ELEVEN | 'INMATE'
Disclaimer: I do not own Lab Rats: Elite Force but I do own Ventura 'Hex' Mallory and her original story-line and dialogue, as well as any other character who is a part of Ventura's family.
THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO Layla, LuckyGo AND writeratheart101 FOR REVIEWING! THIS IS AN ORIGINAL CHAPTER FULL OF FLUFF FOR YOU.
URGENT QUESTION: IF I WROTE AN AU SEQUEL TO NEFARIOUS, WOULD ANY OF YOU READ IT?
Hex, being one of the more powerful in the prison, had a cell equipped with a door that ensured that she couldn't absorb energy from anywhere. As a witch, her biology enabled her to siphon energy off people that she was in close proximity with, power dampeners on her cell be damned.
The door to her 'room' was seldom open but when it was, the force field made sure that if she got too close, she was hit with a sharp zap of electricity that often sent her into unconsciousness for a few minutes. The rooms were dull – small and rectangular – and her only entertainment was taunting any visitors she had and throwing food at the force field. It wasn't the most entertaining as generally, the only visitor Hex had was the man who presided over both Mighty Max and Mighty Med.
But still, Hex was treated better than quite a few of the other inmates. She was a minor, for one, and her release was pending on the grounds of good behavior.
"Are you listening to me?"
Hex rolled her eyes, "No, Horace, I'm not. Because it's always the same with you – 'be good, Ventura.' 'Don't siphon the guards, Ventura.' 'Eat your dinner like the young adult you are, Ventura.'" She fixed a fake smile on her face, "And my favorite – 'it's safer for you here, Ventura.'"
"We are aiming to rehabilitate you," Horace Diaz insisted. The immortal man shook his head, "This is the safest place for you, Ventura."
"Oh, yes…" The witch drawled, "Three-hundred miles below Mighty Med is the 'safest place' for me right now."
"Ventura—"
Hex cut the man off, "I know what you're trying to do. You want me unaccustomed to energy. It's not working – even in this cell, I'm absorbing the lives of the guards around me. Stupid plaque or not."
The Diaz man allowed his eyes to flick up, unconsciously searching for the small nameplate on the door labelled 'HEX.' The burgundy-haired witch scoffed at the doctor and muttered under her breath, Horace only picking up stray phrases like 'permanent loan' and 'bad real-estate.'
"I'm truly sorry, Ventura," Horace apologized as he got up. His fingers brushed over the keypad that closed the door to Hex's cell and he smiled sadly at the young witch. "I'll try to visit you soon."
The sixteen-year-old was silent for a few moments as the door began to slowly close. No one other than Skylar Storm and Horace visited her and, although she had been in Mighty Max multiple times (usually for less than a month), Hex was particularly lonely after her stay – which was getting to six months now – in the criminal prison.
The door closed shut with a loud clang.
"I hope so."
XXXXX
Chase gently extracted himself from Hex's tight grip. It was early morning but Hex still looked drained. The Davenport boy frowned, eyebrows furrowed in worry as he tucked in the blanket that was tossed over Hex tighter to make sure that she was warm.
The witch gave a hum of approval, snuggling further into the wool and cracked open an eye, "Don't go. I'm freaking freezing."
"I know but I've gotta get changed." Chase smiled, "I'll be back soon."
Hex gave another hum and winked at the bionic, who headed up the stairs to his room to get dressed, missing the furrow of the girl's brow. A shudder suddenly ran down Hex's back and her spine locked, blue eyes shooting wide open. Hex groaned, the blue dying from her eyes as she shook her head and stepped into a portal.
She had somewhere to be and no time to fight whatever was pressing against her mental barriers.
When Chase reappeared from his room, Hex was gone, only a small wisp of burgundy magic indicating that Hex had used her magic to leave.
Chase frowned, moving into the kitchen where his sister and Skylar were seated at the bench. "Anyone seen Ven?"
Bree giggled, "I thought she was with you, given how close you two have been." She fished her phone out of her pocket and showed Chase the picture she had taken last night – Chase's face was buried in Hex's burgundy hair, his arms around her waist and the witch was curled up into his chest as they slept. "So cute!"
The Davenport boy batted Bree's hand away and scowled, "Have. You. See. Ven?"
Skylar shook her head, noticing the worry that Chase was trying to hide. "No. Last I saw, she was still on the couch."
"She's gone now," Chase grumbled. "There was magic near the couch so she teleported out. But where would she have gone?"
Oliver and Kaz bounced down the stairs and the water-manipulator frowned at the stressed look on Chase's face. "What's up?"
Bree rolled her eyes, "Chase is just overreacting."
"I don't think I am."
"He's just upset because Hex didn't stick around to keep cuddling with him," the brunette Davenport girl teased, making her brother blush hotly.
"S—shut up!" Chase stammered. "It just…I think something's wrong, it's just a feeling."
Kaz grinned widely, "Ooh, someone's in lo—"
Oliver interrupted his friend, noticing the dangerous look on Chase's face. "Would you be able to find her? I mean, she would go somewhere she's comfortable—" He clicked his fingers, realization on his face, "Mighty Med!"
XXXXX
Mighty Med was in ruins but Hex didn't really expect otherwise. She was only there because Mighty Med hid Mighty Max and all the villainous occupants beneath it. Hex assumed that the prison was still intact, protected from the bomb placed by Rodissius' sons by the remains of the hospital above it.
Hex appeared within the prison, gaze dark. Mighty Max was still full of villains but very few guards, as they were only able to get in and out of the prison through two of the remaining three entrances – the first being the one through Mighty Med.
"H—Hex…" The guard closest to her picked himself up from the ground, having been startled into landing on his ass. "What—what are you doing here?"
The witch slipped into the persona she used to have and smirked darkly, eyes narrowed, "Visiting Mordred, imbecile. Take me to him."
The guard hurried away without a word, leading the Mallory girl to the cell that contained the villain. Cain Mallory scrambled back, away from the force field, as his daughter stepped in front of him. "Mordred."
The red-haired man's eyes were unnaturally wide when he spoke, "Hex…What are you doing here?"
"Well…" Hex picked at her onyx-painted nails. "I just had an inkling that something's been happening with you. And I wanted to check how you were."
There was nothing warm about Hex's statement and Cain noticed. "You don't care, so why are you really here?"
"Rodissius has a partner," Hex's smirk widened as Cain paled, "but you already know that and you know who it is. That's why you've been scared to talk to me." The witch raised a hand to cut her father off before he could stammer out that he didn't. "Female, red hair. Sound familiar?"
Cain knew exactly what Hex meant. Fortuna had red hair and she was a witch; she was also more than capable of siding with a villain, especially after the death of Mal at the hands of someone who constantly preached to be 'good.'
The Mallory man shook his head, "It can't be Tune. She's…"
"Elsewhere," Hex scoffed. "I can't find her, so how can we verify that it's not her. I don't want it to be Tune, okay, but I haven't spoken to her or mom in years. They could be dead for all we know."
Cain shifted uncomfortably, eyes locked on his hands and Hex set her jaw, "You've spoken to them, haven't you?" He stayed silent and Hex lost her temper, smashing her hand against the wall, ripples of purple magic flowing dangerously through the force field, "Haven't you!?"
The incarcerated villain took in a shaky breath, finally seeming to see Hex for what she was – an insanely powerful girl who was no longer the child that he told to destroy buildings and control minds. Hex had grown and her innocence had been lost long ago.
"Fortuna…she called me." Hex grit her teeth. Cain was never going to change – he loved the feeling of superiority over people, even his own children. "She told me that she was married and that she had just had a baby girl – Mallory Jameson, Tune said. She's not Tune anymore – she gave everything up from her old life. Even you."
Hex tried not to look as bitter (or broken-hearted) as she felt. Hex and Tune had been close once upon a time – Tune often went to her little sister just to escape Mal for a bit. The youngest Mallory was glad, truly, that her older sister was happy but she didn't find it fair that Tune's life had remained perfect and only got better for her – did she even think about Mal anymore or was that just something she pushed to the back of her mind, along with her past, once she had changed her last name?
"She abandoned you, Ventura," Cain said. His was smiling sadistically, the tables now turned as he watched his failure's shoulders fall. "No one needs you in their life. Your sister knew you weren't worth anything."
But would it have killed her to keep in contact with Hex – the little sister whose lifeline had been the hope that maybe her mom and sister would finally come home and save her from her hellish life with her father?
"Ven!"
A voice was calling for her but she barely glanced up, her eyes unfocused. She had collapsed to her knees in front of Cain's cell, startling him into moving forward to check if his youngest was okay – hurting her was his aim, injuring her was not. The supervillain was a contradiction. He enjoyed hurting people and had grown quite used to hurting Hex but he did not want to see her die for whatever reason, which was why he had helped her in the past with the inhibitor cuff.
The Davenports and superheroes had made their way to Mighty Max (another smart suggestion from Oliver) and Chase was running, quickly making his way to Hex after calling her name and getting no response.
"Ven," Chase stressed her name, gathering her up into his arms. She wordlessly leant her head on his shoulder, her fingers searching and finally grasping Chase's arm. The bionic stayed silent and merely held her tight, even when the witch's nails bit into his skin.
Skylar, despite still not being 'good' with Hex, turned her sharp gaze on Cain Mallory. "What did you do to her?"
The warlock didn't rip his eyes away from his daughter – he'd always been emotionally abusive, particularly towards his youngest. He got a kick out of watching the reaction that his words caused and Bree noticed, instructing Chase, "Get her out of here!"
The bionic boy nodded and picked Hex up carefully, moving a good distance away instead of leaving Mighty Max completely. She was completely blank-faced and seemed to be only held together by Chase's hold on her. The Davenport boy cradled Hex to his chest, fingers soft as they trailed through her hair and voice softer still as he muttered sweet, calming words to her. He could see the pain in her eyes – the pain caused by a feeling of abandonment.
Chase sat down properly, pulling the frail witch into his lap and whispered the one thing that he thought would mean the most to her. "I'm here."
Hex pulled away, meeting Chase's eyes. His hazel gaze held nothing but sincerity and affection, a silent promise to keep her safe and that alone was why Hex didn't regret for a second what she was about to do.
The Mallory girl moved forward carefully, leaving enough time for Chase to move away if he wanted to. But he didn't – his eyes locked on Hex's lips as she tentatively moved closer. Her breath breezed over Chase's lips, making the boy shiver in anticipation.
Hex's hands reached up to cup Chase's face gently, tenderly, and her lips finally meshed with his. Chase felt a bit embarrassed when he let out a little gasp against Hex's lips but the witch wasn't put out, merely pressing her lips closer to his.
Chase responded quickly, hands clutching at Hex's waist and he released a small moan when Hex's tongue slipped between his lips and her fingers tugged at the hairs at the nape of his neck. One of his hands flew up to tangle with Hex's burgundy locks, tilting her head back gently to kiss her deeper.
The pair pulled away after a few moments, breathing in each other's air and lips slightly swollen. Chase dipped his head down to press his forehead to the witch's, making Hex smile widely. Hex had to be honest – she had only kissed someone once before in her life and it had been rushed and sloppy, leaving the girl with the lasting impression that she seriously didn't want to kiss anyone ever again.
Until she met Chase.
If she got any cheesier, Hex would slap herself in the face.
"Uh…" Chase gulped, eyes hazy and fingers still tangled in Hex's hair, "Can…can you do that again?"
Without hesitation, Hex pressed her lips to Chase's again, pushing her body flat against his. They kissed for a few, blissful moments, only to be interrupted by the distinct click of a camera shutter.
The pair pulled apart, panting lightly, and Hex fixed her eyes on Bree, reaching out her hand and crooking her fingers at the Davenport girl. "Phone."
Bree brought her phone to her chest protectively, losing her gleeful smile, "Nope. Nope. I'll delete the picture!"
Hex rolled her eyes and picked herself out of Chase's lap. She helped the boy up and pecked his lips as soon as he was standing, making the boy a stuttering and blushing mess. The girl's green eyes narrowed and she smirked, "I'm gonna like this."
Chase just let out a hum of approval, nodding his head as he followed after Hex like a puppy dog.
The witch stopped in front of her father's cell and her eyes flashed purple. A horrible, self-serving smile stretched her lips, "Don't expect a Father's Day card."
Hex flicked her fingers just before Cain opened his mouth, a silence spell washing over him and making him entirely mute. Oliver appeared behind his sister figure and placed his hand behind his ear, "Oh, I'm sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you."
Cain released a visible snarl and jumped forward, making Oliver jump back with a shriek. Hex rolled her eyes, "Yes, Ollie, but he can hear you."
"Oh…" Oliver said, his voice incredibly high-pitched. "Let's go!"
Hex laughed, a loving look in her eyes as she watched Kaz and Skylar laugh at Oliver's hasty retreat and Bree tease Chase incessantly. She turned her head back to Cain, "I don't need you or Tune. I have my family right here."
XXXXX
Hex threw herself onto the couch, "Well, I could take a nap."
The others looked at her with raised eyebrows. The Mallory girl shrugged and reclined her head on the couch, relaxing as much as she could after visiting her sadistic father in a supervillain prison. Oliver and Kaz shot off to play some video games – after both of them gave Hex a half-hug – and Skylar headed to the kitchen to get food, Chase wandering off behind her.
"I cannot believe you," Bree muttered, flopping onto the couch beside Hex. The witch rested her head on her brunette friend's shoulder and hummed for the girl to explain. "I don't understand how you're absolutely okay right now."
"Uh…on a level of one to ten on how 'not okay' I am right now, zero being 'okay' and ten being 'incredibly not okay,' I'm about a forty-two."
Bree made a quiet cooing noise and wrapped her arm around the witch. She pursed her lips, "What's happening with you? I mean…one day you're freezing to death and getting visions and then you're kissing Chase—"
Hex burst into laughter, "You make it seem as if Chase is a disease! I just…" She wrinkled her nose, "I like Chase. I really do. Being me is so easy around all of you – especially Chase."
The bionic girl smiled widely. Chase needed someone like Hex in his life – she mellowed out his ego and made him more confident all at the same time. She also made him see the world less black and white, bringing her own burgundy light to the world. He was less greedy with Hex around, more than willing to share anything he had with her and Bree's heart melted a little in her chest every time they were together.
"Do you like Riker?"
Bree coughed, cheeks turning red. She had thought a bit about Riker lately, after he had appeared in the lab, pretending to be Kaz. He had fought them but had been remarkably gentle when he had fought Bree. He had even winked at her.
Hex smirked as Bree got up, attempting to make a clean getaway, "I'll take that as a yes."
Chase suddenly jumped over the back of the couch, dropping beside Hex and making her laugh as she was jostled. A pure smile spread over Chase's face as he gazed down at the burgundy-haired witch. Hex poked her tongue out at Chase, eliciting a small tickle fight that Hex ultimately won once she clicked her fingers and picked up the boy with her magic. The Davenport boy struggled for a moment before calming. The purple magic loosened, letting Chase drop to the ground and suddenly, Hex was trapped in a force field with the bionic boy and shrieking with laughter as Chase started tickling her again.
"I'm outta here," Bree muttered, unheard by the pair, and sped away.
Hex collapsed onto the couch with a huff after Chase had finally stopped tickling her and the force field had dropped, "That was cheating."
Chase shrugged and pulled Hex into his chest. They were silent for a few moments before he spoke, "You were really brave today."
"Pfft…" Hex scoffed dismissively, "I was pissed off. There's a difference. I wanted answers – I didn't get them." Hex leant forward, swiping the water bottle Chase had grabbed from the fridge and took a sip. "I was just so sick of being walked all over by him and I wanted to prove that – I didn't. S'pose I needed you to save me after all, as per-freaking-usual."
"No." Chase nudged his nose into the crook of Hex's neck, making her sigh. "You stood up to your father. That was brave."
The witch pursed her lips. "Whatever you say." Hex didn't truly believe him – she didn't see standing up to her emotionally-abuse father as brave, per se, but Hell, it made her feel empowered. "So, when we agreed to talk about the almost-kiss we had, did you think we'd clear everything up by actually kissing?"
Chase blushed red. He hadn't expected to be kissed by Hex – she was truly magical and in his eyes, way out of his league.
He shook his head, "I just don't understand why you kissed me of all people."
"Why wouldn't I?" The witch inquired. "You're incredibly smart, you're really cute—" Chase blushed deeply "—and you're kind. You've got such a big heart."
Chase's 'big heart' swelled at Hex's words and his gaze stayed locked on her as she got up and stretched. Hex glanced over at the boy on the couch, "I am going to steal some of your clothes to change into and then I'm going to feed your weird obsession by baking you sugar-free cookies with chunks of carob."
The bionic boy tossed his head back onto the couch and sighed. What was Ventura Mallory doing to him? Leo always said that girls didn't really notice Chase and that he would never get a girlfriend. And yet, here was Ventura Mallory, displaying an interest in him that was unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
Chase just hoped that this wonderful dream would never end and that—his thoughts came to a grounding halt when Hex jumped back down the stairs. She was wearing cotton shorts, leaving her legs bare and a t-shirt that hung off her small frame, 'Mission Leader' written across the back. The witch was yawning and attempting to tug on a plaid shirt as she stumbled to the couch, completely unaware of the affect she was having on Chase.
His mouth was open, eyes as big as saucers and once Hex finally noticed, she tossed her legs over Chase's lap and smirked. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Uh…ah…" Chase muttered before he gulped and opted to just stay silent.
Hex moved her legs and tucked them under her, smirk replaced with a sweet smile, "I'm sorry. I really didn't make you feel uncomfortable." She clapped her hands and got up, "Now, cookie time. Gotta keep my…boyfriend…happy."
The implied question kicked Chase's brain into gear, confirming, "Boyfriend."
"Good." Hex danced away with a wide smile on her face and began to hum as she fussed over cookie dough – of the sugar-free and chocolate variety – pleased that 'asking' Chase to be her boyfriend went well. Hex had never been terrific with words, especially not of the emotional range, but her confidence did her good.
Chase got up from the couch and sat at the kitchen bench, a permanently-adoring look on his face as he watched Hex bop around the kitchen, singing under her breath as she made cookies for the Elite Force.
XXXXX
Hex was walking on clouds when she walked onto the balcony that night. It was a warm and cloudless night and if the witch really wanted to, she was sure that she could count all the stars in the sky. But that was probably because of how impossibly happy she felt.
However, happy never lasted long for former-supervillains.
"Hex?"
The Mallory girl lit her hand up with a curse as she turned. She dropped her hand full of magic with a sigh, "Riker."
Riker shifted awkwardly, seeming nervous about something. "You need to be careful when you finally try to fight my father. I can't tell you why but you're severely outmatched."
"You've been cursed, haven't you? To not say a word."
The younger boy dropped his head in a tiny nod but didn't elaborate. "Hex, you can trust me. When it comes down to it, I'm on your side."
Hex tried to find any indication that Riker was lying. She didn't find anything. Hex was actually quite fond of Riker – there was just something innocent about him – and she nodded, "Okay. Okay, I'll trust you, but that means that my friends are safe from you."
Riker nodded again, reaching out a hand for Hex to shake. She did and as soon as she let go, Riker was a bird and was flying off. The witch kept her narrow gaze on the bird until it was just a black blob in the dark sky that she could no longer see.
Hex frowned. Outmatched? Surely, a witch wouldn't be able to take her down, even if it was possibly her sister. A cold feeling settled in Hex's chest as she realized that there was something that Rodissius and his partner could do to gain the upper hand. It could explain the cold feeling she was experiencing lately and the way that she felt like she wasn't connected with her body occasionally – the only thing they could do was—
Too late she realized.
The cold stabbed hard into Hex's chest, sending her pitching forward on the balcony. Her hands caught the railing before she tumbled over the side and went splat on the concrete. She gasped for breath, her will battling against the external force, before she stiffened and straightened.
Her previously green eyes were now blue and Hex smirked, "Game on, Elite Force."
Then the green eyes were back and Hex was collapsing to the floor, the witch quickly losing consciousness. Her last thought was of a woman cackling in her ear as she took control and then it all went black.
XXXXX
A cliffhanger to end this chapter - don't yell at me!
But oh my God, is Hex's sister really Rodissius' partner or is it someone far more sinister? Cain Mallory is a dickhead! What's happened to Hex...it's almost as if she's been possessed...? Chase and Hex - the kiss(es)! Hex and Riker are friends? But why?
Please review, tell me what you think of this chapter, and please follow and favorite!
~ Raven
