A/N: Trigger warning for mentions of rape and dark stuff. Somewhat paradoxically and a little awkwardly, also warning for smut.

"Reckoning"

Movement in the corner of Jack's eye caught his attention, and he glanced over just as Anna swapped her copilot seat with Merida. She met his eyes as she sat, and he tapped at his headset. She gave a small nod, and once she had fastened her harness, put on her own headset.

He heard her voice through the comms. "Ye wanted ta see me, Cap?"

"Yep. Figured we have someone in common to talk about."

Merida shot him an apprehensive look. "With potential eavesdroppers?"

"Ah." Jack reached up to a small panel above his head, and pressed a blue button. Behind them, a clear glass panel quietly slid across the entrance to the cockpit.

"There we go. Privacy."

Merida knitted her brow at the panel. "Tha Valhalla never had that."

"She was a Mark II, right?"

"Aye."

"That'd be why. The privacy panels weren't installed when the Mark IIs went into service."

"Wonder why…"

"Meh, who knows." Jack glanced at her before returning his eyes to the sky ahead. "So, yeah. How you doing?"

Merida didn't answer for a while. Truth be told, Jack didn't expect a response anyway. The only reason he called her up was a subtle reminder to her that she was not alone. And yet, she surprised him.

"I'm name scared fer him, if that's what ye mean," she said quietly. Another glance - her gaze had found the view out of the starboard side window.

"Course not."

"I know what he's capable of. I know what he set out tae do. I know he can do it."

"Yep. So…"

"I'm… worried what it'll cost him."

That time, Jack cast her a longer look. "How do you mean?"

Merida regarded the console ahead of her with a pensive eye, her brow furrowing. "Maybe the reason he didnae want us tae help him wasn't ta protect us from Eris. The way he described her, tha only difference between her and the government is they're dressed smarter. Maybe… it was tae protect us from him."

"You mean the Nightbringer," Jack said.

"Aye. I have a feelin' that… ta do what he needs ta do, ta put this Eris down fer good, he's gonna have ta go back ta tha dark place he tried ta escape. An' I'm not sure if it'll be him that comes home… or someone else."

"Does it change? How you look at him. Knowing who he was."

Merida slowly shook her head. "No. We've all got blood on our hands. Be hypocritical of me ta say otherwise. He accepts me even though I was a Valkyrie, an' I accept him even though he was a serial killer. Who we are now isnae who we are then. We're a sum of our lives."

"I sense a but."

"But I want Koz tae come home as Koz. Not some warped, darker version of him. I'm worried that… we may not recognise him."

Merida let out a long breath through her nose, and returned her gaze - and her worries - to the sky at her right. Jack spent a minute in silence, making micro-adjustments with the stick to counter the occasional minor turbulence as he turned his thoughts over in his head. It was a valid concern, certainly. Even to someone not as… close to Kozmotis as Merida was, there were enough red flags to warrant apprehension. Yet, Jack was optimistic.

"You know he was a teacher, right?"

Merida looked over at him. "Aye, but I dunno what he taught."

"Little bit of everything, really, but mostly History. He once said that math and science are the progressive tools of the curious mind, but history is the tempering voice of the wise heart." Jack uttered a single chuckle as the left corner of his lips curled up. "Little cliché for me, but it makes sense. You can't pave the way to the future without respecting the bones of the past."

"Little cliché, that."

"Touché," Jack chuckled again. "Point is, to be a teacher he had to put an end to his more… violent tendencies. Kids need to believe in you, y'know? They need to respect you, not fear you, if you want 'em to learn so they can make a better world one day. 'Cause it's not us that'll do that, it's our kids. We just lay the foundations, or in our specific case, burn the old ones down so they can build something new."

"Building a world outta fear is how we got Unity," Merida mused.

"Exactly, and Koz is all about honesty, so if he was to go all tear-a-clone-in-half-with-his-bare-hands one day and then teach the next, he wouldn't just be lying to himself, but also to the kids. How do you set an example if you don't follow through? So, yeah, I get where you're coming from, but I don't think you need to worry. You probably know why."

"Aye, but… it's nice tae hear someone else say it," Merida said, and Jack allowed himself a small smile. She no longer sounded grim or concerned; her voice instead carried a calmer, relaxed melody.

"It's not because of us. It's not even because of you. He knows that the second he goes down that road, he can't look his kids in the eyes again. And you know what that means?"

"What?"

"That after all that's happened or is gonna happen, Koz still has hope. And I dunno about you, but for him to have hope? That's a comforting thought."

What followed was a pleasant silence. There was always something rewarding about simply flying the Fairy in a straight line, and he didn't get to do it enough. Anna was a better pilot than he was, and being captain meant he wouldn't often get the chance to fly the ship. Whenever the opportunity arose that he could, however, he had decided to seize it; the big things you aim for, but the little things keep you going. For Merida, he supposed that she was turning over her own thoughts, reconciling her worries with the new information. He admired her, in a way; even in the comparatively short time he knew her, he had found that she was a woman of sheer will. She knew where she stood and for what. Nothing eroded willpower like worry, however, so if he could help ease her concerns even in a small way, it was worth it.

Forty five minutes remained of their journey, he checked, when Merida spoke again.

"I gotta ask… just how in tha world is this ship still flying?"

Jack cast her a frown. "What?"

"Tha Fairy must be a Mark I, right? First generation of Helas. That means it's old."

Jack gave her a scandalised gasp. "Excuse me, but I'll have you know the Fairy is a lady." He leaned forward and stroked the console with his hand, cooing, "Don't you listen to her. You're not old, you're experienced."

Merida threw a rolled up ball of paper at him. Where she procured it, Jack hadn't a clue. "Ye know what I mean, ye plank. It… she's been through a lot, an' she's still goin'. How?"

Jack smiled to himself again. "I can give you the factual explanation or the romantic one. Which tickles your fancy?"

Merida shrugged. "Meh, both."

"Well, factual is that Anna can do things with the Fairy I've never seen. One-eighty on a dime. That, and Hiccup's godlike when it comes to repairs and maintenance, and even throws in a few performance tweaks."

"And tha romantic?"

"Easy. Here's a question." Jack looked at Merida. "The Valhalla; did any of you love her?"

Merida response with a bemused frown. "Uh, no."

"There you go. You don't love your ship, she'll throw you off as sure as the sun will rise. Love keeps a ship in the air. Keeps her going longer than she should, doing more than she could. Tells you she's not doing so good before she keels over. Love keeps her alive, and in return, she keeps you safe. Makes her family."

Merida looked to the side, but Jack didn't miss the smile. "I think I see."

"Want to take the stick?"

Merida's smile dropped, and she stared at him in bewildered shock. "Wait, what?"

"I'm serious. You can't know how it is to love a ship unless you feel her in your hands."

"But I never did pilot training…"

"That's why I'm here. You can do it. Just hold the stick steady, maintain speed, and keep the altimeter level. If you get spooked, say so and I'll switch the controls back. Sound good?"

It took Merida a few long moments, but eventually, she nodded. Her left hand found the flight column while her right rested on the speed lever. Her posture screamed something Jack found exceedingly amusing, however.

"Hey, loosen up, soldier. You're gonna pull something."

She shot him a mildly nervous glance before cautiously relaxing, and once Jack was satisfied, he flicked a switch on the centre console. A small green light blinked on closer to Merida's side, indicating control priority was hers.

It might have been his imagination, but the Fairy started purring.

"I think she likes you," he said, smirking.

For the next half hour, Merida flew the Fairy while Jack sat back, gently instructing her and offering a few tips here and there. For the most part the flight was smooth, except for a pocket of turbulence that had Merida exclaiming that the Fairy no longer liked her. Still, the future chances of her getting to fly stick were almost non-existent, so to Jack it was worth giving her the opportunity now.

Fifteen minutes remained when there was a light tapping at the privacy panel, and Jack reached up to the same button.

Elsa's head poked in. "The jeep's ETA is about half an hour behind us. It might be sensible to offer the choice now."

Jack sighed; reality once again came to end the brief oasis of peace and calm. He flicked control of the Fairy back, and began an announcement over the comms.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We will shortly be arriving a few clicks away from Perdition, so please return your trays to the upright position, fasten your seatbelts and wait until the craft has come to a complete stop.

"Now, to some of us it doesn't matter if our faces are seen. Far as we're concerned, Unity knows what we look like, or they can't take advantage of our identities. However, some of you are concerned about retribution. You've got family back home who might be threatened if you get recognised. With that in mind, I suggest anyone who wants to be anonymous should wear your masks and goggles for the duration of this mission. As the CO and XO, and also with nothing to lose, Snow Queen and I will not be wearing masks, and if you choose to do the same, it's your call. Be advised; if you choose to show your faces, there's no going back. Thank you for flying Air Frost, and we hope you had a pleasant flight."

"No, it was awful," quipped Eugene. "Harvester snored the whole way."

"See, now I have to hit you," retorted Kristoff. "And you're in the jeep, how would you know?!"

Jack cast a glance at Merida, who was in the process of one hell of an eye roll. "Boys," she muttered. "I work with boys."

The jeep's ETA was on point, as thirty minutes to the dot after landing the Fairy, Jack heard the humming of the electromagnetic repulsors of the approaching vehicle. Candace, Eugene and Rapunzel jumped out first once they had pulled up, followed by the comparatively reserved egress of Agnarr and Iduna.

"Slowcoach," Jack snarked at Eugene. "What, did you stop off for drive-thru?"

"Yeah, I had the shut-the-fuck-up meal deal with a side of kiss-my-ass."

"I had the bite-me special," Rapunzel added.

"You're a terrible influence on her, Eugene," Elsa said.

Eugene spread his hands. "What can I say? She always had me in her—"

Jack slapped him upside the head, just as Rapunzel punched him in the arm.

"—ow! OW! She had IT in her!"

"Anyone else want to hit him for inappropriate remarks?" Anna asked the group. Behind her, Astrid was already rhythmically driving her fist into her palm.

"I could get in on that," Candace drawled.

"Hey-hey-hey! No more hitting Eugene!" the beleaguered man said, before yelping as a small bolt of electricity sent him jumping off the ground. Jack glanced at Merida, who smirked and wiggled her eyebrows while arcing light danced between her fingers.

"You didn't say anything about zapping," Hiccup pointed out, standing beside Astrid.

"Fine! No more hitting, zapping, freezing, roasting, shaking or whatever!" Eugene squealed, rubbing his butt where the electric bolt had landed.

Anna cocked her submachine gun. "Didn't say anything about shooting…"

"Alright," Jack said, holding up a hand. "That's enough for now. We beat on him any more, there won't be much left. So, to business: everyone clear on what's happening?"

Eugene winced, rubbing at the nape of his neck. "Yeah. I'm gonna pay for what I said, aren't I?"

"Let's just say this," Rapunzel said, her face utterly deadpan. "Sleep with one eye open."

"Ma always said to beware of the nice ones," Hiccup said. "They've got a vindictive streak a mile across."

"Back to the moment," Jack said, loud enough to cut through the chatter. "Are we clear about the plan?"

Murmurs of agreement, and nods of the same was the response.

"Good. Phoenix, you cool with leading us in?"

Candace gave him a firm nod, but Iduna shot him a puzzled look. "Forgive me," she said, "but what do you mean?"

Jack didn't know where the surge of protectiveness came from. Maybe it was from knowing Candace's history. Maybe it was the… temerity of not just a civilian, but one of the architects of Elsa's suffering, asking about things they weren't cleared to know. He was cordial with the Snowfields, sure; but that did not mean he had to like them. His voice went low, and he stiffened his posture.

"That doesn't concern—"

He felt a hand on his forearm, and to his surprise, discovered it belonged to Candace. She was not smiling, but her eyes gave him pause.

"It's okay. I want to."

Jack nodded once, then took a step back to give her the floor. Candace looked away, taking a deep breath, and hooked her thumbs through her belt loops.

"Before the Ghosts saved me, I lived in Perdition. I worked as the secretary for Archon Damocles, but the Ghosts showed me a better way. That's the story I'll be telling from now on to anyone outside this group, unless I choose otherwise." Candace looked off in the direction of Perdition. "Truth is, the Ghosts saved my life. Every other day Damocles raped me - sometimes more than once a day. He beat me. Tried to break my spirit, and if it wasn't for Pitch and Hunter, he would have succeeded."

Candace looked down at the ground before her eyes went up to the sky, and Jack caught sight of welled tears before they were quickly blinked away.

"Perdition is another word for hell, and it fits. That place was my hell. I was alone. Everyone knew what was happening to me, and either they were too scared to say something, or they just didn't care. I left that place as a victim, a shell of myself. Now… I'm a soldier. I'm a survivor. I know my worth and I am more me than I ever thought possible."

She gestured at Jack and Elsa. "They had the idea, and I accepted. They said that for them it was a show of strength, but for me… it might mean more. And they're right. This is my healing, my catharsis. When I walk through those gates, those people are going to see the result of their indifference; a phoenix born from the ashes. And what better way to give them the middle finger than the most lethal team of abnormals having my back?"

"I… I see…" Iduna managed after a long time. Jack couldn't fault her speechlessness; there wasn't much anyone could say to that.

"Furthermore, you get to show off your hairstyle," Elsa said lightly. Candace smiled a sheepish smile, blushing as she shyly touched where Rapunzel had shaved the sides of her head, allowing the long hair in the centre to elegantly fall over the right side.

"Well, we've got a fair walk ahead of us." Jack nodded at the Fairy. "Mr and Mrs Snowfield can fly with Streak. Rest of you, move out."

Perdition's gates were far more imposing than Candace last remembered. Even ramshackle and makeshift, they bore down on her like a giant guardian, an ogre blocking the way forward like in the stories she heard as a little child. Of course, she only ever knew those gates as a symbol of imprisonment when they should have meant safety. For everyone else the walls spoke of security… for her, a cage.

A flurry of movement atop the walls caught her eye. She held up a fist, and the Ghost column halted. Militia scrambled to position above her, orders barked to take aim, faceless men and women pointing gun after gun at them. So far, so Perdition.

Well, the presence of two dragons and a Hela hovering low over their heads might have been a factor in their defensive response.

"State your business!"

Candace's eyes found the source of the voice; a balding, rotund man. She half-smiled - this man had no spine. Why he was in charge of the Wall for that month, she didn't know. He was more likely to abandon the Wall than defend it.

"Our business is none of yours, Rozhenko," she called back. "Now how about you get off your ass and bring me Archon Lopez!"

"We don't have anyone by that name!"

"Do you think me a fool?" Candace took a step forward and rested her hands on her hips. "Archon Lopez. Tell her that her sister would have words with her!"

"Well, seems you've been picking up Pitch's vocabulary," Jack quipped.

Elsa leaned in behind Candace. "You said you had no family?"

"I don't," Candace responded more tersely than she would have liked, watching the space left behind by Rozhenko. "Other than all of you."

Elsa said nothing else, for which Candace was thankful. Standing before Perdition's gates, awaiting quite possibly the most draining situation she could anticipate was more than enough to handle.

Eventually there came a metallic groan. Corrugated sheets scraped against sheets, bars pranged against bars, all for the smallest crack in the gates to open so three people could walk through, one by one. Two militia guards, and Archon Lopez herself walked cautiously toward her, the guardsmen sporting pulse carbines.

Candace found her body reacted of its own accord; her chin was lifted, shoulders brought back and her hands found each other at the base of her spine. Once upon a time she could never look her sister in the eyes; now, it was her sister who struggled under Candace's gaze.

It was amazing what a few short months with unwavering support could do. She wasn't there yet, but… she knew that day would come. That alone was a debt she could never repay.

"It's… been a long time," Lopez said. "You're looking well, sister."

"We are not sisters," Candace's response was colder than Elsa and Jack's powers combined. "And spare me the false sincerity. You never cared about me before and you certainly don't now."

Lopez flinched slightly, and if Candace was honest, the reaction irritated her. "That's not—"

"But enough about me, how about you?" Candace smiled an empty smile. "Archonship suits you. It's nice to know you achieved your goal. Simpler way, too, instead of either waiting for Damocles to… be too rough and kill me so you can blackmail him out, or for me to snap and kill him. Win-win."

Lopez's lips sealed shut, her eyes hardening. Candace's eyes flashed, and the empty smile became one of small triumph. Come on, she thought to herself. Show us your true self.

What veneer Lopez displayed fell away. Her gaze grew cold, almost contemptuous. One hand went behind her back while the other was held just above her abdomen. Candace knew this pose well. The pose of the betrayer.

"Fine," Lopez said, her voice now void of manufactured empathy. "I didn't expect to see you again. We thought the Nightbringer had kidnapped and taken you elsewhere after he murdered Damocles."

"One out of two. You're getting sloppy, sister."

"Be that as it may, it was the only logical conclusion. You were missing. Damocles was found… let's just say, he was in pieces." Lopez smiled a little at her own joke, a smile which widened at the look of surprise Candace failed to conceal.

"You didn't know, did you? Oh, that's precious. I wonder if your friends know they have a serial killer in their ranks. One that likes dismembering his victims."

Candace wasn't certain, but she heard a sound like crackling electricity.

"Speaking of your friends," Lopez nodded behind her. "I see you threw your lot in with this abnormal filth."

"This filth is my family," Candace bit back. "I guess it shows how much I prefer them to you. They wouldn't allow one of their own to be raped and brutalised over and over for a shot at temporary greatness. By the way, that sword hanging over Damocles' head? If I were you, I wouldn't look up."

Lopez's smile fell, her entire face tensing. "Quite. Now, get to the reason you're here so we can forget each other existed."

It was supposed to sting, Candace reckoned. Lopez always had a way with words, and only let her true nature out to play if she had an advantage or an exit clause. Candace smiled inside, for she would have neither.

"As the Human-Ghost liaison officer, on their behalf I speak for them in matters requiring a human touch. We are here to use your Uni-Com."

"I could use the bathroom, too," Jack quipped.

"The answer is no." Lopez gave Jack a disgusted once over. "To both."

Candace smiled. "We weren't asking."

Scoffing, Lopez's eyebrows met in a peak, her eyes flashing with incredulity. "Bold talk, especially when all I need is to speak one word, and you all die here and now."

Candace's smile grew wider. She took a single step, eyes fixed upon her sister's. Time to spring the trap.

"Do you see those two dragons and that Hela?"

Lopez glanced up.

"If one single bolt leaves one of your guns, they have orders to tear your entire wall apart. Now, if you think you can rebuild the walls in time for the next Reaper assault, then by all means, speak your one word."

Lopez's eyes widened. "You would risk the lives of everyone in Perdition? You wouldn't do that. You haven't the heart."

"I am not risking anyone's lives. I would rather do this peacefully. What happens next depends entirely on you. But… if you think I am bluffing…"

Candace leaned forward.

"Try me."

Lopez studied her for a few long moments, long enough for Candace to question inside whether or not she was right. Maybe she had led the team to their deaths, and that the wall could be rebuilt faster than she thought. Still, she took care not to show it; one blink would be all it would take for Lopez to realise the truth.

She could have sighed in relief when Lopez said, "I'm impressed. I had not anticipated such ruthlessness from you."

Candace cocked a single eyebrow. "I learned it from you."

"Quite." Lopez turned, her gaze lingering upon Candace for a moment before walking away. She barked an order for the militia to stand down, and to open the gate as soon as she was safely through.

Once she had gone out of sight, Candace let out a long, trembling breath, feeling the tension in her muscles lift like steam. Her heart made up for all the beats she forced it to hold back, causing her head to swim with a lightheaded fog. She bent down, resting her hands on her thighs for support.

"Breathe, Phoenix." She felt Jack's gentle hand on her shoulder. "Take your time. You did good."

"Though I do wonder if we would have had to tear the wall down," Elsa mused. "Not that it would have made a difference for us down here."

"I'm sorry about that," Candace managed breathlessly. "Cynthia may be arrogant and heartless but she is no fool."

"I don't doubt it." Elsa held her other shoulder. "What is the point of ruling if all you rule over is a kingdom of skeletons?"

"Meh, worked for the Lich King."

"One more obscure reference, Frost, and I will hit you," Elsa deadpanned.

"Don't you threaten me with a good time," Jack said back. Candace could hear the smirk.

The groaning and scraping of metal commenced once again, drawing ever wider. Even through the kicked-up dust and the increasing gap, Candace could see the population of Perdition flocking to see what all the fuss was about. The chill of fear went down her spine, but she ignored it. She straightened up, and unclipped her MP5K from her utility vest, before handing it to Jack.

"They need guns to feel powerful," she explained, catching his confused look. "I don't."

She turned away, but as soon as she took her first titanic step toward the hell from which she escaped, Jack called her name. Her chosen name.

"Phoenix."

She looked over shoulder, turning just enough to see all of them, and was greeted with a sight which she would never forget.

Jack was the first to hold a fist over his heart. Elsa the immediate second. One by one, every single Ghost stood to attention and repeated the salute. The sign of respect she had heard of but had never seen. And they were saluting her.

Honestly? She could have cried.

Instead, she reciprocated their salute and bowed her head, forcing down the lump in her throat. To go from the Archon's punch bag and sexual toy to a respected and honoured member of the Ghosts was almost too much for her to take. She quickly turned and marched toward the gate, hearing the regimented thumping of boots behind her.

Murmurs and chatter filled the air, civilian eyes watching her and the Ghosts behind her. Though fear gripped her, she soldiered on. She remembered the times she staggered home from work; beaten, bruised, sometimes barely able to see, all to find her cellular regenerator. Pain where there should be none. Passers by would look away. Some would close their doors. She was invisible to them, but those same faces could not look away from her now. Flashes of those horrific nights tried to force their way into her mind, but were swiftly banished by the thunderous humming of the Fairy and the proud roars of Toothless and Stormfly overhead.

Hell of a coming home parade… but it never was home. Her bunk bed, with its scratchy sheets? The fields where she ran, the rooms where she was trained? That was home.

Lopez and her personal guard awaited them at the entrance to the Archon Hall. Candace came to a stop, and the rest of the column followed suit.

Her task was over. The fire of the phoenix had served its purpose; now came the reign of winter.

The advantage of wearing a mask was that no-one could see Merida's face. The location of her gaze was a mystery to others, and for all the crowd knew, she could be sticking out her tongue at them. As it was, her eyes and her mind were on the Archon Hall. Remembering the night of Candace's rescue. Remembering the stories she heard of the Nightbringer from the Media Stream. The reports never went into details, but the words butcher and sadist were regularly used and the abnormal angle was always played up. Still, it was more than enough to set off the imagination, and as Merida's faraway gaze rested on the Hall, she fell into the same spell as in her youth.

"So. Nightbringer, huh?"

Spell broken. Merida turned and had to look up a little; Astrid stood behind her, chewing something and a quarter-eaten apple in her hand. Of course, there was one obvious response but in a poor attempt at evasion, Merida chose the less obvious.

"...where did ye get that apple?"

Astrid shrugged and thumbed behind her. "Some dude in the crowd was mouthing off at me. Went over and asked him for it."

Merida cocked an eyebrow, though known to no-one. "Ye asked him fer it," she drawled.

"Yup." Astrid took another bite, and the crisp snap could be heard even over the endless chatter of the onlookers. It seemed standing around keeping watch was highly entertaining. "Well, Stormfly can be pretty persuasive."

"I'm sure."

"Anyway. So, Nightbringer, huh? That's a doozy."

Merida looked away, and her eyes fell on the crowd. A couple of children were trying to negotiate the opportunity to say hello to the Ghosts, but the mother was having none of it.

"C'mon. Even behind that mask, I can tell you're having trouble. Out with it."

Mask. It occurred to Merida that Astrid wasn't wearing her mask, though why it took her until that moment to notice, she didn't know.

"Nothin' tae talk about."

"Eh, seems it's true what they say about honest people. They're shit at lying."

Merida's head snapped to face her. "I'm not lyi—"

Astrid simply raised her eyebrows mid-bite of her apple. Merida stared at her for a moment, before huffing her defeat. She scratched her scalp under the ponytail against which her hair strained, and began taking great care to explain her concerns without letting slip that which both she and Jack had to keep private. Chomping at her apple, Astrid patiently listened, though the way she constantly adjusted her posture made Merida wonder if she had already made up her mind.

Once Merida was finished, Astrid studied her for a few moments before tossing the remnants of the apple to Stormfly - who swallowed it whole like a heron consuming a fish - and loudly dusted off her hands.

"You and me, we're friends, right?"

"...aye?"

"We fought together, bled together, laughed, yadda-yadda?"

"Aye ta both."

"Cool. So, you won't hit me too hard when I say: Red, you're talking bullshit."

Merida visibly recoiled, pointlessly giving Astrid a look of aghast surprise. "I beg yer pardon?"

"This ain't about Pitch coming back as the Nightbringer. This ain't about that at all; this is about you being scared."

Merida stared at her for a few seconds, and then scoffed dismissively. "I don't get scared."

"Cut the shit, Red. We all get scared. I know you want to put on a brave front, but you can be brave and you can be scared at the same time. They're not mutually exclusive."

"Oh aye?" Merida folded her arms. "What am I supposedly scared of, then?"

Astrid simply pointed at Merida's chest. Following the finger, she looked down and flippantly said, "I"m scared o' ma tits?"

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Your heart, you knucklehead. Your feelings."

"Really. Never figured ye for the romantic type."

Astrid chuckled, and then nodded over to where the rest of the Ghosts were. "Take Harvester and Streak. They're married and about to have a child, even in this fucked up world where either one of 'em might not come home. Their love is that strong."

Merida watched as Kristoff chatted away with Rapunzel and Eugene, but occasionally glanced up at the Fairy while it flew lazy circles overhead.

"Now take Flynn and Blondie. They're both romantics, they both believe in true love and love at first sight. For them, their feelings are everything they were looking for."

Every now and then, Eugene would cast a lingering glance at Rapunzel, looking at her with an expression of warm admiration. Like she was the most precious and beautiful being he had ever seen.

"Frost and Snow Queen… their bond goes way beyond a typical relationship, y'know, what with literally feeling the other person's emotions. I mean, dude practically died for her. They know what they're feeling is love, but my guess is they've both got responsibilities so they're taking it slow." Astrid snickered a dirty laugh. "They're also about two looks away from Elsa screaming his name out, so guarantee you when they can, they won't be leaving her room for at least a day."

"What makes ye think she'll be—"

Astrid gave her a look.

"Right. Personal experience. Gotcha." Merida tried to wave away the image of Jack and Astrid doing the horizontal tango. "What about you an' Fury?"

Merida watched as Astrid's lips curled a sweet, warm smile, and she blushed as she looked up to where Toothless was circling a wider, opposite direction to the Fairy. The genuine expression of shy love on her face even caused Merida to smile behind her mask.

"Fury and I… neither of us have felt actual… love before. He never felt attraction to anyone before me, and I… honestly, my idea of love was fucked up." She looked back down at Merida. "Point is, this is the first time for both of us, and it's terrifying. But y'know what? It's exciting, too. So we're gonna explore our feelings together at our speed."

"So how d'ye figure I'm scared?"

"Because you've experienced it before. You thought you had love with that MacDonald guy. You were all in, physically and emotionally and he… betrayed you."

Merida snorted bitterly. "Puttin' it mildly."

"Now you've got those feelings again and they're stronger. You're scared of how you feel because you think the more you fall, the harder the crash. And you're right."

"Yer not sellin' it."

Astrid sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Love is a risk. You start a relationship with someone, you fall for them, you're risking a lot. The trick is finding someone worth the risk, someone who makes that gamble easy odds. We all found that special someone - even you."

"Ye think Pitch is that guy?"

Astrid's hands found her hips. "Red, you are not this dense. Are you telling me a guy who held you practically all the way back from Serenity, who was at your bedside morning and night to the point he was told to eat and barely washed, who took a bottle to the head for you isn't a sure thing? Honey, I don't gamble but I'd bet Whisper on you two having the real deal."

Merida's head lowered. Thought overcame speech, introspection over rebuttal. Astrid was right and she knew it; she had fallen for Kozmotis and hard. He was everything MacDonald wasn't: honest, true, what you saw was what you got. It was odd, however. It all made sense, and that made it easier to navigate through the maelstrom of thoughts and feelings.

"Frost's take was that Pitch wouldnae bring the Nightbringer home," she said, chuckling quietly. "He never mentioned any of what you did. Seemed tae take it at face value."

Astrid tilted her head to the side and back, shrugging. "Don't get me wrong, I love Frost to bits - as a friend - but he's a guy. Sometimes they have the emotional awareness of a dodgeball."

Merida laughed, and a hearty one at that. It felt good - freeing - after so long moping. "Aye, ye might be on ta something there."

"Or I could be wrong and the reason you were staring so long at the Hall is 'cause you've got the hots for Snow Queen." Astrid winked at her. "Not that I blame you. She's definitely at least an eight on the i-would scale."

"I don't have the—" Merida began, but discovered her initial thought process had evaporated at the realisation of, "—wait, you?"

Astrid looked at her like Captain Obvious had spoken instead. "Duh. I'm bisexual, and this is Snow Queen we're talking about. I may have… played the violin once or twice."

Merida stared at her for a few seconds, and then looked away, somewhat dazed. "Well this is new," she said, "one of ma friends just said she'd totally bang ma other friend."

"What, you thought I was joking when I said Snow Queen and me naked in the snow was my idea of a good time?" Astrid laughed. "Oh, my sweet summer child. The things I could teach you—"

"One more word," Merida pointed a threatening finger, "an' I'll make it so ye cannae brush yer hair fer the rest of yer life."

Astrid wiggled her eyebrows and smirked. "Oooh. Kinky."

Merida never wanted to hit her as much in her life.

The look on Archon Lopez's face as Jack closed the door on her would be one Elsa would treasure for eternity. Sheer, disappointed sulking, like a child told to do their homework on the Uni-Com. Given what Elsa had heard, she was partially hoping Jack would have literally closed the door in her face.

Repeatedly.

Unfortunately such an occurrence would have to remain a distant hope, so Elsa consigned it to the 'fantasy box' in her mind. She turned and walked over to the nearby Uni-Com, but stopped when the sound of wood scraping on wood reached her ears.

Jack was rearranging the furniture.

"What are you doing?" She asked in mild bewilderment.

"Messing up Lopez's interior design." Jack started moving the heavy desk with far more ease than such a desk demanded. "I can't kill her, but I can be a passive-aggressive ass."

It was on the tip of Elsa's tongue to chastise Jack for his activity, but out of either his bad influence or her own dislike for the Archon, she changed her mind.

"Move everything an inch to the left."

Jack looked up at her. "What?"

"Move her furniture an inch to the left. Trust me. It will drive her crazy."

Jack stared at her for a few seconds before a wicked grin overtook his face. "One inch it is."

Elsa smiled to herself an impish smile as she returned her attention to the Uni-Com, the sound of Jack setting about his task acting as background noise. Though he was correct that it was passive-aggressive - and typical Jack - she was grateful for the aural distraction. The upcoming call would be the most important in her life. The full stop in a particularly dark and bloody chapter. As far as she was concerned, she had to have Merida's ability to nail a bull's-eye.

"You have to turn it on, y'know."

Elsa gave a start, and turned. "What?" she blurted blankly.

Jack was behind her, looking over her shoulder. Had he been there all that time… had she been so lost in thought that…

Yes. He had moved all of the furniture and she hadn't noticed - she wondered precisely how long ago he'd finished.

"You want to make a call, you have to turn it on first."

"Right…" Elsa turned back to the device, and closed her eyes for a second while she gently shook away the dazed sensation.

"You okay?" Jack leaned a little closer. "You want some time?"

"No… I just…" Elsa sighed, and cradled her arms against her abdomen. "What do I say?"

Jack snorted. "You're asking the guy who is pretty sure people are just humouring him about his speeches."

"Your speeches are fine, I just—" She closed her eyes and frowned. "I have been rehearsing this moment for days, and now… my mind is empty."

She felt the gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder, and instinctively her hand went up to hold it.

"Harvester once told me plans never survive first contact with the enemy. My advice? Just go with it. Start up the call and I'll bet you anything it'll all fall into place. You can do this, honey, but if you need me, I'll be just off camera with a pom-pom and a cheerleader routine."

Elsa smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. "I love you. Do you know that?"

Jack squeezed back. "I know. And I love you too."

She felt his hand leave her shoulder and missed it deeply, but put aside the absence of his touch. She was strong. She had herself. She had him. She had her family, both Ghost and biological.

Without giving herself a second to hesitate, she activated the Uni-Com by voice, and instructed it to connect to Supreme Commander Hans Larsen. Casting a quick glance for strength at Jack, she saw him commence a small but hilarious cheerleader routine from just behind and to the right of the Uni-Com. Shaking her head, she smiled with quiet laughter just as the screen burst into life, and all humour, all good cheer faded away at the face staring back at her.

"Snow Queen," Hans said with forced cordiality. "Forgive my surprise. I did not expect to hear from you."

"Come off it, Hans. You did not seriously expect me to carry out your little blackmail."

"No, I suppose not." Hans lifted his chin. "I presume Frost still lives."

Elsa caught Jack's eyes and gestured with her head to join her. He sauntered round, and leaned over her shoulder. "Howdy, Mr. Supreme Bologna. Long time listener, first time caller."

Elsa fought hard to suppress a laugh.

"It is a shame. You should be dead."

"I walked it off." Jack smirked at him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to mime shaving your eyebrows."

With that, Jack took himself back to his previous spot and, true to his word, began doing just that. He even adopted a look of mock concentration.

"How someone so insufferable became one of the most dangerous enemies to Unity I will never know."

"He is an acquired taste." Jack shot her a scandalised look, but then thought for a moment, and tilted his head as if to say fair enough. "But, enough about him. You seem stressed, Hans. Encountering problems?"

"And what business would it be of yours?"

"Might I guess something to do with a secret bunker hidden in the Canadian wilderness?"

Hans' eyes went wide for half a second, long enough for Elsa to notice and smile. "How did you—"

Elsa kept her mouth closed, her smile morphing into a smirk. Hans' initial surprise faded away into a look of utter realisation a lot faster than Elsa anticipated.

"That was you."

"Yes. We found your little secret, and spirited away my parents. The Reapers took care of the camp…" Elsa looked away. "Though what your boss did to the survivors was irredeemable—" She looked back at him, rolling her shoulders back and stared with conviction, "—and he will answer for it. As will you."

Hans' lip curled with an acidic sneer. "Revenge, Elsa? Not very inspired. We both know how that worked out for you."

If he intended to sting her, he failed. Elsa did not wince, frown, nor even flinch. She smiled, letting out a single snort of laughter, and even relaxed a little.

"Revenge implies an emotional connection between us that no longer exists. For years I looked to you as a friend, for a few months, you were the bane of my existence. I… attributed more thought and attention to you than you deserved, like you were some constant dark presence, the architect of my pain both past and future. Now… I look at you now, Hans, and I just see a man. A lonely, pathetic, manipulative man. You have no power over me any more."

If her words affected him he did not show it. Granted, she figured she was inflating his ego somewhat, but that was how it was to be.

"So, revenge? No. This is to be a reckoning. You will not see me again but you will hear of me in the reports across your desk, where your hateful society slips through your fingers bit by bit. And when it is over, when your empire around you is nothing but ash and smoking ruin, on behalf of every one of my kind you and your corrupt government have hurt or murdered, we will come for you - and no-one, not your army nor your giant floating fortress will save you."

Elsa raised a hand, and before swiping across to end the call, said, "I'll see you soon."

And then there was silence. No more Hans, no more talking. No more gazing into the past, no more lingering need for retribution. Peace was the prevailing feeling. Peace and purpose. Elsa knew such tranquility would not last, for such a state was not meant to endure. Still, she would take it and cherish it, the calm before the storm. And the storm was coming.

"You know, what I just saw has left me a little… confused."

Elsa glanced at Jack, who leaned against the wall with his legs crossed at the ankles. "In what way?"

"Hearing that… I'm a little scared. And aroused." Jack looked up at the ceiling, his mouth testing the word. "Scare-roused. It's a very puzzling feeling."

Elsa laughed in spite of her nerves, her prior strength of will fading into its place now it was no longer required. However, her mirth vanished when her mind betrayed her and chose to remind her of something she had said to him, something uttered only a short time ago.

Her eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat or five. Now she was the one 'scare-roused'.

"I just told you I loved you," she murmured in shock.

"Yeah, you did." Jack frowned, and pushed away from the wall to walk toward her. "And I told you I loved you too. Something wrong?"

Elsa winced. "No, no, it's just…" She sighed, and rubbed at her forehead. "This isn't how I pictured telling you. It feels… inadequate."

Jack reached up and caressed the side of her face. "It felt natural. So, if you ask me, it was a perfect moment."

Elsa smiled, closing her eyes to savour the sensation as she leaned into his touch. "You're right. Thank you."

Jack shrugged it off as nothing. Elsa reached up and took his hand, pressing a kiss to his palm, when a curiously familiar sensation took over. It flooded her from her abdomen to her chest, and flushed her cheeks a vivid pink on its way to fill her mind with haze, and turned her breathing heavy. She looked up at Jack with a lidded gaze, and found his expression mirrored hers. She surged, their lips crashing together, voraciously devouring each other.

She barely registered how her hands were already fumbling with his camouflage pants, but was starkly sensitive to the sudden feeling of air as her tactical vest was unzipped, and his hand on her shirt-covered breast. She moaned faintly, the sound swallowed by his mouth.

Jack broke the kiss, only to nibble and suck at her neck. Elsa let out another, louder moan in his ear, closing her eyes and savouring the electricity coursing down her spine. "You sure you wanna do this right now?" he murmured.

"Absolutely." Elsa smiled wickedly as his pants came loose and dropped to the floor. "You and I having sex on the Archon's desk… nothing I want more right now."

Down came his boxers, and her hand quickly found his cock. Hard and proud, she gripped it firmly and began pumping, feeling his pre-come slip into her hand and deciding that Astrid may have been understating him.

"Keep doing that—" he groaned, lightly thrusting into her grip, "—you'd better be ready for what happens next."

Elsa uttered a dirty giggle. "Is that so? Well," she pulled away and stepped, before bending down to kiss the head of his cock, and give it a quick suck, "why don't you come over and show me?"

Teasing him with a lascivious smirk, Elsa turned and on her way to the desk, kicked off her boots and unzipped her pants, making a show of bending over to fully remove them. She hopped up onto the desk and took off the vest and her shirt, exposing her naked, reddened chest in all its glory. As Jack strode over, undressing far quicker than anyone could, she shot a jet of ice at the door's lock.

Before she knew it Jack was against her, showering her neck with kisses. She moaned happily and ran her fingers through his hair, parting her legs further for him. Her moans sharpened as he began teasing her with his cock, stroking it from her entrance to her clitoris and down again. Though she revelled in the sensation, impatience overtook her and she held his face in her hands.

Almost glaring into his eyes, she said, "I've been waiting for this moment for too long, Jack, so stop teasing me and fuck me!"

Jack's eyes widened for a second before his customary smirk took centre facial stage. He positioned himself, causing Elsa to utter a mixed gasp of pleasure and anticipation. "Well, who am I to disobey my queen's decree?"

With that, he pushed, and Elsa took a sharp breath. Even aroused as she was, and wet as he was, it proved to be tougher than they both expected.

"Either you're that tight—" Jack managed though teeth gritted not by pain,

"—or you're that big—" Elsa finished for him. "Maybe both."

Jack slowly but surely eased himself in, inch by inch, her muscles aiding him. Pleasure coursed through her in waves, and she gripped his back whilst mentally trying not to dig her nails in.

After what seemed like forever, Jack was all the way inside, and Elsa could barely cope. Judging by the low throaty growls, he was struggling to endure, too. "I feel so full," she breathed a high pitched moan. "Stars, this is amazing."

Jack's response to that was nonverbal, a slow and tender thrusting where he slid back and forth halfway, every pump sending bursts of electricity through her. His hands found her breasts, gently kneading them and grazing her nipples with his thumbs. Each thrust and caress drew out moans and utterances of his name, and an abrupt squeal when his lips found her left nipple. She had fantasised about making love to him for so long, and now it was happening, it surpassed her wildest expectations - and he wasn't even done yet. He curled his arms up to hold against her back, pulling her further into him, and in response she rested her arms on his chest while she held his face. Losing themselves in each other's eyes, the world around them fell away like snow on a winter's morning. This was a moment Elsa had been waiting for, and one she would remember until her dying breath.

Jack's thrusts began to pick up in cadence, and Elsa found her hips rocked against his thrusts of their own accord, allowing him to reach depths unknown until him. Her moans and cries occurred with quicker frequency, in between breathless whispers of his name. Wave upon wave of ecstasy crashed down on her, drowning her in pleasure, and it was all she could do to keep gazing into his laser blues rather than close her eyes and lose herself completely.

Because she already felt complete. Emotionally, and now physically.

However, something had to give, and it wasn't long before Elsa was about to reach her peak. She called out her impending release, begging the pleasure inside her to explode.

"Elsa… Elsa… I can't hold it any longer…"

She smashed her lips into his, before breathlessly begging, "Do it. Come inside me."

"You… sure? I—"

"—want it, Jack. Make me… yours, as you are… mine. Fill me, Jack. Oh stars, please fill me."

That was all the encouragement he needed. With a roar, he let himself loose inside her, each hard thrust driving his load deeper. The hot feeling of his seed filling her insides spurred Elsa over the edge and her own orgasm exploded in fireworks and stars in her vision, screams of his name filling the empty space while her legs clamped together to keep him there. It felt like she constantly rode the waves of pleasure, one after the other, with some even feeling like a miniature echo of her first orgasm. She supposed with an addled mind that multiples were exactly that.

Slowly, Jack's pounds lost momentum, and she felt his weight against her arms; so she looped them around his chest and embraced him while her body jerked with post-orgasm shock. Neither could speak, too dire was the need for oxygen, and eventually Jack collapsed against her and buried his panting face into her shoulder.

All Elsa could feel was lightheaded haze, and a gorgeous buzz in her body, and she revelled in the sensation of Jack's skin against hers, and the light sweat on them both. Sex before had been good, but this… was above and beyond.

Jack pulled away and began to slide out, but Elsa held him in place. She could still feel him twitch, still feel the fullness. She did not want it to end. "Stay," she whispered. "For just a little longer."

Jack, post-orgasm tiredness written on his face, smiled and nodded. For a time, they held each other in their arms, relishing each other's touch and presence. Truth be told, Elsa didn't want to move because Astrid was one hundred percent correct: walking was out of the question. That, and they would have to deal with the layer of frost and ice adorning the office. Explosive orgasms indeed, and somewhere in the back of her mind, a quiet rational voice mused about how their shared bond enabled them to feel each other's orgasms as well as their own.

Far as Elsa was concerned, it was irrelevant. The question on her mind: was it worth the wait?

Absolutely.

Kowalski watched anxiously as Hans leaned with his bare hands on his desk, his eyes elsewhere with his mind in calculating thought. She knew the kind of person he was, and such a call, such a taunt and a threat would have caused this kind of man to explode with rage and turn the nearest objects into unwilling projectiles.

Hans reacted differently, however, and it was this change that unnerved Kowalski the most. Since the end of the call followed by the terse and immediate demand for his presence by the Unifier, Hans had been quiet. He had barely moved, while his mind almost visibly raced a hundred miles an hour.

She clutched the data tablet to her chest, watching and waiting, her own mind assessing and extrapolating outcomes. Plans needed to be fluid and adaptable, she knew this. Rigid plans always crumbled when faced with unpredictable variables.

Hans suddenly moved, giving Kowalski a mild start. His hands clasped each other behind his back, half-smiling to himself. "I never did put much stock into Snow Queen killing Frost," he began softly, calmly. "If you force someone to do what you want them to do, they will take any way out they can."

"Then why did you try, sir, if you suspected it wouldn't work?"

Hans looked up at her, but his eyes glimmered with understanding. "Have you ever played chess?"

"No, sir."

"Shame. We shall have to play sometime." Hans picked up a piece from the board on his desk, and gazed at it. "In chess, there are gambits, and sometimes those gambits pay off. This one didn't, but that's the risk we have to take. Frost's death would have made things simpler, but while the outcome is regrettable, it is nothing I did not anticipate. Hope for the best, Kowalski, but prepare for the worst."

"So what does that mean for you, sir?"

Hans circled the desk, picking up his gloves from near the board. "Have my loyal unit discreetly visit Serenity and salvage what remains of the Snowfields' data. I suspect they will have destroyed it, but data is like a jigsaw puzzle: you just have to put the pieces together."

Kowalski nodded and opened up a secure messaging connection to Hans' handpicked Honour Guard on her tablet. "And of the Ghosts?"

"I think it would be prudent if I were to focus on more important things, so to speak. Chasing the Ghosts will be a literal affair, so the fewer resources I spend on them, the better. For now, it is business as usual while we wait for the opportunity to present itself."

Kowalski tilted her head. "You're letting them win?"

Hans waved a dismissive hand. "Hardly. War is but a sequence of battles, and today, they win. However, Snow Queen has, in her arrogance, given me valuable information for the battles ahead."

"May I ask what, sir?"

Hans eyed her for a long time, long enough for Kowalski to regret pushing her luck. Part of it was genuine curiosity; Hans had a clever, shrewd mind geared to the long game. The other? Her personal interests.

She would be glad she had not applied perfume that morning.

"Let's just say that our goals align. If I do not interfere with or impede them, they may just end up doing my work for me." Hans made a slow, rolling gesture with his hand. "They know they need to assassinate the Unifier. I intend to be there when they try."

Kowalski blinked. "You want to stop them?"

Hans smiled and cocked an eyebrow, and the meaning was clear. Who said anything about stopping them?

"Continue to monitor Jafar and that big oaf. I know which one of them will make a move but I don't want to be blindsided by the other." He clapped his hands together. "Now. I do believe I have an appointment with our glorious leader. Best not to keep him waiting."

With that, Hans casually walked out of his office, leaving Kowalski alone with her thoughts. It was strange to her at first how he seemed to anticipate being summoned, especially since he knew what the meeting would be about. He even seemed to look forward to it.

He also knew how to talk his way out of any situation, so she didn't know why she was so surprised. Hell, to take their secret flagship out to the Atlantic, disobeying orders and to not be punished for it required the most silvery of tongues.

It was a shame that was all it was good for.

Kowalski walked over to his desk, and picked up the queen piece. She knew chess, and knew it well. She knew the most dangerous piece on the board was the queen, but that you should never underestimate the power of the knight. Many a game had she won by surprising her opponent with a sideways strike.

Of course, their obvious and barely controllable desire to bend her over the table and fuck her senseless helped. Impossible to think three moves ahead when all they could picture is how her breasts would feel around their lengths. Was it cheap to use such an effect against her opponent? Probably.

But Kowalski was a pragmatist.

Now that the Ghosts were back in play, plans had not so much changed as had been put back on the table. No need for Plan B when Plan A was still an option.

The sound of Hans' voice calling through the corridor reached her ears, requesting she hurry up and join him. Kowalski's lips curled up at the left, and she placed the queen back, exactly where it had been.

"Blue skies, Thomas," she whispered to herself, "and cotton clouds."

A/N:

I am alive. Sort of. Like most of us, stuck between living and existing with this pandemic. Life in the UK is tentatively starting to open up again, but I hope things go well.

Random bit of news: there is a possibility I am on the spectrum. If it is the case, it won't change much, but it will explain why I do the things I do and why I react in certain situations the way I do. Of course, I might not be. Who knows. Maybe the next update will have the answer.

So, yeah. Smut. I hadn't originally planned it but it was one of those things that just happens and feels right. I always said I was a write-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of guy with a vague idea of which direction I'm going. I also wanted to... open up Kowalski a little. She's not a throwaway character, she'll actually have a pivotal role in the last act.

Next chapter's gonna be a fun one, I hope. You need levity in grim times. A moment to sit, breathe. I think we could all do with those moments, where we just stop, sit, and take a few seconds to breathe. Life moves so fast, sometimes when you really need to go slow. Take stock of what is important and what is not, what needs doing now and what can wait until tomorrow. But yeah, expect skateboards, makeup, dancing and shaved eyebrows.

Until next time.

Breathe.

Furiyan.