SK21 : She's beauty, she's grace, she'll punch you in the face
(when titles are too long for the website to accept them:/)
Lucy's eyelids fluttered and as she awoke, her panic did the same. What traitorous tricks had Lotor played on her while she was gone? She could feel it now. She was herself. Which almost felt weird after so many weeks of being in and out of it. She didn't remember much of what had happened since the last time she was conscious but she didn't fight against the memories this time. She had gotten used to it, she knew the memories would come back, one way or another, with always the same and only task: haunt her.
Whether they were ten years or one day old, Lotor always found ways to turn them against her.
But when she expected the blinding light of her cell and her never-ending headache to welcome her out of her slumber, the silence, only broken by light snores, did. Her blood froze in her veins as another kind of dread overwhelmed her.
She could feel the warm blanket on her body, the pillow under her head. Her room never had one before nor did it have a mattress to sleep on. The word 'betrothed' suddenly flashed inside her mind and she almost jumped from the disgust it inspired her. She suddenly found herself hoping that she didn't need to add rapist to the long list of reasons why she hated Lotor.
Her fingers twitched under the covers.
Fool.
If he expected her to turn into the ultimate puppet now that he had probably made her his in front of millions of people to convince them of his great intentions, then he was wrong. Terribly wrong. Quite the contrary, she was going to jump on the occasion. Narti was gone from her mind and she couldn't feel her shadow presence in her head. Now was her time to strike. Her fingers twitched once more, grasping for an illusion she couldn't yet muster. She was still exhausted from whatever battle she had fought. A battle she had never wished for.
Her fingers finally clung against something. Thin and sharp, the blade moved between her fingers.
Not my best work, but it'll have to do. Now is not the time to miss your target, girl.
Her eyes shot open and she jumped from her bed, aiming for her enemy's throat. Whoever had had the foolishness to fall asleep beside her wasn't going to live to tell the story. However, the Galra's sixth sense warned them first and they jolted against the wall. Lucy was too small for them now, too far to strike the deathly blow. When her eyes finally met the Galra's eyes, however, her arms fell to her side.
The man standing in front of her wasn't Lotor nor one of his scary generals.
Her voice broke in front of his smile.
"Kolivan?"
"Morning, Scarlet."
But his friendly smile did nothing but increase her panic. Maybe Narti had gotten better at hiding herself behind her visions? Maybe it was yet another illusion, ready to turn into a dreadful nightmare at any moment? Who was going to die this time? Who were they going to threaten so she'd stay put for another couple of hours? Which demons would come back from the locked corner of her mind?
Lucy struggled against her groggy state. Sleep couldn't be the only reason behind it. Medicines maybe, another drug or an updated version of their magic kryptonite. Fear and dread spread through her veins once more. She didn't want to sleep again. She didn't want to be unconscious for another unknown amount of time. She didn't want to let Lotor and his gang do as he pleased with her powers. The blade had been too far from the Galra throat but she could still aim it at herself instead. She wouldn't let him use her power again. Not ever.
Kolivan was at loss for words in front of her, trying to find the good ones that would convince her that all she was seeing was real. But none of his kind statement would work. How many of Narti's ghosts had already tried? How many of them had she already believed, only to be proven wrong afterward? How many of her nightmares hadn't end up with her crying as she woke up, but screaming at the gaping hole inside her chest? How many times had she yearned to be back home, safe and sound with her friends? How many times had Narti turned those hopeless wishes against her?
Too many times to count.
Lucy wanted to believe him, wanted to believe his words, wanted to believe that she was, indeed, safe and sound. That there wasn't anything to fear anymore. That everything would be alright. She wanted to believe that. But as sweet as those lies were, who would be the fool of the story if she was to do so?
Lucy looked at Kolivan once more.
He even had a new set of scars on his eyebrow.
Really digging into the hurtful details, aren't you, Narti?
Everything in the room, from the peaceful light coming through the pulled down blind to the fresh flowers on the table, were begging her to feel safe. But it felt all too perfect and even if the room was closer to a peaceful bedroom than her bright cell, she couldn't fall into the trap. Besides, the flowers - her favorites - only grew on Atlantis. They shouldn't be there when she had allowed the planet to be blown apart.
She felt a familiar presence in the room and she suddenly questioned her convictions once again.
Narti had given up long ago on creating her ghost in Lucy's dreams as she couldn't master the perfect illusions. Narti knew what Galra minds were like, knew how humans responded to illusions and she had read files about Lucy's past, but she had never met a hellhound before.
Lucy's makeshift weapon disappeared before it even hit the ground as Merryn shoved her to the floor, licking her cheek and nudging her head happily.
No screams erupted in the rooms as Lucy locked her arms around Merryn's neck. The scenery didn't shift into another nightmarish vision and Lucy allowed herself to hope. She hadn't realized how much she had missed her. If Merryn was here then there was nothing to fear. No one could hurt her, they were both invincible. A painful wounded cry, that seemed to be coming straight from her foggy memories, echoed in her mind but she ignored it, quickly shoving it away as she dug her fingers into the softness of Merryn's fur.
She is real. She is real. She is real.
Lucy could feel Merryn's hot breath against her neck, could hear the happy sounds coming out of her throat, or see the happiness radiating off of her. She couldn't be an illusion, could she? Lucy put her head against the hound's neck, feeling under her cheek, the strong pulse of Merryn's heartbeat. Even if it was an illusion, Lucy didn't care anymore, she didn't want to let go.
"Morning, Fire Pup," she smiled, caressing her ears.
Merryn barked happily at the nickname, wagging her tail.
Lucy wondered if Merryn had missed her too. How long had gone by since the last time they had seen each other? Merryn had been fighting at Jijii's side during the battle at Central Command.
Central Command. D-Day. Lotor. Alan.
It all felt so far away and yet so close.
Much like a geyser ready to breach the surface, she felt the emotions rushing toward her and she slammed the door shut. There was no time for that. Not yet. She couldn't let those resurface. It would be like handing another set of brand new toys to Narti only for her to break them the second she'd have them in her hands. Twisting it and checking its limits. Except Lucy had never liked playing the part of the tortured doll.
Lucy looked up at Kolivan, shoving from her eyes the happy tears she hadn't realized she had shed.
The man was smiling down at them.
Maybe it's not an illusion, she thought, struck by the sight. Maybe Narti has nothing to do with it and I'm just dreaming. Imagination's always made up some crazy stuff after all.
Even after all she had seen, a smiling Kolivan was still something that managed to surprise her.
She blinked and tried to focus back on the matter at hand and what Merryn's presence suggested.
"If Merryn… And you… What about the others? Where are they? Where are we? When did-"
"Calm down, Lucy. One question at a time."
"But-"
Kolivan chuckled.
A dream. It was all a dream. It couldn't be anything else. A smile and now small laughter? How could it be real? Surely that was either Narti or her own mind playing with her. Kolivan wasn't known as a cold-hearted leader for anything. Even if Lucy had seen through the man's defense, such a display of emotions coming from him was too good to be true.
But even if it was only a dream, Lucy hadn't had such a wonderful one in ages and she smiled back at him, taking the hand he extended at her.
When she felt his fingers around hers and his strong and steady grip on her arm, she felt the rush of emotions in her throat once more. He was still here. He hadn't vanished in a whirlwind of smoke or hadn't turned to ashes under her touch. He was still here.
"You're here… You're really here…" he repeated, bewildered.
"Of course, I am," he said, his tone softer than she had ever heard.
He waited for her to move first before he did anything as a simple step toward the door -as if she was a frightened animal, ready to bite at any minute.
Images flashed in front of her eyes once more as she recalled Merryn, retreated in the corner of her dark cell, her big red ruby eyes narrowed and filled with fear, gleaming like two distress signals into the night. A frightened soul, broken too many times to count and melt into a mold she was never meant for.
Maybe there's some resemblance indeed. It's true that I've already put a blade against his throat, today.
Lucy couldn't resist the urge and threw her arms around Kolivan. She felt him jolt with surprise but his hand eventually rested against her shoulder, allowing her to remain where she stood for as long as she felt the need to.
"You're safe, Lucy, there's nothing to fear now," he assured her, patting her pack.
"Thanks… Dad." she teased, feeling herself smile at the nickname; Kolivan had always hated it.
"You might want to stop calling me that," he chuckled again.
"Never." She smiled. "You're the Dad of Marmora. The nickname fits perfectly and you love it. Drop the lies."
Kolivan rolled his eyes. "Glad to see you're rested enough to start your annoying games again."
It was Lucy's turn to chuckle proudly.
"However, I don't think the Blade isn't as in need of a dad as it used to be."
"What do you mean?" Lucy's worries overwhelmed her once again, their cold bite feeling like an icy shower. Anything but pleasant.
But Kolivan dodged her question with his arm as if it was an annoying fly buzzing beside his ear. "Nothing for you to worry about. Wouldn't you like to see the others, first?"
Tricky questions. He knew she did.
Lucy held onto his arm as they exited the room, still unsure whether she should trust her footings or not. She felt as she was going to faint any minute but Merryn's reassuring presence next to her gave her the strength she needed to keep walking. The fire that sparkled against her fur eased her thoughts.
They crossed a few closed doors in the corridors but Kolivan never stopped in front of any of them. Lucy still didn't recognize the place but she guessed they were in some kind of hidden base of the Blade. Her brain refused to think beyond the most obvious options. She didn't know if it was still due to her sleepy state or rather the denial that ruled every breath she took. She was still too scared it would disappear in front of her if she asked too many questions. If she analyzed too deep the smallest details.
Lucy didn't want the dream to end and so she remained silent, following after Kolivan down a flight of stairs. Merryn didn't bother climbing them down and reappeared at the bottom, barking excitedly. The conversations Lucy could hear from there stopped at Merryn's entrance and Lucy hesitated in the stairs.
Maybe this is it.
Maybe the dream would stop its happy shower now and smiles weren't going to welcome her. Maybe swords or blasters would. Like they always did.
Kolivan looked at her and squeezed her fingers. "It's fine, Lucy. Everything is fine."
Kolivan moved forward and finally stepped into the room.
"Guess who's awake?" he smiled once more, at the people in the room this time.
Lucy felt like a child again, trying to hide behind the hem of her mother's dress in front of a staring crowd.
But she wasn't a child anymore and Kolivan wasn't wearing a dress - though she was pretty sure it would suit him really well.
I wonder what colors would suit him the most.
Lucy blinked the thought away, trying to focus back on the room.
The light was brighter than in the corridor and almost kept her from keeping her eyes open. When her eyes were finally used to the sunlight, however, another gasp escaped her lips and tears gathered in her eyes. She could feel her legs wobbling under her weight. If it wasn't for Kolivan's steady grip on her arm, she knew she'd fallen on the floor already.
Enemies weren't sitting on the chairs or pacing across the room anxiously. Her friends were. Her crew was here, staring in shock at her as if time had stopped.
Aeris, Cosmo, Hazel, Jijii, Makara… They're here… They're all here… They're fine…
If it was indeed all a dream, the backlash would be even harder than the nightmares of the past.
Jijii was the first one to move, red cape flowing behind her as she stomped forward. Kolivan let go of Lucy's arm as Jijii got closer, knowing she was the only support Lucy really needed. Lucy smiled softly at her lieutenant, relief washing over her as she took her tired facial features in.
Jijii is safe. Jijii is alive. Everything will be okay.
But when her lieutenant and best friend finally reached her, she didn't take her into her warm embrace, didn't took her hand like Kolivan did nor did she smiled back. Her face remained unreadable and before Lucy could muster any words, Jijii's closed fist landed right into her nose.
Lucy staggered back, holding her nose as she fell back into Kolivan's arms.
"Jijii, what the hell?!" he roared.
But before Jijii could make another step toward Lucy, roots pinned her to the wall. They crumbled to the ground, almost instantly, unable to resist past the element of surprise against Jijii's fire.
Lucy gawked at the blood, staring at it as if it was the first time she saw the black liquid, dripping from her nose. She touched her nose once more, completely lost and confused at what had just happened.
Her eyes met Jijii's stare again. She was breathing heavily, seething with anger.
"You really punched me in the face, bitch," Lucy stated, still bewildered as she wiped away the thick blackness from her face, getting back on her feet.
"You tricked me and used your power on me!" Jijii shouted.
"I was trying to warn you, I was trying to save you!" Lucy defended, memories of the battle coming back to her.
"I didn't ask for any of that bullshit."
"Bullshit?!"
"You sacrificed yourself!"
Oh. So, this is why she's mad at me.
"Okay, so, first of all, that part wasn't at all intended. We had just fallen into an ambush and Alan…" Her hands trembled as she gasped for air. "He… He bought me some time and then Ezor… And Lotor was here and…"
Lucy choked on her words as memories of the attack came back to her. Blood. Pain. Screams. Fear. She saw Alan's last smile again, heard the shouts in the corridors, felt the snap of his bond in her head once more. She could taste the smoke on her tongue and felt Zethrid's strong grip on her throat again, almost choking her.
Blurry thoughts. The ghost of a wicked smile in the darkness.
More screams. More blood. More pain.
"Lucy." Jijii's tone was firm.
Lucy focused back on the room in front of her. Jijii had gotten closer and was only a few inches away from her now. The raging storm had disappeared from her eyes, replaced by her usual calm and soothing stare.
"Lucy, breathe," Jijii said firmly, her warm hand suddenly resting on her cheek. "After all we've done to rescue you, now isn't the time to die on me."
Lucy's terror backed down and Lucy huffed at Jijii's joking tone. She leaned her head against Jijii's warm hand. "Don't worry," she smiled. "I know you called dibs on the first date with Death."
"Damn right, babe."
Lucy pressed her forehead against Jijii's as another smile spread across her lips. Warmth and happiness washed over her, shoving all the dreadful thoughts and nightmares away. Jijii wrapped her arms around her and Lucy rejoiced in the familiar embrace.
"I'm bleeding on your shirt," Lucy sniffled.
"Don't care."
"You won't say that when you'll have to wash it away."
"Then I'll burn it."
"Lili… How many times will have to tell you that is not how you do the laundry?"
"As many times as it takes, Cap," Jiji winked.
Lucy scoffed but smiled anyway, she had missed it so much. Had missed her so much that she didn't want to let go of her hands; still afraid everything would disappear when she least expected it.
"Now that you're back," Jijii finally said, breaking the silence. "You've got a lot to catch up on."
Lucy reluctantly pulled away, ready to face the others - hoping that she wouldn't earn a punch to the face with every hug she'd give. "Oh?"
"Yes. We're not the only one who wanted to see you."
"What do you…"
Lucy's words died on her lips as she followed Jijii's gaze.
Standing by the doors, were her parents.
"No." Her voice broke. "No."
"Morning, sweetheart." Elden smiled, dark green eyes shining with emotions.
"This isn't… This isn't true." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I saw Atlantis destruction you're… You can't be there."
Lucy wanted to scream. She had been fooled again. She was going to wake up in her cell and the torture would start all over again. The sick games and the attacks. The tricks and the lies. The nightmares and the illusions. She had wanted it all to be real but this? Her parents? That was too much, too good to be true.
This isn't real.
This is a nightmare pretending to be a dream.
Wake up.
Wake up!
Lucy could feel her brittle nails digging into her palms. Jijii's presence at her side seemed to fade now and the world spun around her. Nausea raised in her throat. She felt stupid for holding onto the dream for so long.
How could she expected it to be real, after everything that happened? How could she be fooled in such simple ways?
A few smiles and a warm hug.
She wanted to punch herself, that was all it needed for her to fall into the trap again. Cosmo and Jijii had often teased her that she'd die of hugs deprivation before she'd starve to death. Had Narti seen that memory? Was she trying to give her what she needed so she'd keep moving for another few days? Panic and rage twirled around her, homesickness driving her insane.
"This isn't a dream, darling."
Lucy hold onto her breath as she heard her mother's voice in her mind.
"We're here. You're safe."
And then it hit her.
"Balmera." Her voice trembled, hoarse with the tears she was trying to hold back, "The tree. The smiling woman. The familiar presences on the other side of the street…"
"That was us, darling." Daleen murmured, caressing her cheek. "We came to rescue you."
"And the roots earlier…"
"Yeah about that," Jijii groaned. "That was pretty rude."
"You punched my daughter," Elden argued. "My fingers slipped."
Lucy's eyes widen at the sight. Her father and Jijii were bickering in front of her. Never in her wildest dream, had she imagined she'd seen the day. She was still having a hard time processing the news.
"The flowers in the bedroom…" Her voice was barely a whisper now. "That was you, wasn't it?"
"Still your favorite?" Her father smiled softly, holding her shaking hands in his. Lucy wanted to drown in the warmth of his green eyes. How could she forget how bright they shone under the sunlight? How could she forget how warm her mother's presence in her mind was?
Father. Mother. The words almost felt foreign on her tongue after so many years.
"Of course, they still are… They were his too." Her eyes fell to the floor, shame and guilt gnawing at her heart at the memory. The black blood on her fingers seemed to tease her even more now.
"We watched over the seeds in the garden for days so the birds wouldn't come and steal them."
Lucy whipped her head in the new voice's direction.
A pair of pale blue eyes met her shocked gasp.
Lucy couldn't speak, couldn't breathe, couldn't make a move as her brother took a step toward her. His broad shoulders were shaking when he finally looped his arms around her shoulders.
"Long time no see, bis sis," he whispered softly.
Lucy couldn't say anything. Giggles and soft smiles came back to her mind, late night stories and stargazing. Adventures in the forest and race down the slope that lead to the nearby town. The young boy had grown into a man now, he was even taller than her now, his chin resting on top of her head as he squeezed her tight against his chest. As if, him too, was afraid she'd disappear.
"How?" Lucy croaked, cupping his face between her shaking fingers. "I saw you die. The officer killed you. Your mind went blank, I couldn't hear you anymore." Lucy trembled at the memory, still fresh in her mind. "You were… gone."
"And yet, here he is."
"Jijii… How did-"
She winked. "Told you you'd have a lot to catch up on."
"How did you even find them?"
"Coincidence." The lieutenant shrugged.
Eurwyn shifted behind her. "Let's just say, my first meeting with your lieutenant was…"
"Unconventional?" a brunette man proposed.
"That's a way to say it, indeed."
Lucy tilted her head, she didn't know the man, had never seen him before and yet his face seemed familiar. Conversations with the Green Paladin suddenly came back to her.
"Matt!?"
The young man shot a toothy smile at her. "Nice to meet you, Captain Kyra!"
"Wait, the two of you know each other?"
Lucy laughed at her brother's confusion. "Of course not, silly. But Pidge is the spitting image of his brother."
Tori chuckled ."I'm surprised you managed to remember that conversation with Pidge… And that you could actually make the link today."
"Excuse you, I have a really great memory and I'm not that oblivious!" Lucy replied, throwing one of the cushions at Tori's face. The woman caught it in a second, laughing at Lucy's pouting face.
Cosmo ruffled her hair and Lucy leaned in, happiness all over her face as she observed her group of friends. It was as if nothing had ever happened, as if she was never gone. She missed them, missed their small moments like that more than everything. Having her parents and her brother back because of some twisted game of the universe didn't change anything. She didn't need to share their blood to treat them like family.
She took Cosmo's and Jijii's hand in hers and walked toward the couch, hugging tight Hazel and Tori as she passed by. She was glad to be back. For now, she was willing to pretend that everything was fine.
Fake it 'till you make it, right?
As she settled herself on the couch, between Cosmo and Jijii, she prayed for her nightmares to stay at bay a little longer. Surely their daily round could wait for a moment. Surely, she could rest for a while, catching up with everything that had happened while she was gone. Surely, she could recover from what she had seen. She just needed to gain a little time and denial had always been the best way to do so.
Lucy opened her eyes. She didn't know when she had started to doze off on Cosmo's shoulder but it was long enough for the rest of the group to have scattered again, busying to their own task. She could hear everyone's fleeting thoughts and she rejoiced in the fact that her power was back. It felt weird to be able to control it again and she hated how, in such a short amount of time, Lotor and Narti had managed to affect her so deeply. Because of them, even her own abilities felt foreign to her.
The fog in her mind was gone now and she was able to observe her friends silently. Cosmo was reading some notes on his tablet while Jijii sat with her legs crossed, sipping her coffee beside her. Lucy noticed her lieutenant's bare shoulders and realized that the soft fabric of her red cape had moved on onto her own shoulders. Even through her sleep, their hands had remained joined together. Lucy didn't move, not wanting them to leave their comfortable positions. However, as soon as Cosmo felt her curious glance in his mind, a loud piercing shout erupted in her mind.
Lucy nearly fell from the couch from the surprise. Jijii suspiciously glanced at the both of them.
"Welcome back to the world, Cap," she said, sipping her cup as she waited for explanations. "What is the reason behind such rude awakening?"
"Cosmo! He just screamed and I swear he just killed my eardrums."
"Not bad for a mute boy," Jijii smirked, sipping her coffee loudly.
Cosmo shrugged, a smile lingering on his lips.
The bastard was proud of himself.
"Dios, I missed that." Cosmo signed, poking her nose before she could escape.
"Really, Cosmo?" She pouted, "Is scaring the hell out of me your only reason to live?"
"Um… yes?" Jijii answered for him and Lucy grumbled at the wink they exchanged. She had forgotten the only thing those two agreed on was their will to mess with her.
"We've got a month worth of prank to catch up, dear Captain~" Cosmo trailed in her head.
Lucy snatched both her hands away from theirs and sprang to her feet, determined to go find her dad or whoever that hadn't decided to steal her remaining sanity. When she got up, however, something caught her attention and she stopped in the middle of the living room.
"What is it?" Jijii asked curiously, observing Lucy's lost gaze.
"Someone's coming."
Cosmo and Jijii tensed at her words. Lucy ignored their intriguing glare and closed her eyes, focusing on the people she could feel approaching. They were still too far her to read their mind perfectly but if she focused enough, she could try and pinpoint their location better and figure out their identity.
"No one knows we're here, Luce, you sure?"
"Two persons… A woman and the other is still too far I… Sam!?"
A relieved sigh escaped Jijii's lips. "Great. Nothing to worry about then, that's just Sammy and Lo. They went to look for medicines for you earlier."
"What do you mean, nothing to worry about?!" Lucy shrieked, barely able to contain the rising panic in her. She stormed out of the room, stepping into the kitchen where Ash and the others were talking. "Tori! Can you explain to me, what the hell is Sammy doing here? He was supposed to be at your place! Why are you even here? You're supposed to be safe, with your family! With the kids! Why you-"
"Lucy, calm down, please you're still-"
"Still what, Tori?"
Lucy's calm had vanished. She could feel her heart racing in her chest. What was Sammy doing in the middle of the war? Were the other kids there too? Fear cascaded through her one more time. She had made sure the kids would be safe, had been so relieved to hear Tori's positive answer as to care for them but now Sammy was here. And so was Tori.
This isn't normal. What if something happened? What if they're hurt?
Her head was aching again. Flashbacks of Narti's illusions came back to her. Her young boy, blood on his hands, eyes dull and cold. Heartless. What if something had really happened at the inn? What if Sammy was here because something bad, something worse than she could have ever imagined, at happened to them there when she thought she was sending them to a safer place?
Lucy didn't wait for Tori's answer, fear paralyzing her train of thoughts she rushed outside of the building.
The dusk was falling on the horizon and colored the evening sky in different shades of orange and blues. A thin silhouette appeared, climbing up the hill. Lucy's heart twitched at the sight of Lo. From up there, with her pouch on one side and her cloak flying with the breeze, the scientist looked just like the young girl Lucy had met years ago.
Sammy started running as soon as he saw her. Lucy's knees fell to the ground and she welcomed the young boy in her arms when he crushed against her. His hands clung desperately to her shirt, his shoulders started to shake and she felt his hot tears down her neck.
"I'm back darling, I'm back."
She kept whispering his name and pat his back as she did so, trying to reassure him. He was inconsolable and she felt the sting of blame twisting her guts. Her boy was crying because of her and she hated every second of it. She could feel his blood pulsing in his neck with each erratic beating of his heart. It hammered in his chest with the same chaos that was his mind. Fear. Relief. Sammy's mind was another kind of hurricane.
"You're back," he finally whispered, voice hoarse with tears.
"I'm back, darling." She smiled and kissed the top of his head, combing his messy locks with her fingers. "I'm back."
"I was so scared."
"There's nothing to be afraid of now, Sammy."
The child buried his face in her neck one more time and she rocked him in his arms. The wet grass was soaking her pants but she couldn't care less. He needed it. They both needed it.
"You're finally home." Sammy smiled.
"I am." She kissed his nose and removed the tears from his cheek with her thumb. In his mind, the storm had calmed down. "Feeling better?"
"Are you really asking me if I'm okay?"
"Yes, why? I shouldn't?"
"Of course, I'm fine. I should be the one asking. Not the contrary!"
"But you're here," Lucy stuttered. "You're not supposed to be here. You were supposed to be at Tori's. Did something happen?"
Lucy didn't want to hear the answer. The only thought of anything happening to the children, to her nieces, to Natsilane, was unbearable.
"No! Nothing happened. Nat and everyone else are fine."
"Great. Really great," Lucy breathed, relieved. "But then why are you here? Why did Tori bring you back?"
"She didn't really bring me back," he smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Not willingly anyway." Lucy didn't need her power to know when he was trying to hide something from her.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"What he means is that he sneaked in behind her back." A new voice explained from above them.
"Lo!" Lucy jumped back on her feet and hugged her best friend tight. "I've missed you!"
"Don't you dare get captured again," she mumbled against Lucy's shoulders. "I've been worried sick!"
"I'm all good now, don't worry!"
"Of course, I'm gonna keep worrying! That's basically my middle name with you all! And you definitely aren't fine. At all. I would know, I'm your doctor."
"I am fine," Lucy insisted. "Look, a hundred percent healthy and recovered!" Lucy showed off her muscles as if it could be any kind of convincing arguments to the perplexed doctor in front of her.
"Then why do you have blood on your shirt, if you're so healthy and recovered, huh? Do tell."
Lucy's gaze fell to the dark spot on her shirt. The blood looked darker under the fading light.
"Oh, that. It's nothing."
"I wouldn't call dry blood on my patient's shirt, 'nothing', Lucy."
"It's just Jijii's doing, it's fine. She punched me in the nose earlier. She didn't lose her strength I can tell you," Lucy chuckled but somehow, the young scientist didn't find the situation funny. At all.
"She did what?!"
"Nothing to worry about," Lucy winked. "Some old stuff she had to let go."
"Since when becoming your lieutenant's personal punching ball became normal to you?" Lo sighed.
"I did deserve it after everything that happened. We're good now. You know, just the usual."
"You two are the worst weirdos I ever met."
"Thanks."
"Like I said, weirdos."
"Yes, but you love your weirdos, don't you?"
"Of course, I do. Even if you're both gonna kill me one day. I'm not meant to handle such worry. My heart is gonna give up on me one day, and it'll be your fault!"
"Lies," Lucy grinned, clasping Lo's shoulder. "Your heart is stronger than anyone else! You aren't our Sugar Lo fairy for nothing!"
"I've missed that shitty grin of yours."
"Hehe~"
"For once, I'll let it pass. Don't get used to it."
"For sure," she winked. "Now, what were you saying about, Sammy?"
Lucy patted Merryn's head as Cosmo and Jijii appeared behind her. Tori was with them, still worried about Lucy's outburst. Lo smiled at them and answered Lucy's question, her eyes never leaving the young boy's gaze.
"He called Jijii and then Tori learned about your… situation. And she yelled a lot."
"What do you mean 'yelled'? Were there any reasons for her to be mad?"
"I didn't appreciate the fact that Jijii had kept the news from us all along." Tori missed Jijii's rolling of the eyes as she replied to her captain.
"But Tori, Nat and you had stepped away from the conflict. Why would Jijii tell you?" Lucy didn't get it.
Tori's eyes widen. "Because of you, silly! You're my captain and you needed my help! Of course, I'd want to know about such information! So, I came back to smack some senses into Jijii's brain."
"Well," Lucy argued, "I would have done the same. You were safe where you were, you didn't need to know."
"Exactly." Jijii nodded, siding with Lucy.
"You're both insufferable," Tori sighed. "Anyways, when I arrived on Scarlet Kaida, Merryn found Sammy in the back of the ship. I hadn't realized he had followed me."
"You did that, Sam?!"
"Yes. Like a real ninja," he grinned, smiling at both Lucy and Jijii.
"Awesome! That's my boy!"
"Lucy!" Lo scolded, "This isn't what you're supposed to say! Don't encourage him!"
"You're right." Lucy paused and leaned toward Sammy. Her serious face didn't last for long, however, and her lips split into another beaming smile as she ruffled the young boy's hair. "I'm hella proud of him!"
"Lucy!"
Jijii burst into laughter at Lo's disbelieving face. "You should have seen that coming, Liva!"
"That's Sammy we're talking about, after all," Cosmo signed, a grin on his face.
"My best boy. So proud. We've raised you so well." Lucy grinned, shoving away a fake tear out of her eyes.
"Let me doubt about it," Lo mumbled.
"I won't let you question our awesome parenting skills, Lo. Sammy is like the ultimate Scarlet Boy and I couldn't be prouder of my ninja baby!"
"Hell yes, good job, Tsiry!" Jijii agreed as she aimed her finger guns at the child.
Merryn barked in agreement and Lucy hugged her again. Lo huffed and crossed her arms and over her chest and rolled her eyes, admitting defeat.
"Plus," Jijii continued. "In the end, it's a good thing he came back. Isn't it right, Tori?"
"Yes," Sammy smiled proudly. "Without me, you wouldn't have understood the code."
"Right."
"The code?"
"Yeah, Luce. The writing on the walls of your cell. Pidge hacked the surveillance system and Sammy understood your message.
Lucy gasped. "So, I really wrote it, huh? I was caught up in dreams and illusions most of the time. I couldn't say what was real and what wasn't, but then I heard them and I tried to do something. I was persuaded I was wrong but then they punished me for it. They locked me away, in my own mind. I couldn't escape. I couldn't do anything but see the same scenes over and over again. I have no memory of what happened after that. Not yet, anyway. They always come back at some point."
"Yeah well, now you're back and you better be ready to take the lead again. My month free trial is over and I don't want to be captain anymore. It sucks."
"What?! A month?! I was gone for a month?"
"Yes, you were. Now time for bed." Lo's seriousness was back and Lucy could hear the doctor's authority in her voice.
"What, no, Lo, wait!" She didn't want to go back. Not yet.
"Time for rest. You got wounds to heal."
"I'm fine! I'm telling you!" Lucy whined, struggling against the scientist surprising strong grip. "Sammy, don't leave me with that fury!" She shouted dramatically.
The young boy laughed. "You must listen to the doc, Mama Lu."
"Betrayal!"
"Aww, Princess doesn't want to go to bed. You want us to read you bedtime stories?" Cosmo's joking tone trailed in her mind, as teasing as ever.
"Go to hell, Cosmo!" Lucy bit back, shutting him out.
"Bed. Now."
Lucy grumbled but let Lo led the way to her room again. In the small kitchen, Kolivan and Ash were already preparing dinner. Lucy was already salivating at the thought of getting a real meal. Her first decent one in weeks. Lo had another idea, however, and announced that she couldn't eat anything of the sort yet and was left with a plate full of the paladins' green disgusting goo.
"That's just rude, Lo."
"Stop whining and eat."
"You really are full Killjoy mood, today, huh?"
"Sugar Lo cares for her captain's recovery and so, she'll act as she wants as long as said captain takes her meds, drinks water and sleep properly."
Lucy huffed, showing her annoyance, but bit into the food and swallowed the sleeping pills anyways.
She didn't sleep for long, however, and soon, her terrified scream tore through the night.
I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO WRITE THE POTATO SCENE OMFG JIJII AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING AND LAUGHING ABOUT IT FOR MONTHS ALREADY
Hoped you enjoy the chap :) - leave a review please? 3