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Chapter Text

Wei Ling Ying leaned back against her bed’s headboard and smiled as she listened to the gentle patter of rain tap against her window.

It was a rainy afternoon at Valorant Protocol’s headquarters and the weather was perfect enough to put Ling in the mood for some hot tea and a good book. It happened to be one of those rare days where she had a free schedule.

At first Ling insisted on helping out some of her fellow agents to keep herself busy but Brimstone assured the Sentinel everything would be fine and for her to take a well deserved day off. She protested at first but Zyanya, who had tagged along with Sage to Brimstone’s office, stepped in and gently convinced Ling to relax.

Seeing her wife’s purple eyes softened as they interlocked their hands made Ling’s heart soar. Brimstone averted his gaze to allow the married couple their private moment.

As Ling sipped her delicious freshly brewed tea, she would occasionally glance to her left to check on a small bundle of blankets laying next to her.

She watched as a little sleeping form’s chest slowly rose and fell under the covers.

Ling leaned in and stared at her sleeping child. Her messy blue hair with yellow strands puffed out giving her the most adorable set of bed hair Ling has ever seen. 

This infant was Ling and Zyanya's precious daughter, Tala Valdez Wei Mondragón 

Tala was their adopted daughter but nevertheless, they loved her to bits. Nothing would ever change that. 

As Ling lost herself in the romance novel book, the sky darkened and the weather grew more violent. Howling winds and icy rain picked up speed and force. Ling frowned as she looked out the window and saw tree branches twist and bend. Leaves flew everywhere scattering across the courtyard. By the looks of it another storm was headed for their island and Ling hoped everyone would be inside before it hit.

The loud howling wind wakes Tala instantly. The little girl's eyes snap wide open. Her memorizing brown irises instinctively search the dimly lit room for her mother. Thinking she was all alone, the little infant let out loud terrified cries calling for Ling.

The healer sprang into action setting her teacup down on the night table and picking up her baby. Ling rocked Tala back and forth soothing her. Tala slowly calmed and sank into her mother’s warmth and embrace.

Ling hummed a melody from her childhood when the storm finally hit landfall. It didn’t take long for Tala to become bored from the song as she pouts and grumpily wiggles her tiny body in Ling’s arms.

"Aww, what's wrong sweetie? Are you hungry?" cooed Ling as she cradled Tala.

Feeling Ling’s chest, Tala mouths at Ling’s clothes and attempts to nurse but realizing she wasn't going to get any nourishment, Tala let out a frustrated cry

"Shh shh. Don’t cry little one. Here."

Ling slipped her white bathrobe off one shoulder and brought Tala to her chest.

Ling couldn't help but giggle as she watched Tala happily latch on and immediately become content. The little girl sported one of the biggest smiles the woman has ever seen.

Soon the only noises that could be heard in the room were the soft sounds of motherhood and the rain rasping against the window of her bedroom.

Ling looked down at Tala and couldn't help but feel both love and a heart wrenching ache in her chest. She’s reminded of Tala’s family history and it breaks her heart. Tala, unaware of Ling's turmoil, just hungrily continued nursing without a care in the world.

The Sentinel felt anger rise towards Tala’s biological family. How could they just cruelly abandon such a precious little girl mere days after her birth simply because she was a Radiant?!

Ling understands that there is prejudice against Radiants in society but are judgemental stares from random strangers worth giving up your child? 

Ling instinctively clutched Tala tighter against her and planted a soft kiss against her little girl’s forehead. No matter what the future has in store, Ling and Zyanya are going to give Tala the best life possible. 

Just for that they are willing to fight any threat that is posed against them. Family meant the world to them.

Tala’s suckling had gradually slowed and before long the infant was peacefully slumbering away. Ling smiled and gently pulled Tala off her breast. She pulled her robe up and softly patted Tala’s back, avoiding waking her. Tala let out a little milk burp and Ling laid her daughter down on the soft bed.

As she watched Tala nap, Ling felt drowsiness creep up on her. She brought her hand to her mouth to suppress her yawn.

No, I can't sleep yet. Ling thought as she shook her head to keep herself awake. Zyanya is going to be back soon.

But with such a peaceful atmosphere, the drowsiness triumphed and Ling fell asleep with her arms wrapped protectively around Tala.

~~ Two hours later~~

Zyanya sighed as she cracked her back at the entrance of her room's door. The hallway was empty as most of the other agents were in the mess hall getting dinner. Zyanya’s ears perked up as thunder boomed overhead.

"Dios mio, it's been storming all day." 

As much as Zyanya loved training on rainy days, it also seemed to make time pass significantly much slower than usual. She also had to deal with the unfortunate fact that many of their fellow agents thought rainy weather meant they could slack off on their duties and training. Unluckily for them she was there to keep them in top shape.

But enough talk about Protocol. Zyanya was finished for the day which meant she could finally relax and spend time with her querida and princessa.

Knowing Ling, she was probably busying herself with some trivial task. Zyanya always tries to convince Ling to take more breaks but it never seemed to get through that pretty head of hers. Ling just has to keep her mind and hands occupied.

Zyanya sighed realizing she was getting worked up for no reason. She pressed her hand on the biometric scanner and the medal door slid open with a hiss.

Upon entering, Zyanya’s gaze fell upon her bed and her lips curved upwards into a big smile. She leaned against the wall and admired the sight of her familia.

Wrapped in their big soft fluffy blankets, her wife and baby girl were happily snoring away. Zyanya let out a quiet chuckle as Ling muttered in her sleep something about breakfast for dinner. 

Zyanya quietly made her way over and planted a kiss on both Ling and Tala’s cheeks.

"Sleep well cariños."

With that, Zyanya tiptoed her way into the bathroom for a nice hot shower leaving her corazón and princesita to nap.

Yep, their life while not perfect was filled with love and happiness everyday. They would not prefer it any other way!

Chapter Text

It was a cold foggy morning after a night of rain. The leaves dripped with dew as the sun slowly rose over the horizon and lit up the cloudy sky. Zyanya leaned back against the courtyard bench feeling the chill metal against her muscular shoulders.  

Zyanya was dressed in her workout clothes which consisted of a black tank top and running leggings with her hair pulled up into a ponytail. She had gotten up early to the vibrations of multiple message notifications from her phone thanks to a certain white-haired speedy girl.

“ Esta niña . She’s not even here.” 

Zyanya sighed as she pulled out her phone and sent her wife a quick message. It was 6:30 am which was the usual time Ling woke up.

Zyanya: ¡Good morning mi corazón! Sorry I wasn’t there to wake you up ;) Sunwoo wanted to train early. We’ll see you at breakfast. Give Tala a kiss for me.

Within seconds of sending her message, Ling responded.

Ling: Don’t worry, you can make it up to me later! <3 Promise me not to overtrain Sunwoo! See you two at breakfast Qīn'ài de! Kisses from me and Tala!

Zyanya chuckled as she read her beautiful wife’s message. She couldn’t believe how incredibly blessed she was to have such a wonderful family.

Zyanya suddenly felt an icy gust of wind wash over her and the woman looked up from her screen to find Sunwoo standing over her in a dark blue tracksuit.

Sunwoo smirked at Zyanya and sat down next to her. The wind girl crossed her legs and draped one arm over the bench. “Reyna, I’m glad you decided to join me for training.”

Zyanya raised one eyebrow before lifting her left hand and ruffled Sunwoo’s hair earning a protest from the girl.

“엄마! (Eomma!)”

Zyanya chuckled at Sunwoo’s pout who realized her mother had seen through her little game of pretend adult.

Yep, another really fun fact about Zyanya and Ling is that they actually have two daughters!

Han Sunwoo Wei Maldragón being their oldest at seven years old and Tala being the youngest at eight months old.

Sunwoo had returned to Protocol for the winter break. The young girl currently attends a boarding academy for Radiant children. The school fell under the umbrella of Valorant Protocol’s network making it safe for their daughter to go.

When Sunwoo had turned five, Brimstone had reached out to the married couple and highly recommended the school. Naturally Zyanya and Ling were concerned and bombarded him with many questions. He of course answered every question to the best of his ability.

However Ling wasn’t convinced and requested a tour of the school. Brimstone reluctantly agreed and the next day, Zyanya, Sunwoo, Ling, and Brimstone boarded the VTOL and flew to the school.

The school itself was very similar to Protocol’s base in terms of location. It was on a private island far away from any potential dangers or lurking eyes.

There was a large gymnasium, a running track (which Sunwoo really liked), a pool, basketball court, and so on and so forth. Then there was the main school building itself where classes were held. Brimstone explained the students are separated by ability prowess rather than grade. 

Zyanya hummed in approval but Ling frowned in response. She did not think children should be categorized into groups because everyone was different and grew at a different pace.

The cafeteria was standard. It served fresh healthy homemade meals prepared and served to the students. Every student’s dietary restrictions and needs would be met to ensure the best possible environment to grow.

Last but not least was the student dorm buildings. Each student had their own personal room and bathroom for themselves. The youngest children were on the first floor and the oldest on the fifth floor. Each floor had two guardians assigned to keep an eye on the students and ensure their safety.

The dorms also had a courtyard which they visited and there the group met the school’s students. They were all playing in the courtyard when they stopped to stare at the new people. Sunwoo felt nervous and hid behind Ling.

A little girl with glasses and a green beanie ran up to Brimstone and wrapped her arms around his legs.

“Uncle Liam!” squealed the little girl with a thick German accent giving the veteran agent a tight hug. Brimstone chuckled and ruffled the girl’s beanie.

“Hey Klara! You've been behaving? No building robots to steal sweets from the mess hall again?”

Klara smiled sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders. 

As the two talked, Ling and Zyanya were approached by two little boys who appeared to be around the same age as Sunwoo.

“Hola!” greeted the little boy with a Spanish accent. He had short yellow hair and was wearing a colorful vest and plaid pants.

“Hey! How’s it going!” said the other boy with a British accent. He was wearing a collar jacket and black jeans. He also had a gold ring which Zyanya found amusing.

“Hello!” Ling said, smiling at the two children. Zyanya waved at them and the two introduced themselves as Phoenix and Gekko. It was of course their code names they had made up.

Zyanya found Gekko utterly adorable as he was Mexican just like her and the two were able to relate as they loved the same type of candies.

“Are you going to be the new kid?” Phoenix asked, trying to peer behind Ling to get a good look at Sunwoo.

Sunwoo with a bit of gentle encouragement from Ling finally popped out from behind her mom and shyly introduced herself.

“I-I’m Sunwoo and I don’t know. My moms are still thinking about it.”

Phoenix and Gekko gave each other a look before turning to Sunwoo.

“Well then do you wanna play with us while your moms check out the school?” Phoenix asked, extending his hand out as an invitation.

Sunwoo looked at her parents who smiled at her and nodded their heads.

Sunwoo let out a tiny squeak as she was led by the hands of Gekko and Phoenix to their group of friends to play tag. Zyanya chuckled when she heard Sunwoo brag about always winning tag. Soon enough the group ran off to play while Brimstone finished giving them the tour.

An hour later, the tour concluded and they were ready to head back. Sunwoo’s new friends were sad to hear it was time for her to go. She had so quickly befriended them that Ling felt it was cruel to take Sunwoo away so soon.

“You got to tell your parents to let you come here Wind Girl! We need to have our rematch!” Phoenix said with a playful grin.

Zyanya raised a curious eyebrow at Sunwoo’s interesting new nickname while Ling just giggled.

“Yeah and I’ll win again Pretty Boy!” laughed Sunwoo as she hugged him and waved goodbye to her new but brief friends. 

The children who went by Yoru, Raze, Killjoy, Gekko, Phoenix, and Clove all waved goodbye before they went back to playing. As they approached the VTOL Sunwoo wiped her tears away as they boarded.

Ling and Zyanya upon noticing their daughter’s sadness comforted her with hugs and kisses.

Ling planted a tender kiss on Sunwoo’s forehead while stroking her head. “Brimstone said you are always welcome to visit them.” 

“Yeah…” the little girl said sadly with a sniffle.

Ling and Zyanya gave each other a look that only they knew about. The two were going to have a long important talk when they got back to Protocol.

“If Sunwoo attends this school, do you promise she will be kept safe and well taken care of?” Ling asked with an air of complete seriousness. Zyanya was standing next to her as her purple eyes seemingly stared into his soul.

Even Brimstone felt himself shrink a little under her gaze as he nodded. “Yes, I promise. You will have nothing to worry about. And Sunwoo will be able to visit on holidays and weekends if she so chooses.”

Ling closed her eyes and swallowed the small lump in her throat. “Then we would like to enroll Sunwoo into the academy.”

Brimstone nodded and informed them he would send over the application and proper documents later tonight. Ling thanked Brimstone and turned to leave.

“I’ll meet you back at the room mi corazón . I have to talk to Brimstone about another matter.”

Ling frowned but it was quickly replaced with a heavy blush when Zyanya gave her a quick peck on the lips. They weren’t the most publicly affectionate couple as they preferred to be more reserved in front of other people.

After the metal door shut with a hiss, Zyanya took a seat. Brimstone organized some papers and filed them away in his desk drawer before focusing his attention on the woman again.

“I noticed something interesting at that school.” Zyanya said with an amused smirk. Brimstone raised his eyebrow curious to hear what she had to say.

“They’re training those Radiant children aren’t they? That’s why you avoided the training range. It was building you lied to Ling about claiming it was under construction”

Brimstone scoffed and feigned ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Reyna let out a deep laugh and leaned in closer. Her purple eyes glowing brightly. “Tell me the truth.”

Brimstone sighed, figuring there was no point in lying to Reyna. Brimstone hesitantly explained the school doubled as potential recruitment for future Valorant Protocol Agents. 

If he was being honest, they had no idea how long the war with Omega Earth was going to last and at its current rate there was no end in sight. Better to be safe than sorry. He had no doubt in his mind Omega Earth was doing the same.

After he finished explaining, a dark twisted part of Zyanya was happy to learn there were Radiant children being trained for combat. Humans were weak fearful beings and their prejudice against Radiants would only increase in severity as time passed. No doubt it wouldn’t be long before a war broke out between Radiants and Humans.

But with the future generation of combat trained Radiants, they can fight back. With a dedicated experienced leader, Radiants will rightfully establish themselves as the dominant species. The time of pitiful Humans was nearing its end. The era of Radiants was dawning upon them.

Reyna got up and made her way to the door. She looked over her shoulder and bared her canines in a large grin. “Let’s keep this conversation private from Ling.”

She left his office and Brimstone sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. At least that conversation was over. He shuddered and straightened his posture before opening his laptop for work.

Sunwoo’s reaction to the news of her enrollment into the school was as expected. The young girl squealed and hugged her parents thanking them. The family even went out to celebrate at a restaurant. 

Over the next coming weeks, Sunwoo prepared herself by packing her belongings. She counted down the days on her calendar as Summer flew by and before they knew it, Fall had arrived.

Zyanya carried Sunwoo’s luggage cases onto the VTOL while Ling checked off the last remaining tasks on her list.

They were on the VTOL and were off. The experience was very exciting yet nerve wracking for Sunwoo. 

She was going away from her moms for the first time in her life. The concept itself was new and terrifying to her. Brimstone did state she can call her parents whenever or visit every weekend if she so pleased.

Ling and Zyanya on the other hand were of course saddened that their daughter was going to be away for the majority of the year. Ling knew that her child’s education was crucial and this school was the safest option for Sunwoo. Far away from the prying eyes and hands of Kingdom and Valorant Legion. It still didn’t hurt any less but she had to be strong for her daughter. Ling tightly held both Zyanya’s and Sunwoo’s hands for the entire trip.

Soon the island where the school was came into view and Sunwoo’s eyes gleamed with excitement. Ling could only plaster on a smile but Zyanya could see in her wife’s eyes the sadness they carried.

The VTOL landed on the landing pad and the hatch opened. Zyanya rolled out Sunwoo’s luggage on a small cart while Ling and Sunwoo exited the ship.

Brimstone led them to the student dorms and showed them the room Sunwoo would be living in. Her room was on the first floor as she was one of the new students and a year younger than the kids she had befriended.

Brimstone left them to unpack while he went to inform the school principal of their arrival.

“This is exciting isn't it princesa?” Zyanya smiled as she carefully unloaded Sunwoo’s little luggage cases from the cart and placed them on the carpeted floor.

Sunwoo nodded as she looked around. There was a nice wooden desk in the far right corner and opposite of it was a large comfy looking twin bed with two pillows. Next to the bed was a large dresser for her clothes. There was a window that provided natural light and a nice overview of the empty courtyard below.

A door opened leading into the bathroom which had been designed for small children. It came with a sink with cabinets, a shower stall and toilet. In one corner was a small closet presumably for towels. 

“And you can decorate your room however you want!” beamed Ling as she unpacked Sunwoo’s clothes and began placing them away in their respective drawers.

“I already know what I’m going to do!” grinned Sunwoo as she opened up one of her cases and unpacked her stuffed falcon placing it on the bed.

Zyanya couldn’t help but feel her heart ache as she remembered buying that stuffed bird for Sunwoon on her fourth birthday. It felt like her niña was growing up so fast.

They trio spent the rest of the time helping Sunwoo unpack her things and setting up her room. The early morning had turned into the afternoon when they finished.

“I love it!” Sunwoo grinned at the refurbished room. It was exactly like her room back at Protocol except slightly bigger.

There was a knock on the door and Brimstone entered and whistled at the sight. He was impressed with how quickly the room went from bland and boring to so vibrant and full of personality.

“Nice job! Room looks way better than mine back at base!” Brimstone joked about earning a giggle from Sunwoo.

“So as it turns out, Sunwoo is the first one here. But do not worry as a couple your friends will be arriving tonight! The rest will be arriving tomorrow morning.”

Sunwoo’s eyes lit up with joy. She couldn’t wait to finally reconnect with her friends after four long months. Brimstone led them to the cafeteria for some lunch and then introduced Sunwoo to some of the current present staff. 

They meet the principal who was a kind young woman who welcomed Sunwoo to their school. Ling felt some of her uneasiness fade away when she saw how dedicated and compassionate the principal was to providing the best possible learning environment for children. Zyanya on the other hand said nothing as she merely observed the interactions between everyone and gave the occasional comment here and there.

Then it was the moment that they were all dreading. It was time for Ling and Zyanya to go. Up until then Sunwoo's mind had been preoccupied with all the excitement but hearing that her parents were leaving made her crack.

Ling and Zyanya held a crying Sunwoo in their arms as they comforted her.

Ling gently cupped Sunwoo’s face using her thumbs to wipe away the tears. “Remember that you can call us anytime for any reason.”

Zyanya nodded in agreement. “And you can always come back home for the weekends if you want. We’ll come pick you up.”

Sunwoo sniffled. “Okay I will.”

“¡ Esa es mi niña !” smirked Zyanya slowly rising to her feet. Ling cradled Sunwoo in her arms for a little while longer before begrudgingly tearing herself away.

“We love you.” Ling smiled and with a final hug, the mothers boarded the VTOL and waved goodbye as they rose into the air and the hatch closed.

It was there when they finally alone did Ling began to sob. Zyanya immediately held her wife in her arms and lovingly stroked her head while whispering sweet words of comfort.

They stood like this for minutes before Ling pulled away. Zyanya kissed her, assuring her that their daughter was going to be just fine.

For the rest of the flight back, Ling and Zyanya chatted about nothing worthwhile while Ling rested her head on Zyanya’s shoulder.

It was dark when they finally returned to Protocol. They skipped dinner and opted to go to their room and lay together in bed.

Sure enough not so soon after Sunwoo called them. Sunwoo turned on her camera revealing she was already in bed with pajamas. Ling and Zyanya joyfully listened to their daughter talk about how much fun she had playing with her friends who had arrived. Turns out the school was going to throw a small party to celebrate Sunwoo and the new school year.

Seeing their daughter already having so much fun made their hearts soar. She was fitting in so well with the others and it was only just the beginning. 

Sunwoo had tired herself out as her eyes drooped. Ling figured this was a better time than never to bid Sunwoo goodnight.

“Sleep tight. We love you.” Ling said softly.

“Love you too.” Sunwoo yawned and waved goodbye before ending the call.

Zyanya and Ling sighed in relief before holding each other in their arms before falling asleep with a clear mind and new sense of peace.

“엄마! (Eomma!) Hello! Are you there?” Jett said, waving her hand in her mom’s face to get her attention.

Zyanya grinned as she stood up and cleared her mind.

“Let’s see just how much you have improved, si ?” Zyanya said with a challenging tone. Jett grinned and cracked her knuckles. She couldn’t wait to show off how much stronger and faster she had gotten. 

“Bring it on!”

Jett grinned victorious while eating her lukewarm pancakes. They had over trained and were late to breakfast earning Zyanya a stern scolding from Ling. But the best part is the fact that Jett had beaten her mom in target practice much to the woman’s surprise.

Now Jett could sit back and bask in the glory of victory. Jett turned to her cute little sister who was sitting next to her and eating her baby cereal. Tala giggled and reached out to Jett who in turn gently pinched those chubby cheeks.

Yeah it felt good to be a winner.

Chapter Text

Ling and Zyanya’s mornings started off in the typical manner. Zyanya playfully holds Ling’s waist and prevents her wife from getting up to start the day. This usually ends with Ling straddling Zyanya and engaging in a heavy heated make out session which is followed up with a morning of love making.

After showering and dressing, the two head to the mess hall for breakfast where they sit together and enjoy a delicious meal cooked by one of their fellow agents. The two are starved after such a ‘physically active’ morning! Then the dreadful separation where they each had to go their own ways to fulfill their duties. But not before a heavy loving kiss is shared between them.

This morning was different because the moment they stepped out the door of their room, they were confronted by an exhausted looking Brimstone. The man’s eye bags were dark and heavy. 

“Brimstone, are you feeling-” Ling tried to ask her voice filled with worry but was cut off by him.

“Please follow me to my office. It’s an emergency.”

“VA-1 when you hear this please send help as soon as possible! We’ve been compromised! I have K-SEC Knights outside my house! Please- 똥!!!!”

The voice message ended abruptly to the booming sound of presumably a wooden door being breached and the terrified screams of Han Dae-hyun and Han Nali. Two of Brimstone’s important informants who were deep in the Kingdom's ranks.

Brimstone looked at Reyna and Sage with a grim expression as he leaned back against his chair. It was the third time he had listened to that message since he received it.  The air in his office was tense and quiet.

“This was sent to me last night around 2:21 AM. It’s been over seven hours since we last had contact.”

Reyna crossed her arms. “I’m sorry but our informants are dead. Knowing K-SEC and their tactics they most definitely took the bodies and disposed of them.”

Brimstone grit his teeth and shook his head. “I’m aware but…”

Reyna cut him off and continued. “Not only that but wanting to send me and Sage there would be foolish and dangerous. K-SEC units will be watching the house, waiting for the moment to jump us. We’d be walking into a trap.”

Sage put her soft hand over Reyna’s and gently squeezed it making the woman calm down. Reyna returned the gesture using her thumb to trace over Sage’s soft knuckles.

Sage turned to Brimstone who looked utterly defeated. His whole face wracked with guilt as he swallowed the lump in his throat to choose his next words carefully.

“They have a daughter.” Brimstone said quietly. “A little girl around two to three years old. Her tracking chip is showing us she’s still at the house.”

Sage’s eyes softened and Reyna’s glare turned into a frown. 

“Yes. I know Dae-Hyun and Nali are dead but their daughter might not be. This will be a covert search and rescue mission. It is the best I can do for the people who risked their necks to deliver us Kingdom intel.”

He met both their eyes, his conviction steely and hardened once more. “Reyna and Sage. Can I count on you to rescue a child?”

On board the VLT-R, Ling rested her head on Zyanya’s shoulder. They had just finished checking over their loadout and were two hours into their flight towards Seoul. The two were getting some shut eye since they wouldn’t be arriving in the Korean capital city till nightfall.

For Reyna, she opted to take a Spectre and Ghost with three spare magazines for both weapons and a knife for close quarters combat. Sage’s loadout was the exact same except her primary weapon was the Phantom . This was a covert mission and the last thing they wanted was to alert the entire neighborhood of their presence. They didn’t need both local authorities and K-SEC on their backs.

Sage made sure to bring extra healing orbs. She didn’t want to think about it but there could be a chance the Han family’s daughter was hurt…or worse…

Ling’s stomach turned at the thought as she pressed into Zyanya’s warmth, her wife’s scent bringing her comfort. Reyna peeked one eye and brought her hand up to cup Ling’s face.

“Are you worried corazón?” Zyanya asked softly. Sage nodded as she leans her cheek into Zyanya’s touch. Zyanya brought Ling into a tight hug.

“We’re going to save this little girl. We won’t let those Kingdom ratas destroy another child’s life.”

Ling looked up and saw the fire in Zyanya’s eyes. She didn’t say anything and the two held each other as they sat in silence.

It was past 10 PM when they reached the outskirts of Seoul. KAY-O dropped them off two miles away from the Han’s residence to avoid alerting the enemy. Over the comms, KAY-O bid Sage good luck while he bitterly warned Reyna to watch her behavior and keep Sage safe.

To remain inconspicuous, Ling and Sage dressed in civilian clothing. Under their comfy jackets, they wore some body armor and stashed their extra magazines inside the jacket’s inner pockets. Both knives and Ghosts were strapped to either of their sides for a quick draw. Their primary weapons were inside a sports duffle bag as they were too big to conceal. Reyna had two duffle bags (one empty) strapped over her right shoulder.

The walk itself was uneventful as Ling and Zyanya strolled through several empty neighbors in the dark of night. They occasionally passed a night jogger or person walking their dog but they didn’t pay much attention besides greeting them as they passed each other.

After walking for fifteen minutes, they finally reached the Han's neighborhood. Ling and Zyanya immediately knew something was wrong because all the street lamps had been shut off leaving the area pitch dark.

“Careful Reyna. I don’t think we’re alone.” Sage whispered into Reyna’s ear.

The Mexican woman nodded and the two unstrapped their pistols and stuffed them inside their coat pockets while keeping their fingers on the triggers.

It was eerily quiet. The only noise they could hear was the soft breeze rustling the leaves from nearby trees. Not a single barking dog or distant car sound which was typical for city suburbs. Reyna and Sage peered around as they quietly made their way over to the front gate which had a posted sign.

한 레지던시

Reyna reached over to unclasp the front gate latch until she noticed a small sensor someone had sneakily placed behind the lock. She turned to Sage and shook her head signaling they would have to jump the fence. She and Sage were the perfect pair because they understood what the other was saying through simple body language. It’s no wonder the two were so madly in love with each other.  

Giving Sage a simple boost by kneeling down and cupping her hands to provide a makeshift step, the healer easily jumped the wooden fence and garden hedge landing on the damp cold grass. Reyna followed suit and the two nodded at each other as Reyna pulled the heavy duffle bag over her shoulder and placed it on the grass. She quickly but silently pulled down the metal zipper and grabbed Sage’s Phantom and her Spectre .

Giving their weapons a quick checkover, Reyna slung the bag over her shoulder and took their defensive positions before making their way around the house towards the backyard. Reyna cursed under her breath when she saw the destroyed lock and broken frame with the cracked door that had been slightly left ajar. It seemed they tried to shut the door but couldn’t because they broke it.

She summoned her Leer and, mouthing a countdown, shot the orb through the door. She kicked the door open but to their surprise nobody was waiting for them. But this didn’t mean they could let their guard down. This entire house had to be filled with traps.

The house was completely dark with not a single light turned on. It would be incredibly stupid for them to even dare flip on a single switch. The two scanned the entire first floor only to find it empty. They made their way up the stairs to the second floor where they saw three doors. One at the end of the hall, one on their right and the last one to their left.

The left door was closest to them. Doing the same tactic as when they entered the house, Reyna opened the door only to find the bathroom.  Reyna signaled to Sage the bathroom was clear as they continued to the door on the right. With a deep breath, Reyna opened the door and her eyes widened when she realized they found the daughter’s room.

Sage and Reyna entered the dimly lit room and closed the door behind them lest they risk an ambush while they weren't paying attention. Toys were strewn around and the only light source was a tiny night light plugged into one of the outlets in the corner.

Sage laid her Phantom on the floor when she saw a small little white haired girl staring at them with frightened eyes. Her little head barely reached over the crib. The poor girl looked so hungry and dehydrated. She tried to approach the crib which only made the girl panic as she backed away until her head hit the other side of the crib. 

“Shh shh. It’s okay little one. We’re not going to hurt you.” Sage whispered as she took a step back. She gave Reyna a pleading look to lower her weapon which she did.

It felt like hours but really it had been minutes. With each second that passed not only were they risking encountering K-SEC Knights but risking this child’s life in a crossfire. Sage managed to gently ease the girl enough to gain her trust. Perhaps the child could tell that they weren’t there to hurt her. For some reason, the woman in front of her gave off a soothing peaceful aura that made her feel safe and trustworthy.

“ 엄마! (Mommy!) 엄마를 원해! (Want Mommy!)” sniffled the little girl in her native language when Sage reached the crib that had a nameplate attached to the headboard.

Sunwoo (선우)

Sage was hit with the smell of urine. Her heart ached realizing this innocent child had wet herself with no one around to change her. Sunwoo stretched her arms out begging to be picked up and held. When Sage lifted Sunwoo into her arms, the girl whimpered in pain and clutched her inner thighs. No doubt she had developed a severe diaper rash. Sage rubbed her hands on Sunwoo’s back in an attempt to soothe the girl’s pain. 

“Corazón, put her on the changing table.” Reyna said, leading Sage over to the other side of the room where the table was.

Sunwoo refused to let go of Sage, burying her face into the crook of Sage’s neck while hugging her tightly.

“It’s okay Sunwoo. We just want to change your diaper. That way you can be clean.” Sage cooed softly. Sunwoo’s blue eyes met Sage’s dark colored eyes. The little girl looked so vulnerable and scared. Afraid that if she let go, they would abandon her.

Sage gave Sunwoo a soft smile which eased the girl’s grip around her neck. Reyna carefully shifted Sunwoo into her arms and laid her down on the table.

Sunwoo cried out as the fabric of her pants touched the inside of her sensitive thighs. “Aye lo siento!” Reyna said quickly, apologizing. Sunwoo’s eyes filled with tears and Sage rushed over to calm her.

“Don’t cry Sunwoo. I am going to make the pain go away. No more ouchies. Okay?” Sage said, reassuring Sunwoo. Reyna wiped away Sunwoo's tears with her thumbs. She had seen many children suffer back when she was powerless. But not anymore. She wasn’t going to let Kingdom hurt this child any further.

Reyna let out a hiss when she finally removed the diaper and saw the red lines of raw irritated skin left behind. Sunwoo softly cried as the cold air made contact with her lower body. It hurt so much.

Sage quickly grabbed one of her healing orbs and Reyna stepped aside to keep an eye out. Sunwoo’s eyes widened as she scrambled back.

“No no don’t be afraid. This is going to help you. It will make the ouchies go away.”

Sunwoo frowned and stopped trying to move away. She cautiously eyed the glowing jade green orb. “No ouchies?” Sunwoo asked, pointing to the orb. Her voice filled with doubtful fear.

Sage nodded, giving her a reassuring smile. “It’s going to be a little cold but you’re going to feel all better okay.” 

Cool relief washed over Sunwoo and the little girl felt her pain instantly vanish. Her eyes widened with awe as her thighs no longer hurt. Sunwoo ran her little hands along her healed inner thighs in amazement. Was this woman a magical doctor?! 

“See? All better!” said Sage as she stepped aside to let Reyna finish dressing her. 

“Let’s finish changing you , preciosa .” grinned Reyna. She turned to Sage. “Sage, take the two bags I brought and fill them with as many clothes and necessities as possible. We’re getting out of here as soon as I finish changing Sunwoo.”

Sage nodded and grabbed the bags off her wife’s shoulders. She hurriedly opened the drawers pulling out shirts and pants. Lucky for them, Sunwoo's parents left all the baby stuff right in her room. She grabbed everything ranging from bottles, formula, diapers, wet wipes, clothes and toys. After her two minutes were up, the bags were packed to the brim with items. Reyna had finished changing Sunwoo and was carrying her in her arms. She had wrapped the little girl in a comfy burrito using her favorite blanket.

“Reyna,” Sage said, grabbing Reyna’s attention. “Sunwoo needs to eat. I’m going to the kitchen to grab her something.”

Reyna shook her head. “ Mi amor we have to go. We can’t stay here any longer. I’m sure I left water and crackers on the VLT-R.”

Sage bit her lip anxiously. It didn’t sit well with her to leave Sunwoo deprived of basic needs any more than she needed. Besides she’d only be a few seconds and then they are gone.

Reyna called out to Sage as she left the room and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Reyna grit her teeth but held her tongue and used the moment to call KAY-O for extraction. Reyna informed him the mission was successful and they secured the child.

Sage did her best to navigate through the dark living room towards the kitchen. She cursed under breath when she stubbed her toe on the coffee table. The loud bang echoed throughout the house causing her to cringe. She really hoped nobody had heard her.

Sage reached the kitchen and rummaged through the shelves and found some cereal, a couple juice pouches and an opened box of animal crackers. She stuffed the food into her pockets and turned to leave when she noticed the kitchen window in the corner of her eye.

Her eyes widened in horror when she realized she was staring down the barrel of a gun.

*BANG!!!*

“SAGE!!!” Reyna screamed the moment she heard a suppressed gunshot and the sound of window shattering. She ran out of Sunwoo’s room and sprinted down the hall holding onto the girl tightly. Sunwoo clung her like a baby koala did with its mother. With one arm holding Sunwoo and the other holding her Ghost , she stumbled her way down stairs. The entire time she heard multiple rounds being fired.

She made it to the living room but dove for cover behind the couch when a rain of bullets flew through the living room window, shredding the wooden furniture. Sunwoo was sobbing and Reyna did her best to soothe her. 

“Sage! Mi amor, please answer me!” Reyna cried out, her voice filled with desperation. There was a brief moment of silence until she heard the familiar lovely voice of her wife. Relief instantly flooded Reyna. 

“I’m fine, Reyna! I jumped away in time!” Sage called out from behind the kitchen table she had flipped for cover. The duffle bags of stuff were next to her as she returned fire.

“We’re leaving now!” Reyna roared. She tapped her ear piece to contact KAY-O

“KAY-O! COME IN! WE’RE UNDER FIRE! I REPEAT WE ARE UNDER FIRE! MEET US TWO BLOCKS OVER FOR EXTRACTION!”

The robot’s voice crackled over comms. “GOT IT! YOU GET SAGE AND THAT CHILD OUT OF THERE ALIVE! 

Reyna produced another Leer orb and threw it in the middle of the living room temporarily blinding their attackers. Reyna scrambled over to Sage and handed Sunwoo to her.

Reyna slung both duffle bags over her shoulders and grabbed Sage’s Phantom . Reyna decided she will defend Sage and Sunwoo while they ran.

“We’re going to jump the backyard fence and run into the alley!”

Sage nodded and cradled Sunwoo’s head, pressing the child’s face into the crook of her neck. Reyna could hear the boots of multiple K-SEC Knights ready to storm through the front door.

“Ready?! Go!”

Reyna kicked the backdoor which surprised a lone Knight before she pumped him full of bullets. His body fell with a thud. 

She absorbed his soul, turning herself into a shadow dodging a sniper bullet from the roof of the neighbor’s house on the left. The K-SEC Knight was caught off guard and scrambled to reload but was shot in the head by Reyna. His body rolled off the roof landing somewhere on the side.

Reyna and Sage ran to the fence where Reyna helped her climb over. Sage landed on the asphalt and took cover behind a trash can. Reyna soon followed and the two took off down the alleyway turning multiple corners. From behind they could hear K-SEC soldiers hot on their trail.

Reyna tapped her earpiece. “KAY-O where are you?!?!”

“ETA one minute!”

Reyna groaned as she and Ling turned right into yet another neighborhood. A Korean woman who was jogging screamed the moment she saw the assault rifle in Reyna’s hands and fled in the opposite direction.

Thankfully Reyna and Sage heard the familiar engine of the VTL-R fly overhead as the hatch opened and descended close enough to the ground for them to board.

They ran and jumped on board dodging a barrage of bullets that hit the back of the ship, ricocheting off the heavy metal. 

“KAY-O GO!” roared Reyna and the hatch shut as they descended into the air and out of the enemies range. The city of Seoul grew smaller and smaller as they flew further into the ocean’s horizon.

Zyanya sighed as she dropped to the floor with complete exhaustion. Her legs and feet throbbed with pain. Ling joined her resting her head on Zyanya’s shoulder.

“Ling, mi vida, please never do something so reckless again.” Reyna said with a pleading but serious tone. Hearing that gunshot was legit one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. For a second Zyanya thought she had forever lost the woman she loved with all her heart.

“I’m sorry.” Ling whispered, capturing her wife’s lips. The kiss was fierce, passionate and short. Ling pulled away blushing heavily. She cleared her throat and Zyanya realized Sunwoo was watching them.

Zyanya could only let out a tired chuckle as Ling pulled out the snacks from her pockets. Sunwoo devoured the animal crackers and juice which saddened the married couple when they remembered how the girl had been left alone for so long. No doubt K-SEC had intended to use Sunwoo as live bait to lure in Protocol.  Zyanya wish she could say this is the worst of Kingdom but it wasn't. Kingdom was responsible more many atrocities across the globe. But thanks to their deep pockets, they were able to bribe goverments and new agencies into keeping silent. Anybody who would try to expose Kingdom would end up dead. But right now, the worst part of all this is the fact that Sunwoo’s parents were dead. Kingdom is known not to take kindly to traitors and spies. When working for Kingdom, everyday you walk on a fine line and its best to make sure you don't do anything to anger the higher ups. 

Now that they rescued the last remaining member of the Han family, what fate would befall Sunwoo? Was Brimstone just going to put her up for adoption under a new name? Or perhaps he has something else in mind? Zyanya scoffed at the idea of Brimstone wanting to keep Sunwoo and raise her on his own. The man was so busy running the Protocol he barely had time for himself. No way in hell he could spare time for a little girl.

Zyanya groaned and instead let herself breathe, freeing herself from troublesome thoughts. Ling got up and searched one of the lockers, returning with a bottle of water. She grabbed one of the duffle bags and rummaged through it pulling out a blue baby bottle and some formula.

Ling mixed the water and formula and brought it to Sunwoo’s mouth. The little girl instantly latched onto the nipple and began suckling away. Ling once more leaned on Zyanya’s shoulder as the three huddled together. Tiredness overcame them all and they promptly fell asleep. 

KAY-O came to check on them only to be met with the sight of Sunwoo asleep in Sage’s lap with an empty milk bottle hanging from the corner of her mouth.

If robots could smile then he certainly did as he grabbed a blanket to cover the three. He was tempted to let Reyna freeze but she had kept her promise. He would let it slide this once. It didn’t mean much though because he will never trust this monster.

He returned to the cockpit unaware that this was only just the beginning of a new era at Valorant Protocol.

Chapter Text

Zyanya smiled as Tala tried her utmost best to crawl over to her mamá. Tala growled and whimpered in frustration as she slowly inched closer and closer. It was a good thing all the living room floors were carpeted because Tala kept plopping face first into the ground. Undetered Tala used all the baby strength in her arms to lift herself up.

Ling should have been there with them but had gone away for an overnight mission. Zyanya instantly requested to join Ling but was denied by Brimstone stating it was only a simple no-contact intel collection from one of their undercover spies in Kingdom USA. 

Normally Sova or Cypher would be his first choices but unluckily for him, the two were currently on a strike team tasked with decommissioning one of Kingdom’s secret laboratories. So Ling offered herself up, hoping to brush up on her skills. It had been months since she's last gone a mission.

Their goodbye was brief with Zyanya forcing Ling to promise her to stay safe. The healer only chuckled and kissed her wife goodbye. “Unlike you I stick to the mission.”

Ling's little comment made Zyanya playfully stick her tongue out which Tala tried to copy. They watched as the VTOL descended into the air and flew away, passing beyond their sight into the ocean’s horizon.

Zyanya’s eyes filled with pride at her daughter’s determination. “Ay que linda! Vente princesita! I know you can do it!” she gently cooed.

The two were in one of the many living rooms of Valorant Protocol’s base. For the past couple of weeks Tala has begun her attempts at crawling.

The very first time Tala crawled was during the night as Ling and Zyanya slept with the little girl in between them as usual. Somehow Tala had managed to wiggle herself free from her blankets. Ling figured Tala used her adorable stubby legs to kick them away.

Tala had reached the foot of their bed and almost plummeted head first before Zyanya caught her by both legs Of course the sudden sensation of gravity frightened the poor girl causing her to cry.

Ling’s eyes immediately snapped open and sat up turned on the bedside lamp with such speed to find Zyanya gently rocking Tala in her arms. After explaining their daughter nearly cracked her head wide open, Ling took Tala and gently cradled her until she fell asleep. The experience shook Ling up and she quickly tried to turn it into a self taught lesson about due diligence.

Zyanya immediately shut Ling down, refusing to let her wife chastise herself. After setting Tala down on the bed, Zyanya cupped her wife’s face and stared deeply into her soft eyes.

“Mi amor, do not try to blame yourself. We were sleeping. We couldn’t have known.”

The corner of Ling’s eyes pooled with tears as she bit her lip to hold back a sob. “But Tala could have been hurt…”

“Tala is safe. Babies are going to things like that. All it means is that we just need to keep a closer eye is all. This doesn’t make you or me bad parents.”

Zyanya wasn’t lying either just to spare Ling’s feelings. It’s the truth. Nobody is going to be the perfect parent. But a parent who puts their all into loving, caring, and providing for their child is the closest it will ever get. Ling was all of the above. Ling is literally risking her life everyday to save their Earth and secure a future for their daughters. If that’s not one of the best moms ever than who was?!

After comforting the healer, they laid down as well and shut the lights off. Zyanya’s right hand intertwined with Ling’s left while the healer’s right hand rested on Tala’s chest feeling her small heartbeat and soft breathing.

The two whispered sweet nothings to each other until they fell asleep. Luckily nothing else happened for the rest of the evening. Just a family getting their well deserved beauty sleep.

Back in the present, Tala was beaming with happiness as she finally reached her mamà’s outstretched arms.

“You did it Tala! Good job!” Zyanya laughed as she lifted Tala and brought her close to plant kisses all over her cheeks. The little girl broke into a fit of giggles before her tummy rumbled signaling it was time for her to eat lunch.

Zyanya grinned standing up and holding Tala on her hip. “Let’s get you something to eat.”

They made their way to the mess hall which was nearly empty except for Skye. Tala excitedly wiggled upon seeing the young Australian woman. Tala loved Skye because she always summoned her animals that cuddled and played with her

“Aww look at you sweetie! Spending the day with your mom?” Skye chirped as she walked up to them. She pinched Tala’s chubby cheeks.

Skye noticed Reyna grabbing a bottle of milk from the fridge and offered to carry Tala while she heated it up. She nodded in appreciation and shifted Tala into her arms.

Skye played with Tala by summoning her tiger as Zyanya finished heating up the bottle of milk Ling had left behind. Skye had returned to her table with Tala on her lap petting the tiger.

Zyanya sighed dreading the hard part that was now to come. Tala was not a fan of the bottle. Whenever Ling had to leave on a mission, she made sure to pump enough milk for the days she would be absent. Tala never failed to fuss and whine and turn her head away whenever Zyanya brought the bottle to her lips. It always ended with Tala giving into her hunger and latching on. 

Zyanya lips twisted into a half smile and laugh. If she acts like this with a bottle then I can’t imagine how she’s going to act when mi corazón finally weans her. 

Back in her room, Zyanya finally got Tala to drink from her bottle. It only took ten minutes of crying and gentle begging and encouragement.

Tala was suckling away while looking up at the ceiling. Zyanya hummed Ling's melody and scrolled through her phone while keeping an eye on Tala to make sure she didn’t choke.

A knock rang on the metal door to her room. Zyanya sighed, not feeling particularly happy to move from her comfortable position. She looked down to find Tala in the process of being lulled to sleep.

“Who is it?” Zyanya called out.

“It’s Viper. Would you kindly open the door? Brimstone is requesting you in his office.”

Zyanya groaned and slowly stood so as to not shake Tala. The door opened with a hiss and she came face to face with Viper. She was wearing her lab uniform which consisted of a white lab cloak, a black turtleneck and pants.

Viper’s eyes darted to Tala who had already fallen asleep. “I recommend you leave Tala with someone and visit Brimstone alone. It’s urgent.”

Zyanya nodded and without saying a word she gently placed Tala into Viper’s arms earning a silent protest.

“I didn’t mean me!” Viper whispered as Zyanya walked down the hall and turned the corner.

Viper stood awkwardly holding a sleeping Tala in her arms. Though she did have to admit the little girl was utterly precious. She did a quick look around, looking up and down the hallway before softly squishing one of Tala’s chubby cheeks. Viper smiled as she confirmed for herself what the other agents were saying.

She wiped the smile from her face when Skye entered the hallway. Skye’s face filled with confusion when Viper ambushed her and deposited Tala into her arms.

“Watch Reyna’s child." Viper said flatly.

Viper was gone before Skye could a word in. The Australian woman simply shrugged her shoulders and took the little darling girl to her room.

Zyanya was let into Brimstone’s office where he urged her to take a seat. The grim look on his face set her on edge. Zyanya’s heart began to pound anxiously. Worry filled her mind as she silently begged his serious demeanor didn’t relate to Ling.

“Reyna…We…We lost contact with Sage over an hour ago…”

Reyna’s eyes widened with horror as her fears were realized and Brimstone could see her purple eyes begin to glow. 

“Kingdom has taken her captive…”

Chapter Text

“ak…up!”

The muffled voice was the only thing Ling could hear as her consciousness stirred. The back of her head pulsed with dull pain as she slowly came to. Her eyelids felt heavy as she struggled to open them. 

Ling slightly panicked when she felt her hands and feet had been restrained with handcuffs. From what she can sense, someone had bound her to an uncomfortable metal chair. Her head hung over the top rail as she mustered up the strength to sit up properly.

Ling grimaced upon realizing she had been stripped down to her pants and shirt. Her sweater, ballistic vest, orbs and the rest of her gear were gone.

“I said wake up!” growled a synthetic cloaked voice echoed as Ling’s entire body was doused with a heavy splash of ice cold water. 

She gasped and coughed as the person dumped the water directly over her face, basically waterboarding her.

Her whole body seemingly jolted to life as she instantly sat up in the chair. Ling slowly peeled her eyes open and felt dizzy as she was blinded by a bright white light.

The light was shut off with a small click and Ling came face to face with a mysterious masked person. They were dressed in all black, their body slender and face hidden by some sort of antique gas mask.

“Good. You’re awake.” 

Ling tried to glare but her body was too tired to muster up the energy. She opted to intensely stare at the masked person instead.

“I have some questions and it’s in your best interest to answer all of them truthfully. Do you understand?”

Ling didn’t bother responding, causing the person to growl and deliver a hard slap with a gloved hand across her face. Her face stung like hell but Ling kept strong. She’s been trained for this exact situation. She wasn’t going to let this bastard break her.

“Our little friend right over there told us you were stealing Kingdom Corp secrets.” the masked person said, pointing to the corner with their long index finger of the metallic rustic room they were in.

Ling squinted and was able to catch a glimpse of who they were referring to. It was Ling’s contact. 

A young woman laying dead in a dried crusted puddle of her own blood. A single bullet wound right in the center of her forehead. Her eyes open and mouth gaped forevering capturing her terrified expression as she faced her death.

Ling grit her teeth and stared back at her captor who chuckled. They liked the new expression on Ling’s face. It was refreshing to say the least.

“If I were you, I would be mad at her for ratting me out. She folded right away and told me everything just to save her own skin.”

The masked person let out an icy laugh that filled the room. “Luckily for her, I’m not with Kingdom so I granted her a quick painless death.”

Ling’s skin crawled upon hearing their cruel laugh. This person was relishing the panic and terror that was slowly filling Ling. 

This was not good. Ling knew she was in serious danger. Her eyes widened as the person stolled over to her. Their body towered over Ling as they bent slightly and leaned right into her ear. 

“Let’s have a chat, Wei Ling Ying.”

“Reyna calm down! Rushing in isn’t going to help anyone!” Brimstone yelled as Reyna geared up.

The Mexican woman growled at him as she strapped a Ghost to her thigh holster. 

“Mi amor is currently in the hands of Kingdom! I’m not going to sit around and wait for them to kill her!”

Brimstone groaned in frustration as he tried to reason with Reyna. He’s always known what a hardass she was. But Sage was the one to balance her out. The ‘perfect pair’ as many in Protocol referred to the married couple as.

He understood how Reyna was feeling. He truly did. But if they rushed in now, Kingdom would most likely kill Sage in retaliation and rid Protocol of their most valuable asset rendering them extremely vulnerable. No Sage meant no resurrection. 

Though not even Kingdom was stupid enough to rid themselves of such an incredible Radiant power. They needed Sage for something.

“Yeah and if you go in guns blazing, you're going to get yourself killed! We need a plan!”

Reyna spun around and glared daggers at him. “How long will that take?! Sure let Kingdom torture Ling while we sit around for you to come up with a plan!”

Reyna grabbed her Vandal and strapped it over her shoulder as stormed out the armory. Brimstone chased after her, following her to the hangar where Breach, Skye, Omen, and Sova awaited Reyna.

Sova and Omen had just returned from their mission when they heard Sage had been captured. There was no hesitation as they joined the rescue task team. Brimstone did his best to urge everyone to remain calm but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

“Are we ready to go?” asked Omen as he inserted a magazine into his Phantom.

Brimstone shook his head furiously. “Dammit listen to me! You’re all going to get yourselves killed if you just barge right into Kingdom territory.”

“Better than sitting around and letting those devils hurt Sage” interjected Skye with a glare.

“I know that!” Brimstone growled as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I want to save Sage but we have procedures for a reason! We plan and then strike! We don't fire wildly and hope for the best!”

Reyna scoffed. “Let’s go.”

Everyone turned to board the ship but it wasn’t until they heard the shouts of a well known and commonly disliked French man. He was out of breath the moment he reached them.

“Wait! Mes amis!” Chamber panted as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. He slicked his hair back into his signature style. “Our dear Cypher received an interesting message right now concerning our bien-aimé Sage.” 

Reyna grit her teeth with pure fury, her fists clenched as a masked person roughly pulled Sage’s hair, forcing her wife to look directly into the camera. The son of a bitch had taped her mouth shut.

“If you wish to save your precious Sage then you will bring me an entire shipment of raw Radinite to these coordinates. Upon doing so I will reveal Sage’s location. But be warned, if you try to pull any tricks, I will put a bullet in her skull.”

The person let go of Sage’s hair making her head drop roughly. “You have 48 hours.”

The video ends and a grim silence fills the room. The lights of Cypher’s office turn on, revealing his entire surveillance setup. Multiple monitors hooked up to different cameras which all connected to a large mainframe that allowed him to survey Protocol’s base.

“This is not good. I know who that person is.” says Cypher as he shakes his head.

Reyna quickly turned to Cypher. “Who is that bastardo?! Tell me so I can make sure their death is agonizing!” she growls.

Cypher’s voice drops low.“They’re me. The Omega Cypher.” 

Brimstone leans on the table with both hands. His head dips as he exhales softly. His body trembles as his mind races.

Legion had Sage. If they make even a single mistake then their Earth is doomed. His ears rang and all he could hear in the background was the muffled shouts of Reyna demanding more information from Cypher.

Sova had to pull Reyna back when she grabbed the Moroccan by the collar of his jacket when Cypher refused to disclose any personal information that could give them an advantage over Omega. He clarified that it was classified since the information could be used against him too.

“Hijo de puta! Tell me so I can save my wife!” screamed Reyna as Sova and Omen pulled her back.

Brimstone’s eyes widened as he quickly crafted an outline of an incredibly risky plan. It would be so incredibly dangerous but it was the only chance they had to save Sage.

“Listen up!” Brimstone boomed. Everyone turned their heads. The argument between Reyna and Cypher came to a silent pause. 

“I have a plan but I need all of you to shut up and listen.”

Reyna huffed and pushed Sova’s hands off her shoulders. She straightened her posture and dusted herself off.

“Tell me what you have in mind.”

42 Hours Later

Reyna stared straight ahead into the pitch snowy darkness of the Antarctic. The only light source was from her snowmobile’s headlights which illimited her body and cast a shadow. Behind her was the shipping container filled with boxes of raw Radinate they had stolen the previous night from the Kingdom merchant ship.

Reyna was alone. Brimstone wanted to send Sova as a sniper backup but she refused. She wasn’t willing to risk pissing off Legion.

The plan was simple. Reyna would deliver the shipment and Legion would hopefully keep their end of the bargain.

No one needed to get hurt or die. Each side would get what they wanted and they would all get back home in time for dinner.

Before leaving, Reyna entrusted Viper and Skye to watch over Tala. While Viper wasn’t the most friendly Agent, she was trustworthy. She had proven that herself when she did her best to save Lucia’s life. 

Reyna made sure to give Tala plenty of cheek kisses and a gentle tight hug. Tala could only giggle at the kisses she received, too young to understand the meaning of Reyna’s departing gestures. She promised Tala she could bring Ling home knowing damn well Tala couldn’t understand a single word she said. It just helped Reyna feel better. 

Reyna also made sure to keep Sunwoo in the dark about this whole ordeal. She didn’t need her pobre mija worried sick about her mom. It was better to keep it all under wraps. 

Reyna was shaken from her thoughts when she heard the crunching of snow echoing from the darkness. From the sound alone, there were three sets of footsteps heading towards her. She gripped her Ghost tight from inside her heavy winter cloak. 

The crunching got louder until she saw three silhouettes emerge from the darkness and step into the light.

Reyna grit her teeth when she came face to face with her counterpart, Omen, and Sova.

“Hola!” Reyna grinned as the three approached her, stopping and keeping a respectable distance. They each were equipped with Vandals and also dressed in snow gear.

Reyna wasn’t in the mood for small chat so she cut to the chase. “Here’s your Radinite. We kept our end of the deal.”

Sova chuckled as he slung his Vandal over his shoulder. “All bite, no bark.”

Reyna sideyed Omen as he walked past her and pulled up the container latch. The metal doors opened with a loud creak. Reyna could hear Omen’s heavy footsteps thump against the metal floor as he began to rummage and open each box to inspect its contents.

As they waited, Reyna and Sova watched her like hawks, ready to pump her full of lead if she even dared do anything they deemed suspicious. Reyna didn’t even bother hiding her look of disgust and hatred. 

Omen finally finished after ten or so minutes and exited the container, nodding at his fellow agents the all clear.

“Gracias for your business! Such kind people!” mocked Reyna as tapped her earpiece and called for extraction.

At the very moment, Reyna also got an incoming transmission on her communications device. She tapped her ear and heard Brimstone’s voice.

“Reyna! We got Sage’s location! Get out of there!“

Reyna didn’t bother answering him as she quickly hopped on her snowmobile and rode away leaving Omega behind to relish their prize.

Reyna was extracted not long after and was flown back to base. Reyna was stiffed to hear Brimstone had already sent out the rescue team without her. She was ready to give Brimstone hell but luckily for him, Viper entered the mission room carrying a sleepy Tala. The little girl had just woken up from a nap and was hungry.

Reyna’s anger quickly melted away as she scooped Tala into her arms and hugged her. Viper nodded and also gave Reyna the bottle of milk she was planning on feeding the girl. Reyna quietly thanked her and sat down to feed Tala.

Brimstone quietly sighed with relief and focused on the screen in front of him. He was watching Sova’s live feed as he and the other agents navigated a dark worn down warehouse located in the outskirts of Los Angeles.

Reyna’s eyes were glued to the screen as they all watched intensely. The team stumbled upon a white painted door which Sova cracked just a bit and fired a Recon Bolt. It bounced twice before letting out a mechanical whirl

“One person in there! It’s Sage!’ Sova yelled as he kicked open the rusted door.

The team stormed into the room and found Sage cuffed to an old metal chair. Heavy chains bounded her arms and feet and she was blindfolded and gagged.

Skye rushed over and together they quickly freed Sage.

“Thank you…” Sage whispered weakly as she gave everyone the most grateful tired smile.

Brimstone smiled tiredly. “Sending KAY-O for extraction.”

Reyna leaned back in the chair she was sitting in. She let out a huge sigh of relief, letting all the tension and anxiety drain from her body.

Ling was safe and she was coming home. 

Zyanya pinned Ling against the wall of their bedroom and gave her wife a strong passionate frustrated kiss.

“Coraźon, don’t you ever scare me like that again!” growled Zyanya as she slipped her fingers and pulled up Ling’s shirt.

Ling returned the gesture as she cupped Zyanya’s face and planted multiple kisses along her cheeks. “I promise I won't.”

They tore each other's clothes off, lips locked as they fell onto the bed and joined as one. When they finished, they held one another in their arms enjoying their cute pillow talk.

Luckily for them, Kirra offered to watch Tala for the night so the two could ‘reconnect’ as the Australian woman had so playfully said with a cheeky smile and wink.

“Te amo, Ling.” whispered Zyanya, grabbing Ling’s waist and pressing their bodies together.

“I love you too, Qīn'ài de.” yawned Sage as she nuzzled into Zyanya’s neck, her hand resting on top of her wife’s chest.

The two fell asleep, their bond as wives growing ever stronger. They each dreamt of an ideal peaceful world. 

In Ling’s dream, Omega was no longer a threat. They had managed to create a peace treaty and now helped one another. She lived out her life with Zyanya, Sunwoo, and Tala. She watched her children grow up and embark on their own journeys. She lived on a peaceful meadow with Zyanya as the two grew old together. It was beautiful.

However Zyanya’s dream could only be interpreted as peaceful in her own way. Omega Earth had been destroyed. Radiants were no longer being targeted and discriminated against by pathetic weak Humans. They had taken over as the new dominant species.

Zyanya lived happily with Sunwoo, Ling, and Tala. Her daughters grew up and became powerful Radiants. But the best part is that Lucia was still alive. Lucia, Tala, and Sunwoo were the bestest of sisters and always getting into all sorts of trouble. It was beautiful and brought joy to her heart.

Hopefully part of their dreams would one day come true. Until then, they had to fight for their survival and the future of their world.

Chapter Text

Zyanya Mondragón tiredly sighed as she finished racking her Vandal and placed it back into its rightful spot amongst the other assault rifles in the armory.

She doesn’t know how long she spent at the shooting range but Zyanya groaned when her phone’s clock read past midnight. She rubbed some sleep away from her eyes as she exited the range. The metal door loudly hissed and shut closed behind her.

Zyanya rolled her eyes when she noticed Cypher’s camera trailing her from the end of the hallway all the way towards the communal showers where she was heading. She flipped off the annoying bastard’s camera before entering the women’s locker room. Inside were rows of lockers and a couple of benches. Just your standard locker room. While every locker shared the same basic black color, each was decorated quite differently, mirroring their owner’s personality.

She made it to her locker which was located at the far end of the room, closest to the showers. Zyanya hadn’t bothered with stylizing hers. She saw no need for it but she did find herself enjoying her fellow agents’ unique customizations. 

Zyanya opened her locker and felt thankful she always kept a spare set of clothes and extra towel because she definitely did not feel like heading to her room at the moment. Especially not since she and her wife had gotten into an heated argument in the healer’s personal office earlier that day.

The fight had been over mission assignments. Ling wished to participate more in Protocol by accepting more solo tasks and team strike forces but Zyanya refused, stating it was too dangerous for her.

Ling couldn’t help but become irritated, explaining that she knew how to take care of herself. She was trained as an agent for goodness sake. It didn’t take long for the conversation to devolve into a full blown argument.

In the midst of the loud shouting, Zyanya angrily reminded Ling about the hostage incident from over a year ago when she had been captured by Omega Cypher and held for ransom.

Ling was shocked and incredibly hurt that Zyanya even dared to use that against her. The conversation ended when Ling simply told her to get out of her office. At the time, Zyanya was too furious to realize she had said such an awful thing.

Zyanya groaned in disbelief and pinched the bridge of her nose. She couldn’t believe how stupid she had acted. Why did she have to go off and say that? Using her wife’s trauma against her? What the actual hell was wrong with her?!  She grabbed her clothes and slammed the locker shut. The metallic sound echoed out throughout the empty room.

Zyanya ended up spending a considerable amount of time in the shower. The hot water worked wonders on her muscles as she felt her stress temporarily melt away. The steam allowed a peaceful moment of clarity for her. She forgot about troubles and allowed herself to soak in the hot warmth.

After an hour or so, she got out of the shower and stood naked in front of the mirror. She knew nobody else was going to come in so she didn’t care. She smirked and took a couple seconds to admire her toned body.

Que chula! Zyanya grinned as she flexed her muscles. She chuckled, drying her hair with her towel and changed into her fresh set of clothes. She brushed her teeth and shoved her dirty clothes and wet towel into her locker and left, heading towards one of the many living rooms at Protocol.

Zyanya jumped over the sofa, landing safely on the huge soft cushions. She was so glad she helped vote for replacing the sofas and chairs in the living rooms because the previous ones were the stiffest and most uncomfortable she had ever graced her bottom with. Just sitting or laying down for more than ten minutes caused a sore ass and back.

She grabbed the remote that was on the coffee table and flipped through the channels looking for anything worth watching. She doubted it though because the only programs on after midnight were infomercials that tried to convince people to buy their cheap useless products. That is if anyone was awake in the first place to see their stupid commercial.

Zyanya tried to watch something on her phone but couldn’t find anything entertaining and worthwhile. She turned her phone off and lowered the tv’s volume. She might as well go to sleep. Nothing was worse than working a full day’s work on just a couple hours sleep.

But Zyanya clicked her tongue when she suddenly realized she didn’t have a blanket. She considered herself fortunate because it wasn’t too cold that night so she could get a decent night’s sleep without freezing to death. Besides, she could turn on the heater despite Brimstone’s verbal warnings to not touch the thermostat.

Whatever .

Zyanya closed her eyes and did her best to fall asleep. However it took quite a bit of time as her heart ached with sadness and longing. She missed her wife’s warmth and presence. She missed her daughter, Tala, who liked snuggling with her much like a little baby kitten. Her fingers twitched as she fondly remembers how every night the two fall asleep holding hands.

Her lips quiver and hot tears form in the corner of her eyes, threatening to spill. She quickly dispelled these tears by biting her lip hard enough to taste the blood and its iron bitterness.

Zyanya finally went to sleep despite it being troubling. She promised herself she would apologize to Ling first thing in the morning. 

Though unknowingly to her, Ling also shared a restless night of tossing and turning. Ling was angry with her wife but even still she loved Zyanya so much that being separated from her was utterly agonizing.

After she had finished nursing Tala and readied herself for bed, Ling found herself gazing at the empty spot on her bed where Zyanya slept. Her hands sadly caressing the cold empty spot where her wife should be.

Ling sighed and closed her eyes. She had a busy schedule tomorrow and couldn’t afford to be tired. She kissed Tala’s forehead and did her best to drown out her lonely thoughts.

Sleep eventually took Ling to the land of dreams. She dreamt of nothing special and by morning she had already forgotten all about it.

Zyanya was irritable that morning to say the least. Chamber had gotten an earful from her when he tried and utterly failed to charm himself into joining her table for breakfast. The other agents saw this and figured it would be best to stay out of her way.

Zyanya did her best to fill her stomach but only managed to swallow a couple spoonfuls of apple cinnamon oatmeal. She kept her eye on the door while twirling her spoon in the oatmeal bowl, slowly turning it into mushy paste.

“Rough night?” asked a calm voice from behind her. His distinct Russian accent instantly gives away his identity. Zyanya turned around and saw Sova holding a mug of coffee in one hand and an apple in the other.

Zyanya sighed and nodded. “Just didn’t get enough sleep.”

Sova clicked his tongue. “I see. Perhaps you should apologize to Sage and maybe then you can get a good night’s rest in your bed.”

Zyanya rolled her eyes. “Thank you so much for the marital advice. Maybe I should come to you from now on whenever I have a problem.”

Sova chuckled at the woman’s sarcastic response. He knew was tiptoeing a dangerous line, one not ought to be crossed. “I apologize, Reyna. It was not my intention to pry into your relationship.”

“It’s fine.” Zyanya said with a dismissing hand. Sova took this as a sign to leave and went to sit with Brimstone and Breach.

Zyanya redirected her attention towards the mess hall’s door. Her heart anxiously beating as she waited for her wife to arrive. She diligently rehearsed her apology. She wanted to tell Ling how sorry she was for acting like such an idiota.

The doors slid open and Ling entered carrying Tala in her arms. Zyanya frowned when she noticed Viper and Vyse trailing behind and talking with her. Vyse was their new agent who had joined a couple months back. Apparently Viper already knew Vyse so it didn’t take long for her to quickly and naturally integrate into Protocol.

The trio seemed to be engrossed in their conversation. It was too far for her to hear what they were talking about but knowing them it probably had to do with Viper’s experiments.

They all sat together at a table with Tala in her high chair eating yogurt and puff cereal with her hands. Zyanya smiled as she watched Tala smear yogurt all over face and get bits of strawberry puffs in her hair.

Tala somehow seemed to notice her mama was staring at her because the little girl turned her head, locking Zyanya in her sights and happily screamed ‘ Mama !’ the moment they locked eyes.

Everyone in the hall turned their heads, earning some chuckles at the sight of the adorable girl trying to reach for her. Zyanya hoped Ling would get up and bring Tala where she would then apologize but became crestfallen when Ling whispered something to Vyse.

Vyse nodded, got up and unbuckled Tala from her chair. The little girl bounced excitedly like a little ball of energy as Vyse made her way over until she towered over Zyanya.

“Ling asked if you could care for Tala today. She will be busy.” Vyse said as she carefully placed Tala into Zyanya’s arms.

“Yeah.” She answered dejectly.

Vyse returned to her seat and for the rest of breakfast Ling didn’t even bother to look in her direction. Breakfast ended uneventfully not long after and Ling and her group were the first to leave. Everyone else filed out and went on to fulfill their duties for the day.

Zyanya sighed as she got up and left the cafeteria, heading to her room. Somehow Tala had become a sticky mess. She was covered in mushy oatmeal, cereal and yogurt. It was in her hair, on her shirt, pants and even on her little shoes.

Despite everything that was going on, Zyanya was happy she was spending time with Tala. She loved her daughter. So she decided to suck it up and just focus on having a fun day with Tala. Her frown turned into a smile as she nuzzled Tala’s soft cheek.

“First on the list is giving you a bath, mi princesita .” 

The bath was more difficult than Zyanya anticipated. Sure she always helps Ling bathe Tala but it was a bit more tricky now that Tala’s Radiant power was starting to present itself.

She lost track of how many mini shocks she received as she scrubbed Tala clean. Honestly Zyanya was just glad she didn’t get zapped to death. The last thing she needed was to be given the title of ‘Funniest Death’ whose current reigning champion was Breach. He choked to death while eating Surströmming. (Nobody wanted to give him CPR because of the awful stench!)

After Tala was dry and dressed, Zyanya placed her into her portable baby carrier. Tala looked absolutely precious with her stuffed animal and little screen tablet. They set out to do her tasks for the day. The only problem that became apparent was the fact that Tala was accustomed to a certain beloved routine. The little girl loved to be nursed after breakfast accompanied with a comfortable nap in Ling’s rockings arms while being sung to.

So they weren’t off to a great start when Tala became fussy after 10 am which quickly turned into a tantrum and eventually full blown cries. The tablet that Tala had in her little hands short-circuited from her zaps and was thrown angrily onto the floor. Zyanya had to dodge beams of lightning being sprayed everywhere in the shooting range.

Luckily Zyanya was able to calm Tala with her bottle. Thankfully, Tala was more willing to bottle feed now that she ate solid foods. Ling still nursed Tala despite the little girl being close to her second birthday. Ling didn’t really think it was a big issue and she dared anyone to say anything. Though the healer has begun the process of slowly weaning Tala bit by bit.

“There cariño . No more crying, okay?” Zyanya whispered as she cradled her daughter. Tala ended up falling asleep and Zyanya figured it would be best to go and get her field reports typed up. She was already two missions behind and Brimstone was getting snappy. She gently placed Tala back into her carrier, careful not to wake her. 

Reports were submitted at mission control which is located on the other side of the base so it was a bit of a walk. Brimstone reviews field reports and files them accordingly. Other agent’s greeted the pair as they passed each other in the hallways. Zyanya was about to enter the mission control when she heard a dreaded man shout behind her.

“ Impératrice Reyna! What a treat it is for me to cross paths with such a skilled and might I add, beautiful woman! Could I interest you in-” Chamber said before freezing up. His voice was cut out from his throat when he heard the cries of Tala who he had awakened from her peaceful nap.

Chamber might have pissed his pants had he not gone to the restroom earlier that day because Reyna’s mouth transformed with a growl and glowing eyes burned with utter fury and hatred. He spared no time turning on his heels and running away with his tail tucked between his legs..

Zyanya huffed and took a deep breath to calm herself. She had to unstrap Tala from her seat and stroke her head, whispering sweet words until her little girl fell asleep once more. She cursed the Frenchman as she buckled in Tala and entered the control room.

Mission control was mostly empty except for Omen who sat across from her as they typed in silence.  Omen finished first, quietly getting up from his seat. He simply nodded with Zyanya returning the gesture and  left. She finished shortly after and looked at the time. It was a little past noon which meant it was lunch time. Her stomach rumbled and her mouth watered. Astra was in charge of lunch today and she was making her famous homemade Fufu. Zyanya swore she could already smell the delicious rich broth.

Aye por fin! I’m so hungry.

Lunch wasn’t as dreadful as breakfast had been but it still not the best. Lunch was incredibly delicious with everyone paying compliments to Asta for her amazing cooking skills. Zyanya spent the entire time staring longingly at Ling. Her heart ached as she saw Ling’s face light up with laughter as fed Tala mashed carrots.

The people at her table snickered amongst themselves which didn’t help with her mood. Breach, Brimstone, Sova, Astra, and Omen all ate while joking around.

“This is why I’m single! I don’t gotta worry about fights with the wife!” barked Breach with laughter. Zyanya gave him a deadpan look.

“Yeah right. You got a face only a mother could love.” snorted Brimstone making everyone else explode with laughter. Zyanya ignored them and continued watching Ling.

Lunch ended and Zyanya felt a comforting but icy chill hand on her shoulder. She turned to find Omen standing with his empty tray.

“Don’t be afraid to apologize to Sage. She loves you very much. I’m positive you will be forgiven.”

Zyanya swallowed the lump in her throat. “ Gracias, Omen.”

Ling was already washing her dishes at the sink. Skye, Viper, and Vyse were each waiting their turn. Skye was holding Tala, tickling the girl's tummy earning giggles which caused her daughter’s powers to flare up. The lights flickered as in the mess hall earning some curious looks.

Honestly Zyanya wanted to find the perfect moment when Ling was alone but came to realize that was impossible because everyone at Protocol always seemed to need her wife for one reason or another.

Zyanya took a deep breath and stood up, bringing her tray with her. It was now or never. With step she took and the closer she got to Ling, her heart beat so fast. Zyanya swore it was going to burst out of her chest.

Ling looked up from her task and saw Zyanya walking towards her. She frowned and quickly dried her hands on her pants so she could leave. She was stopped when Zyanya reached out and grabbed her hand.

“Ling, wait please…Can we talk?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Ling’s dark brown eyes softened as she met Zyanya’s purple eyes. The sadness, regret, loneliness. Ling could see it all. But Zyanya had deeply hurt her yesterday. As much as she wanted to hug her wife and kiss her until their lips were smeared with the other’s lipstick, she couldn’t. Not until Zyanya apologized.

Ling cleared her throat and turned around. “Skye, can you watch Tala for a bit? I need to talk with Reyna.”

“No problem Sage!” grinned the Australian woman as she continued playing with the little girl. Viper and Vyse stared as the married pair left the mess hall. 

The two walked in silence and it was awkward to say the least. Zyanya tried to think of some small talk but decided it would be best to keep her mouth shut until they were alone.

“We can talk here.” Ling said, pointing to the library. They entered the library which thankfully was empty. Zyanya did not need someone besides Ling seeing her in a vulnerable state.

Ling stood across from her, leaning against one of the tables. She was waiting for Zyanya to speak. It’s why they were there in the first place.

“Ling, I’m sorry for what I said. It was wrong of me.” Zyanya said, her hand grabbing her elbow. “I shouldn’t have tried to control your actions.”

Ling didn’t say anything. Zyanya looked for some sort of reaction but Ling looked mostly unimpressed and unmoved. Zyanya silently cursed herself. Everything that she had rehearsed so perfectly was absent from her mind. Words and sentences were coming to full blanks.

“Is that all?” sighed Ling as she straightened herself. “It’s fine Zyanya. Let’s just forget about it and move on.”

Ling gave a weak smile and turned to leave but felt strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist. Zyanya pressed herself against Ling, burying her face into the back of Ling’s neck.

“ Mi amor, mi vida. Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Reyna whimpered as she intertwined their fingers. “I’m just so afraid that I’m going to lose you forever.”

Ling bit her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. She stayed silent as she continued listening to her wife. 

“Ling, look at me please…” pleaded Zyanya. Ling slowly turned, looking up from her feet and soft dark brown eyes met watering purple ones.

Zyanya sniffled and her voice cracked. “I swore to myself that I was never going to lose anyone else ever again. I already lost my Lucy. I can’t lose you too.”

A sob broke out as Ling embraced Zyanya. Their lips locked together as a dam of tears rolled down both their cheeks. The storm that hovered and plagued them all day was finally passing. Ling and Zyanya, the ‘Perfect Pair’ once more were reunited, stronger than ever.

“Sova has just informed me K-SEC is planning to strike a small town in Brazil. A huge ore of Radinite has been discovered under the town but the locals are refusing to move. According to my sources, the townspeople refused Kingdom's offer to purchase their land. So now they’re sending in K-SEC to wipe out the town’s population in order to mine freely and undisturbed. They are going to frame it as a natural disaster. We cannot let this happen. I need five agents to help repel Kingdom.” 

Sova, Reyna, Skye, Omen, and Breach raised their hands to volunteer for the mission. 

“Everyone but Reyna is on the mission.” Brimstone announced, looking down at the file in his hands. “Vyse, you will go instead. Everyone else, you are dismissed.”

Vyse gave a small chuckle and she leaned back in her chair. “Interesting.”

The room began to clear out. Reyna frowned and stayed seated. “Why can I not go?”

Brimstone shook his head. “I will explain later. Please head out. I will talk to you later.”

Reyna huffed in annoyance but complied with his orders. She left the room and headed for Ling’s office.

She knocked on the wooden door of her wife’s office and entered. To her surprise, she found Ling napping on her couch with Tala in her arms. Both were sleeping and looked quite comfortable. A children’s book laid open on the ground. It seems they had fallen asleep while reading the story together.

Time seemed to have slowed down because the office felt serene and peaceful. Her wife and daughter’s soft breathing along with a cozy warm room created a bubble of happiness.

Zyanya didn’t want to burst this rare moment of true tranquility so she quietly took a seat at Ling’s desk and spent the entire afternoon reading a book on her phone. She couldn’t stop smiling for the entire time.

“You and Sage will be taking a much needed vacation.”

The news came at a total shock for Ling and Zyanya. Tala sat her on mama’s lap playing with her toy, not paying attention. 

“Starting on Saturday. So make sure to pack your bags and let us know where you want to go by Thursday.”

Ling, while obviously very grateful, tried to decline. “I can’t leave. There’s so much work that needs to be done. What if an agent is killed and I’m not here to revive them?”

Brimstone chuckled as he urged the healer to calm herself. “We’ll be fine. You and Reyna are some of our best agents. You two work hard and never miss a day. Which is exactly why I approved your vacation.”

Zyanya smirked and leaned back in her seat. Honestly, a vacation sounded fantastic. She can’t even remember the last time she got a day off.

“So we can go anywhere?” Zyanya asked, speaking up. Ling eyed her wife while Brimstone grinned.

“Yep! Just let us know where you want to go so I can inform KAY-O.”

Ling tried to protest but the couple were gently escorted out from Brimstone’s office while he repeatedly reassured Sage that Protocol could handle itself for a week without her.

“ Ay corazón, no te preocupes. Let’s go plan a vacation.” smiled Zyanya leading Ling by her hand back to their room.

Unsurprisingly Saturday had arrived incredibly fast. Ling had scrambled all week to ensure the base would have enough medical supplies while she was gone. Zyanya joked about Ling really being ‘Valorant’s mother’ but she earned a glare which shut her up.

The pair decided to head to Mexico for their vacation. And since it was late in December, Brimstone managed to pull some strings and got Sunwoo dismissed early from her last week of school. They just had to pick her up first. 

With their suitcases packed and loaded on the V-LTR, all that was left was to say goodbye to their friends. However, only Viper and Brimstone were present since the rest were still on their mission in Brazil.

Viper gave Tala a gentle head pat which the little girl nuzzled into. The Chemist was thankful she was wearing her mask because she cracked a big smile.

“Call us if you need anything.” said Brimstone as he shook Zyanya’s hand.

“If we need more money then I’ll give you a call.” smirked Zyanya, making Brimstone playfully roll his eyes.

“Thank you, Brimstone.” smiled Ling as she hugged him which surprised the veteran agent. But he appreciated the gesture nevertheless. 

They boarded the ship and waved goodbye before the hatch closed and the plane descended into the air. The three watched a movie on Ling’s phone on their way to pick up Sunwoo.

Their little family vacation was about to start!

Chapter Text

“WOOOOOO!!!!” screamed Jett wildly as she cannonballed into the warm ocean from high up, thanks to her Radiant powers. Zyanya grinned at her daughter’s display of showmanship and dove in after her. The pair decided to challenge each other to a swimming contest. The winner got to choose where to eat dinner.

It was a bright and sunny day at the beach, so everyone dressed accordingly. Ling wore a modest jade-green two-piece bikini with a wrap skirt topped with a sun hat. Zyanya was more than happy to tell Ling how stunning she looked while putting it on. Zyanya herself opted for a more revealing purple two-piece, proudly showing off her curves and toned physique. Their morning would have stretched well into the afternoon if Jett hadn’t been banging on their room door, urging them to hurry up.

For Tala, Zyanya and Ling chose an adorable pink one-piece adorned with a cartoon octopus. Lastly, Jett wore a dark blue tank top and a pair of shorts she had bought during one of her school trips.

“Be careful!” yelled Ling from the shoreline. The Sentinel was building sandcastles with her youngest daughter. The little girl stuck her tongue out in an act of complete concentration, one eye closed as she carefully placed a seashell in the center of one of the castle towers.

Tala’s face lit up with joy when she successfully placed it dead center. Ling giggled and placed a gentle kiss on Tala’s cheek.

“Good job, Tala! I’m so proud of you!” beamed Ling.

Tala smirked, hands on her hips, radiating pride. The victory was short-lived, however, as the shell wobbled and fell off—it had been placed upwards instead of flat.

“Bwesit!” Tala cried out in frustration, swatting the sand tower and causing it to crumble. She crossed her arms and tilted her head upward with a pout.

“Qīn'ài de , it’s okay. You don’t have to get upset,” cooed Ling as she grabbed Tala’s yellow play bucket and trowel, filling it with wet sand. Ling flipped the bucket upside down, forming a new tower. “See? You can always try again.”

Tala, still pouting, pretended for a moment she wasn’t interested, but curiosity got the better of her. She uncrossed her arms, leaned in, and inspected the new sand structure with one hand on her tiny chin.

A squeal of delight escaped her as she dove back into playing, her earlier frustration forgotten. Ling chuckled and leaned back on the warm sand, letting the sun’s rays cascade over her body. She closed her eyes and sighed.

The soft sea breeze and peaceful atmosphere were a breath of fresh air. Ling couldn’t remember the last time she felt so relaxed. It almost didn’t feel real—more like a dream she would wake up from at any moment.

Right now, it was just Ling and her family enjoying a perfect day together. No Kingdom Corp, no Valorant Legion—just them. A pang of guilt crept in as she thought about the Protocol. Were her fellow agents okay? Did they make it back safely from their mission in Brazil, or were their bodies on ice, waiting for her return?

Before the worry could fully settle, a voice broke through her gloomy thoughts. She opened her eyes to see a drenched Zyanya looking down at her. Her slicked-back hair glistened in the sun, making her even more dazzling.

“I hate when you frown, mi amor ,” said Zyanya softly as she sat beside her wife, taking Ling’s hand and running her fingers over her knuckles. With her other hand, she gently patted Tala’s head as the little girl continued constructing her sandcastle.

Ling sat up and kissed Zyanya. “I’m sorry. It’s just hard to relax when you know people are relying on you.”

Zyanya sighed and placed a finger on Ling’s lips. “No talk about Protocol. We’re on vacation. Come on, let’s go swimming.”

“But—”

“Ah! I can’t hear you!” Zyanya said with a playful laugh as she stood up.

Ling smiled and rolled her eyes, deciding to forget about Protocol and have some fun in the sun. “Fine. You win.”

Zyanya grinned triumphantly and gracefully offered her hand to Ling. The Healer accepted, letting her wife help her to her feet. Zyanya couldn’t help but plant a quick peck on her wife’s lips which earned her a delicious blush from Ling.

“ Princessita !” Zyanya exclaimed, making Tala look up at her two mothers. Zyanya knelt and stretched out her arms. “Do you want to go into the water with me, mami , and Jett?”

Naturally, Tala was terrified of the ocean at first, but with Zyanya holding her hands tightly and Ling’s gentle encouragement, she let the small waves lap at her feet.

“You got this, dongsaeng !” cheered Jett from farther out in the ocean.

Soon enough, Tala was splashing and giggling! They stayed close to the shore to avoid scaring her, and both mothers braved her occasional accidental zaps of Radiant energy. The water only amplified the static hum, but they didn’t let it ruin their fun.

The family spent the afternoon playing in the waves, occasionally returning to their beach blanket for drinks and snacks. By the end of the day, they were sun-kissed and pleasantly exhausted. Jett, however, forgot sunscreen and ended up with a painful sunburn.

A grumpy Jett lay on the blanket under their umbrella as Ling used her healing orb to soothe her skin.

As the sun began to set, they packed up their belongings and walked back to their resort. Jett perked up when she was declared the winner of the swimming contest. Zyanya tried to claim exhaustion as an excuse, but Jett wasn’t having it. Zyanya playfully rolled her eyes, and Ling snickered.

It seemed burgers and fries were on the menu for dinner. After freshening up in their suite, the family dressed in nice evening wear and headed down to one of the resort’s restaurants.

The perfect end for a perfect day!

The metal door slid open with a soft hiss, and Brimstone stepped into the workshop. His sharp eyes immediately landed on a young girl hunched over a cluttered work table, her hands skillfully working on one of her robots. Blueprints, tools, and stray bolts lay scattered across the floor like forgotten toys.

"Figured I’d find you here this early, Klara," Brimstone said, carefully navigating the mess as he approached her station.

“I think I finally figured out what was wrong with my robot!” Klara chirped, grabbing a screwdriver and tightening a set of screws on the robot's control panel. With a quick tap on her tablet, she sent a flurry of commands.

The robot whirred to life, its camera lens swiveling between Klara and Brimstone before it sprang off the table and scurried in delighted circles on the floor.

Brimstone let out a low chuckle. “Damn clever work, kid. You’ve definitely got your folks' brains.”

Klara beamed, hopping down from her chair. “Are we having Waffeln for breakfast?”

Brimstone gave a firm nod, and Klara practically bounced in place with excitement. As they turned to leave, something on a shelf above her workstation caught Brimstone's eye—a strange, black triangular device with an ominous metallic sheen. Beside it sat a small scanner, similar to the kind you’d find at a grocery store checkout.

“What’s that?” Brimstone asked, pointing to the device.

“Huh?” Klara followed his gaze and immediately let out a dramatic sigh. “Oh, that. It’s just a failed invention. A useless piece of junk that didn’t even power on.”

Brimstone raised an amused brow, a chuckle escaping him. “Alright, no need to get all worked up over it.”

Klara rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “Sorry, Uncle Liam.”

Brimstone shook his head with a smirk and reached out to ruffle her beanie, earning a playful pout from the girl.

“Don’t sweat it, kid. Maybe one day you’ll figure it out.”

“Maybe,” Klara said with a shrug. “For now, it can sit there and gather dust.”

With that, the two turned and headed for the door, Klara’s small robot happily trailing behind them. The metal door slid closed with a quiet hum, leaving the workshop in silence once more.

Ling laughed so hard during dinner that a piece of hamburger fell out of her mouth, causing her face to flush crimson with embarrassment.

Zyanya and Jett burst into uncontrollable laughter while Ling glared daggers at them. Tala, meanwhile, remained focused on her dino nuggets, dipping them meticulously in ketchup. Her fries and tiny hamburger sat untouched.

As agreed, Jett chose the restaurant, but not their orders. She proudly devoured a guacamole double cheeseburger with seasoned fries. Zyanya opted for a spicy ghost pepper cheeseburger, paired with a glass of red wine. Ling, with her low spice tolerance, stuck to a plain burger, fries, and white wine. Tala, of course, was perfectly content with her kids' meal of dino nuggets, fries, and a miniature burger.

“And that’s when Raze and Killjoy got in trouble for using robots to steal snacks from the kitchen!” Jett chortled, her voice bright with mischief as she finished her story.

Ling smiled warmly, her heart swelling with joy. Hearing Jett’s school stories reassured her—her daughter was living a normal, carefree life. 

Ling squeaked softly as Zyanya’s arm snaked around her waist. Zyanya rested her head on her wife’s shoulder, grinning ear to ear as Jett continued her animated storytelling.

“What about you two? Any cool stories for me?” Jett asked, stuffing fries into her mouth.

Ling tapped her chin, pretending to think. Zyanya used the moment to plant a soft kiss on her wife’s cheek.

“Sage, that man behind us has been watching us since we arrived,” Zyanya whispered, her smile never faltering.

Ling placed a tender kiss on Zyanya’s head and cuddled closer. “I noticed him too. Deal with him. I’ll keep the girls safe.”

Ling let out an exaggerated whine as Zyanya pulled away and excused herself to the restroom. This subtle move gave both women a better look at their observer—a clean-shaven man with olive skin and sharp features, dressed in a white button-up shirt, khaki slacks, and polished black boots.

To an average person, he looked like any other wealthy businessman enjoying his meal at a fancy five star resort. But Zyanya and Ling weren’t average—they were Valorant agents trained to spot threats in crowds.

His rigid posture was the first red flag. Every small movement in his surroundings made him flinch. His fingers hovered too intently over his phone screen, likely recording their conversation. He had the technique and knowledge but lacked finesse—this was no seasoned operative.

As expected, the man stood and began trailing Zyanya, maintaining just enough distance to avoid suspicion.

Ling discreetly pulled out her phone and sent a warning text. Zyanya’s phone vibrated twice—a silent signal she was being followed.

She adjusted her pace, letting the man draw closer. As she reached a corner, Zyanya feigned answering a phone call, subtly changing her direction. Instead of heading toward the restrooms, she turned left onto an empty patio.

The man followed without hesitation.

Zyanya swiftly hid behind one of the massive support beams holding up the patio roof. The man hesitated, scanning the area when he realized he’d lost sight of her.

Before he could react, Zyanya lunged from the shadows. In one fluid motion, she spun him around and slammed him against the cold metal beam, pinning him by the throat with her forearm.

The man gagged, his breath hitching as Zyanya’s Ghost pressed against his temple.

“Who are you, and why are you spying on us?” Zyanya growled, her voice low and menacing. She eased her chokehold slightly, letting him sputter and gasp for air.

“ N-No, por favor ! This has to be a mistake! I swear, I’m just trying to get back to my room!” he stammered, panic dripping from every word.

“Cut the act, pendejo. You have ten seconds to tell me who sent you, or I’ll redecorate this wall with your brains.”

“ A-AYUDA !” the man shrieked, his voice breaking with fear.

Zyanya snarled in irritation and silenced him with a sharp strike from her pistol. His body went limp, slumping against her.

“¡ Pinche cobarde !” Zyanya hissed, dragging his unconscious form to a more concealed spot. Her eyes darted around, scanning the surrounding area for any possible incoming threats. His cry for help had been loud and could have definitely called for attention. After waiting a couple of minutes in the shadows, she let out a sharp breath and began to drag his body away.

They were going to have a little chat.

Zyanya had found an abandoned warehouse a few blocks from the resort. Judging by the rusted machinery and dusty assembly lines, it had once been a factory, long forgotten by time.

She set up in the foreman's office on the second floor, overlooking the vast factory floor. The man was chained to a metal chair, his wrists secured tightly to the armrests, and a gag of cloth and tape ensured he couldn't bite his tongue or call for help.

He was still unconscious, but Zyanya knew it wouldn’t be long before he woke. She could only hope he’d be cooperative—because if he wasn’t, things were about to get very unpleasant.

“How are the girls?” Zyanya asked, stifling a yawn as she leaned against the cold metal wall. It was nearly three in the morning, and exhaustion was clawing at her. Her phone was pressed to her ear, Ling’s soft voice on the other end.

“Tala and Jett are asleep. Jett was upset you didn’t come back to finish dinner,” Ling replied, her voice hushed to avoid waking their youngest.

Zyanya sighed and rubbed her face. “Damn… Don’t worry, corazón. I’ll make it up to her.”

A heavy silence lingered before Ling spoke again. “Why does it seem impossible for us to have a peaceful family vacation?” Her voice was a mix of frustration and sadness.

Zyanya’s expression softened, her voice gentle. “When I deal with this, we’ll have our fun again, okay? We still have one more day of vacation, and I promise it’ll be amazing. Trust me, mi vida .”

A faint chuckle came through the phone. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“That’s my girl,” Zyanya said with a smile.

Ling’s voice lowered again. “ Qīn'ài de , I have to go. Tala might wake up. Please… be careful and come back safe.”

“Always. I love you.”

“I love you too, Zyanya.”

The call ended, and Zyanya pocketed her phone. With a tired sigh, she made her way back upstairs to the office.

When she opened the door, her captive was already awake. His bloodshot eyes locked onto her, terror filling them as he struggled violently against his chains, the metal rattling loudly in the empty room.

Reyna closed the door behind her, her heels clicking softly against the concrete floor. She smirked.

“Good. You’re awake. Let’s have a little chat.”

The man spat blood onto the grimy floor. His face was swollen, one eye shut completely, and a few teeth were noticeably missing. His head hung low as he wheezed through split lips.

Reyna crossed her arms, inspecting the blood crusting her knuckles. He was stubborn, she’d give him that. Weaker Kingdom operatives would have broken long ago.

“Ready to talk yet?” she asked casually, tilting her head.

The man raised his head weakly, his one good eye locking onto her glowing purple irises. He smirked through the blood and said in a raspy voice: “Go to hell, maricona …”

Reyna’s smile turned sharp. Without warning, she stomped her heel down on his thigh, making him howl in agony. She followed it up with a brutal kick to his face, knocking his head back against the chair.

Her patience had run thin.

She drew her Ghost pistol from her waistband, pressing the cold barrel against his temple. Her voice was low, dripping with finality.

“Last chance. Talk.”

Fear consumed the man as his defiance crumbled into pitiful begging. “Wait! I’ll talk—please, don’t shoot! I have a family!”

Reyna’s finger rested lightly on the trigger. “Then talk. Now.”

~~~

As expected, the man—Marcos, as he identified himself—was a Kingdom operative. He had been sent to monitor Reyna and Sage after undercover K-SEC agents spotted them arriving at the resort.

His orders were simple: keep his distance, observe, and report. But somewhere along the way, greed and ambition clouded his judgment.

Marcos hadn’t expected to discover his enemy had children—two little girls completely absent from any known Kingdom intel files. What did this mean?

Collateral.

To Kingdom, they would be leveraged, bargaining chips that would be used to keep the Protocol in check. Marcos had followed the family obsessively for three days, collecting photos, audio recordings, and notes. His plan had been to return with a detailed report, one he was sure would earn him a fat promotion.

But he’d gotten cocky. Sitting directly behind them at dinner had been his fatal mistake.

Now he was here, staring down the barrel of Reyna’s pistol, his secrets spilled out across the cold factory air.

“Have you reported anything back yet?” Reyna asked, her voice low and sharp, her finger twitching slightly on the trigger.

Marcos shook his head frantically. “No! I haven’t! It’s all on my laptop, back in my room. Please, I can delete it all—I won’t tell Kingdom anything, I swear!”

Reyna’s tense posture relaxed slightly. Her eyes softened as she let out a sigh.

“That’s all I needed to know.”

Relief washed over Marcos, and tears welled in his eyes. “ Gracias —thank you so much! I swear you won’t regret this!”

Reyna walked behind him, fiddling with the locks on his restraints. His breathing steadied, and a twisted grin began to form on his bloodied lips.

The moment he was free, he’d run straight back to Kingdom. He’d report every detail—every word spoken, every laugh shared. And maybe, just maybe, if luck favored him, they’d let him have some fun with this puta before the end.

But his grin shattered the second he heard the hammer click on her Ghost .

Her voice came cold and unyielding from behind him.

“I know I won’t.”

*ZIP*

The suppressed shot echoed through the empty warehouse.

Marcos limp body slumped forward in his chair, blood dripping onto the cracked concrete below. His brains were blown out from behind. Fragments of grey brain matter and white skull coated the filthy office floor.

Reyna holstered her weapon, her face unreadable as she stared down at the lifeless body.

“ Pendejo .”

Marcos must have been truly stupid to believe Reyna would let him live after discovering the existence of her daughters.

Zyanya wasted no time searching his pockets. She pulled out a compact knife, a wallet, and a room keycard. His room was three floors below hers. That laptop had to be secured immediately—Kingdom couldn’t get their hands on what was inside.

Her gaze shifted to the lifeless body slumped in the chair. Disposal wasn’t optional. She turned and walked out of the office, the metallic scent of blood lingering in the air behind her.

Descending to the factory floor, Zyanya scanned the dimly lit space. Sunlight began to filter through cracked windows, casting sharp beams across layers of dust and rust. In the far corner, a cluster of steel drums caught her eye.

Approaching cautiously, she pried open one lid. The heavy stench of rancid motor oil slammed into her nose, making her stomach churn. But it would have to do. Not like she had any other option.

With practiced efficiency, she dragged Marcos' body downstairs. She managed to force him into the barrel. The oil let out a sickening gurgle as it swallowed him, bubbles rising briefly to the surface before going still. She bent his legs inward, ensuring the oil fully submerged him, then slammed the lid shut.

Wiping her hands on her undershirt, Zyanya took a step back. Kingdom would come looking for him eventually, but by then, she and her family would be long gone.

She let out a long, exhausted sigh, her shoulders sagging. Every muscle in her body screamed for rest. A hot shower, and a nice warm comfy spot in bed next to her wife and daughter. 

Without another glance at the warehouse, Zyanya slipped out into the morning light and began her walk back to the hotel.

As promised, Zyanya secured the laptop from Marcos’s room before returning to her suite. She quietly slipped inside, careful not to wake anyone.

Out of habit, she opened the door to Jett’s room and peeked in. The little girl was fast asleep, hugging her pillow tightly. A soft smile crept across Zyanya’s face before she gently closed the door and continued to her own room.

Inside, Ling and Tala were peacefully asleep. Zyanya grabbed a pair of pajamas from her luggage and slipped into the bathroom. A quick, hot shower washed away the tension and exhaustion of the past night. After drying off and changing into her soft sleepwear, she climbed into bed, nestling close to Ling. For now, her family was safe—and that was all that mattered.

Zyanya was woken hours later by the sound of cartoons blaring from the television. Sunlight poured through the curtains, causing her to squint as she slowly opened her eyes.

“Morning, Mom!” chirped Jett, who was sitting cross-legged at the foot of the bed, happily munching on a blueberry muffin.

“Morning, princesa ,” Zyanya mumbled groggily, rolling onto her side. Her smile returned instantly when she saw Ling cradling Tala in her arms.

Ling was scrolling through her phone while nursing Tala. She read a series of updates from Brimstone, who informed her that their fellow agents had successfully completed their mission in Brazil. Though no one had died, several agents had been seriously injured- Skye among them- and as result was unable to heal them. Viper had been forced to step in for medical support.

Ling frowned and instinctively tried to call Brimstone, only to receive a stern scolding. He reminded her—firmly—to focus on her vacation and enjoy her time with her family.

A notification pinged on her phone, breaking her thoughts. She opened the message and burst out laughing. The screen displayed a picture of Klara’s robot drowning a plate of waffles in an ocean of syrup.

“Jett, look at what your friend’s robot did!” Ling giggled, turning the phone to show her daughter.

Jett’s eyes went wide as she snatched the phone. “Killjoy’s at the base for Winter Break? Oh man, Chingu messed up big time!” She burst into laughter seeing the ruined breakfast.

Ling chuckled, shaking her head. “I can only imagine the chaos that little robot causes.”

Zyanya, who had been silently listening with a soft smile, decided it was time to get up. The clock was creeping toward noon, and her stomach was beginning to growl. She pushed the blankets off and stretched with a loud yawn.

“ Buenos días ,” she greeted.

“ Mamá !” Tala squealed as she wriggled free from Ling’s arms and flung herself into Zyanya’s embrace. Ling laughed softly as she grabbed her phone and began snapping pictures of the sweet moment.

“No, querida , don’t take pictures! I look awful!” Zyanya protested, covering her face with one hand. Ling smirked, gently moving Zyanya’s hand away. “You look perfect,” she said before leaning in for a kiss.

Zyanya melted under her wife’s affection, her protests forgotten as she let Ling capture every adorable moment. 

“Wait, let me get in on that!” Jett hollered before throwing herself into the frame, photobombing her little sister and mother.

Ling was in stitches, laughing so hard she could barely hold her phone steady as she snapped picture after picture.

Morning melted into noon as the family spent their time cuddling, laughing, and making silly faces for photos. Eventually, they decided it was time to head out for an early lunch.

With everyone dressed and ready, they stepped out into the bright day ahead—ready for a full afternoon of family fun.

Jett's mouth hung agape as she watched both her moms absolutely demolish the leaderboard on an arcade gun game. She clutched the handle of Tala's rented stroller, her wide eyes fixed on the flashing "NEW HIGH SCORE" text on the screen. The craziest part? They'd done it on their first try.

"That was more fun than I thought," Ling said, grinning as she placed the plastic gun back in its holder.

Zyanya planted her hands on her hips, her smile smug. "I still won though, mi corazón . Four more kills."

Ling rolled her eyes playfully. "Fine, fine. I'll let you have this one."

Zyanya smirked. "And what do I win?"

Jett's eyebrows shot up as Ling leaned in to whisper something in Zyanya's ear. Whatever it was made the Empress purr with satisfaction.

"Uh... can we go now?" Jett asked, her face scrunched with awkwardness as she rubbed the back of her neck.

Both moms burst into laughter, and Jett huffed in mock annoyance.

They decided to follow up their arcade victory with a movie. Checking their schedule, they realized they'd still have time for dinner and the fireworks show later that night.

Ling held Tala in her arms as they stood in front of the lineup of movie posters. Jett crossed her fingers behind her back, silently praying Tala would choose the animated robot movie with the adorable dog sidekick.

Luck was on Jett's side. Tala's little hand shot out excitedly, pointing at the poster with wide eyes.

"Yes!" Jett cheered, throwing her fist in the air. "This is gonna be awesome!"

They purchased their tickets and made their way inside. As they passed the concession stand, Jett tugged on Ling's sleeve.

"Mom, can we get popcorn and candy? Pleeease?"

Ling chuckled at Jett's exaggerated puppy eyes. "Of course. It wouldn't be a movie without snacks."

Zyanya watched with amusement, stroking her chin thoughtfully. Maybe I should try those puppy eyes on Ling someday... could be fun.

The movie delivered exactly what everyone expected of a children's movie. It had heartwarming moments, goofy humor, and tear-jerking scenes.

Tala sat comfortably in Zyanya's lap, tiny hands buried in the popcorn bucket as her eyes stayed glued to the screen. On her left, Jett happily munched on jelly beans while sipping her soda. Ling leaned against Zyanya's shoulder, a soft smile on her face as she enjoyed the moment.

For both Ling and Zyanya, the movie itself wasn't the highlight—it was watching their daughters have the time of their lives. Seeing their smiles, hearing their laughter, and feeling their small hands clutching theirs during intense scenes... it was perfect.

When the movie ended, Jett was furiously wiping her eyes with her sleeve as the credits rolled. The final scene, where the robot reunited with his lost dog, had struck her right in the heart.

Ling knelt in front of her daughter and gently wiped a stray tear off Jett's cheek. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

Jett sniffled and crossed her arms. "I wasn’t crying! I just... got salt in my eyes from the popcorn!"

Zyanya smothered a laugh behind her hand, while Ling exchanged an amused glance with her wife.

Dinner was a grand affair at the resort's five-star buffet. Plates were piled high, desserts disappeared within seconds, and laughter echoed across their table. By the time they finished, everyone was full and content.

As night fell, they found a cozy spot on the beach to watch the fireworks. The warm ocean breeze carried the faint scent of saltwater, and the sound of crashing waves filled the quiet moments between bursts of color in the sky.

Tala sat on Zyanya's lap, clapping her tiny hands every time an explosion painted the sky with glittering hues. Jett sat cross-legged on the sand, pointing at her favorite fireworks and tugging at Ling's sleeve to make sure she saw them.

Ling and Zyanya exchanged a glance, their hands entwined. Without a word, they leaned in and shared a soft kiss as a particularly brilliant firework exploded overhead, bathing them in golden light.

In this moment, everything was perfect.

As the finale lit up the sky in a dazzling array of colors, Zyanya whispered into Ling's ear, "Next year, same place?"

Ling smiled, her eyes shimmering with happiness. "Absolutely."

For now, the world was quiet, their daughters were safe, and their family was whole. And that was all that truly mattered.

Chapter Text

The return to Protocol was inevitable. Reyna and Sage returned to the fight after a much-needed vacation. They settled back into their daily routines like they hadn’t even left.

Ling was back to her job as the base’s medic. A role she embraced with pride and many times also doubt and fear.

Ling’s fingers tapped against the touch screen as she typed away at another medical expense form. Brimstone was rather meticulous about keeping records straight and orderly.

Ling’s work these days was split into two main parts. Most of her work revolved around being the base’s resident doctor, and the other half as a desk jockey filing medical records and expenses.

Ling yawned as she stretched her arms above her head until her back let out a satisfying pop. The computer screen read 11:43AM, which was excellent timing because Ling was quite hungry. She had only eaten a small breakfast that morning because she wanted to leave room for Sova’s Pelmeni. That man was a talented chef along with being an expert bowsman.

The door to her office opened, and standing at the entrance was Zyanya grinning while holding a messy-looking Tala.

Ling giggled because Tala was painted like an artist’s canvas. Her little hands were covered in paint, and her shirt was splattered with many different colored globs and marks. Tala looked very proud of the wet little piece of paper she held.

“Your daughter wants to give you something, amor.” Tala, with a big toothy grin, held up the paper for Ling to look at. It was a crudely painted stick figure drawing of their little family.

It depicted Ling, Sage, Jett, and Tala all holding hands with big smiling faces. It was precious and filled with so much love and innocence. Ling took the picture and treated it as a sacred artifact. She leaned forward to kiss Tala’s forehead.

“I love it, my sweet girl.”

Tala squealed and wrapped her arms around Ling’s neck and pulled her in for a tight hug. Zyanya snickered as Ling’s shirt was smeared with paint. Ling smirked and, with the tip of her finger, swiped Tala’s shirt and gently booped Zyanya’s nose, marking it with a dark purple dot.“Oh, you’re in for it now, Wei,” laughed Zyanya as she pulled them in for a group hug.

Jett smirked as she ducked behind a metal crate with an uncapped colored marker. Killjoy tapped away at her tablet screen, checking each corner with her robot to find Jett.

“I know you’re here, Jett! ” yelled Killjoy with a grin. Her voice echoing in the empty hangar bay.They were playing a favorite game from school called Ninja Tag. The objective was to mark the target without being caught or noticed.

Killjoy's right ear perked up when she heard a subtle footstep to her right.She tapped her tablet and sent the robot rolling over. But Killjoy had the robot flank left of the crate in hopes of catching Jett off guard.Killjoy was disappointed to see nobody until she heard a voice behind her.

"I win,” grinned Jett, twirling her marker between her fingers. She pointed at a mirror on the wall, and Killjoy saw Jett had drawn a long dash across the side of her neck.

“How?! ” yelled Killjoy, utterly shocked. She should have felt the marker tip on her skin or felt the breeze from Jett’s wind powers! When playing Ninja Tag at school, the moment one felt the wet marker tip on their neck, it was too late to react, and they were eliminated for the round.

Jett shrugged her shoulders, stating she couldn’t reveal her secrets just yet.

Killjoy playfully rolled her eyes. “Tryhard.”

Jett stuck her tongue out. “Get better.”

Killjoy and Jett played one more round of Ninja Tag and ended off with a tie. Killjoy managed to nick Jett’s neck by using her robot as a distraction.

The two were now sitting in one of the base's many lounges watching movies and eating popcorn. After a long day of playing games, it seemed like a perfect way to end off the day.

Killjoy was partially watching movies while also doing her winter homework packet. Jett called her a nerd, and Killjoy suggested Jett get started on her homework before it was too late.

“Nah, I’ll get it done next week,” said Jett, shoving a handful of buttered popcorn into her mouth and loudly sipping her soda through her straw.

Killjoy raised an eyebrow. “Okay, but I’m not letting you copy my homework.”

“It’s fine, I’ll just ask Phoenix to send me the answers,” replied Jett.

“Oh, ja? Are you going to ask him for a kiss too? ” teased Killjoy.

Jett blushed hard. “S-shut up! ”

Killjoy cackled while Jett crossed her arms and pouted and watched the movie, hoping Killjoy wouldn’t tease her any further.

It’s not like Jett liked Phoenix like that. Well, sure, Jett thought he was really fun and cool, but it’s not like she thought he was totally cute. Or that he looked really awesome when he used his fire powers. Jett’s face went crimson as she sank into the sofa.What was she thinking?!

Ugh! Killjoy always loved to mess with her. Killjoy was also one to talk! She and Raze were always kissing during recess and acted like big dorks talking about inventions and robots! Hello?! Total nerd alert!

But even despite all the teasing, Killjoy was one of Jett’s best friends, and Jett will always have her back.That’s what friends were.

Brimstone took a sip of his piping hot black coffee, slightly burning his tongue. But he didn’t wince nor so much as react. At this point in his life, a slightly burnt tongue was nothing compared to being riddled with bullets or dying multiple times.

Black coffee like this was what kept him up through these late nights in the surveillance room.Cypher was busy hacking and cycling through feeds of Kingdom facilities' security cameras, where Valorant Legion was known to repeatedly raid for Radianite.

Brimstone furrowed his brow and set his mug down as he watched the wall of screens. Cypher looked over at Brimstone with a seemingly annoyed posture for putting hot liquids near his setup. It was hard to tell what face Cypher made when he had that damn mask of his.

"Again. I don’t like this,” said Brimstone, crossing his arms.It’s been almost an entire month since Protocol detected any Legion activity. No signs of rift activations, sightings of Legion agents, or attacks on Radinite mines or Kingdom refining factories.

“Perhaps Legion has realized they are no match for us,” boldly lied Cypher, knowing deep down that wasn't the case. It just helped ease his nerves slightly. Something was definitely not right.

Brimstone said nothing. This past month has been relatively peaceful. Everyone at base did their regular duties and training. It seemed more cheerful, in fact. Probably because there wasn't the usual stress, agony, and heavy burden and pressure agents carried on their shoulders when they were sent on incredibly dangerous missions every week knowing damn well they were the first and only line of defense between their Earth and total destruction.

The surveillance door slid open and shut with a mechanized hiss. Reyna and Viper approached the two men and looked up at the wall of screens cycling through feeds.

"Any news? ” asked Reyna.Brimstone shook his head, and Viper closed her eyes in frustration. While many other agents were busy merrymaking around, enjoying their new sudden peace, Viper, Reyna, Brimstone, and Cypher have been diligently keeping all eyes and ears open. They all knew Legion would never give up. Not until they sucked their Earth dry and left them to die like rats.

Valorant Legion was planning something, but exactly what was the big question keeping them on the edge of their seats. Currently Viper felt bitter about what was currently unfolding in the cafeteria. Breach was hosting a karaoke session like a goddamn frat boy.

Everyone was acting like the war was won when in fact they should all be training even harder than they were. But at the same time, Viper couldn't bring herself to shatter the illusion. Even she had a tiny soft spot in her poisoned heart that was enjoying the peace. But reality is not kind nor merciful.

A storm was brewing.

The skies are going to darken. Rain will fall. At first it will not seem like much of an issue. But then thunder would crack the peace and silence first. Fears will reemerge, reality kicking back in, but there is hope that it will quickly pass.

Then the lightning would strike hard and shatter it completely. Any foolish notions that they had achieved peace will wash away. The cold, harsh truth is that they cannot achieve peace until one side is destroyed. They had to be ready to fight until the last man or woman standing.

But for now, Viper and Brimstone will let their fellow agents rest just a while longer. They deserved that much at least.

Enjoy the peace while they can.