious little thing. I doubt it's going to go any better with us fucking around in its stomping grounds."

"Did it feel hostile? When you connected with it?"

"Not exactly hostile but enough of the most harmful emotions to say that they're definitely not someone to cross." Lili nodded her head slowly before leaning back in the pilot's chair.

"Well, at this point all we got is the plan we have now. Adventuring out into the unknown and finding out ourselves. Hell, maybe it can keep from more kids getting their head's emptier than they already were." I nodded along as she reached over and placed a hand on my forearm. "We just have to go by some old words my dad lives by."

"And what's that?" I tilted my head a little as a wide smile took over the girl's lips. Her brown eyes had a fire within them as she gave my arm a small squeeze.

"If you don't try, you'll never know. But I enjoy my way of it better." I couldn't help but chuckle a little at her as we decided to strap ourselves in.

"And what's the Lili Zanotto way of it?"

"Fuck around and find out!"

"I am not enjoying the Lili way." I gripped onto the sides of the co-pilot seat as I could feel the submarine ripping through the lake water at a neck-breaking speed. It was obvious that it was slow as hell to Lili with the dull look on the girl's face. But since my psyche is connected to the water itself, I could feel just how fast we were really going with each ripple we were causing.

"You good over there, grandma?" I turned my head to shoot Zanotto a glare, as I knew the pale look to me wouldn't let the glare keep its intent.

"Mind slowing it down?" She glanced over toward me before giving me a wide-eyed look before pulling on the steering wheel she was holding.

"If it helps you look less like a ghost, absolutely." We slowed just a little, which caused the water to calm just enough so that my mind felt a bit more at ease. "Good to know that rippling water messes with ya though."

"A lot of things that affect the water effects me." I relaxed a bit into my seat as I let out a soft sigh. "Didn't think traveling across it would do that though."

"So you can feel what the water feels, basically?"

"More or less. I can connect with it and it can connect with me."

"So the water was screaming out to you there?"

"More like I could feel the ripping water within my own skull."

"Oh, so it's like when flowers are being pulled out of the ground."

"Flowers scream when that happens?" I shot her a curious look as her face was now purely focused on the water path before us.

"Yes." She spoke in a matter-of-fact tone before continuing. "You are basically ripping them from their home and sometimes leaving pieces of their bodies behind. It's like getting your toe stubbed in a door." I cringed at the idea before turning my attention toward the large windshield of the submarine.

"Remind me to never pluck flowers ever again."

"And remind me to go slower on the water in the future." I couldn't help but chuckle at that as I loosened my grip on the armrest of the seat.

"Honestly, I'd rather just part the lake on the way back."

"Like some kind of psychic Moses?" I let out a full-hearted laugh as Lili joined along. "Hey, whatever helps you sleep at night, Mr. Jesus."

"Well, my name is Razputin."

"Did you folks name you after the story of Rasputin?" I shrugged at the idea as I crossed my right leg over my knee.

"Names mean a lot in Grulovian culture. They have power over the kind of person your child will become, at least that's what Nona always said."

"So what does Razputin mean in Grulovia?" I blushed a little as I muttered the English translation of my name.

"Badly behaved child." This caused Lili to burst out laughing as my blush only deepened. "Hey!"

"Sorry, but you? Bad behaved? Never." Lili put a lot of sarcasm into the last word as I crossed my arms over my chest. "What about your siblings? Do their names have any specific meanings?"

"Dion's means child of heaven, Frazie's has ties to freedom, Mirtala is crown of thorns, and Queepie is well," I hesitated for a moment as I tried to find the best way to describe my little brother. "Queepie."

"Heaven, freedom, nobility, and then trouble child." I rolled my eyes as Lili just giggled at the idea. "Aw come on, you gotta agree that's ironic as hell."

"Well you're named after a flower and you're nothing of the likes either."

"If that's to poke at the idea that flowers are normally delicate and squishy, I take that as a compliment." I glanced out of the corner of my eye to see a wide smirk across the girl's face that caused me to swallow hard in reply. "Because after all, I kick ass, Aquato." The blush from before reoccurred as I did my best to play it off with an eye roll.

She really is something, that's for sure.

"Hey, did you see that?" I snapped my attention ahead of me once more as I scanned the lake water area for anything out of the ordinary.

"What?"

"I thought a saw like a shadow or something. The thing was huge though." I narrowed my eyes as I tried my best to take in as many details as possible. My brain allowed my connection to the water to seep in as I was tracing for any source of disturbance nearby.

"I don't-." I cut myself off as I felt a surge of angry rushing toward us. Not from in front of us though, but from behind.

"Lili, step on it!"

"Are you-!"

"Step on it!" I tightened my grip on the armrest as Lili pushed the steering wheel forward to punch it into overdrive. Her eyes narrowed as it was obvious she was trying to give the little engine all she could fuel-wise. We lurched into action at neck-breaking speed as I screwed my eyes shut at the sudden change. We were making good distance now, but the source of anger was still on our tail. "Lili! It's coming still!"

"Trying here!" The submarine bobbed suddenly as a loud smack could be heard from the rear. "Shit!" I tried my best to focus on the water around us as I tried to see if I could give us more momentum. I mentally pushed the water's energy down against us to give us something like a boost to give us a bit more distance between us and the monster.

"Keep it up!" I snapped my eyes open, the glow reflecting back at me from the windshield as I pushed my arms out behind me, the motion causing us to launch faster into the water at great speed. "I got us some extra gas!"

"Good going, Raz!" I gritted my teeth and put all I could into focusing on having the water project us faster as I felt the angered presence slip further and further away from us. The being slowly but surely deciding that we weren't worth the effect to keep up with the faster I was able to get us going. After a few moments of the angered creature retreating, I dropped my arms to my sides and severed my connection to the water, just enough so that we were back to the original speed that Lili had us at. Soon enough, we were back to our original speed before the encounter.

"What the fuck was that?" I tried my best to take calming breaths as it was obvious Lili was taking a breather there as well.

"I have no clue."

"Whatever it is, that's the thing I felt earlier."

"Good to know that going water jet mode is enough to make it back off." Lili gave a small laugh for a second before becoming serious once more. "At least for now. I doubt it'll leave us alone for much longer."

"Look," I gestured toward the windshield as a familiar shape appeared just above the waterline. "Seems like we won't have to worry about that for now."

"Good gods." I silently agreed at Lili's decree as we both took in the sight above the water. The site sitting on the island looked more like some kind of decrepit graveyard at first instead of an asylum. Large metal gates seemed to loom over with a menacing embrace as the tower's unsettling presence loomed not too far behind it. "Even creepier in person." I felt a chill run down my spine as the echo of drills and screams filled my head from when I visited this place in my mind.

"And it's only just begun there, Lils." I took a deep breath as Lili pulled on the wheel to get us above water and pulled the submarine to a shallow stop. I instantly unstrapped myself from my seat as a new determined emotion swelled within my chest.

Let's get in, get out, and keep each other safe.

I looked over toward Lili, who had just powered down the submarine, and got out of her chair as well. The mutual look of determination in her eyes caused a smile to spread across my lips with ease.

Let's save some campers, shall we?

We shall.

Chapter Text

Lili and I approached the gates curiously as a man's silhouette was scribbling furiously on the gate's walls.

"Is he-?" I glanced over toward Lili as the man started to mumble to himself. "Is he good?"

"Raz, we're at an insane asylum. Anyone here is not 'good' in the way that you're asking." Lili used air quotes effectively as we got closer to the man in question.

"Yes, yes, it's all making sense now." The man scribbled furiously on the wall with a single piece of chalk as he muttered to himself. "They're all in on it. All of them." I looked over the walls of the main area to see that the man must have been scribbling for hours at the least. Each little piece of the black stone walls had something written over it or written over it twice at the least.

"Try the gate," I glanced over toward Lili before looking over toward the man once more. "I'm gonna see what's going on with him."

"Knock yourself out." Lili shrugged before going toward the main doors as I took a step closer to the man in question.

"Uh, hi." I waved a gloved hand as the man snapped his attention toward me.

"You!" I jumped back a little as the man pointed his chalk piece at me. "Who are you? Who do you work for?"

"Um," I reached up and rubbed the back of my neck as I wracked my brain for a decent answer. "The Psychonauts." The man gave a small hum as his eyebrows knitted together.

"That doesn't fit. No, it doesn't fit at all." The man turned his attention back to his scribbles as he went on to write something new. "Maybe-. No. No, it doesn't fit."

"What doesn't fit?"

"Any of it! They're everywhere! Nowhere is safe!" I tilted my head a little as the man now put his forehead against the wall. "They're coming for me, I know it."

"Who is?"

"Them." He put a lot of emphasis on the word as Lili now joined my side.

"It's no good. The place is locked." I gave my attention to the man again I decided to see if he knew anything.

"Sir? Do you know where the key is for the front doors?"

"The milkman has them." I quirked an eyebrow as Lili spoke my confusion out loud.

"The milkman? Who the hell is the milkman?"

"Milkman is key. Probably off sleeping on the job. He has the key."

"Then who are you? Why are you out here?" The man stood up straight before turning his attention toward Lili and me.

"I'm the guard and I am fully trained."

"Fully trained?" I questioned the idea in many ways as the man gave a serious nod.

"Yes."

"O-kay then." Lili drew out the first letter for a moment before turning her attention toward me. "Our friend here is a bit scattered-brained, and that's coming from me and I was raised around Dogen."

"Dogen's not that bad."

"Raz, he literally lets himself get harassed by squirrels." I couldn't fight her on that one as I looked over toward the man before us.

"What should we do then?" I turned my attention toward her as I gestured to the guard. "It's not like he's very much help." Lili slipped a hand into her jacket as she was looking for something in particular.

"We look for the information ourselves." Lili pulled out a Psycho-Portal from her pocket with a smile. My eyes grew wide as a wave of excitement took over me.

"You've got your own Psycho-Portal! That's so cool!"

"I know right? Even matches my dress." A proud look took over the girl's face as she took a step closer to the guard. "But even better, it'll help us take a look for wherever that key is."

"And then the mummified remains of Abe Lincoln would be there! It's all-. No, it's not. No sense. Not yet. The little fat child and the bunny have no place yet. Not yet." The man kept rambling to himself as he scribbled about. The action caused me to give Lili a wide-eyed look before looking back toward the man.

"Hopefully finding out where the key is won't cause us to lose our minds like our friend here." Lili tossed up the Psycho-Portal which quickly guided itself to the back of the man's head with ease as I lowered my goggles down over my eyes.

"Let's hope not." Within moments, a small door opened and I let myself be projected out and into the man's mind. A bright flash occurred with ease as I let my presence shift from the physical to the mental world. I landed on my feet with a soft thud as I looked around the room that I was projected into.

"Jeez." I let my eyes wander around the room as it wasn't that different from how the man was at the gates of the asylum. Papers with scribbled writings and crude drawings were laying anywhere and everywhere as little ashtrays were found here and there among them. "This place looks like a tornado went through it."

"Not as bad as some of the dorms I've seen at the Motherlobe." Lili's mental projection joined my side as she scanned the main area for a moment. "Though this guy is one hell of a conspiracy theorist. At least he's not mumbling about the world being flat and shit."

"People actually believe that?"

"Yep."

"Seriously?" I chuckled a little at the idea as we made our way to get closer to the guard. "Like, I never stepped a foot in a modern school system and all, but even I know the world isn't freaking flat."

"The internet is one hell of a thing, my friend." Lili shrugged as she turned her attention toward the mumbling man who was now peeking through the blinds in the window next to him. "Whatcha looking at, mate?"

"The G-Men are always watching. Always listening. They're after me. They work for him."

"G-Men?" I quirked an eyebrow as I looked over toward Lili. "Like some kind of off-brand X-Men?"

"I doubt they're superhero mutants saving the world, Raz." I smiled like a fool as I gave a small shrug.

"You never know, but the fact you knew exactly what I was talking about makes it even better." I saw a hint of embarrassment in Lili's features as she gave me a half-hearted glare.

"Shut up, focus on the mission." She snapped her attention toward the man before us as she brought us back to the matter at hand. "So where can we find the milk guy?"

"Milkman." The man snapped his attention toward us at neck-breaking speed as he dropped the blinds he was messing with like a bad habit. "His name is Milkman."

"Milkman, got it. Where do we find him, buddy?"

"Boyd. Call me Boyd."

"Got it, Boyd. But back to the Milkman, dude."

"Those little girls are hiding him." He turned his attention back toward the window before messing with the blinds again. "They know where he is. Find their lair, find the Milkman, and get rid of the G-Men and their ways. Den Mother must be stopped. Rainbow Squirts are his protectors. Find them, find the Den Mother, free the Milkman." I blinked a few times as I tried my best to understand the man's rambles.

"So," I took a moment to line up the ideas in my mind before turning toward Lili. "We need to find out where the Rainbow Squirt people are hiding the Milkman?"

"Rainbow girls, Milkman, then this guy might be sane enough to give us a key." She smiled wide at the idea before turning toward the front door of the little room. "Let's find ourselves a Milkman then." As we exited the house and got a glimpse of the shattered remains of what seemed to be a suburban town, Lili muttered quietly to herself. "Why do I get a feeling that this guy watched too many of those 'Chemicals in the water turning fish gay' people?" I gave her a curious look as she returned it. "What? Never heard of those people? They're all over the internet."

"Lili, I was literally raised in a circus."

"Honestly I would rather have that than deal with those people." She shrugged as we started making our way down one of the many curled and broken roads of the guard's mind. "And remind me to show you what the internet is."

"I'm frightened."

"I would be!" Lili said it with such a wide smile that I didn't know if I should take the girl seriously or not, but the thought escaped my mind as a tall figure in a trench coat and fedora stopped us suddenly in our path.

"Stop, construction in the area, please leave." The man spoke in a monotone voice as he gestured to the stop sign he held in his opposite hand. "Only authorized personnel beyond this point. Please seek an alternative route." We stepped back from where the man was standing to then receive a small nod from the figure. "Thank you. Have a nice day."

"Who the fuck?" I turned to Lili who had her head tilted to the side as she looked over at the tall man who had turned away from us now. "Is this like a conscious sensor in his own mind? Like he's restricting himself from going further in his mental state?"

"It would make sense." I rubbed my chin with a gloved hand as I looked around the area. "The broken roads, the twists and turns, he's stopping himself from going forward. Something really messed up must have occurred for this to be the state of his mind."

"Maybe we can search one of the houses on this street for a fence to hop or something." I gave Lili a wide smile as a plan started to formulate in my mind.

"Or, if we can find a stop sign of our own."

"So they believe we're a part of Boyd's mind! Genius, Raz!" Lili reached out and grabbed my hand before starting to drag me in the direction of the nearest house. "Let's start hunting then! Let's start over here."

"Hello, welcome to my house. Please stay and make pie." I tilted my head in confusion as a man dressed almost the exact same as the construction G-Man but with a pink apron around his waist was in the kitchen of the first house. "When my husband drinks excessively, I may threaten him with this rolling pin, although we are still very much in love."

"What," I put emphasis on the word as I looked over toward Lili. "The fuck."

"I'm learning quite quickly not to question Boyd's mind all too much." I looked back toward the G-Man as he started to roll out the pie crust.

"Although over time my husband will desire me less sexually, he will always enjoy my pies." I blinked silently in response before looking over at Lili who was doing the same.

"I'm gonna look around."

"Sounds good." I nodded my head as I looked back over toward what I guess was supposed to be Boyd's version of a housewife. "I'm going to see what information I can get out of this one."

"Good luck." Lili shrugged as she went about the house to see what she could find. I walked over toward the G-Man in the kitchen with my hands behind my back to make sure it didn't think I was a threat of some kind.

"A child," The figure spoke without even looking over at me as I approached them. "What are you doing here?"

"Uh," I swallowed hard as I tried to come up with the best excuse. "Trying to make a pie?" The baritone voice scuffed in reply as they kept working at their pie crust.

"You'd better not try and steal my husband. Tramp." A lot of venom came out of the last word as my eyes went wide.

"Alrighty then, sorry to bother you, ma'am." They continued to work unphased as they started speaking to themselves once more.

"Rhubarb is a controversial pie flavor. Apple pie is quite popular." I started backing away slowly from the kitchen area as Lili came back into the main area.

"Got anything from the pie lady?"

"Other than being called a tramp, no." I turned my attention completely toward Lili to see she had gathered two things, in particular, a stop sign in one hand and a memory fault hooked under her arm. "Seems you got some intel though."

"Doesn't give too much to why there's a bunch of these guys around," Lili nodded her head toward the G-Man in the kitchen. "But it explains how he got here." I took the memory vault from under her arm and pulled open the little fault face to the creature. I peeked inside to see a small little slide show appear before me. I watched the slide show a couple of times before closing the fault face and putting the little guy down to go back to hopping around.

"So, he burnt down a whole ass store he worked at? With milk bottle Molotov cocktails?" Lili shrugged as she handed me the stop sign which I took without question.

"It explains a little more about how he keeps talking about a Milkman. Maybe the two are related?"

"Like a split personality thing?"

"Exactly what I was thinking. Dissociative Identity Disorder is a thing that occurs after large amounts of trauma. Probably Milkman there is his brain's trauma response to be sent here and all."

"Doesn't DID also cause a memory loss effect where the main personality doesn't remember anything that the other one did? It would explain why he thinks people are after him."

"It makes a lot of sense the more I think about it for sure." Lili nodded as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Either way, this guy needs some serious help."

"Good thing we're here then." I smiled wide as I twirled the stop sign in my hand by its handle. "Maybe we can adjust some things while we're here to see if we can help him be more stable."

"We can probably find more evidence too. See who exactly has him set up like some kind of free bodyguard."

"Two birds with one mental adventure." I smiled wide as we both turned to leave the little house. "Let's do it."

Chapter Text

"So how do we do this?" I gave Lili a curious look as I held the sign in my hand. "Got one sign and I doubt he'll let us both through that way."

"I got an idea, don't worry." Lili smiled wide as she took the sign out of my hand without a problem. "You can carry weight on your shoulders, right? Like having someone on your shoulders?"

"I have two little siblings, shoulder rides are often normal." I chuckled a little at the idea before I put the two ideas together. "Oh! So you're going to get on my shoulders and we're going to act like we're one person?"

"Exactly! Knew you had a brain up there, Aquato." I chuckled at her comment before squatting down a little to make it easier on her.

"Ready to roll, Zanotto?" She took this as her opportunity to climb onto my shoulders as I wrapped my arms around her calves to keep her upright as I stood up slowly. "Good up there?" I felt her adjust a little as I kept a good grasp on her legs so she wouldn't fall.

"Y-Yep! We're solid!" I felt a small pat on my head. It seemed to keep itself there on top of my helmet as if she was using it to stay steady. I felt a small heat rise in my cheeks as I tried my best to not let the setup mess with our goal in mind.

"A-Alright. Let's try out this plan here." I walked steadily back toward where the 'construction' man was standing as I felt Lili shift on my shoulders.

"Hello fellow construction person, we are fellow construction persons." I kept walking soundlessly as Lili mimicked the monotone voice the G-Men were using. "Nothing to see here, just fellow construction people." No one seemed to mind the tower of pre-teens as we walked easily through the small construction zone and out onto the other side. "Well, that was easy enough."

"Odd that a single prop can make the rest of his little sensory blocks just allow stuff to happen." I leaned my head back just enough to look up toward Lili as I continued walking. "A bit odd, isn't it?"

"Minds work in curious ways, Raz." I stopped suddenly as I heard the soft tone in her voice. "They see what they want to see and remember the oddest of details. Seems he fixates on symbols of authority. That only specific people have specific items and it doesn't matter about the rest."

"Huh." I looked forward once more as I took in the other side of the street. "This man's got a lot going on with him."

"He's a conspiracy theorist at the front of an asylum. He had issues to begin with, Razzy."

"True." I felt the blush reappear on my cheeks as I felt Lili's hand place itself on my head once more. "Do-Do you want back down?"

"Oh, um." I felt the blush deepen as I could hear the hesitance in her response. "I-I guess so for now."

"Gotcha."

"Okay, this place is making less and less sense the more we adventure through here." I watched Lili scratch the back of her head as we made our way through a hedge maze. "First the road work guy, then that Rainbow Squirt girl, and now we have to grab flowers to act like we're a widow? How much shit has this guy repressed? Burning down a market store does not equal this much trauma!" Lili gestured toward the maze as we approached the flowers that we figured were our next prop. She plucked a couple to form a small bouquet before handing them over to me and making her own. "We need to find another memory vault or something so I can make sense of this fucker."

"I doubt his mind looked like this before." I adjusted the flowers in my hands as I let their weight shift between my fingers. "I'm betting something occurred for a lot of this stuff to be placed here. As if someone else is keeping him from awakening something within him. Like there's something hidden he's not supposed to know or find."

"Like being brainwashed?" I nodded as Lili hummed in agreement. "It would make sense. I heard my dad talk about some cases he came across as an agent. It can really mess up someone's astral plain. Like I guess one case caused a guy's projection to go from the street he grew up on to a full-blown tower of darkness." I shivered at the idea as we continued walking through the maze. "But from you saw from that bird's perspective, thank God for your Clairvoyance skills by the way, this guy has a graveyard and everything. I wouldn't doubt that's what happened to him. Don't know many people who have literal graveyards and sensory blocks in their mind."

"Then maybe the other personality is placed within him too. Maybe that's why he's so fearful and wanted to know why the Milkman is a thing." I felt a small ache within my mind as Boyd's mind felt more like finishing a puzzle without any edges than exploring a normal mind. "God all of this is giving me a headache."

"At least the flowers don't scream at me here." Lili shrugged as we continued through the maze. "Or I would be right with you there." We came to the graveyard's clearing as more G-Men were out and about. Seemingly protecting a specific mausoleum while trying not to be suspicious themselves. "Way to make things obvious, mates." I could tell she was rolling her eyes as she made her way to the vine-covered grave sight. I followed after her slowly as I kept my eyes on the G-Men. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I watched their eyes, no matter what direction they were standing, follow my every move as we made our way to the mausoleum.

"Hey Lili," I spoke in a hushed whisper as I joined her side before the resting site. "They're watching us."

"Yeah, I feel it too." She glanced out the corner of her eyes toward the G-Men before looking back toward the grave site. "The worst thing that happens is that we get projected back out of Boyd's mind and we have to go back to the beginning. They can't truly harm us in here." I nodded my head as I tightened my grip on the flowers in my hand. The thought was reassuring, but the nagging pit in my stomach said otherwise as its warning rang within my mind.

"Can we subtly get into the mausoleum here?"

"Vines are in the way, I can burn them but it's going to be noticeable. Anything we do is going to be noticeable."

"What do you think they're hiding here then?"

"Maybe the Milkman? Maybe he's a 'dead' thought or existence in here. That he's 'asleep' until needed."

"Like some kind of sleeper cell?"

"Exactly." I swallowed hard as Lili extended her hand toward the vines covering the entrance. "Ready, Raz?" I took a second to steel myself before giving her a simple nod.

"Ready."

"A book." I shook my head like a wet dog as I picked myself up slowly from the ground where Lili and I were left. "All that to see a book." Lili groaned as it was obvious her astral projection was also put through hell by the G-Men that captured us.

"What was in Cooper's fridge? Are you or have you ever been a member of the Rainbow Squirts? What did the Rainbow Squirt tell you? What's in the milk? What did you see?" I watched as she sat up on the grass with me as she held her head up with her right hand. "What kind of interrogation questions are those?"

"The milk kind, I guess." I got up onto my feet and rolled my shoulders just a bit. "Thought you said they can't harm us?"

"Not physically." Lili got up slowly before shaking her head a little too. "Make us mentally exhausted, totally possible." I dug my hand into my pocket as I pulled out two of the small candies my Nona had given me for such a moment.

"Good thing I have these from my training days at home." I handed one to Lili who took it without question.

"Dream fluffs, perfect." She unwrapped the candy quickly before popping it into her mouth. "Who gave you these?" I chuckled a little as I unwrapped mine as well.

"My Nona made them for us when we did our psychic training." I popped mine into my mouth and quickly felt a change in my mental energy. A small surge swelled within my mind as I felt restored in a way. It was slow but very much effective as I sucked on the little candy piece. "I have no clue how she makes them, but they're helpful little things." The taste of cotton candy filled my mouth while tingles of energy filled my being with ease as Lili smiled happily at the thought.

"They taste better too. I'll need to ask her for some. Otto has the weird flavorless ones that just feel like you're being shocked repeatedly."

"She makes blue raspberry ones too. They're the best."

"Makes sense Raz would like raspberry," Lili smirked before swallowing the candy. "These work though, thanks."

"Anytime." I swallowed my piece quickly before holding out my hand toward her. "Let's get down to business then and get the hell out of here." She took my hand quickly so I could help her up before dragging me toward Boyd's house where the G-Men dropped us off.

"Yes, before I lose my mind." Once we entered the house with a soft click of the door behind us, Boyd nearly jumped out of his skin to greet us.

"Did you find him? Did you get him? Is he dead?" The man grabbed my shoulders and shook me roughly for a second. The motion caused my head to spin as Lili quickly pull him off of me. "Is the Milkman alive?!"

"Calm your ass, Boyd!" I shook my head a little as I tried to calm the feeling of my brain being rattled in my own skull. "And if you grab him like that again, I'll burn your ass to a crisp. Got me?"

"I-I just need to know if he's still out there. Watching." I watched as Boyd shivered at the idea before rushing to the window to check the blinds. "Always watching."

"The people watching at the moment are the trench coat people," I shook my head a little once more as the rattled feeling slowly left me. "The G-Men."

"The people hiding him." Boyd shook a little as he pulled himself away from the blinds. "Always hiding, always watching." I looked over toward Lili who was now standing protectively beside me as it was obvious the man was losing it more than normal.

"Right." She drew out the word for a moment before crossing her arms over her chest. "Look, we say a book in a mausoleum and they caught us to integrate us for a bit. We didn't say anything or see anything major, but they know we're here. I guess."

"Not goods. Not good at all." The man brought his hand to his lips as if he was biting his nails before walking across the house into his kitchen. "Need protection." I swallowed hard as I brought a hand up before me, ready to pop open a mental shield if needed. After digging around for a little, Boyd then came back with two rifles in his hands. He placed them on the ground before us before stepping back a few feet. It was as if he already knew he couldn't trust himself specifically with the items. "Take." I lowered my hand slowly as Lili moved to grab the two weapons.

"Weapons from a wacky man, totally normal."

"Have you seen most of America?" I shrugged at the idea as Lili handed me a rifle before shouldering the other. "Guess it gives us some protection here beside our powers. Who knows? Maybe we need them as a prop too. Wouldn't doubt there's like assassins or spies that we have to act as."

"There's a tall building on the outskirts of town. Men with rifles are always there. Use them. That tower holds something I can feel it." I nodded to the older man before looking back toward Lili.

"Guess we play mental soldiers, huh?" I chuckled as Lili let out a dramatic sigh before turning toward the door.

"Anything to get me the fuck out of here."

Chapter Text

I shouldered the rifle as Lili and I stood outside a very obviously boxed-off area before the large brick building that Boyd told us about. I adjusted my goggles on my face ever so slightly as I looked over toward the girl beside me as she was holding her rifle at her waist as if she had carried a hunting rifle a million times before.

"Okay, this place is making me more confused with each second I'm here longer and I doubt this will be the only brain we're poking around in here."

"Which part are you confused about?" I gave a smirk as I nodded over toward the boxed-in area. "The fact that places have what looks like caution tape on the ground to box things off or the fact that those guys are muttering about being murderers?"

"How about letter c with the fact this is all about some guy named Milkman."

"Maybe his milk is delicious?"

"Raz, if he has actual milk and people are being like this over it, I bet it has like weed effects." I snickered at the idea as I brought my rifle down from my shoulder.

"Milk is one hell of a drug, don't you know?" She rolled her eyes at me with a smile before nudging me with her elbow.

"Yeah yeah yeah, get walking, Aquato." Lili led the way into the square as the G-Man near us could be heard clearly.

"I like to shoot people. Sometimes I work for the government." I felt uneasy as I quickly tried my best to keep Lili's figure close to me, especially as the G-Man seemed to be staring at something unusual from the building before us. "This is my gun. My gun is clean and ready." I looked out toward the building once more.

"Lili, I think-." My voice when silent as a loud bang could be heard and a thud followed. I instinctively grabbed Lili by the waist and pulled her close as I put a bubble around us. The G-Men near us started murmuring and speaking in monotone hysterics.

"Be careful fellow assassins, someone is shooting from the book depository."

"Someone is firing from the book depository."

"Thank you fellow assassin."

"I have been shot, oh no. My gun has blood on it."

"What the hell? These things are real?" I watched Lili curiously as she looked over the gun while I kept her close to me. "That motherfucker." She muttered to herself as she tossed the gun on the ground with a thud. "Thing is fake as hell but whoever is up there has the real thing." I tossed my gun aside as well as I figured the dead weight wasn't worth running with.

"Well, at least we know now and at least we have a bubble shield." I gave her a smile as I realized just how close the two of us were. I swallowed hard before stammering. "B-But I guess we should get in there. I wouldn't want to waste all my psychic energy o-on the b-bubble."

"Y-Yeah." She placed a hand on my elbow as she pulled back ever so slightly. "Ni-Nice thinking though, best to keep it up as we get running there." I nodded my head as she went on. "Best for us to do a countdown and try our best to keep up with one another."

"Good thinking." I dropped my arm from her despite my brain wanting nothing more than to keep her there. "Want to do the honors?" She gave a nod of her own as we both seemed to ready ourselves.

"Three," I rolled my shoulders a little as I did my best to keep a bit of my focus on keeping the bubble steady. "Two," I glanced at Lili from the corner of my eye as I faced my body toward the book depository. "One," I saw Lili give a wicked smirk that I couldn't help but match.

"Go!"

We dashed toward the depository without hesitation after yelling out together. We were neck and neck with one another as the bubble I kept around us was stable with each step. A couple of shots were sent in our direction, but the shield was strong enough to make them bounce off easily as Lili and I kept on.

"You've got good psychic energy control there, Aquato." I smiled proudly as we neared the building.

"Years of physical and psychological endurance training does that for you."

"I get the physical stuff with the circus training, but you were trained in psychic endurance too?" I shrugged as we slowed down together.

"I had a rather strong sense of control over my psychic energy as a kid, like my Nona said I had better control over it than the majority of the adults she knew in her prime." I smiled wide as we came up to the main door of the building. "But, she figured it was best for me to learn a couple of tricks she learned over the years and the same went for my dad." We entered quickly and I dropped the bubble once I got the sense that we were safe again. "I'm quite glad for it now though. I doubt I would have been able to keep that up for that long if I was eleven."

"Good to know." Lili crossed her arms over her chest as a small smirk took over her lips. "Now, let's get this shit over with, shall we?" She gestured high above her. "I bet levitation balloons should be good enough to get us up there." I mischievous grin took over my lips as a single idea came to mind.

"Last one there is a rotten egg?" I saw a mischievous smile of her own spread across her lips with ease as a determined gleam took over her brown eyes.

"Oh you fucking bet, Aquato."

I chased after Lili after my feet landed solidly on the top floor's main entrance area.

"That wasn't fair! You used pyrokinesis to fly up faster!" Lili gave a loud laugh before her figure came to a halt near the windows.

"I'm surprised you didn't think of doing it too!"

"Cheater!" I skid to a stop beside her as she knocked her knuckles into my shoulder.

"We didn't have any rules there, Aquato." I pouted at her, but I was rewarded with a giggle in reply. "Aw, don't look at me like that, Raz. You make me feel like I kicked a puppy or something."

"You have broken my heart, Zanotto." I placed a hand over my heart dramatically as she rolled her eyes at me. "How could I ever trust my partner again?"

"Partner, huh?" Lili smirked at the idea as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Didn't know we agreed to be partners already there, agent."

"Well, who else would you partner with? Bobby?"

"Hell no, rather die."

"Exactly." I gave a wide smile as I dropped my hand from my chest. "Even then, I'm your favorite."

"Putting yourself pretty high there, Razzle Dazzle." I moved my goggles up to my forehead so I could playfully glare at the girl before me.

"Please don't." My glare turned into a look of confusion as her eyes went wide in awe as she looked over my features. "Is there something on my face or something?"

"No, I just didn't think your eyes would glow in the mental world as well, actually." She took a step closer as she slipped a hand under my chin and tilted it ever so slightly as if it would give her a better view of my eyes. "It's honestly really cool."

"T-Thanks." I swallowed hard as I felt my heart skip a beat.

Cool? Never heard cool before. Snake-like, yes. Creepy, absolutely. 'Get that Medusa-looking kid away from me', was still a favorite. But calling my eyes cool? That was a first.

"Do you know exactly why your family's eyes glow like this when you use your psychic powers? Or is it still a thing that's a mystery to even you?" I shrugged at the idea as she seemed to peer deeply into my golden eyes.

"All I understand of it is that it's a genetic thing for sure and that even Lucrecia's eyes weren't always like this. It makes us think that when her psyche broke that it caused a genetic effect within her brain that was probably always there. Since the rest of us already have that deep connection to our psyches, we guess it was just more natural for us to have it without an issue in comparison to her."

"So a genetic thing that was hidden at first?"

"That's what we guess." I shrugged once more as Lili gave a small hum in reply. "Since we're not a direct line from her and stuff."

"Cause your dad is her nephew, right?"

"Right."

"And her eyes didn't glow at first and yours does as well."

"Everyone in my family has the trait. Anyone that's psychic at least."

"That's honestly really interesting and I bet Sasha is going to poke you about that in the future." Lili laughed a little at the idea as I gave a small smile in reply.

Her laugh is so pretty.

I blushed as the thought rang out in my head. I panicked at first that the girl before me heard the sudden thought, but she didn't seem phased so I took that as a no with glee.

"Um," A sudden voice appeared beside us which caused both of us to snap our attention toward them. A girl in what seemed like a Girl Scout's uniform stood there with a rifle in hand as she gave us a curious look. "Who the hell are you two?"

"Could be asking you the same thing there, cookie gremlin." Lili dropped her hand from my chin so she could cross her arms over her chest and address the girl before us properly. "What are you doing with the gun?"

"If these bastards are trying to take me, I'm taking some of them too." I had the feeling the girl would have had a wicked smile across her face if it wasn't for the fact that her mouth wasn't visible to me. "The Den Mother is protected, same with Him. That is all that matters." I looked over toward Lili as I gestured toward the girl with the gun.

"Manchurian Agent." I looked back toward the girl as the pieces started to fall into place for me. "It all makes sense. He was brainwashed and-." I hesitated for a moment as I tried to see what way I could put my thoughts into words without upsetting the Girl Scout. "He is the protected trigger. Whoever made up Him, made them to protect them until told otherwise."

"So the Den Mother is like a manifestation of whoever brainwashed him!" I looked over toward Lili as her eyes went wide in realization. "Then the Den Mother is the key to figuring out who did this!"

"Exactly!" I gave an excited smile as all the puzzle pieces were coming together.

"You two are weird." I snapped my attention back toward the girl as she shouldered the rifle. "I'm going down there and make a run for it while I can. You two can keep muttering about whatever you're talking about." With that, she walked off without another word as she left Lili and I rather confused by her response to us.

"Guess that was the Rainbow Squirts then that Boyd was talking about?"

"Guess so." I shrugged as I looked around the little area we were in. There was a table and a couple of other items, but it did look like the girl set up camp here for herself for a good little bit. "Maybe we should look around to see if there's anything useful in finding out where they're holding the Milkman. Once we find him and the Den Mother, I bet Boyd's mental world will straighten itself out and we can get the key to the gate."

"Wherever he is," Lili walked over toward something in particular without a second thought before picking something up from a small table in the corner. "Probably has something to do with this." She turned toward me once more to show a helmet she had found. It had a propeller on top of it and handles on the sides. "I bet they use this thing to get back and forth from wherever they have him."

"There's a lot of gaps in the roads and everything," I rubbed my chin curiously. "But maybe there's something a bit further out and above. Like a house on its own little section."

"Could climb up the phone poles and take a look."

"Nice thinking, Zanotto." I smiled wide as she walked over and held out the helmet to me.

"Where would you be without me, Aquato?" She smirked as I took the helmet from her.

"Probably here for much longer." We chuckled at the idea as we started walking back toward where we levitated up the stairwell.

"I would honestly feel so sorry for the Raz that was stuck in here for any longer than he needed to be."

Chapter Text

"Do you think we have the right house?" I shrugged as I took the flying helmet off my head revealing that my original helmet was underneath it.

"I have no clue." I took in the view of a normal suburban house for a moment before turning my attention toward Lili. "Does anything seem out of place to you?"

"Other than the fact that this place is sitting on a fucking sky island, no." She rolled her eyes as I couldn't help but smirk.

"Well, besides the floating house part, Captain Obvious."

"Says the one that asked if anything seemed out of place!"

"Not like I live in a house, Lils!" I couldn't help but chuckle as she gave me a wide-eyed look.

"Oh yeah. You live in the caravan that looks like a witch's house on wheels."

"A bit ironic with how it holds a family of psychics."

"I wonder how you would react to seeing my family's house then. Or our apartment at the Motherlobe." I gave a cheeky smile as I nudged her lightly.

"That an invitation, Zanotto?" I felt a flutter in my chest as I noticed the slightest tint of pink on her cheeks.

"W-well, as an honorary agent, you'll have to report to the Motherlobe one day anyway."

"As long as you'll be there." I bit my tongue after the sudden comment left my mouth.

Oh fuck, why'd I say that? Why'd I say thaaaaaat?!

"Well, I live there, dumbass." She punched my shoulder a little as a smile appeared on her face. "Where else would I be?"

"At the other house?" I tilted my head a little as she just rolled her eyes at me.

"Not what I meant, Raz."

"What else was I supposed to say?"

"Knock on the door you, dummy."

"Hey! The only dummy I know is Bobby!" I waited for a second as I thought about the idea. "Well, Dion can be a bit of a dummy too but that's not the point."

"Raz, you're my best friend, but if you don't knock on that door and get a move on, I will knock you." I swallowed hard as the shorter girl narrowed her eyes at me.

"Knocking, got it." I turned on my heels and scrambled up the stairs before knocking on the front door twice. The door only opened a little bit as a familiar figure of a Rainbow Squirt peeked through the little slit.

"Password?"

"Uh-." I hesitated for a second before shrugging with my answer. "Milkman?"

"Wrong!" Quickly, the door slammed in my face which caused me to jump a little.

"So much for a friendly neighborhood. Here I thought Girl Scouts were supposed to be friendly and all about community."

"I thought it was all about making a cookie empire off of the backs of little girls?" I turned toward Lili and shrugged as her demeanor went serious. "This is definitely the place then if they're here. But they asked for a password? Where the hell would we find that?"

"This skill will open a lot of doors for you, Razputin."

I snapped my attention toward Lili as a memory suddenly played in my head.

"It will make you disappear, only for a little, but it can change whatever situation you're in for the better. Even if you're running from something, which I have no doubt will happen again."

"Do you know invisibility?" Lili gave me a confused look.

"What gives you the idea that I would? That's high-level stuff, at least in my dad's opinion. He won't let me start my entry-level agent exams, let alone learn that."

"Good thing one of us does then." I walked over to her swiftly before wrapping an arm around her. "Luck for us, when my dad taught my sister and me how to do this, he showed us how to extend it to others too. So stay close." She stayed silent as I closed my eyes behind my goggles.

"Let yourself disappear, Razputin."

I took a deep breath in before letting it out slowly.

"Then run like hell."

"Remind me never to go invisible again," Lili whispered in a disturbed tone as she shook her head silently behind the couch at the Rainbow Squirts headquarters. "That made me feel so empty like it's weird." We both fell silent as a new voice joined the murmurs of the little girls on the other side of the couch.

"Alright, my Rainbow Squirts, let's recite our daily pledge."

"Yes, Den Mother!" A chorus of little girls spoke cheerfully as they recited what was their hidden purpose in Boyd's mind. "We pledge to promote niceness, to make the world prettier, and to share candy with everyone." I rolled my eyes as I gave Lili an annoyed look.

Maybe we were wrong, Lils, these are just-

My thoughts were interrupted as the girls continued and their tones switched to a monotoned choir.

"We pledge to obfuscate the true nature of the Milkman. We will protect the Milkman at all cost and destroy all who would harm the Milkman, or threaten to reveal his secret objective."

Nevermind! Creepy choir of brain monsters.

Can completely agree there, Raz.

"Wonderful! Now, continue on your quest little gremlins! And remember, Den Mother knows all." I swallowed hard as even the Den Mother's voice became twisted in a matter of seconds. Quickly, a lot of movement could be heard as all the girls seemed to be moving toward the exit.

Back to being invisible?

Yes, please, quickly!

I lifted my goggles up to my forehead as Lili and I ended up rushing after the Den Mother toward a small hidden door. The place was rather dark, so I closed my eyes calmly for a moment before focusing my psychic energy. After a minute, I opened my eyes and let the glow in them be a torch within the darkness.

"I never thought I would be thankful for this family trait," I reached out to guide Lili beside me which she allowed without question. "But I am now."

"At least you can see."

"Not enough light for you I guess?"

"All I can honestly see is your eyes." I shrugged as I held her wrist gently.

"Better than nothing, I guess. I can see a good bit." I looked around the little staircase we were on as we walked down slowly. "Not everything, but a decent bit."

"Why is this place so dark anyway? Not like it's a tomb of some kind."

Suddenly, a bright light came from under our feet as we made it to the main floor of the room. Under us looked like a makeshift fridge chamber of some kind and as we took a few more steps to get a better look of what was below us, we could see that a figure that looked identical to Boyd was laying under the glass soundlessly. His eyes shut while he lay there in an all white uniform. One much like milkmen wore in the 1950s.

"Point taken." Lily sighed as she gave me an annoyed look. "Always the weird shit with this guy, isn't it? First the mumbling brain monitoring spy guys, then the rollerblading cookie monsters, and now," She gestures toward the figure with her free hand as she allowed me to keep a grasp on her wrist. "Boyd fridge boy." I couldn't help but chuckle as her annoyed expression deepened.

"What did you expect?" I gave her a cheeky smile as she looked between me and Boyd's sleeping figure.

"Not fucking that!" I couldn't help but laugh wholeheartedly at her reaction. That was until a loud thud came from behind us. I pulled Lili closer to me as we snapped our attention toward the sudden noise.

"Now what do we have here? Some naughty little children trying to steal our milk?" I gave the Den Mother a blank expression as a wicked smile came over her face.

"No, I'm totally here just to take out your knees like a gremlin."

"We are short enough." I gave Lili a confused look as I had a little bit of height on the smaller teen.

"Speak for yourself, shorty." She shot me an angry look that made a chill run down my spine. "N-Never mind, say what you want. Knee gremlins we are yep."

"Silence you fools!"

"Only fool here is you, Grandma!" Lili slipped out of my hold as she took a step closer to the woman. "I'm tired of this broken place and all of its bullshit, I'm ready for the next insane bastard we have to deal with." Lili seemed to be on a roll as she took calculated steps closer to the Den Mother. "I'm tired of this place, of all the milk references, of your cult girls, and those fuckers in trench coats!" I watched in awe as each one of Lili's steps now left a small print of her shoes in a small fire path. "The last thing I want to do here is battle your cat-eye-wearing self to release the lunatic under our feet." Lili was now right in front of the Den Mother as she stared up at the woman with a fierce look to her. "Now, realize the fridge monster now and no one gets hurt."

"And what are you gonna do?" The woman leaned down so she was face to face with Lili as I watched with wide glowing eyes. "Little girl?" I knew right away that the Den Mother messed up big time as I could see a small thing of fire start to swell at Lili's feet.

"Whoever you're tied to, old bat, has a death wish."

"By your little hands?"

"Don't," Lili reached up and grabbed the woman's collar before yanking her down to the floor. "CALL ME LITTLE!" I smiled wide as Lili became what could only be compared to a goddess of wrath before my eyes.

"Wow," I whispered the word to myself as I watched the two spar rather equally hand to hand. Even with the height difference in mind. Lili moved faster than anyone I'd ever seen as a trace of a red flame followed quickly after her. That speed was her greatest advantage as she jumped up and gave the woman a grand kick right under her chin that made her fling her head back and stumble to the ground. With all the commotion, I didn't realize that the ground beneath me started to shake.

"Lili!" I yelled out excitedly as I noticed that the glass was cracking under my feet. "Keep at her! Seems her control on the fridge prison here is slipping!" I scrambled quickly to get off the main glass of the floor before looking over toward the two women.

Is this what dad meant by Aquatos having an ironic attachment to people? How fire always seems to meet water?

I smiled wide as I noticed that a smile of her own was taking over Lili's face. This wasn't about proving herself now, she was enjoying herself in getting the mission done.

She's one hell of a girl, that's for certain.

With one last good blow, Lili sent the woman to the floor with a right foot to her stomach. Just as a loud shattering noise came from the prison.

"You fools! He's woken!" I snapped my attention over toward the glass floor as a bright light now came from below. Slowly, but surely, Boyd's figure rose from his place of slumber as glass bottles of milk swirled around him.

"Hey, there big guy!" The man turned his head toward me with a smile despite his eyes being blank and rather soulless. "You wouldn't by chance be the Milkman would ya?"

"I am the Milkman." Boyd's voice came from the figure as he held his arms out wide as he now floated near the floor. "My milk is delicious."

"Right~." I drew out the word as I heard footsteps near me. "Guess that means we freed him?"

"A bit anticlimactic don't ya think?" I shrugged as I turned my attention toward Lili.

"It's a milkman, what else were we to expect?"

"Look what you've done! Do you two know what you just did?!" I glanced over toward the Den Mother as she gestured toward the man who now stood firmly on the floor. "You released him! You ruined everything! Everything!" I looked over toward Lili as I shrugged once more.

"Guess we'll know more once we're out of here on what we really did?"

"I am the Milkman, my milk is delicious. Need to make my final delivery." I turned my head toward the Milkman as I noticed him grab out a wooden crate full of milk bottles. Quickly, my brain started to connect the dots with the information we learned from Boyd's memory vault earlier in our little adventure.

"Molotovs. He needs to deliver Molotovs."

"Oh," I looked over toward Lili as I pulled my goggles down over my eyes once more. "Oh, fuck."

"Ready to go and stop an asylum burning?"

"Absolutely."

Chapter Text

I shook my head slightly as I felt my projection again join my body.

"Oh god," I blinked heavily for a moment before shaking myself out of a drowsy state. "Being in someone's mind for so long has side effects." I blinked a couple more times before looking over at Lili who was having the same effects.

"Tell me about it." She held her head in her left hand as her eyes were shut gently. "Makes my head a little dizzy, but I think that might be because we're not in Boyd's weird floating land." I snapped my attention toward Boyd as the man was shockingly silent at that moment. He still held the single piece of chalk in his hand, but now he was just staring at the wall before him as he stood there.

"Speaking of Boyd." I walked over toward the man slowly as I wasn't sure of what kind of state he was in just yet. "Hey there, buddy," I observed him carefully to ensure he didn't make any sudden movements as I approached him. "Doing alright there?" The man soundlessly turned away from the wall and reached into his pocket before pulling out a ring of keys. He picked a single one and put it in the lock easily before opening the gate and taking slow steps inside. "Boyd?"

"Delivery." The man walked away from the wall like some kind of zombie before walking into a small garden area in front of the asylum. I panicked and followed him quickly as I realized he was still quite under the control of whatever brainwashing he was put through.

"Boyd! Buddy!" I rushed to get in front of the man as he kept walking toward the front doors of the asylum. "Can we talk about this in a not-so-fire-friendly way? Like without milk bottles of destruction?" I put out both my hands and placed them firmly on his chest as I tried my best to get the taller man to stop. I got it so that he could stop making progress, but his feet were still moving as if nothing was even in his path. "Lils! A little help!"

"Here," Lili rushed up beside us as she was digging for something in her jacket pocket. "The most basic form of brainwashing is hypnosis. If we can snap him out of it by using our own form of hypnosis, then maybe we can get him to be a little more Boyd-like."

"You're brilliant, Lils!" I smiled wide as I kept pushing Boyd back from his destination. "Take a crack at it! But quick, I don't know how long I can keep him like this." Quickly, Lili pulled out a green and black string that had a small charm on it. She move so she was beside me and not too far from Boyd's face.

"Listen to the sound of my voice, Boyd." Lili spoke soft and gentle as she focused on the man before us. "Listen very closely." The man's eyes seemed to focus on the string for a moment before glossing over. "That's it, Boyd. Keep your focus on the bracelet." I dropped my hands from Boyd's chest as he stopped trying to move closer toward the asylum.

"You've got him." I smiled proudly as Lili nodded in reply.

"When I snap my fingers, I want you to relax. There is nothing to harm you any more. I want you to revert back to yourself. Understood?" Boyd's head nodded once in a slow motion as his eyes stayed on the swinging bracelet. "Alright. On a count of three. One," Lili looked over toward me and nodded as I moved quickly to hold Boyd's arms down to his sides. "Two," After a small moment of silence, Lili snapped her fingers and I felt Boyd jump suddenly.

"What? Where? How?" I struggled with the man to keep his arms down as it was obvious his brain was having a panicked reaction to the hypnosis release. "I didn't do anything bad, doc! I swear! No more milk! I promise!"

"Boyd," Lili's voice was stern and caused the man to snap his attention to her rather quickly. "Do you know where you are?"

"T-The asylum."

"Do you know what day it is?"

"Like," The man hesitated for a moment before answering. "June 16th, right? Yeah, June 16th."

"That was my first day at camp." I released my grasp on Boyd slowly before sharing a concerned look with Lili.

Whoever did this is definitely a camp member. They waited for me to show up. They knew I was coming.

Milla and Sasha were unaware of you being an Aquato. Ford didn't realize that you were there either. Who else would have known? You hid everything well the day and all.

Either Ford knew I was coming, Sasha and Milla forgot, or-.

"Oleander." Lili's voice dripped with venom as I snapped my attention toward her. "He's the only one left. Ford reacted so drastically when he saw you. I've known Milla and Sasha my whole life, they would never harm children, especially Milla."

"But Oleander, with his mind, he would."

"The meat flowers too!" I gave Lili a curious look as she seemed to have connected all the dots. "In his mind and in my dreams, remember! And in your mind too! He must have been projecting them onto us over time! He's obsessed with meat. Has to deal with something with his dad, I guess, but it all makes sense!" My eyes widened as I looked up toward the asylum.

Crazy doctor and a Psychonaut Agent. One that's not as highly decorated but has access to the upcoming agents of the world. The two have something planned.

I looked over toward Boyd who had walked over toward the main steps of the asylum and sat there with a small thud.

And they were using campers and patients to achieve whatever goal that is.

"Boyd," I walked over toward the man with a new plan in mind as the man gave me a curious look. "Do you remember ever meeting a man named Agent Morceau Oleander?"

"Agent man." Boyd put his head in his hands before shaking his head slowly. "Small man with the metals. I was frightened. Frightened!" He dropped his hands from his head before wrapping his arms around himself. "Agent man, agent man." Boyd started mumbling to himself as he sat himself up in front of the asylum doors. "No more treatment. No more, please. No more watches." I looked over toward Lili who stepped forward and seemed to assess the situation.

"He's still fragile from the hypnosis. He was made a sleeper agent and it seems his mind knew something was wrong. It sounds like his defense mechanisms started to fight themselves and drove him mad over it all. Well, madder than he already was to end up in a place like this." Lili shook her head a little before walking back toward me. "He's fighting everything that's coming back to him and it seems the last thing he saw was a 'small agent man' and a watch."

"Oleander brainwashed him."

"Using the basic form of hypnosis too." I took a deep breath before releasing it slowly.

"A Psychonaut is stealing brains and making brain soldiers out of patients. In the name of what though? What's his goal here?"

"I don't know, Raz." Lili's voice was soft as she shook her head slowly. "That's the thing, Coach has always been a bit on the crazy side, but this? This is beyond even his form of crazy."

"He probably has untreated trauma then. Some kind of brain response is driving him toward something. Maybe revenge?"

"Revenge against what though? Who is he after?" I gave Lili a serious look as the information sunk further into my brain.

"Guess we find that out for ourselves. But for now, we should meet up with Ford again. He's probably got more information on the patients here and possibly dirt on Coach's history."

"Are you sure you want to go back into the submarine? You didn't seem to enjoy it very much." I shrugged as I looked back toward where we came from.

"Got any better ideas? We need information. Especially if we're going to have to poke around some brains again."

"Good thinking." Lili nodded before suddenly presenting a closed fist to me. "Oh yeah, for you." I gave her a confused look before presenting her with an open palm. She dropped the small bracelet she used to hypnotize Boyd into my hand. I looked over the bracelet and noticed it had green and black thread intertwining. A single small skull charm was in the center of it as it seemed to be a connection between her style and my own. I smiled at the bracelet before slipping it over my gloved hand and letting it rest on my right wrist.

"Finally broke and got me a friendship bracelet, huh?" I looked up toward Lili who had crossed her arms over her chest as a blush tickled her cheeks pink.

"I-I actually made it before the more crazy stuff started here. Not like I broke and made it for you after you kept insisting on one." I couldn't help but give her a small smile and chuckle as she turned her head away from me so I couldn't look her in the eyes. "Don't look at me like that!"

"Look at you like what?" My smile only widened as she huffed and turned toward the submarine. She started walking away from me, but I followed quickly after her with a smirk. "Not going to let me say thank you and I love it?" I chuckled as she reached out and punched me in the shoulder.

"Shut up, Aquato!"

"Love you too, Zanotto." Lili stopped right before the submarine entryway before turning toward me and shoving me into it. I couldn't help but laugh as it was still obvious she was embarrassed about it all. "No need to be bashful, Lils!"

"I'll kill you! It's a threat and a promise, Razputin!"

"Aw, not gonna say love you too?" I smiled wide as it was obvious the girl was turning beet red.

"Be happy that I like you to begin with."

"I'll take it!"

"Dork." Lili mentally closed the entrance to the submarine with ease before walking over to the pilot's seat. "Now, sit and don't try and make yourself too water sick, okay?"

"As long as you don't gun it, I'll be fine." I sat down in my original seat before looking over toward Lili with a small smile. "I do love the bracelet though, Lils. Seriously, thank you." I noticed a soft smile take over her lips as she didn't notice I was watching her reaction this time around.

"You're welcome, I guess." She said it dismissively, but it was obvious that me enjoying the gift meant a lot to her. I felt a flutter in my chest as a small blush of my own took over my cheeks. I moved to strap myself in as a comfortable silence took over us.

I like you too, Zanotto.

I smiled to myself as I made sure the thought stayed with me while she focused on starting up the submarine once more.

I really do.

Chapter Text

I leaned back and closed my eyes for a moment as I tried my best to keep my connection with the water around us calm. Lili seemed to consider my being as she held the submarine at an effective speed that wouldn't ache me too much. I smiled at the thought despite a dull ache creeping up behind my eyes.

Obvious that she cares at least. Good partners have that kind of silent but understanding bond anyway. Frazie and I always had that growing up, but the style of it that Lili and I have is unique. It could be the fact that it's a relatively new connection, but I have this nagging feeling that's going to be like nothing I've ever had before. That something between us is just so... different and beautiful. It feels so strong too. Kinda like the relationship the moon has with the tide.

I opened my eyes slowly before glancing over to see that she was relaxed beside me. Her brown eyes were glued to the waterway before her, but her figure was noticeably less tense as she kept us going steady.

Guess I'm the water then and she's my moon? It sounds a bit too soon to say, but she is definitely the best friend I never thought I would get to have. She understands me and doesn't mind when there's something odd or new to learn about me. She's a calming presence despite her sarcastic and chaotic tendencies.

She's Lili and I honestly love it.

I smiled wide before closing my eyes once more.

Ma always said that I would have to find someone to put up with my curiosity and my tendency to get myself thrown into the worst kinds of situations. I guess I already have. Mom would like her, I know that for sure. She always teased me that I would have to find someone to stick up for myself since being Aquato meant I couldn't really do that nor did I have that kind of bone in my body.

And now I have.

Though I know she would start teasing me in different ways if she met Lili anytime soon.

I blushed at the thought as I tried my best to keep my composure so Lili didn't panic about me.

If I hear the words 'little girlfriend' come out of my sister or mother when referring to Lili, I might actually die from embarrassment.

I opened my eyes and turned my attention toward Lili once more as a single word ran through my head.

Girlfriend...

Huh.

Do I-? Do I even like her like that?

I felt my blush deepen as the girl seemed to have no clue what thoughts were now raging within my mind.

Well, she is a friend that's a girl-. I mean could you even like someone that fast or-? The flutter feelings would make sense then but then it doesn't at the same time. What does it even mean to 'like like' someone like that? Is it those weird warm feelings or is it just enjoying them as a person more than others? Why does even the idea of calling her something like that make me feel like... everything?

My mind went silent as I took in the girl's features. I noted the deep brown of her eyes that seemed to glisten even when surrounded by the depths of the lake water around us. I also noticed the small crease between her eyebrows as she seemed to focus heavily on keeping the submarine at the same speed. She had a concentrated look to herself as if she was more worried about keeping me comfortable than actually getting to Ford's lair any faster. The idea alone caused butterflies to swell in my stomach as I snapped my attention away from her and toward the lake around us.

Yep. Everything.

... I hope this kind of thing doesn't lead me to be like Dion and go kinda girl crazy.

I swallowed hard as I glanced at Lili from the corner of my eye just one last time.

Though I think if I did, she would be the only one I would be going crazy about.

"Doing alright there, Razzy?" My eyes widened as she suddenly spoke. "You're moving around quite a bit. This speed isn't hurting you, right? I didn't want to go too fast and give you that headache stuff again. Not after going around in Boyd's mind and all, at least."

"I-I'm good." I mentally slapped myself as I cringed at the stutter that slipped out of me. "Just thinking is all."

"Want to share those thoughts or?" Lili's voice was teasing as I could just picture the smirk that must have been on her lips.

"Just about my family is all." I blushed as I knew that my excuse wasn't a complete lie at the very least. "Mainly about how I know my older siblings are going to tease me about finally making a friend and all."

"Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I know my dad will tease us too." Lili giggled and to me, it sounded like a forgotten symphony as I tried my best to not look at her directly. "He always wanted me to make more friends my age. Now I have one that is." Her words caused a sudden warmth in my chest as I suddenly looked over and saw the smile that she shot in my direction. "So we'll get teased together, Aquato."

Oh, she is going to be the death of me in so many beautiful ways I swear.

She turned her attention back toward the water as she didn't seem to hear that thought that basically yelled itself within my mind as I felt as if my face was on fire from how deep the blush I had was getting.

"Y-Yeah. Together for sure!" I let the words slip out of me as they caused the smile on her lips to widen.

"It's better to get tortured together anyway!" Lili giggled once more and I couldn't help but smile as I started to get a little more comfortable with the warmth in my chest.

"You've got more brain cells than I do, so you could probably do more than just stare blankly and let the teasing happen." I laughed at myself as Lili's smile caused small happy lines beside her eyes.

"I thought we shared brain cells at this point."

"Then hey! My turn with the brain cell!"

"No, I'm brain-driving here!" I relished in her laugh as she reached over and knocked her fist into my shoulder before drawing her hand back to the wheel she was holding. Suddenly, the submarine lurched forward as a loud smack occurred to the back of it. "SHIT! What was that?!" I closed my eyes instantly and strengthened my connection with the water once more. I reached out to feel whatever smacked into us and it led me to the feeling of anguish and anger that had followed us once before.

"It's the creature!" Another loud smack shook the submarine as a flashing red light appeared above our heads.

"It hit the main engine! I can't get it under control!" My eyes went wide in shock for a moment, but I instantly jumped into action as I unbuckled myself from my seat and quickly moved my way over toward Lili who was trying to still keep the submarine under her control.

"This vessel is heading down, Lils, no use." She looked at me with panicked eyes as I put my hands on her shoulders. "You trust me, right?" She nodded her head without hesitation. With that, I pulled her into my arms and picked her up out of her chair. Her arms and legs wrapped around me easily as I tried my best to speak in a calm manner. "Then on the count of three, I need you to take a deep breath for me okay?"

"Mayday, mayday. Vessel sinking. Water pressure increasing. Mayday." I felt Lili's arms tighten around me as I closed my eyes tight.

"One," I made sure to keep my grip on her even as I heard water rushing into the back of the submarine. "Two," I opened my eyes as the deep golden glow of them contrasted with the flashing light above our heads. I knew right when the water was going to put too much pressure on the bay entry and pop it open. I just had to give Lili enough time to breathe before I could make us a proper bubble.

"Three." The water came flooding in right after Lili took a deep breath. The sound of the incoming wave filling my ears as the only guiding light became my eyes.

Alright, Aquato. You've trained for stuff like this.

I propelled us toward the bay doors as I quickly tried to channel my psychic energy into a bubble.

Now prove it.

I held Lili close against me as she gasped for air in the bubble I was able to make for us.

"Jesus, I wish I hadn't skipped the breathing exercises Milla taught." I dropped us down to the lake floor where she could safely leave my grasp to kneel down on the damp sand. "I feel like my lungs-, sweet mother of-." She took slow and deep breaths as I just smiled beside her.

"Take your time. The first time with that stuff is always rather rough. You did really good though."

"Feel like my insides are on fire."

"That's normal. It'll pass." I reached out and rubbed her back gently as I tried my best to support her through it. She leaned into the touch easily as she seemed to even out her breaths. "Feeling alright?"

"Could be better, but also could have been much worse." I pulled my hand back as she sat up with a small smile. "Quick thinking there, Aquato."

"Told ya, my turn with the brain cell." She shoved me lightly before slowly raising to her feet. I followed the notion as she started to look around the little area I had created.

"Wow. It's like, the water just stops and avoids your psychic energy." She walked slowly to the edge of it with a wonder-stuck tone to her voice. "It's fascinating."

"It's still penetrable, just not by the water itself." I smiled as I took a few steps closer to her. Normally the formation would follow me, but I made sure it stayed in place as I extend a hand to grasp her arm gently. "Reach out and touch it. It won't cause it to rupture or anything." She gave me a curious look as she let me guide her hand out toward the bubble's edge. Slowly, but surely, I held her hand out and stuck her hand right through the bubble and out to the lake before us. She stared in awe as I pulled her hand back into the bubble which she moved out of grasp gently to see look over her hand curiously.

"That's so fucking cool!" She snapped her attention toward me with a wide smile. "Like holy shit! You can make basically water force fields!"

"Water force fields sounds so much cooler than brain bubbles." I chuckled at the thought as Lili took pride in the new name.

"Fuck yeah it does!" She looked over at the bubble once more before running toward the center of it. "This is awesome though! Like, look at it all!" Her arms were spread out wide as she gave me a wide smile. "Like I bet I could lay in the center here and watch the fish go by for hours!"

"Well with how it works, you would honestly watch some of the fish swim right through-." I snapped my attention toward the left as a sudden loud splash hit against the further wall of the bubble. My eyes widened as the large silhouette of some creature was rushing toward the center of the bubble. "LILI!" I dashed forward as quickly as I possibly could, but the creature whipped out its tongue and wrapped it around Lili's middle as she let out a loud screech.

"RAZ!" I felt a snarl take over my features as a wave of deep anger started to rage for the creature.

"LET HER GO!" It snapped its attention toward me and I realized that the creature was some kind of large mutated fish. Its resentful aura grew strong as Lili pounded her fist against its pink tongue.

"I'll make sushi out of you, you ugly bastard!" With one quick motion, the fish wrapped her up in its tongue further as Lili let out a loud screech. "RAZ!" I dashed forward with my fist drawn back as I poured as much psychic energy as I could behind it as the fish decided Lili was safekeeping for its large mouth.

"I said let her go!" I large wave shaped like a fist followed my own as I sucker-punched the fish right in its stomach and caused it to spit out Lili in response.

"MOTHER-!" With a small thud, Lili landed on the damp sand beside me before quickly getting up on her feet. "Gross, I bet I smell like expired tuna." The fish let out a deep growl before trying to whip us with its tongue. Quickly, Lili and I jumped back fast enough so the tongue slapped the sand under us before retracting back to its owner. "For all the tongue attacks, you would think it's a frog more than a fish!" I heard a spark of fire beside me as I formed a whip of my own from a small amount of the bubble's water. "Let's teach this guy a lesson, Aquato!"

"Right after ya!" We both dashed forward in sync as she then aimed a fireball at the fish's feet to make it stumble back. I then used the water whip to wrap around the fish's figure as it stumbled back onto the damp sand. I clenched my hand into a fist causing the water to freeze up and harden into ice as the fish fell onto the lake floor. It struggled hard against the ice, but due to how I formed the water whip, it was much too hard for him to break by pure force.

"Ice restraints, nice thinking." I turned my attention toward Lili who had just dusted off a bit of seaweed on her shoulder. "How long do those last?"

"For a good bit. The way they form is that only someone with hydrokinesis can restrict that energy. So as long as I have the psychic energy to spare, he's stuck there." I looked back toward the fish as I watched him struggle against the restraints to no avail. "Good thinking using the fire on its feet, by the way."

"I figured if we could at least take him down, one of us would figure something out on subduing them." Lili came up beside me and gestured at the creature with a wide smile. "And I was right!" I couldn't help but smile at the idea for a moment before watching the creature.

"It had a plan. It wanted something." I reached up to scratch the back of my name as the thoughts came pouring out. "Well, it definitely wanted you. The problem is why? What did he attack us for? What is he after?"

"Well, it's not like you can just ask a fish those questions." Lili dug into her pocket before pulling out the familiar small door. "Only one way to get answers."

"Well, you've already been in its mouth. What difference is its brain?" I smirked as Lili knocked her fist into my shoulder.

"We're not talking about it."

"But-."

"We are not," Lili's eyes narrowed at me as her tone darkened ever so slightly. "Going to talk about it." I nodded quickly with a nervous smile.

"Not gonna talk about it, got it. No fish mouth question to be asked and I will shut my mouth now."

"Good boy." I laughed nervously as Lili turned her attention toward the fish creature once more. "Ready for fish adventures?"

"Let's do it!" I joined her side excitedly as we walked over toward the head of the fish. "Do you think it'll be any weirder than Boyd's brain?"

"I honestly don't think anything is going to beat the Milkman."

"But his milk is delicious." I gave a teasing smile as Lili rolled her eyes at me.

"You're lucky I like you, Raz."

"I know." I smiled wide as I noticed the corner of her lips turned up ever so slightly.

"Now," Lili threw out the portal that instantly stuck to the front of the fish's head. "Adventures?"

"Ladies first," I gave her a small bow as she kneeled down on the sand.

"Meet you in there then." I sat down beside her as her astral projection left and entered the other mind with ease. I dropped my goggles down over my eyes as I let myself do the same. A small smirk on my lips as one last thought echoed in my mind.

Let's see what fishy things are going on in that head of yours, buddy.

Chapter Text

I opened my eyes slowly as the sound of warning sirens filled my ears.

"What the?" I looked around the area for a moment to take in the scenery.

Everything is so...

I placed my hand on top of a building to my right that came up to my hip.

Small.

"What in the name of Godzilla?" I snickered at the comment as I looked over toward Lili who joined my side. "I feel like I'm on the set of one of those old King Kong movies!"

"Well, you are larger than life right now." I smirked as I patted my hand on top of the building.

"Oh ha ha, Aquato."

"What! It was a good one, you gotta agree!"

"IT'S GOGGALOR!" We snapped our attention toward a small creature on the ground before us. It looked exactly like the fish we had trapped in the real world. "AND HE'S GOT A GIRLFRIEND! EVERYONE RUN! Save yourself!"

"Goggalor?" Lili gave me a confused look as I felt a deep blush take over my cheeks. "What, did that fish just call me your girlfriend?"

Girlfriend? Really, fish brain? Put me on the spot there?

I simply shrugged with a nervous grin as a slight pink tint to Lili's cheeks appeared slowly.

"W-Whatever. Let's figure out what's going on here, shall we?" I nodded slightly as Lili took the lead further into the little city.

Scratch what I thought before, these fish bastards are going to be the death of me first.

"What even is this place?" Lili and I walked a few feet more into the city as a small tower's radio projections seemed to have answered my question.

"Good evening Lungfishopolis! Our loving home to the Citizens of Lungfishopolis and our great protector is known as Kochamara! This landscape consists of beautiful hills and greenery surrounding the centralized cityscape. The city itself is illuminated with the lights from towering skyscrapers and the neon signs of local lungfish nightclubs."

"Lungfish... nightclubs." I gave Lili a confused look before shaking my head like a wet dog. "Don't Need That image in my head. Nope! No thank you!" Lili just chuckled at my response before giving me a smirk.

"Is the terrifying Aquato scared of some fish in fishnets?" I made a gagging noise in response that only made Lili laugh wholeheartedly.

"When it comes to that kind, absolutely." I shook the thought out of my head once more before giving Lili a serious look. "But wait, they said something about a guy named Kochamara. What do you think is that?"

"Well if Coach was able to place a mental projection in Boyd's mind to control how he reacted and thought through hypnosis, I wouldn't doubt he did the same here. Maybe he made this after himself too." I nodded along as Lili's logic made complete sense to me.

"So that's this mind's Den Mother so to speak."

"Exactly! Find and beat them, then the brain is freed."

"Think the fish is going to pull a Boyd and try to burn shit down?"

"As long as it doesn't have its own Milkman sleeper agent in its mind here, no, I don't think so."

"Man I want to learn more about this all." I looked around the mental world for a moment as a curious smile took over my face. "If I could take classes on this stuff, I would be a sponge and soak up all the information I can!" I shot a smile at Lili who has a small smile of her own.

"You know, I can always ask my dad about having you join some of the classes at the Motherlobe." My eyes shot wide.

"Really?!"

"Totally." Lili acted nonchalantly as she leaned back to put her elbow on top of one of the buildings beside her. "I don't think he would mind a curious mind like your own wanting to join some classes."

"That would be so cool! Thanks, Lils!"

"Don't be thanking me yet." She gave a small giggle before standing straight again. "Haven't gotten you in yet!"

"Just the thought though! It means a lot, honestly." I gave her a sincere smile that seemed to have struck a chord with her.

"I-It's nothing." I felt my heart flutter as a slight pink tint took over her cheeks. "Don't mention it."

"But it means a lot to me." The words flowed out of me as I suddenly felt bashful by her side.

"It's what friends are for, right?"

Right.

I swallowed hard as I looked away from her to cast my gaze over the city of Lungfishopolis. A dull ache filled my chest that I tried to push down and ignore.

Friends.

"Back to business though." I turned my attention back toward Lili as the sound of a disaster siren was sounding off. "How do we help these people?"

"Find Kochamara and kick his ass?" I couldn't help but snicker at that as we moved further into the fish city. "Think if he's the city's 'protector' that if we cause enough hell, he'll appear?" I smirked wide as I realized that Lungfishopolis was surrounded by large amounts of water.

"I might have an idea." I nodded my head toward the water. "In Boyd's mind, we were investigators. In here, we're movie monsters. How about we act like real monsters and break down some big infrastructure? Beginning with a dam that most definitely controls the water here."

"Yes! Let's create some chaos!" I smiled wide as a mischievous look took over Lili's face. "Last one to the possible dam is a rotten egg!" Lili dashed forward as she followed the water stream I pointed out to her. I smiled as a cheerful laugh escaped her while the warning sirens from the fish people still blared.

No wonder I like her, she's just as crazy as I am.

I sprinted after her as my smile only grew.

Alright, Aquato! You have practiced being the world's monster, now have some fun with it!

"It's Goggalor! Run!" I gave a cheeky grin as Lili playfully shoved me as I reached her side.

"They seem to be afraid of you more than me!"

"Well, I am the great Goggalor!" I brought my hands up like they were claws as I shot Lili a mischievous grin. "Tremble in fear!" Lili rolled her eyes before shoving me once more.

"As if! I bet I'm scarier."

"Ah yes, the great Pigtailed D'yavol. So terrifying." I smirked as Lili just narrowed her eyes at me.

"Have no clue what you just called me but I know I should be at least slightly offended." I laughed joyfully as we came to a soft stop.

"Just a pigtailed devil is all!" I stopped laughing suddenly as I felt a small tap hitting my knee. "What the?" I turned my attention down to Lungfish who was shooting what looked like a small pistol at me.

"Great Goggalor! I demand your attention!" I gave him a curious look as he then cleared his voice suddenly. "I have valuable information for you."

"And what's that, little guy?"

"My people and I have realized that there is a great big radio tower beyond the lake by the prison. If you follow the river, it will bring you to the prison area and in turn, the route to the tower. The radio tower has been broadcasting mind control information to all the other Lungfish in the area. Take down the radio tower, take down the mind control."

"How are you aware of this?" Lili's voice joined us as the small Lungfish holstered his little gun.

"Because my group and I hate Kochamara!" He made a small gag noise after speaking the "hero's" name. "Anything that takes him and this world down, the better."

"So~." Lili drew out the world as she seemed to connect the information together. "You're a terrorist group." The fish stared at us silently before speaking suddenly.

"I will not agree or disagree with that statement."

"Mental terrorist in a fish's brain with a mind control tower." I shrugged as I turned my attention toward Lili. "Not the weirdest part of today."

"Milkman is still first place there," I smirked as Lili seemed to know exactly what I was going to say. "If you say anything about milk being delicious again, I will beat you with a stick!" I put my hands up in defense.

"I said nothing!"

"Uh-huh." I chuckled to myself before looking over at the fish.

"So you keep bringing up this prison."

"Yes! I desire for you to help me break into that prison, free my brothers, and then help us take over the tower!" I shrugged once more before looking at Lili.

"Change in plans?"

"Change in plans." Lili smiled wide as I turned toward the fish once more.

"You got yourself a deal, fish man!" I bent down and lent out my hand and the fish jumped into it instantly. I quickly lifted him up and placed the fish on my shoulder. "Let's roll!" Lili nodded along as we continued to follow up the river. This time, with the goal of breaking down a prison than just causing pure chaos. I cracked my knuckles as we went through the city side by side.

Time for a jailbreak.

Chapter Text

The monster.

The monster.

Always the god damn monster.

I blinked slowly a few times as the sound of jail sirens filled my ears. The blinding lights of the small search towers faded in and out of my sight as my thoughts were scattered within my mind.

The Aquato spawn. The monster of the water. The child of generational nightmares.

"Raz?"

Always the monster, never the hero. Forever the beast, and never the prince.

"Raz."

Just proving it now, Aquato. Just proving everyone right.

"RAZ!"

I snapped my attention toward Lili who now had her hands grasping my shoulders.

"Knock out of it, Raz! You look like you're in a trance." I shook my head slightly as my thoughts faded slowly.

"S-Sorry." The screams of the fish people filled my ears once more as a shiver ran down my spine. "Too many screams," I muttered my words as Lili gave me a concerned look.

"Hey, you're not actually hurting anyone, okay? They're just kind of fish. No one is actually hurt."

"But-." I was shushed quietly as Lili gave me a soft smile.

"No one is actually hurt, Raz. You're fine." I took a deep breath and released it slowly before closing my eyes for a moment.

No one is harmed. I did nothing wrong. I'm not the beast.

I slowly opened my eyes to see Lili's brown ones watching me intently. The shine in her eyes caused them to look a lot like coffee once it had a good bit of creamer in it. Not too dark, but not too light either. It was a beautiful shade, to say the least. One I wish I could see in the real world as well.

I bet with the right amount of sunlight, her eyes do the same out there.

I felt a soft blush cake my cheeks while a smile tugged at my lips.

And I bet it's just as beautiful too.

"Better?" My smile widened as I gave her a toothy grin.

"Much better."

"Good." Her smile widened as well while her hands dropped from my shoulders. "Wanna talk about what got into you there?"

"Can~ we talk about it later?" As an embarrassed blush painted my cheeks, I drew out the first word for a moment.

"We'll put a pin in it then." I gave her a thankful smile as she gave me a knowing look. "For now. I bet you still need to talk about it."

"You know me well, Lils."

"Better than most, for sure." She gave a proud smile which caused my heart to flip in my chest. She turned her attention toward the ground before speaking again. "Find your crew, fish man?"

"Most definitely. Now, we'll be taking over the majority of the city here. It will make it easier for you to get the main radio tower on the central island up the dam wall."

"So we broke you guys out to inevitably do what we originally planned?" I quirked an eyebrow at the idea while crossing my arms over my chest.

"Yes but now you have the information of the tower, see?"

"Right~." Lili drew out the word while rolling her eyes at the thought. "And we still have to do the dirty work, huh Razzy?"

"Fighting brain tanks and all," I smirked as I thought of the little metal brain turret tanks that reminded me of Coach's Basic Braining. "You know, the more we're here, the more Coach being in charge of everything makes sense." Lili nodded as the little fish commander took the change in the topic as his sign to leave.

"It does. The army references here along with the brain turrets." Lili crossed her arms as she continued on with her mental list. "The fact the hero here sounds like an anime knockoff of his own name, the list could continue."

"Don't forget all the meat stuff too."

"I'd rather forget." Lili and I made our way out of the little internal cave that the prison was placed in. "But now how can we get to the main tower?"

"Could just go across the water and all." I shrugged as I looked over the mental world's water scene. "Shouldn't be much different than the water in other worlds, should it?"

"You can try. Might react a little differently with this being a fish's brain and all." I walked closer to the edge of the land before closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

Let's try something basic.

I opened my eyes slowly as I brought out my hand and poured all my concentration into making a hand appear from the water.

"Galochio!" I smiled wide as the hand gave me an excited wave. "Been a while since I summoned you in a mind. Didn't hurt you any, right?" The hand gave a thumbs up as a small splash of water came out of each side of them as a sign of emphasis. "Good! I'm glad!"

"Boys and their water hands." I could tell Lili was smirking over my shoulder as I just shrugged in response.

"Water boys and their water hands, thank you very much." Galochio gave a single finger gun as if to agree with me. "Glad to see you though, buddy. I was just checking my connection with the water unless you want to help us get to the tower over there." I pointed in the direction of the giant radio tower in the distance as Galochio turned as if they had eyes to see it. The hand turned back toward me and turned into a fist before shaking it slowly. "It's alright bud. I know you only really have space for me. I don't think Lili would be up for a piggyback ride over the brain ocean here."

"You're my best friend and I love you, Razzy, but not over brain water." I blushed heavily at Lili's words behind me as Galochio turned toward me in a sassy motion.

"Shush." I quickly hushed the hand as it gave a small knowing motion. "Don't blame you, Lils." I smiled wide before turning toward her for a second so she could see I wasn't offended or anything. I turned back to Galochio with a glare. "Asshole," I muttered the word as the hand just gave a small sorry gesture. "Better be." I sighed as I lowered my head a little. "It's okay. I'm sorry for being aggressive there, bud." Galochio gave a thumbs up once more. "I'll let you go now. Go back to our realm, Gal." The hand lowered slowly all while giving me an approving finger gun once more. "Bye mate!"

"Quite talkative with your hand friend even though he doesn't talk himself." I blushed more as Lili came up to my side.

The bastard is quite knowing too.

"Yeah, he's communicative! Totally a great water pal and everything right." I tried my best to laugh off my embarrassment before clearing my throat a little. "But that's good to know that I still have a solid connection. I can make us a little bubble then."

"Bubble buddies?" I shrugged as an easy smile took over my lips.

"Would we be anything else?" She giggled lightly as I extended my hand flat out in front of me. It caused the water to form a solid base for Lili to walk out onto. "After you?" I put a hand out to guide her which caused a soft look in her eyes.

"T-Thanks." I guided her by her lower back onto the small water platform before following after her.

"Feeling alright with this?"

"Totally yeah." I smiled softly as she leaned into me gently. "Whoa, that's really funky."

"Funky?" I chuckled gently as she pinched my bicep. "Hey! Let me keep my focus here!" I curled my hand into a fist that caused the water to become a ball around us.

"Focus my ass!" I chuckled with a cheeky smile.

"Wanna get wet there, Lils?"

"Drop me in the water and you'll get burned, Raz."

"Love you too, Lils."

"Yeah yeah yeah." I smiled wide as she leaned into me once more. "Bubble buddy."

"Bubble buddies forever, right?" My smile sweetened as she wrapped an arm around me.

"Totally. Forever."

Chapter Text

"Remind me that bubble rides are not as fun as they sound." I chuckled as Lili nearly leaped at her first opportunity of solid ground as we reached the main island.

"Oh come on! It can't be that frightening." I slipped my hands into my jacket's pockets as I stepped out of the bubble I had made and onto the ground beside her. Behind me was a small pop indicating that the bubble had dissipated.

"You drove that bubble faster than I drove the submarine!" Lili gave me a half-hearted glare as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I thought going at speeds like that makes you feel sickish."

"Foreign objects going through water that fast gives me migraines, yes. My own form of water transportation riding on the same water base does not."

"That makes absolutely no sense but does in the same breath." I shrugged as her arms dropped from her chest.

"My great aunt had the same effects I guess. It's why she moved about in that hurricane-like thing all the time."

"Huh." Lili tilted her head a little in curiosity. "Weird."

"Definitely." I shot her a wide smirk as I shifted my weight onto my right leg. "But hey, we're Aquatos. Everything about us is weird."

"Including the ironic naming." I gave her a wide smirk.

"You fit right in then." I felt a blush heat my cheeks as Lili gave a small smile before rolling her eyes.

"Let's break down this tower," It looked as if she hesitated to call me something for a moment. "Aquato." I felt my heart skip a beat as my brain was tempted by the idea of her calling me something much different for a moment.

"Y-Yeah." We both turned toward the tower that ironically towered over our monster-sized selves in this world. "Could wrap it up in vines and pull it straight down?"

"I can see what I can do." Lili smiled wide as she extended her hands toward the tower. She closed her eyes to focus for a moment as I watched little vines start to sprout at the foot of the tower. Slowly but surely they started to grow as a new broadcast came from the tower before us.

"Goggalor and his girlfriend are attacking the main tower of Lungfishopolis! Will our great protector defeat them? Where is Kochamara? Will these monsters get away with this!?" I smirked as I placed a supportive hand on Lili's shoulder.

"Us monsters will kick his damn ass if he tries!" I noticed my small gesture caused the vines to grow much faster as they started to wrap tightly around the base of the broadcast tower. I smiled softly at the thought until a loud thud crashed down behind us.

"ITS HIM!" I snapped my attention around toward the sudden noise as the broadcast voice grew excited. There within the dust of its landing was Coach shaped figure in a bright orange and teal superhero outfit who was now standing proudly with his hands on his hips. "THE ONE AND ONLY KOCHAMARA! Our savior!"

"Leave this island you monsters!" I shot the man a glare despite my goggles covering my eyes.

"Leave this fish dude alone you bastard! What did they do to deserve your bullshit?"

"How dare you talk to the one and only Kochamara as such!" I rolled my eyes as I conjured up a water whip within my hands as I did in reality.

"I'll take care of this one, Lil." I turned my head toward her slightly to see she gave me a knowing look as her hands were still outstretched toward the broadcast tower.

"Only fair." I smirked at her words before turning my attention toward the 'superhero'.

"Let's go, Coach! I'll kick your damn ass!" I grew quite proud as I snapped the water whip in one quick motion.

"You asked for it!" Kochamara started to levitate just a bit as he drew his hands into fists. "Deadly Triangle Beam!" I quickly formed a water shield with my spare hand as Coach's double shot a bright red beam directly at me. I smiled wide as the water absorbed the shot with ease before charging toward the man.

"Don't you know?" I had a wide smirk as I snapped out my whip at his feet so it tangled around his ankle. He struggled for a moment as I pulled him down onto the ground with a loud thud. "Superheroes don't say their moves out loud in the real world!" I stopped the shield I made to morph my whip into a bat as Kochamara tried to bring himself back up. I drew the water bat back as I quickly had it harden into ice. "Batter up!" A smile grew wide on my face as the ice bat made a loud satisfying whack against his temple before sending him across the island and into a rock. "Not a home run," I had the bat dissipate into droplets of water as I shrugged a little. "But I bet a hit like that would get me in the major leagues."

"Great! You already have the Psychonaut hero taunting. Just~ great." I smiled at Lili's sarcasm as I kept my eyes on Kochamara.

"Hey! Just means I'll fit right in!" The hero shook his head as he brought his fist out before him.

"Mighty Ram Ground Version!"

"Ground version?" I smirked as I dodged the rushing hero's figure like a matador with a bull. "Would hate to see the original if you failed like that." I smirked wide as I summoned water to flow around my hands to make ice boxing gloves shortly after.

"I am the great-!" I threw a right hook into his jaw that made his head snap toward the side before throwing some quick jabs into his stomach. After the jabs, crouch down and swung my leg under his to cause him to fall hard onto the ground once more.

"I thank having an older brother for the fighting lessons."

"You monsters!" Kochamara's words were filled with venom as he pulled himself up from the ground. "I'll end you here and now!"

"You know," I moved my hands up to my head as the ice disappeared once more. "I have had more than a hundred people call me that." I started the man down as I felt a subtle rage swell within my chest. "But I learned over these past few years that I deserve much more than to be dubbed a monster. I'm more than that. I'm a good kid. I have a decent head on my shoulders. I haven't spilled any blood like my ancestors." I closed my eyes for a moment as I knew the golden glow of them was as bright as ever. "If anyone is a monster," I opened my eyes slowly so I could take in Kochamara's figure once more.

"It's you."

A growl released itself from the wanna-be-superhero once more before charging directly toward me which I dodged easily once more.

"You've kidnapped children." He turned to try and land a punch on me, but I ducked under his hand before bringing my knee up into his stomach. "You've stolen brains." I felt a snarl take over my face as I grabbed the bastard by his collar. "You've harmed kids. Some are pricks, sure, but still preteens. But the worst part?" I brought him up toward my face so he could see the anger in my eyes as I growled out my words. "The worst fucking part?"

"I made you remember who you are." I felt my anger disappear from me as I could tell a cocky tone took over the being's voice. "Look at you Razputin. Angry. Rageful. You want to hurt me, don't you? You want that sweet sweet revenge like all of us who society has burned."

"It's not revenge." I put emphasis on the word as I tightened my hold on his latex suit. "It's justice."

"There's a thin line where justice and revenge meet, little boy." I narrowed my eyes at him as his knowing voice taunted me. "What side are you trying to claim you're on, Razputin? Which vice is yours?" A snicker came from the figure as he just tilted his covered head to the side. "Or are you just like me? Seeking both in the same breath."

"I'm nothing like you!"

"You've claimed the same for you and your aunt, boy." A dark voice came from him as I heard a large cracking noise coming from the tower in the distance. "Remember, Aquato, there are reasons we fail to run from our own demons. Even when they hurt the ones we love the most. Like your little girlfriend." His figure slowly faded as I heard Lili's muffled cheers in the distance. "Because we see them every day. Always in the mirror." I swallowed hard as Kochamara faded completely from my hands as Lili's voice rushed to my side.

"Nice job, Raz! We did it!" I snapped my attention toward Lili as I felt tears well up in my eyes. "Raz?" I shook my eyes slowly as I felt myself drop to my knees. "What happened? What did he say to you?" I screwed my eyes shut as Lili's arms wrapped themselves around me tightly. "Whatever it is, I know he's wrong about you, okay? Whatever he said is wrong. You know that." I nodded my head silently as I laid my head on her shoulder. My mind faded from this world slowly as I still somehow felt her grasp on me.

He's wrong.

I opened my eyes slowly as my mind settled back into my physical form. My arms quickly wrapped themselves around Lili as I held her tight against me.

I'll never be like him.

I left Lili to lean her head against mine as I kept my tears at bay.

And I would rather die,

I felt a weak smile appear on my face as one of her hands cradled the back of my head so gently.

than to ever harm her.

Chapter Text

I stood slowly as my mental form connected once more with my physical self.

"Is it safe to release the big guy?" I shrugged toward Lili as I looked over the creatures features. The fish like being looked rather peaceful in its slumber as it snored in the most awkward way possible.

"Does the big guy look aggressive in this state?" I tilted my head a little to the side as the eyes twitched ever so slightly. "Oh, I think it's waking up." Slowly, the fish's eyes blinked open and looked up toward Lili and I was a confused gaze.

"Small children, greetings."

"You fucking talk?" I couldn't help but chuckle at Lili's shock as the fish gave her a confused look.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Yeah, Lils, why wouldn't they?"

"Well I can openly admit to seeing some crazy shit as a psychonaut in training, but talking fish? That's fucking new."

"My name is Linda, child. Address me as such, please."

Linda?

"Ironic." Lili gave me a curious look as I just shot her a sheepish smile. "I'll explain later."

"Human children," I brought my gaze back toward the creature as her gaze was now on the little prison I had made for them. "Is this necessary?"

"Well you did try to kill me." I nodded along with Lili as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"And I don't take trying to kill my best friend lightly."

"Only your best friend?" Lili gave me a smirk that caused a deep blush to take over my cheeks.

"Well, I-."

"Oh relax, Raz, I know I'm not the only person you would protect like that." She let out a joyful laugh as I felt my heart beating within my throat.

Oh. That's what she meant. Not that she was teasing about only being a friend.

Not like I totally don't want to change that or anything totally not.

I cleared my throat for a moment before looking over toward Linda once more.

"But anyway, can we trust you now, Linda? Not going to try and take us out of existence, right?"

"While free from him? Absolutely not, human child." I gave them a nod before releasing my psychic energy that entrapped them. The ice dissipated and dropped to the lake floor. "I thank you, child."

"The name's Razputin. But you can call me Raz." I dropped my hands to my sides before nodding over toward Lili. "This is Lili."

"Ah yes. My apologies."

"I have some questions for you, Linda." I crossed my arms over my chest once more as I grew serious. "Would you mind?"

"By all means." Linda sat up so she was sitting before us before giving me a small nod. "Ask whatever it is you wish."

"Do you remember much before you were hypnotized?"

"I remember little from before. A lot while during, though. It has been ages since I was a slave to my own mind, land lover."

"What do you remember exactly?"

"Do you wish for my life story or just pieces I believe you desire?"

"Just the important bits for now." Linda gave a small nod before bringing herself up to her feet.

"I was given a new mission by my creators new partner."

"Creator?" I shared Lili's confusion as I tilted my head to the side.

"My father, my creator, which ever way you want to look at it." I started to note some distinct features of the fish as he spoke.

One eye larger and a different color than the other. Speaking of his "creator" as if they're a monster from a lab. This has mad scientist all over it.

"Doctor Loboto, isn't it?"

"You know him?"

"Of him, more like it." I shrugged at the idea before grabbing my goggles and adjusting them up my forehead ever so slightly. "He's a friend of a friend I suppose."

"Ah yes. Acquaintance."

"Though not a friendly friend that's for sure." Linda nodded as they put their arm like fins behind their back.

"Did not expect as such."

"Especially with while 'trying to kill us thing' I thought that would be pretty obvious after all." I could audibly tell Lili was rolling her eyes at us as I continued to speak. "But nonetheless. What was the mission here? Do you know what Doctor Loboto and Coach are planning?"

"All I know is that there were blueprints and brains involved. Anything more, I wasn't aware of."

"Blueprints?" I reached up to rub my chin in thought as Lili whispered the word to herself. "I bet it's for some kind of physic device if brains are involved but for what? What would coach need a dentist for? What kind of machine would he be using to need that kind of madness included?"

"I know in Grulovia that there was a history of using psychic scientist of different practices to make special equipment for the crown." I shivered at the idea as I remembered some of Nona's old diaries that spoke of our mother country. "My aunt was one of them as a 'psychic expert'." I used air quotes as I continued with my thoughts. "They used her to practice certain weapon ideas and skills that would use already in place psychic methods to try and expand upon them."

"So like weaponizing the brain in more ways than just mental, but by adding them into a physical process more than before?"

"Exactly." I looked toward Lili as a remembered a study in particular. "For instance, in one my aunt's diaries, there was an entry about a machine gun that could be controlled by hydrokinesis. The bullets and turning mechanics were replaced by pure psychic energy in the form of water that could then be solidified once ejected from the barrel. It was never finished on due to my aunt refusing to go through the process, but it could be something like that."

"Weaponizing psychic abilities with physical weapon attachments." Lili shook her head in disbelief before giving me a worried look. "Could you imagine what people would do with those kind of tech? They could make it where solders are literal brain bubbles in tanks or something! Brainless bodies in pods waiting to be used by either bodiless brains of madmen while their real brains are off fighting wars!"

"Dictatorships could be endless."

"And wars could be a lot more devastating than ever before." I cringed at the idea as Nona's words flowed within my mind.

These monsters have no clue what they're messing with. The lives that they put at risk the more they mess with psychic weaponry. They don't see the effects yet, but they will be endless the more they mess with things they don't understand.

I closed my eyes for a moment as the last sentence echoed in my mind.

This is why there are Psychonauts, this is why the world needs us.

I opened them slowly before looking back at Linda.

"We need to find where Loboto is hiding. We need to stop him." I stepped forward as a sense of duty swelled in my chest. "But first we need to get back to Agent Cruller so we can get further assistance and figure out what the hell we're up against here. Can you take us back toward the camp?"

"Most definitely, young Aquato." I gave the fish a curious look.

"I never said my full name."

"With eyes like those," Linda cracked a toothy grin before answering completely. "And a tie to my being, it's hard to not tell, human."

"Wow," Lili took in the moment before looking over toward me with a smirk. "Even fish know the Aquato name. That's one hell of a legacy there."

"For all the wrong reasons." I muttered the words for a second before rubbing at the back of my neck.

"Each being makes their presence in this world, water lover." The fish spoke in a matter of fact tone as it's deep voice was smooth to the touch. "But it's one that you may embrace or hide from. Your choice." I stared at the fish blankly as a dumbfounded look took over my face.

"You have no clue how humans are to people like me do you?"

"Not a single bit."

"It shows there." Lili snickered as I sighed. "Let's say that we can tell you weren't treated the best either, and I sure as hell understand your pain there, buddy."

"Were you also experimented on?"

"Nope but I can tell you there would be tons of people that would kill for the chance at it."

"I love that you two found comfort in one another like this is some kind of underwater Alcoholics Anonymous meeting but," Lili gestured at the bubble surrounding us. "I'm not the water creature here and we have important things to do here." I gave her a small smile as Linda chuckled at her joke.

"Enjoyable child." I gave Lili an amused look as Linda's attempt at a compliment.

"Alright." I gave Linda my attention again. "Give us a lift?"

"Not sure if your friend will enjoy it, but I have a way of getting you both out of here."

"BLEH!" Lili gave a disgusted grunt as she shook her head like a wet dog as we emerged from Linda's mouth and onto the shore by the docks of the camp. "I'd rather ride in those damn water bubbles again than do that again." I chuckled at Lili as I moved my goggles onto the top of my head.

"This is one of the many reasons I wear a helmet and goggles at all times." Lili just made another disgruntled noise as Linda's fin like hand emerged from the water.

"Take this children." She extended her hand toward me and placed a skeleton like horn in my hand in the shape of a fish. "Blow on this horn and it will call for me. Whenever you need me, know I will be there when I hear it." I gave the fish a large smile before turning my bag to rest in front of me and placing the horn in there safely.

"Will do, Linda." I adjusted my bag so it was behind me once more before giving them a small wave. "Thank you for all your help."

"Anytime, Aquato." The fish slowly lowered into the water, but before she disappeared completely, she spoke once more. "Fellow water creatures must stay together." Lili gave a disgusted grunt once more as I turned my attention toward her again. This time she was ringing her hair out from what seemed of fish saliva as she scrunched her nose. I couldn't help but smile softly at the sight as the little lines that appeared between her eyes were more endearing than anything else.

"Remind me to never follow through with yours and your water friend's plans like that ever again without the details." She flipped her pigtail a little bit so it was out of her face and over her shoulder before turning toward me. "That was the most disgusting bullshit I have ever done in the name of psychic adventures."

"I bet not the weirdest though." I smirked as Lili rolled her eyes at me with a small smile.

"Not wrong, but I would rather die than do that again."

"Noted." My smirk grew as I slipped my hands into my jacket pockets. "Want to explain everything to Ford when we see him?"

"Sure, but I'd rather forget the traveling in a fish mouth part."

"What? Afraid to admit you went above and beyond for the psychic world?"

"No, just rather forget it already." Lili led the way toward the tree stump attached to the route to Ford's lab as I let out an amused laugh.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Lils."

"Love you too, Aquato." I felt my heart skip a beat as I caught up beside her to see the soft smirk on her lips as she looked ahead of her.

If only she meant it.

I smiled softly to myself as I let silence take over us.

But maybe it's best to not talk about how you feel after getting out a fish's mouth.

My grin turned to a smirk as I glanced toward her.

Let's wait till there's a better time at least.

Chapter Text

"Great mother of-!" Ford gave us both a once over as Lili rolled her eyes at his reaction toward us. "You two look like you just got out of a belly of a beast together!"

"Well technically-." I smirked as Lili placed her gloved hand over my lips.

"We are not talking about it and we are also never doing that again." I made a hum of approval as Ford gave the two of us a confused look.

"Well, I'm not going to ask then." The agent turned on his heels toward the large screen beside him. "By the looks of it, you two have witnessed some things. Have any information for me?"

"Other than Coach is in cahoots with the dentist man, a bit." I crossed my arms over my chest as Lili dropped her hand from my mouth and detailed our founding. "The two crazed bastards are using not just psychiatric patients as little minions, but also animals in the lake as little brain soldiers."

"Let me guess." Ford rubbed his chin curiously before turning his attention toward us once more. "Hypnosis?"

"Bingo." I nodded as Lili gave Ford his answer. "Mutated a fish too. Quite fucked up honestly."

"For a pair of psychics to use hypnosis and then steal brains from children, it makes you wonder if they have another plan for the brains themselves."

"They definitely have another plan for the brains, Cruller." I gave the agent a serious look. "We believe they're making some kind of machine or weaponry for the brains to control. Like some of the weapons built in Grulovia before the great war." Ford's eyes grew wide as he seemed to try and make sense of all the information at once.

"Good heavens." He was in shock for a moment as he leaned his weight against the giant computer terminal beside him. "From what I know from Lucy, those were no laughing matter in Grulovia. Even before the rebellion." Ford shook his head slowly before turning his attention toward the screen and typing away at something. "If it's true, there can be an arrange of things at their disposal." A few pictures appeared on the screen. One of which was a psychic cannon system that I recognized from some of Nona's old sketches in her journals as the other seemed to be Psychonaut's official weaponry. "Psychiatric technology can lead in many directions, as Otto has proven over the years. It can be used to power plans, basic machines, and even the simple money system that everyday people use outside all of this." Ford gestured toward the cannon image with his right hand before looking back toward us. "But some can be quite deadly and ruthless. As Grulovia proved with what was dubbed the-."

"Mozgovoy proyekt." The Russian project rolled off my tongue as I read all too much about its scientific history of it. "Translated as the Brain Project. They weren't the most clever at naming everything, but the sketches and designs made up for it, certainly."

"I'm guessing she kept all those notes, huh?" I nodded at Ford's question, but I didn't dare look the man in the eye.

"She wanted us to know what we could be used for." My voice grew dark as I looked down toward the small bit of tiled floor between us. "Even the darkest situations that she had witnessed." My words grew dark as I brought my gaze back up toward the older man.

Or as future warnings to the future psychics of the world. Either way.

I swallowed dryly as Ford could obviously tell the shift in my mood by the look on his face.

I can't imagine if our family line stayed there in Grulovia. The amount of hell we would have had to deal with would have been the worst that has ever existed. Especially once it was known I was just like my aunt. The experiments, the mental exhaustion, the lack of life. All of it would have been like living as a prisoner. We would have never been able to live unless we escaped. Unless we were freed.

I bit my tongue as I pulled my eyes away from him.

And I hate to admit it, but Ford played a big role in our current way of life. I hate the hell that is brought with being an Aquato, but if it wasn't for him, I would be a prisoner within my own life. At least this way, I have a way to prove I am more than just a weapon. In this life, I have the chance to show the world what it really means to be an Aquato.

I have his ass to thank for it, sadly.

"I can't imagine what she had to go through. Especially during that era before the Psychonauts were formed." I looked over toward Lili who gave a sorrowful look toward the floor. "Especially with how much of an activist she was as well. Someone that wants to let people live their lives being forced to experiment with things that would take them away even faster? Must have been brutal on her psyche."

"Trust me," I shivered as some of the margin notes in her old journals ran through my mind. "It really did. You could tell in the notes that she was starting to lose herself and become the Maligula everyone knows. They slowly stripped her of her humanity. They tore her apart mentally until all they left was the psychic they desired. A cold and heartless weapon for the royal Gzar."

"Lucy definitely went through a lot in those days." I gritted my teeth as I looked down toward the ground.

"She did."

No thanks to you.

"Though I suppose the aftermath could have been a lot worse than it could have." I brought my gaze up toward Ford as a small smile graced the old man's face.

Maybe I shouldn't resent you all too much, Cruller. You helped in a way, I suppose. I guess I never thought of it that way before. You freed us from her fate. The inevitable weaponization of the rest of our bloodline. Especially me.

I let the corners of my lips curl just the slightest as I looked toward Lili.

And I have many reasons to be thankful that this is where we ended up.

I did my best to suppress my smile as I brought my attention back toward Ford.

God being around her is enchanting. I really need to watch myself. I'm going to lose sight of what's important if I keep letting myself get stuck like this.

I tried my best to hide the humored look on my face as a single thought rang through my mind.

No wonder why Frazie always teases Dion that he's always off track in life. He's always thinking about girls nowadays too.

"So," I cleared my throat as I brought my mind back to the present. "What's the plan now?"

"I suppose it's to find out who else is in that asylum. If they're crazy enough to hypnotize a poor bastard and a fish," Ford chuckled darkly to himself before leaning against the terminal. "Then I bet there are others in there too that they're using to either understand their plan itself better or protect their assets there. Take a look around and see what you can find. Maybe there are some hints around their minds we can use to get a grasp on their true plan."

"So," I took a deep breath in for a moment before repeating Ford's plan. "Bounce around in crazy land's crazy subjects until we figure out where exactly everyone's brains went and what is their hypnosis having brain leaders are doing?"

"Exactly, Raz."

"Got it." I adjusted my goggles on my head as I knew I would've ran a hand through my hair if it wasn't covered by my helmet. "Back to the island then."

"Alrighty. Let's see if Boyd knows where the other patients are then." Lili and I turned respectively before making our way toward Ford's little cart. "But we are not using Linda to get back there."

"What?" I smirked as I put my hands behind my head with a smile. "Didn't like swimming with the fishes?"

"Didn't like swimming with them while in one, Razputin."

"It wasn't that bad."

"Razputin Augustus Aquato, I swear to the mother of Freud I will smack you silly."

"Now you're just sounding like my mother." I snickered at my own remark as Lili turned as red as an apple.

"Shush."

"Love you too Lils!"

"I said shush."

"Okay, maybe the fish mouth was a little bit better." Lili shivered slightly against me as I walked us out of my water bubble. "God that is jarring."

"Need a moment?" I made sure my voice was soft and gentle as I held her gently there. "We can take a moment."

"I-I'm fine." I watched her close her eyes gently as she took a deep breath. "Just nice to hear the grass and all again." I gave a knowing nod as I looked out toward the water.

"I can guess it's similar to what it's like with me and the water. How you and the plants work and all."

"Pretty much." She steadied herself slowly before looking off toward the garden of the asylum. "My dad used to say that our connections to plants are what keeps us sane despite the thought would drive others to be insane." She gave a small chuckle at the thought. "It's odd how similar two psychic powers can be so different but work in so many of the same ways."

"Well, it all comes from the same place." I chuckled to myself and I knocked the knuckles of my free hand against my helmet. This caused Lili to laugh as she shoved me lightly.

"You're a dork."

"Your favorite dork, Lils, remember that!" I gave her a large smile as she rolled her eyes.

"You might be right, but don't let it get to your head, water boy."

"Should I take water boy as a compliment or as a knockoff Shark Boy and Lava Girl insult? Because if that's true, you're totally Lava Girl then."

"What in the world are you talking about?" I gave Lili a wide-eyed look as she just looked at me confused. "What?"

"You never watched Shark Boy and Lava Girl?"

"I'm the daughter of the head of the Psychonauts, do you think I had time for movies growing up?"

"You, me, and old VHS player when we're out of here." Lili rolled her eyes with a smile as we turned toward our objective.

"Whatever you say, Aquato."

"Just call me Water Boy, the water Superman." Lili pushed me away as I shot her finger guns in reply. "Aw come on! It sounds kinda cool, doesn't it?"

"In your dreams, Raz."

"Actually since you say that, the movie is based on dream characters and all and-."

"Okay, before you get on one of your nerd rambles, remember we have a mission."

"Mission first and rambles later then?"

"I'm more than okay with that." I smiled wide as Lili Just gave a simple grin in reply. "You're a dork alright."

"Still your favorite." I nudged her gently with my elbow as she judged lightly back.

"In the most ineffable way, that's for sure."

Chapter Text

"You're still here, Boyd?" I tilted my head a little to the side as the security guard was sitting at the foot of the steps with his head in his hands.

"Uh?" He brought his head up suddenly before giving the slightest hint of a smile. "Oh, hey kids. Just been," The man grew silent for a moment before returning his head to his hands. "Thinking."

"Thinking about what?" Lili spoke softly as she took a step closer to the man. "It might help to speak about it if you would like to."

"Life. My crimes against myself and my mind. The usual post-psychiatric treatment thoughts." The man sighed as he dropped his hands into his lap. "Nothing you kids should worry about."

"We're Psychonauts. Psychiatric stuff is our thing." I smiled wide as I crossed my arms over my chest. "That and sadly I somewhat know what you're going through."

"Really?" I shrugged as Boyd brought his eyes up toward me.

"Was put in a psychological hold as a kid for a little while. Not because I did something terrible, but because some officers thought I did."

"Sadly, I can't say the same about the end there."

"We saw," Lili spoke gently, reaching out and placing a hand on the older man's shoulder. "But that doesn't mean you haven't changed after your time here. Or after the hypnosis treatment too." She patted his shoulder gently as a small smile took over the man's face.

"Stuff happens, you know?" I shrugged again as I went to stand by Lili's side. "And we're human. We all do things that are messed up, but as long as you feel remorse and you move to make amends with yourself and work to be a better person, you're doing the best you can." Boyd chuckled to himself for a moment before shaking his head slightly.

"How old are you two?"

"Fourteen and old enough to know our shit." I saw Lili roll her eyes out of the corner of mine as she nudged me gently.

"Fourteen and stupid is what he means."

"Including yourself there, Lils?"

"Obviously. I lose brain cells the longer I'm with you after all."

"Hey! I thought we shared them!"

"Not sharing them if you kill them." I couldn't help but laugh wholeheartedly as Lili just smiled in reply. Boyd just looked between us for a moment before smiling himself.

"Saved by some kids. Never seen that happening for me, but I'm thankful for it." I smiled at the man before dropping my arms from my chest.

"Speaking of which, what are you planning on doing now for yourself, Boyd?"

"I don't know yet, honestly." He shook his head for a moment before looking over his shoulder toward the asylum. "There are others here just like me. Mentally toyed with and everything. I can't exactly leave them, but I can't seem to get myself to leave this spot yet either." He looked back toward us with a shrug. "Guess my brain still has it in mind that it should guard the place? I'm not quite sure, honestly."

"It takes a bit for the effects of hypnosis to fade. I bet your mind still feels like it has a mission here even if it's freed. It'll take time to feel like yourself again." Lili's voice had a professional tone to it as she turned toward me. "We can take a look around to see who else we can free around here. We can find some evidence of the camper brains too while we're at it."

"Bet! It might lead us to find everyone!"

"You two are something else." Boyd let out a small chuckle before bringing his hands up to put his head back into them. "I wish you two well."

"Thanks, guard man!" I gave him a small wave as Lili rolled her eyes once more.

"Let's go, Raz." I took the same hand waving at Boyd to then salute Lili with a smile.

"Aye boss lady!" Lili giggled lightly at my response before leading me toward the garden area.

"Whatever, private Aquato, the plants say to go this way."

"Lead the way then." I gave her a toothy grin as she nudged my side.

"Happy to."

We walked silently together as Lili led slightly toward a small greenhouse-like area. It was thriving with small wildlife as Lili seemed rather pleased with the small batches of flowers and stems leading us toward the next area of the asylum.

"They're frightened yet amused. Scared but thriving." Lili whispered gently to herself as she reached out and grazed one of the small yellow flowers that wrapped around the doorway of the small garden area with her index finger. "How fascinating." I entered further into the small little area to see a woman standing in the small ray of light that came through from the top of the little greenhouse as she bowed toward a large number of dark plants.

"Probably cause of her." I nudged Lili and pointed toward the woman as she thanked her audience. Her messy red hair in ridged curls stood out like tree branches with each bow she took as she spoke emotionally.

"Thank you! Thank you! You're all too kind!" Her uneven earrings swayed as she bowed in what seemed to be a crudely painted hospital gown and flowed to her feet. Suddenly she stopped like something was speaking to her as she seemed shocked in surprise. "A new audience? Whatever do you-?" The woman turned on the dime to show Lili and me her face she had massive amounts of stage makeup covering her cheeks yet highlighting the mole that rested on her cheek. "Oh my! A new supporting cast? Maybe a new leading male? A young one too. Aren't you handsome? But, my gracious, you're so young! Tell me why do they keep casting me with such mere babes? I guess that's the curse of having an eternally young face." I heard a small protective growl leave Lili as I gave the woman a wide smile.

"Hi, I'm Raz. Not an actor, but it's nice to meet you Miss-?"

"I'm Gloria Von Gouton! The leading star of Hollywood! The actress of the ages!" She posed dramatically as I realized she had a claw-like trophy in her hand that she held close to her chest. "I'm surprised you don't recognize me, young man. I'm the main star, after all."

"Main star my ass." I couldn't help but chuckle a little at Lili's grumble.

"What's with the trophy there, ma'am?"

"This little thing?" The woman wore a proud smile as she held it up in the light. "This is my crowning achievement, my highest honor, my precious trophy. I can tell you how I won it-." The woman moved out of the light ever so slightly, but it caused a sudden change in her demeanor. "But you don't believe I'm worthy of it, do you? You want it for yourself, don't you? A selfish little brat!" I held my hands up defensively as Lili took a step between the woman and me who now held out the trophy like a weapon.

"How about you calm your ass, grandma? We're not here for your shit, we just need to find the real entrance into this place if you'll just-."

"YOU'LL NEVER TAKE MY TROPHY FROM ME! NEVER! BE AWAY WITH YOU AND NEVER COME BACK!" She slashed the trophy back and forth toward Lili and me until we stumbled backward enough that the woman figured we were far enough. She turned on her heels suddenly before retreating to the light in the center of the greenhouse. "You're the best, Gloria. No one will ever replace you." I felt my heart pound heavily in my chest as I pulled Lili into a protective hug as if to protect her from the woman in front of us.

"Sweet mother of Monroe, she's special." Lili nodded as she put a hand on top of one of my arms around her.

"No wonder why the flowers are so light-starved yet living. They're frightened of her. They're feeding off her 'light'." She used air quotes as she turned her head to look at me better. "She's definitely got some issues. Hypnosis might not be the problem, but she's definitely being used to protect something here."

"Something bigger than that trophy too." Lili nodded as she dug her hand into her jacket pocket.

"Ready to jump into another mind, Aquato?"

"Think you can handle being in there, Lils? You seemed rather upset when she was talking there." I noticed a bright blush on her cheeks as she pulled her psi-portal out of her pocket.

"Don't worry about it." I couldn't help but smirk as she rolled up her jacket sleeves. "Just don't like you being messed with."

"Or being called handsome it seems."

"Shush."

"What? Don't agree with her? How cruel of you." I whispered in a mocking tone as I noticed her blush deepen.

"I didn't say-! Shush, Raz!" She grew frustrated in a hushed tone as I just chuckled in reply.

She's adorable when she's frustrated.

I smiled softly as I let the thought live free within my head.

That feels right to think. Lili is adorable. My best friend.

I felt a small blush of my own appear as I let her slip out of my arms and take a step closer toward Gloria with her psi-portal ready.

And most definitely something more here too. Especially with her reacting like that. Does that mean she likes me back? Am I looking too much into it? I hope not. I mean- I hope she does. That would be everything, honestly.

"Alright, Aquato, enough teasing." She whispered toward me as she tossed the portal lightly so it would attach to the back of Gloria's skull with a soft thud. "I wanna get this one over with."

"Because she finds me handsome?" I smirked as Lili shot daggers in my direction.

"I'll boil you, water lover."

"Oh, how cruel!" I teased with a wide smile as I slipped my arms away from her to reach up for my goggles. "And here I thought you loved me." I pulled my goggles down over my eyes as Lili gave a small huff in reply.

"Whatever. We got brain things to do."

"And brain things we will!" I got her a smile that caused her to smile softly in return.

God, I enjoy spending time with her.

I dropped my arms to my side as I felt my mind being pulled toward the psi-portal.

Her little angry spurts and everything.

I felt a hand slip into mine as I was pulled from my physical form and toward Gloria.

And I have the idea she might feel the same.

Chapter Text

I opened my eyes slowly to be welcomed to the sight of a large stage. It was much better than any of the stage setups we had in the circus and had the aura of an actual old-fashioned theater. I pulled my goggles up to my helmet as I looked over the sight with wide wandering eyes.

"Wow." A sloppy smile took over my face as I slowly walked up the main aisle toward the stage. "This place is amazing!" I heard a small chuckle behind me as the sound of soft footsteps let me know Lili was right behind me.

"What is the old saying? Every entertainer feels at home near a stage?"

"This is nothing like I'm used to but this is one hell of a fancy place!" I turned toward Lili as I neared the front of the stage. "But I bet this is the kind of place my grandpa performed at! He was one hell of a performer from what my dad remembered. Used to sing and dance as well as did the family acrobat routine. It's how he and my Nona met!"

"He swept her off her feet with a little performance?" Lili's voice had a teasing tone to it and I just smiled proudly.

"From what I know, absolutely." I puffed out my chest slightly as I opened my arms out wide. "Us Aquatos were known for our theatrics! Our performances were to die to see! Especially back when they had their water act! Grulovians would do whatever they could to see my grandpa and his family. They were the best performers alive!" My pride warmed my chest as I turned to look over the stage once more. Its large red curtains towered over the stage as my mind tried to think if it would have been a tall enough area for a high dive. "We were the talk of the country. The most amazing acrobats and entertainers for generations." I swallowed hard as a sudden pit hit me in the stomach. My pride suddenly fleeted as I closed my eyes for a moment. "I wonder how he would have acted if he knew what we're equated to now."

"Well, it's all from the woman he loved right? Would it have really bothered him?" I cringed at Lili's assumption.

Not quite.

"He loved my grandma, yeah." I swallowed hard as I opened my eyes slowly. "But he despised who Lucrecia became. He hated the Gzar and the chaos he created. My aunt was his favorite weapon. He ace in his sleeve and my grandpa despised it. He hated how she worked for the government at the time and was a part of the revolutionaries that tried to free Grulovia at the time. He-." I stopped for a moment as I turned toward Lili slowly. "He was there during the Great Deluge. He drowned that day. Killed by the command of the Gzar and the monster Lucrecia became."

"But in the comics, Lucy saved your Nona from the Deluge. Wouldn't he be happy about that? Wouldn't he find solace in her being safe?"

"I KILLED HER!"

A chill ran down my spine as my brain relived one of the few memories my family and I were given of Lucy before she was hidden from the world.

"My own sister! I told him to not bring her! I told him to keep her safe! How could I? My own ceстра." She held the drowned body of my blood grandmother against her chest for a moment before a bright gold light came from her eyes. The small sobs she had turned to a dark and twisted chuckle as she lowered her sister's body to her lap. "What a fool you all were." A sinister smile appeared on her lips as she dropped the body onto the ground before rising to her feet. "Each life is a small price to pay for the crown. For the Gzar. For the true king!" Her voice roared as she cried out to the chaos of the great flood around her.

"FOR THE GLORY OF GRULOVIA!"

"I don't think he would have ever forgiven her. The way we know she reacted after? I doubt anyone would have forgiven her for the lives she took and I wouldn't blame them."

"Do you forgive her?" I snapped my gaze up toward Lili as the sudden question shook me. "She's caused you hell too after all."

"I-." I hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath. "I know she wasn't herself in those moments. She was controlled. The product of experiments and mind games by the government themselves. A weapon made to cause mayhem." I stopped for a moment as I put my hands in my jacket pockets. "But she knew she was in a delicate state of mind when she came back to Grulovia. She knew she was unstable and her barriers weren't strong. But she came anyway. She was warned, she knew, and she ignored it. She knew what the government wanted from her and she came anyway." I sighed as I took a hand out of my jacket to scratch the back of my head. "I guess I blame her and I don't. I understand the situation, but she should have thought things through more, you know? I know it's not her fault in the end, but I still think she could have done something different about the situation."

"I get ya." Lili took a step closer before reaching out and placing a hand on my shoulder. "But you're in the present here and I know I wouldn't change anything about now for anything in this world." I couldn't help but smile softly as a small squeeze was given to my shoulder. "And you'll show them what it really means to be an Aquato. I know it."

"Thanks, Lili." I watched as a small smile took over her lips as a warmth took over my stomach.

"Anytime, Raz." She pats my shoulder before taking her hand back with a proud smile. "Now, let's see what's taking this show forever, huh?" My smile grew as I gave her a simple nod.

"Let's do it."

"Son of a-." I gave the woman a curious look as I realized she was wearing a headset as she slapped the podium-like table before her. "What do you mean she refuses to come out? She's the star. Stars don't just hide from the spotlight! What's wrong with that woman?!" A hand she held against the headset moved to her forehead as she let out a deep sigh. "She's the light of this world. She can't just leave."

"Lacking a leading lady there?" I strolled toward the woman as I squared my shoulders to give a knowing aura to myself. "I know how to get your main star out and about again."

"And why should I leave them in your hands, kid?"

"I've dealt with my fair share of divas, my friend. I bet I can get something out of her at least." I smiled proudly as Lili came up by my side.

"And he's not just talking about himself." I deflated a little as Lili just chuckled beside me. "He's good on his word though. Give us a chance." The woman sighed dramatically as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"God, how has show business gotten this bad?" She dropped her hand quickly before turning her full attention toward us. "She's in her dressing room. If you follow the hallway behind the stage, you'll see a door with a star at the end. Knock yourselves out and let me know if you succeed."

"You got it, boss lady." I gave the woman a small salute as Lili quickly grabbed my free hand and pulled me toward the back.

"Let's go, Private Aquato."

"Aye, Captain Zanotto!" I chuckled to myself as I let the slightly shorter girl drag me. "This place is amazing." I smiled wide as I looked around the backstage area. "All these ropes and props and stage pieces. It's like a performer's little heaven!" I looked directly up toward the roof of the stage to see where some of the ropes were connected. "Where do you think all these things go to when they're connected? Do you think there is like a grid of some kind up there?" Lili stopped suddenly as she decided to gaze up beside me.

"Possibly. Pulling mechanisms normally have an attachment spot somewhere."

"Oh, I wanna go up there!" I gave Lili a wide smile as I pointed up toward the ceiling. "Can we? Before we leave? I promise I won't ruin anything!" She smiled softly at me as she looped her arm through mine.

"If you're a good little Psychonaut, sure."

"YES!" I fist-pumped with a small joyful laugh as Lili led us back toward our objective.

"Alright, happy little acrobat, let's get things going."

"Yes, ma'am." I gave her a small salute like I did the woman before which caused her to nudge me gently in my side.

"At ease, private." I smiled to myself as I lowered my hand to my side. A small warmth spread through my chest as I noted the happy look on Lili's face.

I wonder what feelings were stirring exactly in grandpa's chest when he knew he loved grandma?

I placed my free hand on top of Lili's that was holding onto my arm with a soft smile.

Maybe it was something like this? Something soft and subtle. Nothing too much in the smaller moments but something that could swallow you whole in the bigger ones.

We fell silent as we reached the hallway that the director lady was talking about.

Though I don't think I would mind if it did take over my being. If it came from her, of course. I bet it would feel welcoming and warm. Fuzzy and electrifying. It would feel like being electrocuted but at the same time-.

I rubbed the back of her hand gently as we walked down the hallway together.

Feel like home.

Chapter Text

"Do you-?" I hesitated momentarily as I reached the actress's dressing room door. "Is that crying?" We both stopped and took a listen as we realized there were loud sobs coming from the other side of the door. I reached out and knocked on the door as a masculine voice came out from the other side.

"Bonita is trying to have a moment here!" The door suddenly cracked a little as a small jump escaped me. "What do you want?"

"We were asked to speak with Bonita." I tried my best to keep a firm voice as Lili's arm unwrapped itself from mine.

"Sorry, she's busy." The door was nearly shut in our faces as I stuck out a foot to stop it.

"I just wanted to have a word with her. Performer to performer for a moment. I heard she was refusing to come out on stage." The door opened a little more once again as the sounds of crying came slightly louder. "I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help. My friend and I here are more than willing to lend a hand." I flashed a smile toward Lili as the man behind the door hesitated for a moment.

"Fine. Only because you share a love for the stage." I smiled wide as the door suddenly opened and the figure behind it turned toward where the crying was coming from. "Come in before I change my mind, kid." Lili and I entered without much hesitation, but after a few steps in, it was noticeable that there was only a man in the room. The crying was still auditable, but there wasn't another figure for it to come from. "Sorry about that." The figure moved over toward a small device on the table and pressed a single button that caused the crying to stop. "Was trying to get into character."

"Character?" I gave the back of the figure a confused look as they slowly turned toward Lili and me. Their silhouette seemed to change from night to day as the hooded woman turned her face toward us.

"That's right, kid." Her deep and masculine voice threw me off for a moment as she took a sit before her make-up station. She sighed deeply as she turned her face toward the mirror. "It's exhausting being the light and star of this show. It's so dark and dull. I'm the only thing giving light to the performance." I couldn't blame the woman for how her presence alone showered some of the room with a glistening light. "I can't be the only thing, you know? Being the main source is draining. I can't stand it."

"It's like you're running a one-man show." The woman turned suddenly as she gestured out toward me.

"Exactly, kid! I knew you would understand."

"So what can we do to help you?" Lili stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. "The stage manager lady really needs you out there."

"How about this," Bonita started as she gestured to herself. "Get more light out there and I'll play ball."

"And how can we do that?"

"Ask Becky, I'm sure she'll think of something. I know there are things like candles and things around. Also gives me time to try my misery acting."

"Is that what was going on here?" Lili whispered in my ear as I tried my best to hide my smile. "I thought there was like a cult thing going on." I tried my best to keep myself from laughing as I gave the woman a small salute.

"W-We'll do just that! You practice your misery acting and we'll get you when everything is set up!"

"Thanks, kid. Break a leg." We exited the dressing room before I looked over toward Lili.

"Can we just do some psychic stuff and light up whatever we need ourselves?" Lili shrugged as we walked back toward the stage together.

"Sometimes in minds, that works. Though since this is an older theater-like lay out and how a lot of this looks flammable, I'm sure her mind has a way of protecting everything from pyro use."

"So no mind fire magic?"

"I doubt it. Might as well just ask Becky where the candles are and go from there."

"Damn. Nothing can be easy here, huh?"

"Welcome to being a Psychonaut, Aquato."

"So?! Will she come out?" Becky asked us as she held her clipboard to her chest at her little station.

"She will! But with a simple condition." The woman sighed as she lifted two fingers to press them to her forehead.

"What's the diva want now?"

"She wants more light for when she goes one stage. Said something about how you could figure something out with some candles around?" I gave her a curious look as the woman just let out a deep sigh.

"Son of a-." The woman seemed to be at a loss for words for a moment before pulling her clipboard away from her chest. "Well, gotta get the show running somehow. I swear that woman is going to give me a damn panic attack." She shifted from one foot to the other for a moment as she tapped an idle finger on the back of her script. "Okay, Becky. Get a grip. You can think of something." The woman seemed to look around for a moment before suddenly pointing out toward a balcony. "The main spotlight there should work. There should be some candles in the back with the props. See if you can find one and if that's enough for Miss Sunshine."

"You got it, Becky!" I gave the woman a small salute like I did the other woman as she sighed.

"Relying on two kids to get my main actress out of her own dressing room. God, I lost control over this place." She leaned forward onto her podium as she sighed once more. "And if you find any Lexapro or something, let me know too. I think mine's wearing off."

"Okay." Lili drew out the word for a moment as I looked over toward her. "Maybe we can help you out too? Anything you need so you don't explode?"

"She needs more than just help!" A voice behind us boomed as a howl of laughter echoed behind it. I snapped my attention toward the crowd area to see a large viewing box with a just as large figure within it. "This theater is doomed, I say! Doomed!" His laughter echoed more as the large-looking man leaned forward in his seat. "No star, no lights, no action."

"Who the fuck-?" I narrowed my eyes at him as Becky sighed.

"That's the critic. His name is Jasper Rolls. He's as big as Gloria makes him out to be." She could hear her annoyance in her tone as she continued. "Now, if we had a means of keeping his mouth shut, my life would be a lot less stressful."

"So he's just there for what? To berate the show?" I turned my head toward her as she just shrugged.

"With how large his depiction is, you would think he would do more than spew bullshit but sadly that's all he does." I couldn't help but groan as I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets.

"Critics are the worse."

"Even more so when it's made by your own self, kid."

"How about this then," Lili took over as she stepped into the conversation. "Raz, you find a candle for the spotlight while I speak with gutsy over there? Maybe I can get him to shut his trap for a while." I smiled as Lili cracked her knuckles with a smile. "After all, I know a thing or two about bullies." Becky looked at Lili for a second in pure silence.

"You're a frightening kid."

"So I've been told." Lili smiled wide before strolling toward the balcony box. "I'll handle this!" She turned suddenly to point at me. "Get our star out, Water Boy!"

"You got it, Zanotto!" I smiled wide before turning toward Becky once more. "Lili's good at dealing with people like Jasper there. His devil-horned ass won't know what hit 'em!" I had a prideful feeling swell in my chest as I pointed my thumb toward the back of the theater. "Props are in the back for you guys, right? Not too far from Bonita's little area?"

"Yep, right behind the stage and scattered out in the wings."

"Perfect! Just have Lili give me a shout if you need anything while I'm back there." I turned and started dashing out toward the prop area. Unknown to me, the woman standing there still sighed as she ran a hand through her hair.

"Whelp." She moved the mic up from her headset as she looked over her clipboard. "Maybe we're not done for." A crash was heard in the distance as Jasper let out a howl of laughter once more. Becky winched as she leaned against her podium.

"Or maybe we are."

Chapter Text

"Candle. Candle. Candle." I murmured to myself as I jumped up onto one of the platforms in the back of the theater. "If I was a candle, where would I be?" I hummed a little to myself as I looked over toward the next ledge. "Well, in a place like this, probably singing about guests and talking plates." I snickered to myself as I gave a running start before leaping over toward the next platform. "For a stage, this has a setup back here that reminds me of our training tent back home." I smiled to myself as I heard a familiar sound. "Oh! A memory vault!" I turned toward the corner of the platform that was put against the back wall to see a memory vault staring in the corner. "Huh."

Not the brightest of the bunch now is he?

I crouched down slowly before stepping closer to the little guy.

"Not gonna hurt ya, but maybe you can tell me more about this lady." I stepped a little bit closer as the memory vault still seemed ignorant to my advances. "Easy buddy," I whispered to myself now as I reached out slowly. "And, gotcha!" I lurched forward and grabbed it with both hands with a wide smile. "Caught me a memory!" I smiled to myself as I turned the vault around. "Now whatcha got for me?" Its face opened with ease before I peered in to get a better idea of Gloria's life.

Oh, wow.

I clicked through the childhood memories of cruel training as a frown set itself in place.

And I thought training at home could be harsh. Being literally whipped into shape? Now that's downright brutal. Seems she got used to it though. With how acting seemed to become her whole life, it did her well too.

I pulled away from the vault as I remembered our encounter with Gloria in the real world.

Well... To an extent.

"Thanks, bud." I slowly place the vault back onto the floor before giving it a quick pat on the head. "You gave a decent bit of info." I turned on my heels to look over at the rest of the prop area for a moment. "I see it!" I smiled wide once more as I saw the familiar look of a candle on two platforms above me. "Yes!" I fist-pumped the air for a second before running over and climbing onto the pole so I could swing to the next landing.

Hopefully, Lili is having just as much luck as I am.

"Alright, Rolly Polly." I glared at the critic as I crossed my arms over my chest. "What gives?"

"What gives?" He snarled as he leaned back in his box. "I'm a critic."

"Oh yeah? From here it just looks like you're too fat to leave." I smirked as the man scuffed. "Even then, if you hate this place so much why don't you disappear?"

"I just can't take my eyes off it! It's like watching the scene of a horrible car accident." He slammed his hands on the railing of his box as his voice bellowed "An accident where the victims can't act, and the paramedics forget their lines!" He smiled wide before letting out a loud laugh. "Even then, I cannot wait to see what the Phantom does next."

"Wait a second." I narrowed my eyes at the man as I took a step closer. "What Phantom?"

"The Phantom of the Theater of course!" I rolled my eyes as I uncrossed my arms.

"Is this some Phantom of the Opera shit? Is there a ghost performer we should be getting too? Has a mask covering a burnt face and everything?"

"Heavens no, child!" He leaned back in his chair as he now crossed his arms over his chest. "The Phantom's aim is to ruin this place. To make this show fall to pieces! Rightfully so with how much of a wreck it is." He scuffed once more as he dropped his arms from his chest. "He wants to kill Bonita, end this show, and everything to do with it." My eyes widened as I took a step back.

"That means we're going to need a lot more than just a candle to get this show going," I whispered to myself as I looked over toward where Becky is to see that Raz had completed his task with the candle. I whipped my attention back toward Jasper as I smirked once more. "Hey, asshole! Thanks for the info. You're still a piece of shit though!"

"And you're a cruel and heartless little girl!" I smiled wide as I turned to join Raz and Becky.

"I've been called worse, Tubby! Gotta do better than that!" I jogged over to meet Raz looking toward me with a large smile.

"Hey Lils! Have a fun time with Jasper there?"

"Enough for me to learn a thing or two." I crossed my arms over my chest as I took a step to be between him and Becky. A protective feeling swelled in my chest as I glared up at the woman. "Why didn't you tell us about the Phantom?"

"Phantom? Like the musical?"

"Not exactly, Razzy." I turned my head to look over toward him as my voice softened slightly. "This Phantom guy kills actors, I guess. Wants to bring the whole theater down." I turned my attention back toward Becky as my voice hardened once more. "And you told us nothing about it."

"Okay, hold on, kids." The woman held up her hands for a moment in defense. "So we have a Phantom problem, yes, but Bonita has been practicing day and night to get the misery for this play just right! The Phantom only ever comes out if the play goes south acting-wise. I bet this time will be alright. If not, maybe you two can lend us some more help, huh?" The woman sighed a little as she adjusted her headset. "Or maybe everything will go south again and I'll just die from anxiety and Prozac, either way!" I turned my attention toward Raz as a curious look took over my face.

"Think Becky here is a showing of Gloria's stage fright and anxiety?" I whispered to him as he held the candle close to his chest like a prized possession.

"If it is, I'm worried about the Prozac and Lexapro combination there."

"I can hear you two clear as day, you know." I turned my head toward the woman with a smirk as I dropped my hands from my chest.

"I know." I gave Raz my attention again as the smirk fell from my lips. "What do you think, Raz? Keep with the original plan?" He glanced down at the candle in his hands before looking at me with a determined gleam in his glowing eyes.

"If the Phantom appears, we'll deal with it. We'll know where he comes from as well as how he works if it does go that way too. Let's go with the original plan and roll with the punches." A wide smile took over his lips as a joyful look took over his eyes once more. "As they say, the show must go on!" His smile was infectious and it only took the sight for me to smile along with him.

"Then let's get some light for the star, huh?" I felt my heart flutter in my chest as he gave a small proud salute.

"Yes, ma'am!" A large cheeky grin took over before he turned on his heels and dashed over toward the balcony that held the stage light.

Cute.

I felt a small blush take over my cheeks as I let the single word echo in my mind.

Unbelievably cute.

"Ah, young love." I snapped my attention toward Becky as she held her clipboard behind her. "What?" She gave me a curious look as I glared at her. "Not like I get to see a lot of real emotion out here!"

"You ruined it though." She shrugged as she pulled the clipboard back out from behind her.

"Oh well. I'm not the one crushing on the glowing-eyed entertainer and won't do anything about it." I clicked my tongue as I crossed my arms over my chest again.

"Touché."

"Damn right touché."

"LET THERE BE LIGHT!" I smiled wide as I heard Raz's joyous voice as a bright golden light took over the stage. "Bingo!"

"Tell your boyfriend there that's our manual mood override. Mess with it too much, and it'll change the mood of the set on stage." Becky gestured toward the now-opening curtains as a set dropped from high above. "It can make happy sets sad and sad sets happy. Just be careful when you two mess with it, alright? Can make the actors be all kinds of special and I'm telling you right now, improv is not their forte."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Yet." Becky gave a quick wink as hurried footsteps came over toward us. "Look alive everyone! Bonita Soleli is coming on out!" Becky smiled wide as she whispered to herself suddenly. "Please for the love of god, work out for me." She adjusted her headset once more before calling out toward the actors. "Alright, flower girls, position one! Kids come back here near the podium." I grabbed Raz by his hand before pulling him toward Becky's little hideaway on the side. "And action!" I felt Raz squeeze my hand gently as it was obvious he was nervous for the actors on stage.

"I hope this goes well." His voice was soft as I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"It'll be fine, Raz. Even if it does go wrong, we'll deal with it. Like true Psychonauts." He glanced over toward me with a bright smile. His goggles were now over his eyes again, but I could tell that they would have been shining just as brightly.

"Thanks, Lils." I felt a flutter in my chest as the play began.

"Anytime, Raz."

"Tonight, I will be playing the part of Gloria Von Gouton, the famous actress!" The smaller actress in the front belted out her line with a proud smile as I felt a familiar tingle grow across my skin.

"This is a nostalgic play about her breakthrough role in the musical-!"

"Sunshine Shenanigans!" I smiled as the electric-like feeling took over my skin.

"Man I love show business." I whispered to myself as Lili giggled beside me.

"This is already sucking, Raz." I shrugged.

"So? The feeling is still there." Lili glanced over toward me as I gave a wide smile. "The tingles across my skin, the love for the show, it's all there." I grew excited as the three kids' laughter echoed from the stage. "It's like an adrenaline high!" I whispered kinda loudly as Becky shushed me. "Sorry." I grew sheepish as I gave Lili's hand a soft squeeze. "It's just so cool to have the same effect while in someone's mind, you know?"

"You're quite alright, Raz." Lili smiled at me softly before turning her attention toward the stage. "Hey look, Bonita's about to appear." I turned my attention back toward the stage as the three children were gathering near the center of the stage.

"And where would Gloria be without her muse?"

"Her inner sunshine." An airy and light style of music started to swell as the children joined one another.

"The spirit of her youth!" All three of them gestured toward the back of the set where a circle opened near the top where a sun figure was painted.

"Played by, once again, by-!"

"BONITA SOLEIL!" Suddenly the circle popped open to showcase the glowing actress once more. A wide smile on the woman's face as she put her hands out. The kids gave her a moment to shine before turning back toward the audience and letting the show continue.

"Oh, I do hope that my mother is proud of me!" The girl playing Gloria stood out from the others for a moment as she let out her line. She went to speak again, but suddenly a large stage light fell from high above right on top of her. Flattening the poor actress like a small bug with a thud.

"Ouch." I grimaced to myself as Lili gave my hand a tight squeeze.

"So that's what he meant by killing."

"Not again." Becky sighed as the two kids gasped in delay.

"The Phantom!" The smaller one of the two looked up toward the catwalks as she tried to see if anything else was there.

"I've seen some bad plays in my time," Jasper's voice bellowed once more as I snapped my attention toward the critic. "But this one is a real menace!" He chuckled to himself for a second before continuing. "And it's all because of her." The three of us went closer to where Jasper was as he pointed out toward Bonita with a wide smirk. "Her terrible acting makes the Phantom strike! Maybe it'll get this theater shut down for good!" Bonita started crying in the background as hurried footsteps told me enough that the woman fled the stage.

"Well." Becky sighed as she dropped her clipboard to her side. "I'm off to go kill myself." I felt sorry for the woman as she walked off toward her normal spot by the stage.

"You know," I turned my attention toward Jasper as I pointed my finger at him. "You could at least be a beneficial critic."

"Trust me, kid! I have a play that could put this place in better scenes! If you want to let this place actually shine you can come to me. I'll give you a script that'll knock them dead, no problem." The man chuckled to himself as I just shook my head and slipped my hand out of Lili's.

Asshole.

I jogged over toward where Becky went and Lili followed quickly.

But Phantom dealing first. Jasper kissing bricks, later.

"So he hides in the catwalks," I spoke with a firm voice as I looked over toward Becky.

"Seems like he still is, yeah."

"How can we get up there?"

"There's no way up there easily." Becky sighed as she leaned on her podium. "There was a set we had for an older play that's pulled up toward the balcony though!" She pushed away from the podium for a moment as she spoke to us. "Find that script for the large air balloon set, or whatever script you can find, and bring it back to me. We need the new material anyway. I'll run the actors through whatever you bring. So much for trying not to improv."

"Jasper said something about a script he has, right?" I nodded toward Lili as she started hatching a plan. "I'll get that one and you adventure around to see what you can find. You can get around a lot easier than I can with the acrobatic stuff under your belt."

"You got it, Boss Lady." I smirked as Lili just rolled her eyes at me.

"You can start calling me that when I get my turn as Grand Head." A smirk of her own took over her lips as she knocked her fist against my shoulder. "Knock 'em dead, Aquato."

"Break a leg, Zanotto." I smiled wide before dashing off toward the set stage.

Maybe the kids have an idea of where to start.

"See, this is why I said yet."

"Don't you have actors to hassle? Or a mental corpse to take care of?" Becky shrugged as she leaned against her podium once more.

"You and your little boyfriend are a lot more entertaining."

"Not my-."

"Yet," I grumbled to myself before turning toward where Jasper's balcony box was. "Hey, I would be happy about it if I was you!"

"Don't need another person's depiction of anxiety teasing me too," I mumbled to myself as I made my way over to the critic. "Hey! No neck! It's me."

"The child sent his little friend back to me, hm?" The large man chuckled as he now had a box of popcorn in his right hand.

"Well, you said you had a script and I decided that I might as well grab it to see if your taste is as bad as your teeth," I smirked as I crossed my arms over my chest. "Or is the big bad critic scared of a little girl's opinion?"

"Trust me, child." The man took out a script from his jacket with his free hand before lowering it to me. "This play has some zing! Some real action! The one we're watching now just stinks." I took the playbook with ease as I gave the man a curious look.

"Is the big bad critic being nice now?" I tilted my head a little as the man swung his arms out, popcorn swinging out of his box as he did so.

"I might as well keep myself halfway entertained around here!" I glared at the man again as he gestured over toward Becky. "Go! Give that to the woman and see if she can't find any actors left that won't ruin this one!"

"Once a dick, always a dick. Got it." I rolled my eyes as I tucked the script under my arm. "Thanks, Rolly Polly!"

"It's Rolls!" The man rolled his r's annoyingly as I flipped him the bird with my spare hand.

"Don't give a fuck!"

Chapter Text

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you guys know that I do still plan on updating this story here, I'm just dealing with bad weather and all. Hyperfixations are also a bitch and anyone who also has ADHD knows this lol

Anyway, much love to you all and I hope to be back soon!

Chapter Text

"That took long enough." I landed on the balcony feet first like a cat as I muttered under my breath. "How many scripts do actors need to memorize in places like this? That alone makes me feel quite okay with being an acrobat instead." 

"How you doing up there, Razzy?" I smiled softly as I took in the catwalk.

"It's not very consistent." I messaged back to Lili mentally as I looked around in silence. "Luckily, I'm a platformer boy, so I can get around with ease here."  I smiled proudly to myself before dashing off toward an unfinished edge of the catwalk and leaping off with ease with a quick flip. My feet landed with ease on the next ledge before making my way up and around the catwalk more. "It's just like the training at home!" I skid to a stop halfway through a long stretch of the catwalk as a laugh echoed through the darkness. 

"Alrighty, that's not creepy." I rolled my eyes at the laughter that echoed once more as I continued to a line of bar lights and used them as hurried steps through the gaps. 

"YOU'RE NOT WELCOMED HERE!" I gave a wide smirk to myself as I jumped off one of the light bars and onto a banner that I used like a trampoline.

"Neither are you, sir! This is a place of entertainers, not assholes." 

"Come any closer and it will be the last thing you do, boy!" I jumped from banner to banner with ease before using a long strip like a ramp to the next bit of the catwalk. 

"What? Can't hear you over me getting closer!" I chuckled to myself as I carried along. "How's it going down there, Lils?"

"Other than this mood light making everyone a bunch of fucking assholes?" I heard a quick psi-blast ring out from her side and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Cheeky." 

"I think I'm getting really close to our phantom here! Just deal with them a little longer."

"You got it, Aquato." I started dashing through shifting set pieces as Phantom's voice echoed through once more. 

"I SEE YOU DOWN THERE!" I leaped through another set of sets before grasping onto the ledge of the next piece of the theater. I pulled myself up feet first before flipping forward to land on my toes.

"Again, glad for the family business." I smiled to myself as I heard a bit of commotion as a few sensors popped out. 

"No!" I jumped out of the way of some of the enemies before blasting out toward them. 

"Missed me!" I knocked the one off the catwalk before using a psi punch to knock the other two of them off together. "This is a lot easier than I thought it would be." I smiled proudly to myself before blinking for a second. "Maybe I shouldn't have said that." 

"Hurry it up, Aquato. These assholes are getting on my nerves."

"Got it!" I started dashing out toward the next platform, but I skid to a stop before a memory vault. "Wait I found a memory vault, I'm gonna check it out."

"Better have something good!" I nodded to myself before snagging the poor buddy that was whimpering in a small corner of the platform. 

"Let's see what you've got little guy," I whispered to myself as I turned the memory vault around before it opened toward me. I watched as the beginning pieces of art flashed before my eyes as Gloria's name was shown in bright lights. The next scene showed that the actress seemed to be at the top of the world with her performances. All her viewers seemed to cherish her shows with the wide and happy faces watching her. She seemed to win awards and was adored. 

But then the next scene gave a heavy twist to her story. 

It showed the woman crying heavily as she held a photo and a letter telling her that her mother had committed suicide. 

"Jeez." I swallowed dryly to myself as I spoke with Lili. "Who sends a photo of someone jumping off the top of a building to their kid?" 

"Shit seriously?" 

"Seems that was the cause of her mental decline too." I frowned as the slides continued to show how she started to fall from the star she became like a burning commit. This is where she started to lose her mind. "Gloria's fallen star." I swallowed hard as I kneeled down to set the vault back onto the platform. 

"That's so..." Lili paused for a second before letting out a mental sigh. "Fucked." 

"And now she's here. Being used by some psychopaths to do psychopathic work." 

"God."

"We need to get to this phantom of figure out what happened here." 

"Go get them then, Tiger." I smiled as I could tell Lili was giving a proud look on her end. "Let's give this lady the help she needs."

"On it!" I ran toward the ladder not too far away from me to continue my way through the catwalk. I slipped past some more enemies with ease before rushing my way through the rest of the catwalk area. "Gotta keep going!" 

"I am the Phantom! And I call curtain for you!" I looked above my head to see sandbags falling directly toward me. 

"Shit!" I rolled out of the way and started dashing through the falling bag. "Fuck fuck fuck!" I tucked and rolled out of the falling spotlight that the bags fell from. I skid to a stop as Phantom's laughter echoed once more. "You're trying to kill a kid here, by the way, asshole." I rolled my eyes as I muttered to myself. "I'll show him though." I ran toward an elevator-like shaft to get to the next floor. 

"NO! How dare you!?" I jumped off onto the next floor after the elevator stopped. I put my hands on my hips as Phantom put his hands before his face on the platform about ten feet or so before me. "You've violated my sanctuary!" 

"You've violated my rights to live without being thrown sandbags at so I think we're even." I gestured out toward the man with both hands before gesturing around the area. "Not like this is all yours anyway." 

"Damn you, child!" I grabbed a small candle from the basket that was next to me as the Phantom stood there with hands still about his face. "I will make you pay!" I looked around the area with the candle in hand as I knew I couldn't get over toward him where I was. 

Huh. Maybe I can light up the area a little bit more with that stage light over there? It's like the mood light downstairs!

I jogged over toward the light and placed the candle into the holster before setting a light onto the wick with my finger. It burned brightly, but what I didn't know was that the light blazed right onto the man directly. He screamed out in pain before falling back into the darkness.

"The light! Oh how painful the sight!" 

"Huh. Phantom scared of some sunlight?" I smirked as I put my hands back on my hips. "Would you like some more?" I moved the light toward the phantom a little more before the man scurried away. "Hey! Come back here and let me punch and unmask you!" I jogged over toward the edge that was closer to where the masked man was and was able to jump from where I was toward the next set of doors. I skid to a stop at the other side as I followed the leaping Phantom's figure jump from place to place. I pulled my goggles up onto my forehead so I could have a better look as my eyes glowed lightly in the darkness. "Let's see who you-." I swallowed dryly as I watched him jump and scurry into what was Roll's seat. "What!"

"Huh!?" I looked over toward Lili who was near the stage. "What's going on up there, Raz?" I jumped over the railing to land on the edge of the stage with a bit of rage in my chest. "Alright, Phantom, the gig is up!" The large man who had moments before taken off his mask looked toward me with fake shock with a gasp. 

"How dare you claim that I am that romantic and thrilling man who has given life back into this theater?!" Lili smirked out of the corner of my eye as she crossed her arms over her chest. 

"Oh totally, he's just an agile and smart foe. So thin and nimble. And with a neck!" Lili roared with laughter as I couldn't help but smile at Roll's annoyed face. "There's no way!" 

"Why you!" The man growled out his words before slamming his fist onto his seat's edge. "Of course it's me!"

"Hang up the cape then Tubby! Let's brawl!" Lili readied her fists as she came by my side. "You're gonna get your ass beat by two teens!" Suddenly, the theater shook as pieces of Roll's box seat pulled itself out of the wall. 

"I guess it's time for you to see the true power of a critic!" Two little arms came out of the little seat as Lili and I stepped back a little so we had more space away from the emerging man. The tips looked like those of painfully sharp fountain pens as I put a protective arm out in front of Lili.

"Come any closer and I'll tear your head off!" I growled out as the floating chair with pen arms came closer.

"I'll be the one doing the tearing!" His laugh echoed out loud as I heard Lili whisper beside me. 

"What do we do?" I looked around quickly before remembering the fact that as the Phantom, the man ached in bright lights. 

"Got any more candles?" I smirked as I whispered back to her. 

"Yeah, there were some more lights so I figured I would gather them. Why?" 

"Like a normal critic, he hates being in the spotlight." I smiled wide as I could tell Lili was quickly catching onto my idea. 

"I know exactly where to go! Cover me and I'll use my levitation ball to get up to the lights." She patted my shoulder as I got into a ready stance. "I'll go up-."

"And I'll take him down." I nodded before grabbing my goggles and lowering them down over my eyes once more. "Let's do this." 

"BREAK!" Lili and I yelled out together before we dashed apart. I used a psi-blast to keep Jasper's eyes on me as Lili slipped around and behind. 

"Hey, Tubby, let's tussle!" The man blasted blue ink toward me, but I used my hydrokinesis to swing them right back at the man. "Right back at ya!" 

"Damned child!" 

"Don't you have any better insults?" I smirked as he shot back at me again. This time I just ducked and rolled out of the way as I danced around his shots. "If you ain't got the aim, don't play the game!" I mimicked the voice of one of the old carnies my dad worked with as I slipped around the area. "Come right on up, fellow! Knock down the Raz and win a prize!" I smiled wide as I looked behind the large figure of Rolls to see Lili making her way up toward the catwalk. 

We make one hell of a team, Zanotto!

I smiled wide as I heard Lili's cheerful laughter in my head. 

Fighting time, Aquato! Keep your compliments till afterwards.

I flipped out of the way of another one of Roll's ink blasts as I beamed a wide smile once more. 

As you wish, Zanotto.