Jupiter looked longingly at Stinger's boots as he landed gracefully in front of her, his newly young face beaming. His transparent wings were beautiful and shimmering in the artificial sunlight, a natural prism, his back strong and proud as he nodded to her. She shifted from her place, sitting on a blanket from home, a sketchbook haphazardly in front of her. They were in the large park in the Red Hawk, at its heart its, 'Nest'. A garden of all of Seraphi's favorite flora and smaller fauna from across the 'Verse. It was, ironically, similar to Earth as a result. The Earth itself had been curated to her perfection, and there were only a few stray flowers and pollinating species that were not on Earth, and a pair of roosting red hawks that shared the sky with her friends.

It was an odd time of relaxation. The calm before the furious pace of plans within plans and delegation of dismantling RegenX facilities. What Grey determined and scheduled as 'tender loving care, or TLC', required every few hours so she wouldn't overextend herself. Something about her developing body and fragile mental state in the wake of the influx of hormones with puberty, and the still slowly easing of memories of nearly ninety-one thousand years cramped into her delicate mind.

She really thinks that Grey shouldn't have read so many child development books, but they had taken their role as their caretaker very seriously, especially when they had learned the fact that she meant to leave her family behind on Earth.

Something about personal responsibility and, "You are as much my youngling as theirs. I will take care of you where they cannot."

Her personal assistant, in function, if not in real status, Grey was brutally efficient. And they made Jupiter relax by force if necessary.

Hence sketching idly as her dearest friends went ahead and did something fun and active and she thinks, if I just sneak-

"No, little Majesty," said Stinger, voice firm.

Jupiter sighs.

She knew it had been a futile hope. To want to wear a pair of skyjacker boots, after Stinger had painfully explained why it would probably snap her fragile little 'baby' human bones, but she still longed to fly by herself. Being carried was fun, in its own way, but something about zipping about herself would be so cool. Maybe I can commission a gentler set for myself. I won't get much lift because of my mass, but I could whip around- No. I want the skyjacker level-

"But-"

"You're too damn young, Majesty. Grow at least two feet and a hundred pounds. "

She was not pouting. Because damn basic scientific laws of force equal force times acceleration. And in this case, the acceleration being too much force for the delicate human body of a child. Okay, maybe she was pouting, but only because it would have been so cool. And Grey had been given a set years ago despite their small body size because of course her first friend would have flexible bones and sturdier muscles that could handle the force.

"I'm sorry, Stinger," she mumbled, kicking her feet with a pout.

Caine Wise's eyebrows were steadily going up. He was trying to make a stern, no-nonsense face of a guard. But it was hard when she was purposely trying to be as casual as she could be. She was having a painful reminder of the first few months of her relationship with the Apinis. Only Caine was wary, tenser, and had already seemed to have formed an opinion of her, and she didn't blame him. He had personally been screwed over by her past life's death in a very specific way, and she knew he had escaped death by the very edge of his teeth. His hatred for Entitled, and her, as a result, was completely justified. She had no ill will towards Caine Wise and he seemed to not exactly hate her despite being a Recurrence of Seraphi Abrasax. Just a strong prejudice against her status.

She only wanted to befriend him.

He didn't seem to want that, however, and Jupiter could respect his choices even if she was upset by them.

She couldn't make him like her, or even respect her.

But what is that saying? Kill them with kindness?

She could be kind to him. Kind to his wants and needs, and not push him beyond his comfort. It was the only thing she could do. Because he was important, to Stinger and Kiza, and that made him important to her as result. Especially since he was actively protecting her life just to be near the Apinis.

Stinger ruffled her hair, an indulging smile on his face.

"Later, Queen Jupiter Jones. Later you will fly on your own. Just give your body time to get strong enough."

He sped off with a kiss to her forehead, practicing aerial maneuvers with Grey and Kiza. In the near nine years since they had known each other, they moved perfectly in sync. A flock of birds moving in graceful dives and twists and turns. A dance in midair that could turn deadly or protective at any moment.

"You are surprisingly indulgent with Stinger," Caine commented, offhandedly, before his mouth snapped shut. He had obviously blurted that bit out.

Jupiter blinked and gave a shrug that collapsed into a snort.

"He's humoring me. I've been told more than once I can't use skyjacker boots… I just get jealous."

Caine stared at her, this little furrow appearing between his eyes. He had that expression often around her. This pained, confused look as if he didn't know quite what to do with her. Sometimes it also looked angry, sometimes just scared, and that was when Jupiter felt the saddest in response. Kiza and Stinger had been scared, Grey had been scared of her, but that fear had always been quick to fade. It had lingered on the fringes of their interactions, but it had been weak and more a lingering doubt than real fear.

With Caine it was real.

And Jupiter could not take it away.

"You could just purchase your own boots. Or make one of us give you a pair… Majesty," he tacked that last bit on as an afterthought.

Jupiter shook her head and gave him a smile.

"Stinger's right. He knows my limitations better than anyone."

"I would think one of your kind doesn't have limitations."

Jupiter shifted, hands clenching slightly. Sometimes she wanted to yell. Screech at Caine that she was not a monster. Because the way he reacted to her reminded her so vividly of how people acted to Seraphi.

Calm down. Take a deep breath.

"Everyone does. Anyone who says they are the pinnacle or limitless is just deluding themselves."

"... If you say so, Your Majesty."

AN:

Guys, I was very busy yesterday- and today, and did not have the time to sit down and write the chapter for this weekend. You guys will get the next chapter tomorrow, promise! It will be a Mr. Knight chapter, so YAY, new POV?

Thank you so much for your patience, and enjoy~

~Be Safe, be Well,

Moon Witch '96