Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sam unleashed another punch, his fist impacting with an intense blast of heat that scorched the dreamjolt troupe member instantly.

Inside the cold metal interior of the Strategic Assault Mech, Firefly prayed for this meaningless death she dealt to bring catharsis.

He launched into the air, igniting his thrusters to deliver a devastating kick into another group of hostile memes. He spun around, using his momentum to shatter the body of the one that managed to survive. The suit’s sensorium amplified the physical sensation, but Firefly felt nothing.

Damn the script. This was supposed to be Firefly’s mission, not Sam’s! That look on Stelle’s face haunted her thoughts. How could she hurt her like that… This wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

No! Now wasn’t the time. The next scene was coming up, and they needed to get into the roll. They weren’t Firefly. He was Sam. Vicious, deadly, with no remorse.

He grabbed the last of the dreamjolt troupe and ignited her thermic weapons, roasting it at point blank. The exertion was beginning to get to him. Good, that way he wouldn’t need to act as much to take it easy on her.

“...Careful.” He heard behind him, accompanied by the clack of heels on the polished hotel floor. They were here. Just as he’d rehearsed.

He turned around to see who was there. There she was, bat drawn, looking for all the world like she wanted to hurt them. They turned to look at their other opponents before they broke character.

“A galaxy ranger… and… a memokeeper.” He offered out his hand, a willingness to negotiate. “Leave now, and nobody gets hurt.” He said flatly. Not any more than they already had, that is. “Or else… all of you will die here. The detective game is over. You shouldn’t be here.”

He moved into an offensive posture, readying to fight the inevitable moment any of them came for him.

Stelle yelled and ran to begin closing the gap between them. Of course she would be first. He couldn’t look her in the eye as he lashed out with a straight punch to knock her off course. Stupid girl didn’t dodge, she took it to her body, staggering backwards, before swinging with all her might. Her bat collided squarely with Sam’s centre mass, forcing him to use his internal stabilisers to remain upright. Aeons she’d gotten strong. Not just physically, but in her Aeon-given blessings too.

“Step one, implementation!” He called as he launched himself into the air. That ranger looked to be readying a strike. That wouldn’t do. He collided hard with the ground as Acheron lept away from the kick. Noted: she was fast.

The memokeeper’s magic washed over him, sending alerts across his screen. He rolled to the side, getting clipped by a grasping crystalline hand that erupted from the floor. His HuD flashed a damage report for his right leg. Time to escalate.

He saw Stelle approaching again, the worst timing. Rolling to his feet, he adopted an aggressive posture “I…” he started. He made eye contact with Stelle. There were tears there. “... will set the seas ablaze.” He finished. He’d managed enough menaces to cause Stelle to hesitate as he initiated Secondary Combustion mode, engulfing their surroundings in flame. When the wash of flame dissipated, he saw Stelle stood with her flaming lance buried into the ground. Not even a singe on her coat.

Firefly had hoped for more panache in their delivery. They had wanted to impress Stelle when she met Sam in this lifetime. Damn it.

He initiated a second heavenly fire manoeuvre, this time directed at Stelle. If she was using her preservation powers, she could take it. Sam collided hard with the lance, held out to intercept him. Even the secondary explosion from his thrusters barely lit an ember on the ends of her hair.

The ranger dived in for an attack, not even deigning to unsheathe her blade. An insult? Or a kindness? Sam headed her off with a punch. As predicted, she did not parry, she evaded, launching herself over him. The sheathed blade caught him in the small of the back, triggering an attack report. No damage, but the impact absorption layers of the suit had been sorely tested by the blow. She was dangerous. Perhaps he needed to push them harder.

He stood up straight, initialising the commands to divert power to thrusters. “Once you’re back in the real world, remember to tell everyone-” The three women had stopped, analysing his motions. Good. He’d have clearance enough for this. “-about the Stellaron Hunter who was behind your ultimate departure.”

He crouched, timing his legs to move in concert with all of the suit’s thrusters. Within a split second, he had to deactivate the jets, lest he waste momentum colliding with the roof. He flipped deftly, his heels barely scraping the roof: a perfectly calculated motion. Now upside down, he gunned the commands again: supernova overload manoeuvre. A shockwave sent pieces of burning memoria flying as, for the briefest second, he hit the sound barrier.

Without the suit’s sensorium, he’d have had no chance to aim at this speed. He assessed the target zone in that split second: Stelle had raised a barrier of pure Preservation in front of the other two. Good girl. He wouldn’t have to slow down.

“Execution- Underway!” He roared against the G-forces.

He struck the ground with immense force, the afterburn of his thrusters igniting in a column of fire, meteors of memoria peppering the room around them. The three had been forced back by the shockwave, now looking somewhat ruffled.

“I’m… okay.” Stelle said, pulling out her bat alongside her lance. She’d backed up behind the other two to catch her breath.

“If that’s the case-” Sam growled, kicking aside some of the scenery that had survived his landing. It was her he had to push for this to work. 

He dodged between the memokeeper and the ranger’s attacks, and launched at max speed towards Stelle. He reached out a hand to grab hold of the bat and unleash another punch… only to be intercepted by a sweep blow of Acheron’s sheathed blade. 

The G-force warning on his HuD went off with the speed he had to redirect his movement. He’d barely gotten his footing when she threw the sword at him, necessitating a deflection. He launched himself backwards to avoid the Ranger’s follow-up attack. On the back foot like this, he’d lose his posture for certain if she struck, and Firefly’s body had hit the G-force limit for this second.

In the air, he reassessed the situation, scanning for Stelle’s location. With the wave of the memokeeper’s card, the two of them were gone. No! It was her and the ranger he’d meant to drive off.

He hit the ground hard, stabilising himself. He threw aside a burning luggage trolley to get a clear line of attack to his remaining target. He’d gotten started now: he’d see this scene through to the end.

“Better unsheathe that blade now, ranger.” He growled. He’d had enough of this. Curse this script. Curse these two from keeping Stelle from him! He readied another punch. She’d tire eventually.

“Do you… still dream, hunter?” Acheron said, not even deigning to make eye contact, sword pointed out, but not unsheathed. “-Of those slain by your hand.”

He gasped. What? Why would she ask that?! He watched as Acheron gripped the blade of the sword as if to draw it. Instead, she breathed out, and lowered it.

“I still see them in my dreams.” She said, releasing her grip on the weapon entirely. “Hold it. Your time hasn’t come yet.”

Confused, he dismissed the secondary combustion mode on the armour and stood at ease. Inside the cockpit, Firefly breathed quietly, trying to calm themself without tripping the voice filter. Keep it hidden…

“‘My… time’?” They asked. What game was she playing?

“I’ve seen many clever disguises that can conceal appearances, but they can never cover up who a person really is. And you’re no different.” Acheron said calmly, shaking her head. “You had no desire to kill Stelle. You only did what you did to drive me and the memokeeper away… but why?”

They sighed pensively. Had they been so obvious? Perhaps they should have used their swords to show they meant business… No. Even Stelle would have been at risk then. What could they even say at this juncture that wouldn’t put the plan in jeopardy.

“Did Destiny’s Slave make you do it?” Acheron asked darkly.

“You… know Elio.” Sam said. That changed things a little.

“I thought this is just the kind of thing that’d get written into your ‘script’”

And now she brings up the script. Just what they needed. “My ‘script’ has always been brief. Other than that… anything beyond that is unnecessary.” They said, trying to keep their voice level. “He knows my nature: There is but one destiny, from which no-one can escape - and until then, I hold the privilege of choice. However, you appear to be ignorant of this, so it’s time for me to inquire: Who exactly are you?”

“Not your enemy, perhaps.” Acheron said, closing her eyes.

Frustration welled back up within them. They didn’t have the energy for this. Not after today. “That’s. not. What I asked.” He growled.

Acheron wandered away a little bit, breaking eye contact. Obvious discomfort. Likely deflecting an unpleasant truth. A familiar circumstance. “I don’t deserve your curiosity.” She said, “Loners wandering the cosmos always have their secrets. Take me. I’m wanted by the IPC, so it’s little wonder that I know something about the Stellaron Hunters… That’s all.” She turned back to them. “Maybe I can help.”

“What reason would you have for doing that?” They asked.

“I tend to forget things - which is why, rather than memories, I’m accustomed to using my emotions to capture what I normally wouldn’t otherwise. So… I know who is inside that cold armour.” Acheron said.

Firefly gasped. Her intentions were one thing, but her identity? Was she bluffing? What would she possibly think of her now, after what she’d put Stelle through…

“How about it? Ready to take off that armour and sit down for a talk?” Acheron asked patiently.

“It’s not. Yet. Time.” Sam growled, this time fighting back sadness rather than anger. Her mask was all over the place. Focus. “I don’t need help, but I can give you a suggestion that would make things better for you and me.” They said. Maybe they could salvage this. “If your goal is the Watchmaker’s Legacy, then go look into The Family. Not only are they covering up the existence of ‘Death’, but they’re burying the past, and the truth about what happens inside the Dreamscape.”

“Already on it.” Acheron said flatly. Well, at least that was reassurance.

It was a long shot that it would be needed, but, just in case… maybe she could make things easier for Stelle? “And… the Astral Express is no enemy of yours.”

“I know that…” Acheron said, “I just never expected to hear you say it. What’s next then? Stelle’s been taken by Black Swan. Will you go look for her?” There was an edge to her voice. A threat, maybe?

They wished they could. She wished so badly. She wanted to find her, to tell her everything, to give her a hug and tell her that she was sorry. “No need for that…” She said instead. “No harm in mentioning that Elio’s only given me one instruction, ‘Get all of the Astral Express to track down the Grand Legacy.”

One instruction, but if only the rest of the script were so simple. Were it only hurting her…

“I tried settling this in an easier, and more direct, way, but as you can see, here I am, confronting you: I failed.” they sighed. “Can’t ever go against ‘the script’.”

“‘The so-called impossible is something that has merely yet to happen’...” Acheron said with a smile. “That’s it. Before we split, can I ask you one more thing? Is there anything else in your ‘script’ about me? I’d like to know what kind of footnote ‘I’ get to leave in that… future foreseen by destiny?”

They ran the digital version of their script in their HuD, skimming for any mention of this ‘ranger’. Of course she’d want to know. And of course, Elio wouldn’t tell Sam such details.

“Unfortunately, not a thing came up.”

Acheron sighed, “...I knew it,” before turning to head off.

“Hang on…” Firefly said. Something had been eating away at her this whole conversation, ‘script’ aside. “I… don’t…” She said.

“Don’t… what?” Acheron asked, confused.

“Your first question was: ‘Do you still have dreams about everyone who died because of you?’ I don’t. Never have.” She said, shaking her head. The images were starting to flood back to her. IPC goons screaming their last. A scorched, barren Glamoth. Bloody shells of her fellow cavalry, cracked and blackened on a battlefield. “I was born without the ability to ‘dream’” she spat, fighting back tears. “I live for this cold, harsh reality, and to burn… and to keep on burning, until I turn to ash.”

Her voice had turned to a growl by the time she’d finished. To burn to ash… the honour of Glamoth’s Iron Cavalry. An honour so ‘charitably’ bestowed upon her by the people she failed to save.

“So,” She continued, tears welling up in her eyes, “I- really envy you.”

“Is that so?” Acheron said as she departed. “Then you’re already living in the waking world.”

With the false ranger gone, she fled the scene, finding somewhere quiet, alone. Knights don’t cry. Emotions are strictly prohibited for Glamoth’s iron Cavalry. Knight don’t cry…

She vanished her armour and curled up. It was okay now. She wasn’t a knight like this.

Did it really have to happen like this? Was there no other way things could have gone?

Chapter Text

“H-hi, my name is Samuel. Samuel Knight.” The new guy squeaked.

Stelle was too tired for this. She’d been up all night playing a game she’d gotten for christmas. It was the first day back after the holidays anyway, she wouldn’t need to think today.

“Stelle, listen to me.” Ms Kafka said. “You have a free period first, why don’t you show Samuel around the school. You are a prefect, aren’t you?”

Stelle dragged her face off the desk and stood up. “Yes miss.” She yawned. By that smile on Ms Kafka’s face, she was definitely being punished for napping during form period. By rights, Dan Heng should be the one giving this tour, he was actually good at being a prefect. Stelle had only applied to be one because Miss Himeko had said it’d be good on her uni application.

“‘Aight Sammy, follow me.” She said, pulling her arms back through her blazer sleeves. The boy followed her, the pair leaving the classroom to the sounds of whispers. She was used to it at this point.

Alright. Let’s see. Poor thing looked nervous, but trying to hide it. Kinda effeminate, long silver hair and bright eyes. Probably wouldn’t appreciate a crowd this early. She’d show him the dining hall first while the first period rush happened. She led him down the stairs from the music department to the canteen, where the dinner ladies were still cleaning up after the breakfast crowd.

“Here’s the canteen. They do breakfast and lunch, and you can vibe here in free periods. Or do work, I guess.” Stelle said, sitting on one of the tables. She rolled her eyes as the bell went, waiting before she continued. “Let’s wait while the hordes get to class.”

The thin school floors thundered with the sounds of hundreds of pupils dragging themselves through narrow corridors to the first lesson of the day.

“Thank you.” Sam said quietly, taking a seat.

“So, why you starting school in spring term anyway?” Stelle asked, trying to make small talk.

“Oh, um, I was supposed to start in September, but I ended up in hospital instead. They said it would be better if I just waited for the next term. I-I’ve been doing homework to catch up.” He said quietly, not making eye contact. That was fine, Stelle didn’t care for it either.

“Shit, accident or somethin’?”  She asked.

“No um, I have a, um, condition.” He said quietly, looking around for eavesdroppers.

“Ah shit, that sucks man.” Stelle said. She nearly reached out to ruffle his hair. Oops, this wasn’t March, she couldn’t get away with that. Fuck she was tired.

“It’s- it’s okay, I’m u-used to it by now.” He stammered.

“Well, anyway, ‘nuff of that. Where’d you go to school for GCSEs?”

“I, um, was homeschooled.”

Well that explained a lot. Poor kid probably didn’t socialise enough, or maybe was homeschooled ‘cos he was too nervous for school? Either way, it fit with the image of the guy in front of her. She followed his gaze… yeah, figured. From the way his eyes were moving, he was staring at her legs. Thought she wouldn’t notice, but she did.

Stelle puffed up her chest, confidently saying “Well, anyone gives you shit, come to me, yeah? Our year’s got some twats who’ll pick on anyone different, but I’ll stick out for you.”

Sam was taken aback by that. “Th-thank you. Um, I hope it won’t be needed.”

“Yeah, fingers crossed. ‘Aight, sounds like the herd of elephants’s fucked off, let’s go see the rest. What subjects you doing anyway?”

“Maths, physics, chemistry, art.” He said.

“Art, not biology? Thinking of doing architecture at uni or something? Most peeps do three science ‘n maths if they’re doin’ stem.” She asked, hopping to her feet.

“I-I’m not sure, but, m-maybe engineering? I enjoy art more than biology though.” He said, eyes lighting up.

“Yeah? What’s your, um, fuckin’... medium?” Stelle said, trying to remember the words March used.

He seemed a lot more confident making small talk about their topics. Stelle showed him through the DT and science department, round the maths corridor, and along that weird corridor at the back of the school which was nothing but lockers.

“So, joinin’ any clubs?” Stelle asked.

“Clubs? Um, I kinda guessed it would be too late to.” Sam said. He barely made any noise as he stepped, despite how creaky the floor in this corridor was. 

“Yeah, no, like, aside from sports teams you’re prob’ly fine.” Stelle said.

“Oh. What clubs are there?” Sam asked. They turned into the block for the IT department.

“Iunno, Ms Kafka’ll know. I do hockey mostly. And I’m head of the LGBT club.” Stelle said. This kid didn’t seem like he’d cause a fuss over that. He’d be an idiot to now.

No, to the contrary, his eyes light up. “There’s an LGBT club? What do you do there?”

“Honestly like, mostly just fuck about. We have a weekly meeting friday lunchtime where we talk about gay shit and play video games.” She said, before pointing out where the IT guys laired up, in case he ever needed computer help.

“Would it be okay if I came along?” Sam asked. “I, um…” he looked very hesitant. Hmm. Was ‘he’ right?

“Yeah no come along, we’re chill. Don’t need to prove it or anything. Fuck, can you imagine?” Stelle laughed.

Sam laughed along. They looked excited but nervous.

“So. Pronouns?” Stelle asked, checking nobody else was around.

“Huh? I… um, I mean, uh…” they suddenly looked nervous again. Well, she’d hit the nail on the head then.

“Hey, let’s go somewhere quieter, yeah?” She said. She guided the new kid back to the empty corridor. She wrestled with the door towards the old chapel until it opened, setting out into an unused courtyard. She closed the doors behind them, and breathed in the crisp winter air. The pair of them sat down on the cold concrete floor.

Sam breathed in, suddenly looking a lot more confident. “ Please don’t tell anyone.” their voice was suddenly higher, less bassy.

“Yeah, our secret. We don’t out people, like, fuck.” Stelle said. The idea was… urgh. It brought back bad memories.

“Good. So, my name is Firefly.” The new girl said. “I prefer she/her but, please use he/him with me for now, at least in front of others.”

“Damn, Firefly’s a lot more confident than Sammy.” Stelle said.

“It’s a lot easier when I get to be myself.” Firefly smiled. “Oh, hey look, a cat.”

Stelle looked around. Oh. Seriously? “Fuck sake.” Stelle sighed. “That’s Elio.”

“Elio?” Firefly asked.

“Local cat. He’s not supposed to be on school grounds.” Stelle hissed. Firefly was looking at her suspiciously. Fuck. Okay, change topic. “Anyway, so maths and physics huh? We’ve got subjects in common then.”

***

“Wait, Miss Himeko’s your mum?!” Firefly asked.

She was sat on one of the science room desks next to Stelle. She’d followed her around like a lost puppy for the last week but, well, could she be blamed for that? This was a safe person.

“Yeah. Please don’t call her a milf, I can’t take it any more.” Stelle said.

“She shouldn’t be such a milf then!” Guinaifen called from across the room.

“Fuck off Gui.” Stelle called back, raising two fingers at her. Gui simply stuck her tongue out back at her and winked.

“Kafka talks about her a lot at home” Firefly said, before realising what she’d let slip.

“...At home? You Ms Kafka’s kid or something?” 

“Uhh… well, foster mum but, I don’t wanna talk about that.” Firefly said. The less said about her birth parents the better.

“Yeah no, that's chill, just, now I can call your ma a milf, turn the tables.” Stelle said with a wink.

“Stelle!” Firefly said, gently slapping her on the arm. She couldn’t help but smile at the shit-eating grin on Stelle’s face.

The bell went off, signalling the end of lunch, and thus the LGBT club meeting.

“Aight ladies, back to the closet, see youse later.” Stelle announced, hopping down to get her bag and blazer.

“ Please stop calling us all ladies.” Said Dan Heng.

“I’ll stop when you stop being the token guy.” Stelle said.

Firefly breathed in, readying themself to be misgendered for the afternoon. It had been a long week.

“Hey, Stelle?” March said, “I’ve a free now, you up for that errand?”

Stelle sighed out a raspberry. “Sure, fuck it.” Firefly heard her say as she left the door.

***

How had the weeks gone so fast? 

She’d asked to meet Stelle in town over half-term. She was a little later than she’d hoped for, thanks to the train running late. She came up the escalator at the central train station to see Stelle waiting on the other side of the ticket gates. Her heart skipped a beat at seeing her there in a jacket and band tee. She spent her school hours with her blazer off as much as possible, and here she was wearing one in her spare time.

She had to admit, she looked… good. Really good. Had she even done up her hair in a ponytail?

“‘Aight Fly.” Stelle nodded as she arrived. “Cute dress, looks good on you.”

“Thank you.” Firefly said, trying not to blush.

“So, where d’you wanna go?” Stelle asked.

“I hadn’t really gotten that far, I just wanted to see a friendly face while school’s out.” Firefly said.

“Well, I know a nice café down the main street if you like. Love their coffee.” Stelle said.

“Lead the way!”

It was the longest she’d been outside as a girl. Her eyes flitted from stranger to stranger, terrified of what she’d see in their gazes. Having Stelle there helped. Even outside of school, she felt like she would protect her.

The café was pleasant, art lining the wall and a strange rococo-style decor. They managed to nab a two-person table by the window, looking out onto the main street.

“Whatcha want? My treat.” Stelle asked, pulling out her wallet.

“Huh? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, serious.”

“Okay…” Firefly looked through the menu. She couldn’t have too much caffeine thanks to her meds, so she ordered a hot chocolate and one of the oak cake rolls. She’d not heard of those before, but the description sounded nice.

Stelle came and sat back down while they waited for their order to arrive.

“I’ll be sure to get the next one.” Firefly said with a smile.

“Fuck yeah, sounds like a date.” Stelle grinned.

Firefly froze. “Huh? Date? I…” She stammered.

“What, just wanted to ask me to hang out on Valentines by accident?” Stelle said with a smirk.

“I… Okay, you got me. Was I really that obvious?” Firefly asked, her face burning.

“Wishful thinking, too.” Stelle said. Firefly braved eye contact, and realised that Stelle was starting to blush too.

“Then. Okay. I’m gonna say it. Stelle… Do you want to go out with me?” Firefly asked.

Stelle pumped her fist and whispered ‘Yesss’ to herself. “‘Course I do, Fly.”

“What about what people at school will say?”

“Fuck ‘em. If they have a problem they can get bent.” Stelle said. “I’ll bash ‘em with my hockey stick if they give you shit.”

Firefly laughed. She hoped it wouldn’t be needed. The weeks had gone so fast. Time really flies when you’re spending all your time with a pretty girl, she guessed.

Chapter Text

Firefly had run out of social energy hours ago. One more more ‘funny’ anecdote and she might crack.

She’d agreed to show up to the work Christmas do this year on the condition that they picked a venue she could actually reach without dying. In a turn of events uncharacteristic of her time at Glamoth, her manager had actually gone out of her way to pick a pub-restaurant that wasn’t up a hill or three miles from the nearest public transport.

Problem with that was, it meant she actually had to show up.

She feigned polite interest as someone from the other team led a discussion about dogs. She’d never had a dog, so she could only smile and laugh at appropriate intervals.

Without pets or kids of her own, she wasn’t sure what she could even relate to these people about.

She excused herself to go to the bathroom, just to get a moment to herself. She grabbed her cane and began slowly making her way from the table. She wished she had her crutches with her from the amount she’d been going back and forth, but the idea of navigating through these chairs with them…

She walked past the main bar to the disabled loo. Behind it, she spotted a drink that hadn’t been on the menu at the table. Was it at the bar only? Hmm. She’d see about ordering it on the way back.

She took her time, savouring the little sanctuary from her coworkers while she could.

She headed to the bar, hoping her coworkers wouldn’t notice her loitering there. Hell, for all she’d joined in the conversation, she probably didn’t even notice her leaving. Hmm, no-one was there, probably busy serving the party table. That was okay, she could wait.

She hopped up onto one of the barstools and started scrolling through social media. Facebook… Just her mum making a joke about the recent election. Twitter… Looks like Wolfie had won that Aetherium Wars tournament she’d been preparing for. Presumably that's what all the discord messages were about. She closed it before she hit more discourse and lost her remaining will to live. She opened Insta, hoping some pictures of cats (and maybe some of Robin…) would cheer her up. Maybe one of the shark accounts had posted! Sharks were so cute…

“Good evening and welcome!” Said a soothing voice. “What can I get for you? A drink? Some snacks?” 

She looked up and stared at the woman who’d just let herself behind the bar. She had long grey hair done up in a messy bun, shirt, suspenders, a jacket worn casually over her shoulders. She was straightening her tie as her gorgeous yellow eyes met Firefly’s.

“Oh, hi, sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Firefly chuckled, stalling for time as her brain tried to get back in gear.

The woman leant her hands against the bar a respectful distance from her. Well, maybe a little closer than that. “No worries, sorry for your wait. Now, what does a beautiful lady like yourself want to drink?”

Beautiful lady ? That was so unfair, she’d just got her words in order and her mind had gone blank again! Could she pass both that and the pinkness in her cheeks on the wine?

“B-uh, I mean, hah, sorry,” she laughed, wrestling with her speech as the bartender grinned, “Could I get a Baileys please?”

“You got it!” The grey-haired menace said cheerfully, spinning around to fetch the bottle. Her every movement was exaggerated, like she was dancing. She hummed as she went. Was that..?

“Excuse me, is that ‘If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking’?” Firefly asked.

“I’ll make a dream unchaaaaaiiined~” The woman sang, woefully out of key.

Firefly giggled. “I love that song, Robin is such an inspiration.”

“She’s iconic. I’m more of a Mechanical Fever gal myself, but my ex got me into her. Probably gonna hear a lot of her on the radio this month.” She said with a wink.

Ah, yes, one week ‘til December, and the Christmas songs were already starting to dominate the radio in the office. “I heard she was planning to one-up herself with a full Christmas album this year.” Firefly said. She’d started to lean against the bar herself, despite the damage it was probably doing to her back.

“I’m sure it’ll be a gay old time.” The bartender said with a wink, setting Firefly’s heart aflutter. She was probably just referring to all the speculation in the press about Robin’s sexuality, but still. “One Baileys.” she said, sliding Firefly her drink.

“Um, how much is that?” Firefly asked.

“I’ll just charge it to the company as part of the venue expenses, don’t worry about it.” The dapper lady said. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

“Don’t worry, I heard nothing.” Firefly said, trying to wink back. “I was worried you were going to say this was more of a New Year’s drink.” Firefly said, taking a sip of the liqueur.

“The customer’s always right, in terms of taste.” She shrugged. “Can be a Christmas drink too. Besides, I saw that oak cake rolls were on the set menu, and they go perfectly together, wouldn’t you say?”

She understood! Speaking of which, dessert could well have arrived while she’d been here… She needed to find a polite way to excuse herself. Unfortunately, she didn’t really want to.

“Stelle, you’re needed in the kitchen.” Said a woman who’d just rounded the corner. She was gorgeous, bright red hair and a confident posture. Was she the landlady..?

“Well, duty calls.” Stelle said, bowing, before disappearing off to one of the back rooms.

Perhaps coming along hadn’t been such a bad idea?

***

Firefly sat down in the disabled seats on the bus, positioning her crutches so people could see them, and hopefully not bother her for ‘not looking disabled’. She stared out the rainy window as the city lights went by. 

She’d spent all day dealing with the client from hell today. She wasn’t even supposed to be in charge of their account! She’d taken it as a favour to June! 

Maybe she’d treat herself to a bath. Although, she could just binge the first season of Dungeon Meshi on Netflix instead, Wolfie had said it was good. Though, with how tired she was, it might be better to just rewatch something comforting.

She saw the lights of The Black Rabbit as she neared her stop. Wasn’t that where they had the Christmas do two months ago? She’d been rushed off her feet wrapping up her assignment for the year and hadn’t had a change to unwind. Maybe she deserved to go for a drink? It wasn’t relaxing per se but… yeah, why not.

She thanked the bus driver as she got off at her stop, and started to walk home on auto-pilot before remembering that she’d intended to go to the pub. She pulled her phone out to convince hypothetical onlookers that she’d simply had something come up, before turning and walking back.

The pub was warm, and mercifully not too busy. A family or two were sitting in the dining area, and a few older-looking regulars had taken a booth by the fire.

Firefly made her way over to the bar, admiring the decor. She’d been too busy trying to socialise last time to really notice it. It was cosy, old-school wooden pub furnishing. It felt more welcoming than the bright bars she’d been to at uni.

She looked at a little blackboard announcing that Tuesdays were 2-4-1 cocktail evenings. What a stroke of fortune coming here today then. She squinted to try and read the little chalk menu.

“Good evening and welcome! What can I get for you, beautiful lady?” A familiar voice said from across the bar.

She nearly jumped as she turned around as saw her, the handsome woman who’d served her last time.

“Oh, hi! Sorry, I’m just trying to read the menu. Um… Stelle, was it?” Firefly said.

“Yeah, that’s me. Sorry about the handwriting, had to make do with what space I had.” Stelle said, leaning against the bar.

“That’s okay! Um…” Firefly desperately tried to come up with an order.

“Tell you what, how about I make you something I reckon you’ll like, and if you don’t, it’s free.” Stelle said, rolling up her sleeves.

“You can do that?” Firefly asked, shuffling up onto one of the stools. Seems she was the only one at the bar. She could have Stelle all to herself.

So she didn’t have to rush her order, of course.

“Yeah no sweat. Let me see… yeah a one of them’ll do.” Stelle said, turning to the drinks behind her.

Firefly leant forward as she watched her work, taking off her jacket. She didn’t need to look smart right now. She loosened her tie and undid her top button… better make that two, while she was there.

Stelle slid a martini glass of something bright red. She watched eagerly as Firefly took a sip. “I think that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted, wow.” Firefly said in astonishment, before immediately going for a second sip.

“It’s strong, so be careful. I’ve chugged one of those like it was fruit juice before, had a hangover before I even got to bed.” Stelle chuckled.

“I’ll be careful.” Firefly smiled. Normally she wouldn’t go for something quite this sweet, but on five hours sleep and that day of work? It was right what the doctor ordered. Still, she saw an opportunity. “In which case, I guess I shouldn’t have a second one of those. How about you have my free one?”

Stelle waved dismissively. “I couldn’t possibly.”

“Please, I insist.”

“Well, if I must.” Stelle said with a grin, almost immediately.

Once Stelle had her own drink, she raised her glass to Firefly’s. “To generous strangers.” She toasted.

Firefly felt adventurous. She deserved this. “To handsome women.”

***

The very next tuesday…

“I never would have guessed you were a mecha fan.” Stelle said.

“I love mecha! Maybe it’s a little stereotypical, but it’s just really exciting.” Firefly said. “I wanted to be a pilot when I was younger, before I got glasses."

“You know, I actually haven’t watched much mecha. I’ve only seen…”

“Witch from Mercury?”

“That obvious, huh?”

***

Several tuesdays later…

“I’d love to get tickets to see Robin next month, but all I could find were standing tickets…” Firefly sighed.

“If it’s any consolation, I can’t get ‘them ‘cos I have to take care of the kids that evening.” Stelle said reassuringly, sliding over a cocktail.

“You have kids?” Firefly asked, surprised.

“Yeah, two littluns.” Stelle said, leaning against the bar. “My ex has them most of the time, since she and her new fella can take care of them better, but I still see ‘em two days a week.”

“Wow!” Firefly said. “Are you still on good terms with your ex or?”

“Yeah she’s still my bestie, romance just didn’t work out for us.” Stelle shrugged. “Life, eh?”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m not in touch with any of my exes anymore. And with the new job, I just haven’t had the time for romance.” Firefly said, before kicking herself.

“Well, then I’m glad you have time for cocktail night at least.” Stelle winked.

***

A few months after…

“How about a movie? What sort of movies do you like?” Firefly asked.

“All sorts, horror, action, more horror…” Stelle said.

“Hmm, I’m not sure I can manage horror after a day at work.” Firefly said.

“Yeah, to be honest the cinema’s too loud for me these days, upsets the ‘tism you know?”

“I definitely know.” Firefly sighed. “What about a weekend instead?”

“Hmm, I’ve got the kids on Saturday, then Sunday…” Stelle pulled out her phone. “Ah, DnD, then a shift.”

“Adulting sucks.” Firefly said, swirling her drink with a straw.

“Hey, you know what, how about we keep it simple. We can hang out round mine, play some video games, maybe watch a movie at a reasonable volume, just chill, you know.” Stelle said.

Firefly smiled. “That sounds perfect. Did you say Thursday was free?”

“Well, not this week, but next…”

***

Stelle’s place was remarkably tidy. Firefly had been expecting a bachelor pad from her whole vibe, but it was well tended-to. There were even some rather tasteful houseplants around. She set her crutches by the door and collapsed onto the sofa.

“So, how about I introduce you to a flight sim? You said you used to want to be a pilot, maybe that’d be fun?” Stelle asked, opening a cupboard with a bunch of intimidating hardware in it.

“I think I’m too tired to take that in right now.” Firefly chuckled. “How about I just watch you play something this time?”

“Well, sticking with the plane theme… Aha! There’s Ace Combat!”

Firefly took a sip of the soulglad Stelle had brought her and checked her messages. Wolfie had sent a bunch of messages, all detailing what she’d do to Stelle if she turned out to be a creep. Sisters, eh?

The game started, and Firefly leant up against Stelle’s arm. There was no need to be coy: they both knew what this was. Stelle wrapped an arm around her, looping round to reach her controller.

“You okay like this?” Firefly asked.

“You’re the prettiest hard mode modifier I’ve ever met.” Stelle chuckled.

Firefly watched as Stelle played. As exciting as it was, Firefly felt her eyelids growing heavy. When was the last time she felt this at ease? Just… Spending time with someone alone like this. No work, no socialising… just peace.

She breathed out a long sigh of relief as she drifted off into a sweet dream.

Chapter Text

Sam couldn’t help but wonder what God she’d managed to upset.

She’d nearly left her suitcase on the platform, the (late!) train had been rammed for the entire six-hour journey from Glamoth to Pier Point, and now her phone refused to turn on. Had that last drop finally done it in? Now of all times?

Without her map app she had no idea how to get anywhere in the capital. Who could she ask for directions? One of the station staff? An approachable stranger? She sighed, and placed the useless slab in her bag. She’d looked up the journey several times on the way, she could find the route, right?

Within an hour, she was cursing the underground designers. Why would two stations have such similar names?! Now sure she’d gotten off at the right one, she set out onto the streets. Of course it was raining.

From here she’d have to go… which way was it again? Okay, if she could find the river, she could navigate from there. Why couldn’t uncle Elio have just sent her the keys? Or left them somewhere easier for her to find? At this rate, the office would be closed by the time she even got close. She hoped the encroaching nighttime was more to do with the time of year than the time of day.

She rounded a corner onto one of the city’s many riverfront streets. A clock on an old tower down the ride hammered the final nail into her coffin: she’d missed it. The office was closed. 

Dazed, she sat down on a nearby bench. She wished she could at least listen to music, but no, that was all on her phone too. Was this a mistake? Was she wrong to want to live the life she wanted? To want to get away from everything that had happened?

No, she couldn’t be. She refused to accept it. It was her life: She was the one who held the privilege of choice.

Music. She could hear cheap speakers beginning projecting music across the road from her. Looking up, she saw three women, two with guitars and one with a camera. Well, it wasn’t like she had anywhere else to be anymore. She crossed the road to get a closer look.

One of the guitarists was a brown-haired girl with long pigtails, her playing sounding a little amateur, but far from bad. She was immediately drawn to the bassist however. Her scruffy grey hair, her smug grin, those piercing yellow eyes… she looked… no, it couldn’t be. She stared, transfixed on the woman, right up until she was noticed. She averted her eyes in embarrassment as she got a wink. Bassists!

She sat nearby, and tapped her feet along to the music. It was a little more rock ‘n’ roll than she was used to, but it was pleasant. She could feel herself recovering as she listened. Things sucked right now, but maybe she would be okay.

After an instrumental song, the grey-haired woman began to sing, and Sam felt her heart melt. Her voice was low and smooth, and sent shivers up her spine. 

Time passed so quickly as she stayed and bathed in the sound.

Eventually, the bassist thanked everyone for listening, and the group began to pack up. The red-headed girl with the camera rushed over to share what she’d taken with the lead guitarist, while the bassist idly stared off into the distance 

Before she could stop herself, she found her feet carrying herself over to where she stood.

“Hey. I loved your singing.” Sam said breathlessly. What was she doing?

“Hmm? Oh, thank you.” The grey-haired girl said, turning around. A goofy grin spread across her face, and she scratched the back of her head in embarrassment.

“I mean it, you sounded so good.” Sam continued. “Um… has anyone ever told you you look like the bassist from ROBIN?”

“Hah!” The woman laughed, holding out a hand. “Murata Stelle, ex-bassist for ROBIN. Nice to meet you.”

Her stomach flipped. Did that make what she’d said better or worse? She didn’t know. “Oh! I didn’t know you’d…”

“Don’t sweat it.” Stelle said, putting her bass aside. “We tried to keep it on the downlow to avoid the rumours. There’s no hard feelings.”

“Oh, that’s good to hear. So, um, is this a new band, or?” Sam asked. She must have been too tired to be anxious. This was ROBIN’s old bassist! In the flesh!

“Haha, yeah, Gui wanted us to drum up a bit of publicity to get things rolling.” Stelle said, gesturing to the other two girls, who were definitely whispering to each other. If she had to guess, she meant the red-head with the camera.

“So, um, Murata, how come you..?”

“Stelle.” She laughed. “I just swap my names around for the stage. My mum’s Tokiwan you see…”

Her awkward smile was so endearing. It was a lot cuter than she was expecting from how cool she’d looked performing.

“I see! Well, um, I guess I shouldn’t keep you. I should probably figure out what I’m doing.” Sam said, reflexively reaching for her phone before she remembered.

“You alright? What’s the story with the suitcase?” Stelle asked. Did she really look that lost?

Sam explained the day she’d had to this stranger, who whistled in amazement.

“Wow, that’s rough. Hey, in that case, how about I get you something to eat? There’s a noodle bar round the corner, give you something to cheer you up.” Stelle said.

“Huh?” Sam was amazed. Was this really happening? “Are you sure? I’m a complete stranger after all.”

Stelle shrugged. “Honestly, you cheered me up. Besides, I can’t leave a pretty lady to suffer can I?” She said, scratching the back of her head again.

Pretty. Lady? Not only was she passing , but she was pretty ?

***

She awoke to the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling. Where was she? She didn’t remember getting to her new flat last night…

She clambered out of the bed as her memories came back to her. She peeked through the door. There she was, the bassist for her favourite band, asleep on the couch. Well, mostly on the couch. Wow she was a sloppy sleeper.

Sam checked through her suitcase. Everything was still there. Stelle really had been nothing short of a gentleman (gentle-lady?) the whole time. No, expectations, no taking advantage of her situation. Just a meal, and a place to stay the night.

She got dressed in a hurry. It would be impolite to impose too long.

When she opened the door again, Stelle had vanished from the couch. She scanned the flat to see her in a dressing gown at the kitchenette.

“Morning Sammy.” She said without turning around. “Want breakfast? I’m cooking up some eggs.”

“Are you sure? You’ve already done so much for me.” Sam said.

“It’s fine, I’d be a poor host if I didn’t take care of a guest.” Stelle chuckled.

It was just scrambled eggs on toast, but for Sam it tasted like heaven. How had she ended up in this situation?

“So, you said last night that you'd played drums before.” Stelle said, mouth full of egg. “You ever felt like joining a band?

“Me?” Sam was taken aback. “It was just a hobby. Besides, I didn’t want to inflict my playing on anyone else."

“I feel you. ROBIN was always March’s dream, not mine. Playing in front of people though… Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.” Stelle said sagely, sauce somehow having ended up on her cheek.

“March was kind of my queer awakening if I’m honest.” Sam said idly, before realising what she said. Her eyes widened in horror as Stelle doubled over laughing.

“She’d be happy to hear that.” Stelle said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Said inspiring other trans women was one of her goals.”

Sam breathed a sigh of relief, and managed an embarrassed smile.

“So, back to it…” Stelle said. “My band’s looking for a drummer. Wanna join?”

Her mind went blank. “I, um, really? I’m no good, really, I’d just hold you back, I’m more of a supporter than a star…” She fired off rapidly. Her? In a band with someone from ROBIN? She had to be dreaming.

“It’s cool, Sushang and Huohuo are amateurs too. We really just play for the fun of it, no pressure or anything.” Stelle said. Sam felt kinda pressured really, but… Maybe it would be nice. If nothing else, that way she’d definitely have friends in the city. She couldn’t be a loner forever.

“Okay.” She smiled. “I’ll give it a shot.” 

***

Looks like she’d gotten to practise early. That was good. She could set up in peace. She’d practised with them a few times now, and got along well enough, but with everyone in the room… things got loud. Especially once Gui arrived.

She coughed. Hmm, her throat was feeling a bit sore. She took out her phone and flicked through her albums. Aha, there, If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking, by ROBIN. She set it to play, and closed her eyes. She sang along to March’s voice, trying to match where she could. Okay, despite her throat’s condition, there wasn’t too much bass creeping in. 

“Oh, you have a really nice singing voice.” Came a timid voice from the door.

She leapt, quickly looking up to see Huohuo creeping into the room. “Y-you heard?”

“Yeah!” Huohuo said, starting to unpack. “Maybe you could sing with Stelle? She did say she’d like it if more of us tried.”

“I couldn’t, I just sing as voice training.” Sam said. It was enough that she was drumming, surely? “I’m just too nervous, I’d die.”

“I understand.” Huohuo said, taking a green fox plushie out of her bag. “I wouldn’t have even thought of joining the band if Gui and Sushy hadn’t talked me into it. Even then I still need to bring Mr. Tail with me for courage.”

Sam reached over and petted the plush fox. “Maybe I should be more adventurous.” She sighed.

“More adventurous than moving across the country to a place nobody knows you?” Stelle chuckled, putting her bass down to take off her coat.

How did people keep sneaking up on her?! Still, seeing Stelle made her smile.

“Hey Stelle!” Sam said cheerfully.

“Hey Sammy. Before I forget, whose turn was it to get dinner tonight?” Stelle asked.

“Right in front of Huohuo?! She might think something’s going on here!” she thought in alarm. She had to play it cool…

“My turn. I got my first paycheck yesterday after all. I was thinking pizza?” She said proudly. Never mind that it was just for a terrible tour guide job.

“Sweet, pizza sounds nice.” Stelle said, her eyes lighting up.

“Hey, Stelle? Have you ever got stage fright?” Huohuo asked out of the blue.

“That’s my secret, dear Huo.” Stelle said, putting her bass strap over her shoulders. “I always have stage fright. Social anxiety, you know.”

“Eh? How do you keep it in all the time then?” 

Stelle shrugged. “Stage persona. Talk big and eventually you’ll believe it. Works for the rest of life too.” She started checking her guitar was in tune, cutting off further conversation.

A stage persona, huh? That couldn’t be more difficult than transitioning, surely. Though, said the girl who hadn’t had the courage to even change her name because it was ‘gender neutral, so she couldn’t get misgendered with it.

She had a lot of thinking to do.

***

“Why are you being so stubborn about this?!” Firefly shouted.

“We’re doing this for fun, Fly, not ambition. It’s too big.” Stelle shrugged, looking away.

“But you said you always wanted to play alongside Mechanical Fever? What’s changed now?” Firefly asked, massaging her own forehead in frustration. Ever since the offer several days ago, Stelle had refused to elaborate on her desire to turn it down.

“Have you even asked the others what they think?” Stelle sighed irritatedly. “This is about more than what just you and I want.”

“I wanna give it a shot!” Sushang said.

“I… I don’t think we should get i-involved.” Huohuo shuddered, backing away towards her car.

“See? You didn’t ask either!” Firefly growled, prodding Stelle in the chest.

“Hey! Get off my case okay!” Stelle exclaimed as she backed up away from her.

“Not until you admit you’re just scared!” Firefly said. She couldn’t believe her! All this talk of wanting to make music her way and she was backing out at the first chance to play it for an audience that would get it! “We’ve done three performances now and the band doesn’t even have a real name! Are you even serious about this?”

Stelle rolled her eyes and clenched her jaw. “Okay, guys, go home. Band hangout’s over.” 

“We were done here anyway.” Firefly growled. She waved to the others without turning and marched to Stelle’s car before she could drive off without her. As the car started, she started,”I just don’t…”

“Not a word.” Stelle snapped. “Not while I’m driving.”

Firefly glared out of the window. She’d joined this stupid band because Stelle had wanted her to to begin with. And now she’d gotten passionate about it, now she gets second thoughts!

Stelle drove to a halt outside Firefly’s apartment block, head bowed forward, silently wishing Firefly to go.

“I’m not getting out until you admit you’re scared.” Firefly growled.

“Fuck, Firefly, of course I’m scared!” Stelle shouted, banging her fist against the rim of the steering wheel. “Going through this was bad enough the first time! What if it all goes wrong? What if I have to admit that I’m nothing without the others?”

“Then you talk to us!” Firefly groaned. “I know you’re struggling! Just let me help you! I’m not just some project for you, I’m a person!”

“Why do you even care?” Stelle asked flatly, turning to her window. “You’d probably have been better off if it had been March you bumped into that day.”

That was across the line. “No I fucking wouldn’t! I’m here now because it was you who helped me when I needed it most, no-one else.” She groaned. She tutted, continuing, “and, you know why I care.”

“What, because I was part of ROBIN?”

“No, dumbass, because I love you !” Firefly shouted. Well. The cat was out of the bag now. Stelle turned around slowly, her jaw dropped, eyes wet. “I don’t care that you were in that band. I love the you who took in a complete stranger, who made sure she had friends, who’s made her laugh more than she ever has.” She said, tears starting to fall. “I was in such a dark place when I ran away to Pier Point. We talked because you were part of ROBIN, but everything since is- is why you mean so much to me.”

Tears flowed from Stelle’s eyes. “I-I never- ima-” Her words were cut off as tears took her. She doubled over the steering wheel, blindly trying to turn on the car’s CD player. As the music started, she turned it right up, drowning out the sound of her ugly sobs.

Firefly turned and looked out the window. This wasn’t how she wanted any of this to go. Not the evening, not her confessing to Stelle. She’d really…

Her thoughts were cut off by the feeling of Stelle’s hand reaching out to hold hers.

***

“Alright, band naming session, begin!” Gui announced from her perch on the kitchen surface.

“Ghost hunting squad?” Sushang suggested.

“That’s kinda cheesy,” Gui said, “Although, that might make for a good bit…”

“Please, nothing ROBIN-related.” Stelle said, staring thoughtfully out the window.

Firefly put her hand down. She’d been about to suggest ‘Astral Express’ after the concept album ‘Path of the Trailblaze’.

“Stellaron Hunters? Hmm, no that sounds self-aggrandising…” Stelle said.

“Honestly a-all I have are song title ideas…” Huohuo mumbled.

“Come on guys, put your heads together.” Gui said.

“Do you have any ideas then Gui?” Sushang sighed.

“Aurumaton? Snappy, simple, unique.” Gui said proudly.

The four of them sighed. It seemed like that wasn’t it either. A sudden stroke of inspiration hit Firefly.

“How about ‘Something Unto Death’?” Firefly said.

“Woah, wh-where did that come from?” Huohuo asked.

“It’s from my favourite poem by Gallagher.” Firefly said excitedly. “It’s dramatic, and lets people know to expect something heavier, not like ROBIN!”

Across the table, Stelle flashed her a smile.

***

Now she was here, Firefly understood why Stelle had been so nervous. The crowd was larger than any they’d played for before, and much more energetic. Firefly just prayed she wouldn’t trip on the outfit she’d put together for this one. It felt a bit much, but it made her feel so much more confident. Even if Stelle had initially made fun of the little bell-like ornament on her lower back.

“You holding up, Fly?” Stelle asked, leaning against her.

“Maybe. I’ll call it a success if I don’t hurl.” Firefly said.

Stelle chuckled. “You’ll be great. Come on, up we go.”

Firefly gave Huohuo a quick hug, seeing how nervous she looked, before the lot of them walked up onto the stage. Hearing them introduced as ‘Something Unto Death’ brought a smile to Firefly’s face.

Okay, she could do this. Drums and backing vocals. She could do that. Stelle hadn’t written them any songs for Firefly to do any metal growls in yet. She didn’t have to worry about that for now.

“Hey everyone, we’re Something Unto Death.” Stelle said. “Some of you might recognise me from the band ROBIN, though…”

Oh no, she was going to tell her life’s story wasn’t she. She glanced across to Huohuo, Mr Tail sat on her keyboard, who shrugged worriedly at her. Alright, it was time to take things into her own hands.

“Play us in ‘til I’m back down.” Firefly whispered to Sushang as she passed her.

“...the music I wanted to, so h- mmph!” Stelle’s monologue was interrupted by Firefly sweeping her off her feet, dipping her low to the stage, lips locked to hers. Behind them, Sushang had started improvising something impressive and energetic.

Firefly winked to a dazed Stelle as she surfaced, grabbing her mic off of her.

“Let’s get to the music you came here for shall we?”

Chapter Text

“Right, run the details by me again.” Firefly said.

“All you need to do is make a fuss out front of the bank, don’t complicate things.” ‘Silver Wolf’ Bronya said.

“That really all ol’ Elio wants from me?” She asked.

“Don’t die, don’t get caught, just keep eyes on you ‘long as you can.” Bronya said

Penacony was coming into view now. It wouldn’t be long before the sun was at its highest.

“Any ideas who I need to watch out fer?” She asked.

“Intel’s outdated.” Bronya said, irritated, “I reckon Salty Gallagher’s still sheriff, if the moonshine hasn’t done him in yet.”

“I’ll ask around then. I’ll meet you at the safehouse when I’m done.” Firefly said.

“Just don’t blow your cover till it’s go time.” Bronya said. “Hey Bladie, the horses dyin’ or something? How much longer we gonna take?” She called to the front of the wagon.

“Patience.” The man up front growled.

For a mercy, they arrived before Bronya got bored enough to start messing with them. Firefly got off the wagon and walked to the nearest establishment she could find. Penacony was bigger than she’d expected, a proper town out here in wild Asdana. It had grown greatly over the years since the revolt it seemed. She’d always wanted to see the town of dreams, where memoria ran through the hills like water. If only she weren’t here on business.

“Howdy! What can I do for you, stranger?” Called the woman behind the saloon bar as she walked in. She was pretty, had a voice like a singer. The place was mostly empty. Good.

“Howdy!” She giggled. All part of the act. “Sorry, I’ve always wanted to say that. I’m new around here, just got here with my husband, looking to start a new life. Wondered if I could ask a kind local more about the place.”

“Well, pull up a seat, I’ll getcha a soulglad.” She said. Firefly obliged, looking around surreptitiously. Looked like a nice place. Maybe she’d get time for a dance… “Now, what d’you wanna know?”

“They say it’s all lawless out west, is that really true? Is the sheriff really up for keeping order in a place like this?” She asked.

“That old drunk? Hah! Gallagher’s just a glorified bartender these day. The real ones keeping folks in line are ol’ Yang’s kids.” The lady said.

“Old… Yang?” She asked, with a tilt of her head.

“Yeah, Trailblazer Stelle and her posse, all raised by ol’ man Yang. Gallagher has them do the real work roundin’ up outlaws so he can spend time with a bottle.” The barlady said, pushing a glass of thick black liquid towards her.

‘Her’? That was exciting. She took a gulp of the soulglad, before quickly correcting to a more ladylike sip. “Well I’ll be, this is delicious! Still, I’m curious, is a woman really up for keeping order out here?”

“Hah! She’s more man than half the men. Walks around town in jeans, chats up ladyfolk, and fastest draw this side of Asdana to boot.”

Trailblazer Stelle huh? This might just be fun.

***

The sound of gunfire echoed through the town. A six-chamber by the sound of it. Stelle raced back to the town as fast as her horse would take her. She stopped down the street from the bank, reigning in her horse.

“Easy Pom-pom.” She said as she dismounted. Her trusty steed quickly trotted off away from the danger, leaving her to continue on foot. Hopefully March and Danny would be on their way soon.

She rounded the corner, seeing a man in a black hat and long silver hair walking out of the bank with an oversized sack. For a second, she thought it was that no-good Boothill, back to his old tricks, but then she looked again. On his jacket was a star-shaped badge, a mockery of a sheriff’s badge. He was one of the Stellaron Gang. Then it could only be…

“Stellaron Sam!” She called. “Didn’t think we’d see one of you bunch out here. How ‘bout you drop the money and leave, ‘fore I make you.”

“Trailblazer Stelle.” The man said, dropping the loot. “But no posse. Leave this place, and nobody gets hurt.”

Stelle’s hand itched as she got ready to reach for her trusty firearm. She could see Sam doing the same, his hands hovering over both holsters at his waist.

“You stole my line. Last warning, outlaw.” She said. She was confident she could outdraw him, but she’d struggle to stop both shots if he cleared the holsters. She’d need to aim somewhere vital. She hated doing that.

“I’ll make sure to tell everyone it was Stellaron Sam who was behind your untimely departure.” growled the outlaw.

Now. Quick as a flash she drew her gun and fired. The bullet caught the man’s right wrist as the pistol was mid-draw, sending it flying to the dirt. As the second gun was raised, an arrow whistled through the air, colliding with the firearm. Looking up, she saw March on the roof, her hunting bow raised. 

“Who’s got no posse now. Jig’s up.” Stelle said, advancing on the retreating outlaw.

“Don’t move!” Sam shouted in a coarse voice. He ripped the canvas off a nearby wagon, revealing several barrels. “Get back, ‘fore I set this whole town ablaze!” Stelle felt her heart drop as she realised: Dynamite. His reputation as the most vicious and deadly of the Stellaron Gang was well-earned it seemed.

Her eyes darted around, looking desperately for a solution… When Danny sprung out from behind the wagon, knocking out Sam with the butt of his rifle.

“Well done team.” Stelle said, sighing in relief. “Let’s drag this scum to the lockup.”

She knelt down over the man’s unconscious body. He was smaller than she’d expected. She ripped off his mask and tied it around his bleeding wrist. She was shocked by how soft his face was underneath. Clean-shaved to boot. There was more to this one than met the eye.

***

Sam stared at the wall. His head was killing him, and he didn’t trust the bandage job done on his wrist. Still, he was alive, and thankful for that. Didn’t make staying awake feel any better. He could feel unconsciousness swaying closer to claim in time and time again.

“No hold on you can’t…” Came a man’s voice.

“Silence.” Growled a deeper voice. Blade’s.

“You can’t get away with this. If you come any cl-” The guard said again.

“One more word, and you die. Co-operate, or the Silver Wolf will tell your wife about those letters from that strapping young farmhand.” Blade said. Wolfie wasn’t holding back on this one, was she.

“How did you, argh-!” The man shouted, before his scream was muffled. Sam turned to see Blade walking the man towards the cell, blood dripping down his arm from a knife wound, a gag in his mouth.

“The script said don’t get caught.” Blade said flatly as he unlocked the bars.

“Elio could have told us about those… Trailblazers then.” Sam snarked. They had a lot of patience for Blade, but right now they were out of manners.

“You didn’t die at least. Wolf has a getaway plan.” He said.

Back at the hideout, Blade set about redressing Firefly’s injury.

“We got what we came for at least.” Bronya said, rooting through some documents. What Elio wanted with them… Well, that was his business. He’d been keeping the Interstate Peace Congress out of Asdana so far, though nobody’d ever thank him for it.

“What’s the plan then, Bronya?” Firefly asked.

“Elio’s getaway plan has us wait for two bells past midnight. We’ll leave from here…” She started.

“That’s plenty of time. I’m going out then.” Firefly said.

“Are you crazy? Won’t be long before the whole town’s looking for you.” Bronya said.

“They’re looking for Sam. I’ve been dressed up as a man all day. It’s time for Firefly to go dancing.” Firefly insisted. 

Blade tightened the bandage and let her go. “Be back in time.” He said.

***

The best part of being a hero? The celebrations. The drink was flowing, the music was filling the place, and she had could get the arm of any girl in town if she wanted. That girl though? Siobahn said she was new in town. Shy, left the east to start a new life with her husband. Shame, but, well, she couldn’t see a husband here with her. 

She approached, and bowed deeply. “May I ask you for a dance, ma’am?” She asked. Straight forward, the ladies loved it.

“Certainly, sir.” Said the lady with a smile. Stelle loved it when the ladies called her ‘sir’. “Please mind my arm, however, I foolishly hurt it on my journey.”

She was gentle with her, and took to the floor to dance. She looked a little dazed, somehow. Ah, new to the soulglad, must be. They danced together until the night was late, Stelle putting her drinks on her tab. This gorgeous lady, her long silver hair swaying as they spun, her dazzling eyes.

It wasn’t until this beautiful stranger had Stelle pinned to the mattress that she realised where she’d seen those eyes before. She saw the bandage on her wrist, exactly where she’d put the bullet.

“My, you’re a very interesting lady, Sam.” Stelle grinned.

“It’s Firefly.” She said insistently.

“You hear to take revenge?” Stelle asked.

Firefly chuckled. “To get even. I prefer fun to revenge though.”

“What a coincidence, I’m much the same, ma’am.” Stelle said with a grin.

Chapter Text

She loved Stelle, she really did, but why was she never invited to hang out with her friends?

Firefly walked through the park as she headed to her bus stop. She could have got a ride back from Kafka, but she didn’t want the whole school knowing she was her parent. Well… her foster parent, anyhow.

She’d managed to hold it in for a while, but it was really getting to her today. Why did it feel like she was being left out? Stelle had been nothing short of a gentleman to her since their valentines day confessions, except for with this. She was always sneaking off to ‘run errands’ with March. Even Dan Heng came along some times, but Firefly? Stelle always had some excuse.

She wiped her eyes. She was just tired after a day of school. Coming out had gone a lot smoother than she’d worried, but she still got looks and comments that turned her stomach from time to time. It was understandable that she wouldn’t be doing her best.

She’d just have to pluck up the courage to confront Stelle about it.

She held her head up, trying to hide her moping. Behind a tree, she saw a cat watching her. A familiar black cat at that. Elio, Stelle called him. He kept showing up around campus. One time she swore she’d even caught Stelle having a conversation with him. She chuckled. Her girlfriend was such a goofball.

She walked over to Elio. He waited patiently for her, a good sign! She’d been accepted by a cat! She went to scritch him between the ears, only to have her hand batted away in a flurry of paws. Well, close enough.

“Hello Elio. What are you doing here? You live in the park?” She asked.

Elio looked around, suddenly alert. There was a smell of burning that wasn’t there a second ago. Firefly looked around. The sky had vanished, replaced by a vortex of empty space. A rush of fire rolled across the grass, scorching the ground. The horizon had been replaced by a horrible haze of smog, out of which humanoid figures began to emerge, twisted parodies of burnt bodies wreathed in flaming armour.

“Get out, it’s not safe here!” Elio shouted. Wait. Elio?

Firefly felt her legs buckle. This was too much for her heart to take. Was she in hell? Was she having a stroke? With her condition, if she tried to run for it, she’d collapse before she made it anywhere. Was it over?

From the ground, a figure made of pure flame rose. It was huge, the size of a car at least, and she could feel its heat even from here. The smoke was starting to make her feel lightheaded. All she could do was watch as it raised its hand, a ball of flame manifesting in its palm.

This was the end…

Arrows rained down, turning the flaming apparition into a pin cushion. From the arrows spread thick, iridescent ice, sealing away the monster. Firefly looked in amazement to where the arrows had come from. She saw… Stelle?!

Stelle collided with the monster, swinging a bat glowing with starlight into its frozen form, shattering it into a thousand pieces. Stelle struck a pose, bat over her shoulder, as she offered Firefly a hand.

“Y’a’right dear? Fuckin’ close one.” She laughed.

“Stelle, less flirting, more killing. There’s way more fragmentum here than normal!” March shouted as she landed next to Stelle.

“‘Aight, you hold ‘em off ‘til Gui n Shang are here, I’ll go rush the Calyx.” Stelle said, helping Firefly to her feet. “Fly, stick with me.”

“Huh?! I- I can’t, I’ll have a-” Firefly stammered.

“Fuck it, hop on then.” Stelle said, turning her back. Surely she didn’t mean..?

“Hurry up!” Elio said. Not that she’d ever expected him to talk, but she didn’t expect such a deep voice from him. “With this much corrosion, the Antimatter Legion might start coming through!”

Sensing the urgency, Firefly threw herself onto Stelle’s back, trying to get purchase on the strange jacket she was wearing. Stelle helped her up more with her free hand. Was she always this strong?

“‘Aight hold on tight cos I’m gonna have to be proper speedy.” Stelle said, shifting into a sprinting posture. Firefly clung to her for dear life as Stelle leapt through the air, moving at inhuman speed. Behind them, the sound of arrows and hail echoed.

Everything had happened so fast. She pressed her face to Stelle’s neck to avoid the smoke they were traversing. She heard the clack of Stelle’s heels as they ran up a flight of stairs. From how much she was turning, had they found a maze of some kind? Where had those come from?

Stelle spun to a stop, couching down to let Firefly off. “Just sit down, lemme do the work. Scream if you need me yeah?”

“Huh?” Firefly asked, taking in her surroundings. They’d found their way into a vast chamber that pulsed like a heartbeat. The heat was intense here, fire pouring out of a strange flower-shaped object in its centre. Around it was arrayed more of those monsters they’d seen earlier. Stelle leapt again without her, throwing herself into the heart of the mob, obliterating two of them with a single strike.

“What you’re seeing is called Fragmentum.” Elio said, suddenly besides her.

“What… what is happening?!” Firefly asked in a hoarse voice. This was like something from an anime, and not one of the happier ones.

“Fragmentum is a corrosion eating at your world.” Elio explained, sitting down into a loaf position next to her. “Your friends are magical girls: the heroes fighting to save the world from the Fragmentum.” He turned to look at Stelle. “If only Stelle didn’t prefer goofing off.”

Firefly watched as another blow of the bat reduced a monster to ashes. It didn’t look like she was goofing off at all. Roiling starlight began to coalesce from the heavens as she raised the bat.

“Stardust ace! Farewell hit!” Stelle cried as she struck the destructive flower with all her might. A supernova erupted from the impact, blinding Firefly. A roar sounded, somewhere between a wounded beast and a dying star.

When her vision finally cleared, she was sat on the grass against a tree. She saw hazes of light roll off Stelle and March before her as their appearances returned to normal boring school uniforms.

“Wh… What- what just happened.” 

“Well, cat’s out the bag now.” Stelle sighed, gesturing to Elio. “Come round mine, I’ll explain. And so will Elio. Ey March, nice job!” She called to March as they parted ways.

It wasn’t long before she found herself in Stelle’s kitchen while she poured her some tea.

“Mum’s not gonna be home for a few hours so it’s chill. ‘Aight, so… fuck, where to begin.” Stelle said.

“What were… What were those monsters?” Firefly struggled out. She was still struggling to comprehend what she saw.

“I told you, they’re…” Elio started.

“Fuckin’ monsters, called ‘Fragmentum’ or whatever. They make fuckin’ portals into hell or some shit…”

“Caverns of corrosion…”

“Yeah, an’ Caverns all have a Calyx that keeps it open or whatever.”

“The Calyxes are what spread the corrosion to begin with! Destroying the Cavern’s core causes it to vanish.” Elio said.

“Yeah. That’s where we come in. Magical girls.” Stelle said, handing Firefly her tea. Lemon and ginger. It smelt nice.

“Th-thanks. Um. So… How long have you been one? You know… a magical girl.” Firefly said.

“Shit, um. Like since first term?” Stelle said before sighing, “Look, Fly, I’m sorry I kept this from you…”

“Normal people aren’t supposed to know about Fragmentum.” Elio said. “If they found out, it would cause all kinds of chaos for the world.”

“Why… Can Elio talk?” Firefly asked, staring at the cat.

“Huh? What do you mean why can I talk?”

“‘Cos cats can’t usually talk, asshole.” Stelle said, her voice raising in pitch, “Elio’s our guide or whatever. He recruited March, then me, then the other birds at the LGBT club for his weird-ass army.”

“I’ve told you, females in your stage of life are most capable of making use of the Stellaron…” Elio said.

“Stellaron?” Firefly asked as her heart sank. Something about the use of the word ‘females’ had hit her funny.

“Yeah, this thing.” Stelle said, raising her hand over her heart. She pulled a bright white light from her chest, before quickly pushing it back in. “Ow, fuck that stung. Anyway, it’s some magic bullshit Elio sticks in us to give us super powers.”

On that, Elio was silent.

“But… why? Why would you become a magical girl?” Firefly asked.

Now Elio spoke up, saying: “Fusing with the Stellaron grants you one wish. A small price to pay for recruitment.”

She perked up at that. Could she get a wish? She could get the body she wanted… a functioning body, the body of a normal girl. And she could be a part of Stelle’s world too. No more secrets…

“It’s not as good as it sounds.” Stelle said. “You’ve gotta keep killing Calyxes or your Stellaron goes out. And if it goes out, you fucking croak.” She glared at Elio. “Fucker didn’t lead with that one, did he?”

“When you made the bargain, you swore to fight the Fragmentum.” Elio said, tail swishing.

Stelle scoffed. “Anyway, Elio sniffs out Caverns for us and we kill ‘em before they get too big. Takes time out  the day but I mean, if we don’t, people die right? People fall into Caverns all the time. They usually don’t remember them though…”

“She saw enough.” Elio said. “At a certain point of Stellaron Aptitude and exposure to the Fragmentum, the memories stay. She’d make a good magical girl.” Firefly felt the hairs raise on the back of her neck as Elio’s eyes bore into her.

“Oi, back off!” Stelle shouting, raising a bottle of sports drink at him threateningly. “No recruiting my girlfriend, she’s got enough to deal with as-is!”

Firefly felt warmth return to her as she heard those words. She walked over and wrapped her arms around Stelle, the emotions finally able to flow freely. “Thank you, for saving me,” She whispered.

She felt Stelle straighten up at that. “Well, couldn’t let my gorgeous girl get shanked could I?” She said, before sighing, “Look, Fly, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I wanted to but,” She shrugged, “I dunno. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You can make it up to me with a date?” Firefly asked, looking up at her with a grin.

“Fuck, you lettin’ me off that easy? Yeah, anything you want. Movie, dinner, walk, flowers, you name it. I mean, fuck, I can see about getting the house to ourselves if you want…” Stelle said, wiggling her eyebrows. Firefly felt herself blushing furiously, and buried her face in Stelle’s chest. She’d take it all and more.

“Urgh, I’m leaving.” Elio said, hopping down from the counter and out of sight.

***

Firefly stared outside as rain pounded on the windows. She’d been book shopping with Stelle when she’d gotten a call from Dan Heng: March and co were engaged with a huge Cavern on the docks. She’d picked a book off the shelf and settled down to wait for her hero to get back.

Every time Stelle had run off to fight the Fragmentum she’d been worried. They’d quickly agreed that, with her condition, she would be in too much danger to allow near the Caverns even just to watch, or run support and comms like Dan Heng.

This time… Something felt different. Elio had been raving about the arrival of ‘the Antimatter Legion’ for the past week. Now, a sudden storm had hit the city, ruining the summer sunshine.

A crack of thunder in the distance startled her. Was she just imagining it or…

The ground shook. She saw the other bookshop patrons looking around in fear. She got to her feet. She didn’t care if she’d be in danger, if Stelle was in trouble, she wanted to be there for her. After all, if things took a turn for the worst…

“Firefly!” Elio whispered from behind a bookshelf. How had he got there?

She crept over, making sure nobody was looking.

“Things are bad, Firefly. You need to get to the docks. The Antimatter Legion are here!” Elio whispered urgently.

“What does that mean?” Firefly asked. In all of his ravings, he’d never bothered to explain.

“Fragmentum that can leave the Cavern! They’re going to swarm the city if we can’t stop them. The others are struggling, they need you! You need to become a magical girl!”

“I’ll see for myself first.” Firefly said firmly. Stelle had warned her against Elio’s tricks. If it really was that bad, sure, but…

She raced through town as fast as she could without getting lightheaded. People were running away, scared by the quake that had shook them, and the rain that fell so hard it stung. Not Firefly though, she ran towards it.

A second quake saw her stumble and slip. She looked in horror over to the docks, where something was emerging from the water. A vast humanoid figure, covered in lethal wounds spilling sickly starlight, detached limbs pulling it up from the sea.

“No!” Elio cried. “That’s not just the Legion, but the Aeon of Destruction, Nanook THEMself!”

Firefly didn’t care what that meant anymore. All she cared about was finding Stelle. She struggled to her feet before pushing herself onward.

At the edge of the docks she saw two figures surrounded by mounds of Fragmentum dust. She ran to them, finding Dan Heng leaning over the body of March. Firefly gasped as she saw something else… March’s arm, several feet away from March herself.

“Firefly! Call an ambulance!” Dan Heng shouted from his position. He was trying desperately to stop the bleeding. She shook herself to stop her staring at the pool of blood at March’s side, and pulled out her phone. Could this really be happening? She could only half-listen to their conversation as she dialled 999.

“Dan Heng?” March said weakly.

“Save your strength, March. You’re going to be okay, ” Dan Heng said, panic creeping into his voice.

“You know… I don’t regret my wish. Not even now.” March said.

“Don’t say that. You can tell me all about it later in hospital.” Dan Heng said.

“I’m glad you’re here.” March whispered.

The earth rumbled again as heat washed over them. Firefly’s phone crackled and lost all signal. She’d managed to tell them where to send the ambulance, at least.

“Um, Dan Heng? My phone’s stopped working.” Firefly said.

“That’s alright. I’ll stay here with March, you just get back to safety.” Dan Heng said firmly.

“Not until I find Stelle.” Firefly said. “Where is she?”

“She’s at the dock front.” Elio said. “We need to hurry.”

Dan Heng met her gaze. He closed his eyes and sighed, before turning back to March. 

She ran, her throat ragged with the effort. At this rate, she’d need an ambulance herself, but she had to see her. She had to know she was okay.

Another quake, so so close to her now. She was lifted from her feat and her vision went blank. She came to with the sensation of blood dripping into her eyes. Was this it? Was this as far as she’d go?

“Firefly!” came a distant voice. No, not distant… her hearing just wasn’t working. “Firefly! If you don’t make a bargain, you’ll die!”

He was right. Every sensation that returned to her was agony. If March’s state was anything to go by, things were going badly. If the blow to her head didn’t finish her, the Fragmentum would. She wrestled with her unresponsive body to wipe the blood from her eyes. She could see a small black shape next to her, holding out a tiny pinch of starlight. Her voice wouldn’t work. She just had to hope that Elio could hear her heart.

“I wish for the power to save Stelle.”

Agony seared her nerves for the briefest moment, followed by relief. The starlight in her chest radiated throughout her, filling her with strength unlike any she’d ever had. She even felt the wound on her head healing. Now she could do it. Now she could save her girlfriend.

“Wow, I feel so… strong.” Firefly said, examining herself as she stood up. She didn’t look any different. What was this strange… device? She had hold of.

“The Stellaron could only empower your body to within normal human parameters with your condition. It’s externalised its remaining strength for your usage. I’ve never seen this before!” Elio said, excitement clear in his voice.

This was still normal parameters? This is how she could have felt all this time without this stupid disease? No, not the time. “What do I do now?” She asked.

“Raise the device and call upon the strength of your Stellaron!”

She felt like she should say a cool phrase right now. That was what the heroes always did when they transformed, right? Her mind went blank. Damn it, she’d think of one another time.

She held the device to her chest, praying for the starlight to engulf her. She swung it outwards, and was rewarded by the sensation of weightlessness. All around her was fire, red, then intensifying into teal. Her clothes burnt away as her torso was entombed in cold alloy. Solid metal wrapped itself around her limbs, heavy and constrictive. Her vision was narrowed as a teal visor fell over her, encasing her in a helmet. She impacted the ground hard, falling to one knee. She needed to hit the ground with one hand to steady herself.

“Armour? I haven’t seen that in a while. For someone with your Stellaron Aptitude it’s sure to be powerful, too!” Elio said.

“Okay.” She squeaked. Damn, her throat was still ragged. She rolled her eyes and set her voice training aside. Just talking at all was hard enough right now. “Okay. Let’s go.” She said, deep and coarse. Some magical girl she sounded like.

She ran, the armour amplifying her every motion. She could feel the pavement crack beneath the weight of her footsteps. She could figure out that problem once they were through this.

She round a corner onto the docks proper, to see absolute carnage. Huohuo was desperately channelling energy into both Sushang and Guinaifen as a sea of monsters fell upon them, her vulpine tail of flame flinging foes into the water. Sushang’s oversized sword cleaved through half-dozens at a time, Gui’s fire burnt screaming devils to ash, yet still they came.

She looked further… there! Atop a pile of defeated Fragmentum was Stelle. She looked to be flinging waves of energy at the colossus to keep it off balance, while hordes of Fragmentum poured from THEIR starlit wounds.

Okay. She’d seen how far Stelle could jump when transformed, it was time for her to try. To her surprise, fire erupted from her feet as she leapt, sending her rocketing over the danger. Did… did the Stellaron have a sense of humour? ‘Fire’ ‘fly’?

As she drew closer, she saw the giant raise a hand as if moving to slam a fist down on Stelle. “No!” She screamed, calling on the Stellaron again. She wished for the power to save her, so save her she would! She felt heat building in her hands, and raised them above her head. Flame crystallised into gleaming blades as she fell like a comet, raking the blades deep into the Aeon’s flesh. She felt tearing and smelled the wounds cauterising instantly as she fell, dragging the blow off course. She flipped over to steady herself, and hit the ground hard.

She spun around to see Stelle. Her heart fell as she saw blood soaking through Stelle’s shirt. She was limping, supporting herself with her bat as she walked towards her. In the water, Nanook fought to steady THEMself from the blow THEY had just taken. 

“Ta for the save stranger, fuckin’ nice hit.” Stelle said.

Firefly pulled off her helmet. “Stelle, it’s me. I’m sorry…” She said, voice rumbling.

“Fuck me your voice can do that ?” Stelle asked, eye wide, voice raising an octave. “Fucking hell that’s hot.”

Firefly laughed. Of course Stelle could still be a goofball in the face of hell. She replaced her helmet. “Let’s end this, now. Where’s the Calyx?”

“Yeah, no, no Calyx, only this overgrown wankstain. I can’t get in close enough to get a good hit, but I reckon we fuck him up, the whole fucking lot’ll burst.” Stelle said.

“Hop on then.” Firefly said, turning her back to Stelle. She saw the giant Fragmentum raise THEIR arms, pressure building in the air. Time was up.

Stelle hopped onto her back, gripping around her shoulders. She leapt into the air, thrusters igniting, jetting them high into the air. She scanned the beast for weak points: aha. The gaping wound on its chest. Was it just her, or was the light pouring from it the same as the Stellaron’s?

“‘Aight!” Stelle shouted over the roaring wind. “Let this show fucking begin! Stardust ace combination attack!”

Firefly pointed herself towards the target and activated the thrusters again, flying towards it at high speed.

“Deathstar! Overload!” Stelle roared, loosening her grip on Firefly to raise her bat.

The pair collided with Nanook like a falling star, swords-first. She tore a burning hole through THEIR body, flesh evaporating like butter on the surface of the sun. She felt an explosion as Stelle swung her bat into THEIR heart. A powerful implosion sent them flying into the water, the colossus silently screaming its last.

When Firefly surfaced, she scanned the water for Stelle. There she was! She swam over, lifting her over her shoulder. With one hand, she began to make her way back to the quayside.

“Damn…” Stelle croaked. “Look at that. You set the fuckin’ sea ablaze.”

She looked around. Teal flames licked the water all around them as Nanook’s burning corpse scattered itself across the bay.

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” Firefly said, forcing the words out.

“I guess… I failed… If you ended up a magical girl anyway…” Stelle said, her voice growing faint.

“Hey! What? No! Stelle, stay with me!” Firefly said, doubling her efforts to make it back.

She carried Stelle up the stairs from the water, before laying her gently down to assess her injuries. She lifted her shirt, and promptly replaced it before she threw up onto the inside of her visor. It was deep, and who knows how long that had been bleeding away. She removed her helmet to see her better.

“Hey… Fly? I’m so glad I met you.” Stelle said weakly.

“Hey, don’t say that! An ambulance is on its way for March already, I’ll… I’ll...” Firefly pleaded, trying to make a bandage by ripping off Stelle’s… wait, those were her casual clothes now. She’d de-transformed? Oh no. oh no oh no oh no.

“March too? I really fucked this up, huh…” She groaned.

“No, no you did great, this…” Firefly’s voice caught in her throat. She looked up, trying to find someone, anyone who could help. Gui? Huohuo? Su…

Her thoughts were cut off by the sound of wailing along the quayside. She looked over to see Huohuo bent over on the concrete, too indistinct laying figures beside her. No. No no no…

“You did well, Stelle.” Elio said, suddenly by their side.

“You! Does this look saved to you?!” Firefly growled at the cat.

“Well, the Stellaron isn’t perfect…” Elio said hesitantly.

“That… was your wish?” Stelle croaked. “Fuck, Firefly, that’s-” She cough, blood splattering across her lips, “Gayyyyyyy.”

Firefly couldn’t help but laugh as tears started to fall freely. “Hey, don’t make me laugh right now.”

“Your smile is- all that’s keeping me going. Fuck, I’m-” Stelle coughed. “I should have said it sooner, but... I love you, Firefly.”

“I… I love you too, Stelle.” Firefly choked. This was a state. This was awful! Was it doomed from the start? What could she have done to stop this, short of turning back time?!

Wait.

“Elio. The only way to save her now is to make sure this never happened. I want to turn back time.” Firefly said commandingly.

Elio’s fur stood up in alarm. “Turn back time? Without a wish…”

“I wished to save her!” Firefly yelled, tears and spit flicking from her face. “Make it happen!”

“What abou-t my wish?” Stelle asked, coughing up more blood.

Elio began prowling back and forth, deep in thought.

“Combining wishes? The power to save Stelle… combined with the dream of genuine connection.” Elio mused.

“That was your wish?” Firefly asked.

“I was- was lonely before you, Fly.” Stelle whispered. “I love- my friends but- but they know, you know. Stelle the cool guy. Stelle the lov-lovable- delinquent. With you- I… I was trying to be the real- me.”

Firefly stroked Stelle’s hair. She hadn’t realised she had been so lonely before. She’d only just started to peel back the front Stelle put up. She wanted the chance to keep doing so. She would get the chance to keep doing so.

“You know what this means, right?” Elio asked. “You’ll have to take her Stellaron for yourself.”

“I’ll do it.” Firefly sobbed. “I’ll do anything.”

“Don’t you get it?! It’s fused with her soul already! If you take it, you’ll definitely kill her!” Elio said.

“Take it.” Stelle said. “My heart- my heart is yours anyway.”

The floodgates opened. Firefly sobbed, and sobbed. This was really it. She was going to die. She’d finally met someone who loved her, all of her, and she was going to die in her arms .

“Don’t… Don’t cry…” Stelle whispered.

“I just- I just can’t let you go! It hurts!” Firefly wailed.

“Please. I- have faith- in you.”

Firefly drew herself up, tears still falling. She put one hand to Stelle’s face, the other to her heart. She leant in and kissed her, her lips slick with blood and tears. Then, she pulled the starlight from her heart.

She cradled it to her chest, her vision blurred with tears, shielding Stelle’s lifeless body from her. “I’ll always hold you here, my star.”

Power exploded within her chest as the Stellarons collided, burning her from the inside out. She felt an endless void rushing past her as time rewound, leaving her alone.

Alone… except for Elio.

“It worked!” Elio cheered. “You get another chance!”

“How does this work?” Firefly asked, wiping away her tears. That little voice in her head that sounded like Stelle’s was begging her not to cry.

“Hmm…” Mused Elio. “From out here, I can see so many timelines. It looks like I’ll have to be the one to make your wish come true.”

“Huh?” Firefly was so confused.

“The Stellaron cannot force you to take the actions you need to save her, but it’s taught me what they are.” Elio said, brushing up against her. “If you want to save the city, and your friends, from Nanook, you will have to follow my script. To the letter.”

Trust Elio? After everything? Could she? No, she couldn’t. But, to save Stelle…

“I’ll do it.” Firefly said, determination welling within her. “For the chance to see the future together, I’ll do it.”

***

“Ey, Firefly? Y’a’right? Cat got your tongue?” Stelle laughed.

Firefly blinked. She was sat on the concrete at her new school, looking across at a black cat who shouldn’t be on school grounds.

“Sorry, what did you say?” Firefly asked, turning to her.

“Just askin’ about your subjects. We might be in the same classes for maths and physics yaknow.” Stelle said, pulling out her timetable card.

There she was. In her school uniform, not a bloodstain in sight. She was back to where it began, her love for this goofy, alive, woman.

Before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around her. Stelle paused for a moment, before returning the hug. “Hey, you okay?” She asked, clearly confused.

“Sorry.” Firefly said, forcing her tears to stay deep down as she pulled away. The voice that sounded like Stelle was laughing at her from within. “It’s… not every day I meet someone I can be myself around.” She half-lied.

This time… This time, she’d be by her side. This time, they’d all make it.

She would not give up this place that felt like home.

Chapter Text

Firefly didn’t know what she’d do without Silver Wolf. Despite her constant protests, she always came through with covering for Firefly to go on dates with Stelle, be it keeping Kafka off her tail, or getting her past security to ideal date spots.

This time, she’d managed to get them into a colony on a moon orbiting a beautiful gas giant. They sat in one of the quieter habitats while the residents slept, watching the stars drift by, curled up together under a blanket. Firefly was leaning comfortably back against Stelle, the pair of them having commandeered a windowsill.

She’d seen the sunrise from inside the planet’s atmosphere before, but without the protection of SAM she’d have been ripped to shreds. Even with her powers of Preservation, she doubted Stelle could handle it.

So they’d just have to watch comfortably from a moon instead. Hardly a shame.

“Do you ever think about how the constellations are different from every part of the cosmos?” Stelle asked.

“Yeah.” Firefly said, closing her eyes. “To me, they’re just stars, but to the people of a given planet, they mean a lot more. How come you ask?”

She felt Stelle shrug. “Fu Xuan talked about it, that constellations are different from planet to planet. They’re different on this moon than on the planet.” She sighed.

Firefly snuggled up closer to her. “You sound more contemplative than usual, what’s up?”

“I wonder what it would be like to have a familiar sky to come home to.” Stelle mused.

Firefly chuckled warmly. “Dreaming of settling down, Miss Trailblazer?” Stelle tensed at that. Had she said something wrong? “Sorry, I just meant to tease.”

Stelle kissed her on top of her head and squeezed her tighter for a moment. “Do you ever miss Glamoth’s stars?”

Firefly hadn’t really thought about that before. She’d tried so hard to put her ‘home’ world behind her. She’d never forgotten the time she got to see the stars with her own eyes for the first time, however. “I don’t know. I find, no matter where they are, I find comfort in the stars. I don’t even know what constellations Glamoth had. I guess that’s to say, I don’t, but I wish I could say I did.”

Stelle was quiet for a while after that, staring out of the window. Firefly wondered if something was wrong. There was something different about this silence. She watched the atmosphere of the planet below swirling, glass storms raging across it.

“Were we close?” Stelle asked. “Before… you know.”

Firefly wished she’d had more time to prepare for that. That was a question the script cared a lot about. How… No. Forget what the script said. At least a little.

“I think so. Neither of us were very good at interacting with people back then though.” Firefly said, smiling as she reminisced.

“Not much has changed then.” Stelle chuckled.

“I mean like, really bad. You should be glad you can’t remember.” Firefly said. This was shaping up to be a weird date.

Stelle was quiet for a moment, before asking, “Was it true, when you said being with me wasn’t always the plan? Or, part of the script?”

“It’s true. We were close, back then, but… It’s hard to explain without going against the script.” She sighed in frustration. “I meant it when I said I wasn’t aiming for a relationship. When you asked me on a date, though, I was so happy.” She chuckled, “If nothing else, it meant that I hadn’t made a terrible first impression.”

Stelle squeezed her affectionately again. “And then naturally you succumbed to my charms.”

Firefly laughed. She was such a goofball. “Yeah. I’d been so worried that I’d failed my mission, when it turned out I’d managed a far better outcome than expected. Even if it was all part of the script.”

“We’re the ones that made it happen though.” Stelle said.

“Yeah… Even if it was part of the script, we still had to put it into action.” Firefly smiled. “Why do you ask, anyway? We’ve had this conversation before.”

“Looking at the stars makes me think.” Stelle said. “And when I think, I think about you.”

Firefly felt herself turning pink. “You still know how to fluster me…” she chuckled.

“I find it kinda funny that you were worried about how things turned out. If I can watch you die on our first date, and then fight you, and still fall in love, you’d have to have really messed up for us to not have ended up together.” She shrugged, making an amused noise. “Honestly, I can’t imagine a world where I didn’t fall for you.”

Firefly turned around, beaming. This sweet woman, this loveable goofball… She couldn’t not kiss her. She smiled at her, hand on her cheek as she pulled away from her lips.

There was something unusual about Stelle’s smile. She scanned her face. Hmm… her usual smugness, happiness… and an underlying anxiety. She tilted her head. “Are you alright, Stelle?”

Stelle’s grin widened as she extricated herself from the blanket, shuffling down onto the ground next to the wide window.

“I wanted to wait for sunrise, but I’m getting too nervous to wait.” Stelle said, taking hold of one of her hands. “You said you wished you could live a normal life. Even if neither of us is likely to get that… I wanted to give you something.”

Firefly’s heart was pounding. She’d built this up so much. What did she mean? What could be making her so nervous..?

“I think one of the experiences you should get to have in this life is a wedding.” Stelle said, pulling a little box out from her jacket. “So… How about marry me?”

Her heart nearly lept out of her chest. She stared at the ring, mouth agape. So many thoughts flooded her mind, she could barely pick one out from the noise.

“Is- is March…” Firefly stammered.

“She was on board the moment I said she could help plan.” Stelle said with a smirk. “I think it’d be harder to make her more enthusiastic now.”

“But, aren’t you worried about where our lives are heading? What destiny has in store for us?” Firefly asked.

“No. We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it. Together.” Stelle said.

The thousand thoughts flooding her mind buzzed like static, so many things that could go wrong, so many considerations, but so many…

“Yes. Of course I will Stelle.” She wiped a tear away from her eye. “Of course I will.”

She threw her arms around Stelle’s shoulders, knocking her to the floor. They hugged tightly, a terrifying sight to witness between a muscular woman and her genetically engineered girlfriend. Fiancée .

She looked at Stelle’s face. Her beautiful eyes, glistening with happy tears. Her grin, wide and genuine, cool-guy persona cast aside. She kissed her, feeling the warmth of her lips. She wished they could hold each other so close that they merged into one being.

She pushed herself up, pulling Stelle with her. She placed her forehead to hers, giggling. She knew Stelle was a romantic, but somehow… somehow she’d caught her off-guard. Oh how she’d failed Glamoth’s military regulations.

“How long have you been planning this?” She asked.

Stelle shrugged, unable to shake her grin. “A while now. Had to ask March, plan with Wolf, find a ring, psyche myself up… I’ve been carrying the ring with me for a few dates now, waiting for the opportunity.”

Firefly held out her hand to Stelle. She felt tears welling up as she slid the ring onto her finger. This was real. It was really real. She’d come so far… They ’d come so far…

Stelle leant in close to her to plant another kiss on her lips.

“I’d like to do something to commemorate this moment.” Stelle said, a mischievous grin on her face. “Do you have any ideas what we could do?”

Firefly knew immediately what she meant. “We could take a picture of the both of us. I think It’s what March would suggest.” She said. Her cheeks were sure to ache from all the smiling at this rate.

They sat on the windowsill together as the sun rose from behind the planet, radiant against the endless sea of stars. Stelle raised her camera as the two posed together, Firefly holding up her hand to show off the ring.

“Now, say cheese!”