Crimson sat in the workshop, tinkering with his gear. He was focused on FyreBeat's backpack component, trying to improve the dust storage so he could shrink the mechanics. As he worked, Nina peeked over his shoulder.

"Hey...so, what are you doing?" She asked.

"Replacing the dust tubes in FyreBeat with a special alloy so the storage space is more efficient without sacrificing safety." He answered without looking up.

She pulled up a seat, observing. "Huh...and you don't need help for that?"

"Not really." He stated. "I've had a lot of practice working with machines. It's...relaxing."

She raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

He paused. "My dad was an engineer...he used to sit down with me and teach me about machines. We would work on things together...motorcycle engines, computers, dust igniters...when I'm working on a machine, it's like I can feel him."

"What...happened?" Nina asked.

Crimson removed his sunglasses. "That's...so, my dad was CEO and co-founder of a big tech corporation. Eight years ago, there was...some kind of heist. Someone was trying to steal something from the labs. I went to the labs a lot back then, so...I was there. My dad was also a Hunstman, so when security was taken out, he ran in. I hid, but I could see it all...one of the heist crew gave him a tougher fight than he was expecting." He reached up to rub the small scar under his eye. "I got this from a stray gunshot...right before the next shot broke my dad's aura. He was hurt, but...he kept chasing them. There was a brawl, and at some point he must've been stabbed in the stomach...he bled out by the time I got to him."

Nina's ears were drooped, but her eyes were wide with sympathy. She stumbled around words for a moment, before pulling Crimson into a hug.

"I never had parents." She whispered. "I don't know how it feels to lose someone you...love...but...I know what it feels like to...hurt...in a way that doesn't heal."

Crimson hugged back. "Thank you."

She released him, sitting back. "Do you have...anyone else?"

"I...there's my mother, but...she's..." He hesitated, not sure how to phrase his explanation. "She's in Atlas...she's...not really fit to take care of anyone...so, I live with Reed's family."

"And...do you like them?" She asked.

Crimson was taken aback. "Do I...well, yeah...Reed's like a brother to me."

"And what about his parents?" Nina continued.

"Richard and Stephanie?" Crimson scratched his head. "I mean...they're not my parents..."

"But do you love them?" She persisted.

Crimson sighed. "That's...not an easy question...I'm grateful for what they've done for me, I really am...I just don't know if...it doesn't feel right..."

Nina paused, thinking. "Could you...take me to meet them?"

"But...you already know Richard." Crimson commented.

She shook her head. "I know Professor Shaden. I don't know the Richard you know, and I've never met Stephanie."

Crimson tried to think of a way out, but came up blank. "Alright. Just let me finish up here."

Nina giggled happily as Crimson finalized FyreBeat's upgrades, then he led her out to his motorcycle. She took a seat, holding onto Crimson a bit awkwardly, before the boy took off. It wasn't a short drive, but the whole time Nina was captivated by the scenery. They drove all the way down to Vale, finally stopping at a house in the residential zone. Crimson pulled into the drive, parking his motorcycle and helping Nina hop off. He walked over and waved his scroll by the door, unlocking it.

"Richard? Stephanie? I'm home!" Crimson announced, stepping in.

A woman with large owl wings stepped out of the living room. She wore a simple black dress, and her eyes immediately fell on Nina.

"Who's your friend?" She asked with a grin.

Crimson noticed the look, and chuckled nervously. "She's my teammate. Steph, meet Nina. Nina, Steph."

Stephanie went over to shake hands with Nina, but frowned seeing her scars, her eyes glowing slightly the moment their hands touched. "You've...been through a lot." A look of panic hit Nina's face, but Stephanie was quick to reassure her. "You don't have to talk about it."

Crimson stepped in. "Steph...I think you should...y'know..."

She let go of Nina. "Right, sorry. My semblance activates on skin contact. I normally try not to pry, I've just...I was caught off-guard."

"It's...fine." Nina said. "It felt...nice."

"That's a side effect." Crimson said. "The connection is two-way, so while she's feeling how you are...you're feeling how she is. Steph just tends to be...tranquil."

She nodded. "I have my troubles, but...I choose to focus on the blessings in life, rather than its tragedies."

"Oh...I see." Nina hugged her sides. "The truth is...I came here because I wanted to see what a family is like...I...never had one."

Stephanie blinked. "You should...sit." She gestured to a couch. "Crimson, you don't have to stay, but I think it would help."

"I'll stay." Crimson assured. "Nina, Steph is a huntress, but she's also a therapist. She helps people when they're troubled or confused."

Nina looked at Stephanie curiously. "So...people talk to you? About...bad things?"

Stephanie took her seat, allowing Crimson and Nina to do the same, before she continued. "People talk to me about whatever they need to talk about. Crimson and I have spoken many times about his troubles."

"After I lost my dad, I was...angry." Crimson explained. "I still am, but...Stephanie helped me manage it."

"But you're so nice." Nina said.

Crimson shook his head. "Remember that outburst in sparring? When Russel brought up my mom?"

"Did anyone get hurt?" Stephanie questioned.

Crimson shook his head. "Bruised, but it's combat training. Aura healed it in a day."

"What did he say?" Stephanie asked.

"Nothing direct." Crimson answered. "Schoolyard taunts, mom jokes...he didn't know."

"Why did you snap?" She questioned.

Crimson paused. "I...don't know...adrenaline, exhaustion...and...I miss her..."

Nina put a hand on Crimson's shoulder. "He hurt you where you were weak...getting angry doesn't make you a bad person."

"I know...but...what scares me, is that...I wanted to hurt him." Crimson ran a hand through his hair. "In that moment, I imagined him feeling all the pain that I felt...what it would do to him."

"And did you do that?" Nina asked.

Crimson looked at her. "What? I...no, of course not."

"Then it was just a passing thought...they happen." She closed her eyes. "Every morning, I wake up screaming, because every night I relive all the pain I was put through. When I think about what was done to me...I think about doing every single one back, and more. But...I don't think I could actually do it. You're not wrong for wanting to get rid of the pain...but you choose to accept that it doesn't."

Crimson paused. "I guess that makes sense...Nina, thank you. And...you were right."

"About what?" She asked.

Crimson looked over to Steph. "I do love them...because they're still family."

"What made you doubt?" Stephanie asked.

Crimson sighed. "I thought that...if I got too close, it might...bring up bad memories...for both of us. I don't want to seem like a replacement."

"You're not." Stephanie said. "But...you are a member of this family nonetheless...and we love you too."