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Scarlet

Scarlet was trying very hard not to think. Not to think about that woman sobbing over the loss of her powers. Not to think about the look on The Emperor's face as he looked at her. And most of all, not to think about Wolf being dragged carelessly by the feet into a Rampion van.

A part of her had wanted to fly over to them and yell at them that the man they were condemning was a victim, not a criminal. She wanted to yell at them about how awkward he was at Gilles' tavern and how once in the park a squirrel sat on his foot and looked up at him and he didn't dare move because he was afraid of hurting it and the venom in his voice whenever he talked about the Lunars and-

"What's wrong with you?"

Scarlet startled and blinked at Jacin. "What?"
He frowned at her. "I said what's wrong with you? You've been acting weird since we got back to headquarters."

Scarlet waved her hand in what she hoped was a nonchalant gesture. "I was just a little freaked out by the demonstration, that's all. Doesn't anyone else think that stripping a prodigy of their powers is a bit overkill?"

Jacin raised a dubious eyebrow, but didn't comment.

Iko shrugged. "Hey, if it's a bad guy we're talking about, I'm all for it!"

"Iko, we're talking about irreversibly changing these people's lives." Cinder reminded her.

"They irreversibly changed their own lives when they chose to become villains."

"That change isn't irreversible though." Kai said, "Thorne is living proof of that."

"Are you honestly using Thorne as an example?" Jacin asked incredulously.

"He was the first case that came to mind!"

Thorne shook his head. "As much as I hate to agree with anything Guard says, he has a point. I'm a pretty horrible example."

"That's not true!" Cress piped up.

Thorne smiled fondly at her but said nothing.

"Anyway," Kai said loudly, "back to Scarlet's question, I think it could be a good idea, but it should be treated sort-of like an execution, only to be used in extreme cases."

Scarlet frowned. "The way your dad's been talking about it, I don't think that will be the case."

"I'll talk to him about it later. Maybe he'll listen."

"And maybe he won't." Scarlet retorted, "This guy's been the world's most-loved superhero for nearly a decade Kai. I know he doesn't act like it, but all that praise is sure to inflate his own opinion of himself, at least a little. Don't deny it," she said as Kai opened his mouth, a furious retort clearly brewing in his eyes. "you saw how high-and-mighty he was when that prisoner broke down in tears. Plus, you're, what, eighteen? I kinda doubt The Emperor will listen to a teenager, even if it's his own son."

"I'm with Scarlet on this one." Thorne put in, "No offence to your family or anything Kai, but you dad hates criminals more than mine hates taxes. There's no way you're going to convince him that this new cure for superpowers should be handled with care."

Kai glared at them both. "As shocking as this may be to you two, I know my own dad. I might even go so far as to say I know him better than you do, and he'll be reasonable about this. He's not going to go around using stasis willy-nilly."

Scarlet snorted and rolled her eyes. For someone who apparently know The Emperor so well, Kai sure wasn't doing a good job at reading between the lines.

"How The Emperor plans to use stasis doesn't matter." Cinder said furiously, stepping between the arguing Rampions, "What matters is if he really knows what making stasis public knowledge could do."

"Are you worried about the Lunars?" Winter murmured, her eyes wide with fear.

"I'm worried about the prodigy haters." Cinder told her grimly. "Roughly half of the world's population still hates prodigies, and now we've got this weapon that can turn prodigies into perfect, regular people. Some fanatic is definitely going to try and get their hands on this stuff and go full terrorist on prodigies."

Cress shivered. "I have seen news reports of people doing things like that."

"I'm sure the Rampions will be careful with stasis." Kai told Cinder reassuringly, putting his hand on her shoulder, but she didn't look convinced.

"I don't see why your worried." Jacin told Cinder, "You would remain a prodigy with or without stasis."

Cinder glanced down at her feet, looking guilty.

Scarlet rocked back and forth on her heels. "Talking of prodigies who might not be affect by stasis, you think it will work on Wolf?"

Instantly, Jacin pinned her with a suspicious glare. "Why do you want to know?"
Scarlet shrugged her shoulders. The movement felt jerky and sharp. "I'm just curious, that's all. His powers came from genetic meddling, right? He wasn't born with them or got them from some life and death experience."
"You seem to know an awful lot about this guy."
Scarlet forced her eyes to roll. "It's not like The Council have been very quiet about it."

"And it's not like they've been very loud about it either." Jacin retorted.

Scarlet folded her arms. "What's your problem anyway? You're acting like I'm going to assassinate The Council or something."

"You could burn them with your hair." Winter suggested.

"That would've been funny if I was sure you were joking."

"Can we please just get back on track?" Jacin said furiously, "You've been acting weird ever since the unveiling. The unveiling where Wolf was arrested."

Scarlet glared at him, hoping it would hide the paling of her cheeks. "I told you, the demonstration freaked me out."
"You're sure it has nothing to do with how much you know about this guy? And how you brought him up in a conversation that had nothing to do with him?"
"Do I have to repeat everything twice for you? I was curious!"

Kai stepped between them. "Alright guys that's enough." He said sternly, "Look, Cinder, Winter and I are needed for Wolf's interrogation."
"Like us being there worked so well last time." Cinder muttered.

"And the last thing we need is you two getting into a punch-up about Scarlet acting weird." Kai finished.

Jacin scowled at Scarlet. "Don't I have a right to be suspicious?"

"Jacin, Scarlet is a Rampion through-and-through." Kai told him firmly. "And the demonstration was unsettling, so there is no need for you to be suspicious. Iko, keep an eye on these two. Tell me if they get into a punch-up while Cinder, Winter and I are gone."

Iko saluted while Scarlet snorted. He was seriously giving her a chaperone? What was she, twelve? Well, hopefully it would keep Jacin off her back

A/N: About the squirrel story, that's based off experience. The squirrels just went right up to the people and sat on their feet and in their laps in the hopes of getting fed. Needless to say, it was extremely cute

Will Jacin figure out the reason behind Scarlet's behaviour? Or will she manage to be subtle for once in her life?

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