SIX

Animal kingdom.

AERITH

From her experiences in the wild, Aerith had found it easiest to communicate, connect, and interact with animals. From the grizzly bears and howling wolves to the birds and rabbits, it was relatively simple. Unfortunately, she could not say the same for humans. She had learned that trying to understand them was all very different and very, very confusing.

Communicating just wasn't as simple. Where wolves would howl to rally each other together and bears blow and clatter their teeth when scared, a human does no such thing. Words were the medium they chose to deviate, concur, and digress. Not to say it was something Aerith was wholly incapable of understanding, however it seemed that utilizing them to better communicate with said humans made it quite a challenge.

It was simply just quite different, especially when there were unspoken rules set into place.

If Aerith was being honest with herself, she would have found it easier walking on a lake of thin ice. Fortunately, she had started figuring bits and pieces about the people around her. Though, she made sense of them through a comparison with animals.

Elias reminded her of a silent tiger. While she had never met one before, Wang made her watch enough wildlife documentaries to make a comparison. There was a certain feline elegance to him — from the way he walked and presented himself. It was also with his eyes. His eyes were a beautiful brown, though sometimes she felt like they turned golden in the light. Under his scrutiny was a gaze that felt sharp and assessing. Where List's look was measured and detached, Elias made her feel like a puzzle to be solved.

Honestly, she wasn't quite sure which made her more uncomfortable. To be looked at like an experiment under a magnifying glass or a mystery to unwind and scrutinize like a game?

Other than Elias,the easiest to place were Wang and, surprisingly, List.

List, for all his complexity and stoic countenance, reminded Aerith of an owl — particularly an owl she had met in her twelfth night in the forest.

She had been cold and starving; a shivering bundle on the base of a pine tree. From a nook on the side of the tree, a snowy owl hooted towards her. A confidence in his gait but aloofness in its gaze. The owl was a haughty bird with yellow sights that shined with intelligence. It was a familiar gaze she often found on List — in the rare days she saw him with other white coats like him. And like the snowy owl, List had sharp talons of his own that caught his prey.

If this owl was List, then Wang was the little fledging with him.

She remembered it constantly near the snowy owl's vicinity. A small brown owlet that was about the size of Aerith's palm (she would know since the little owlet had a habit of finding warmth in her hands). It was an excitable little thing with more energy than one would expect from a baby owl. Oftentimes, it would get curious — nipping on the object of its curiosity. The energy and inquisitiveness was something Aerith found in Wang.

Though, the comparison became clearer when a grumpiness and resignation would come over List and the Snowy Owl over something Wang and the Little Owlet had done.

A comparison that still brought her to the brink of laughter.

"Okay, what's up with you?"

Aerith raised her head. Wang stood over her with his hands on his hips; looking like a mother about to give the scolding of the century. By his feet were a stack of books; both thick and thin.

"Just a funny image in my brain." she answered giddily, "It's very amusing."

Wang raised a brow and sighed, "Should I be worried?"

Aerith tilted her head in confusion, "Why should you be worried? Did I cause you distress?"

The scientist looked at her in surprise, quickly kneeling down in front of her and going, "No no no no no. It was a joke. It was a sarcastic thing and whatever."

"Sarcastic?"

If confusion had a name, it would have been Aerith.

"Ah, fu—duck. I mean duck." Wang stumbled on his words before sighing out and muttering, "I'll explain later, flower girl."

"Flower girl?" Aerith asked, tilting her head curiously.

"It's my nickname to you — a little spice of fun. Wait, do you know what a nickname is? Shiznit!"

So, onward, Aerith's start of the day.

It was odd to think that she had resided in her cell for a total of sixteen days since the discovery of her powers. A daily routine established with Wang's teachings, practicing with piles of dirt, nonverbal communications with Elias, and examinations by List. Each day she learned more and more things. She learned Elias liked mangos, List had a soft spot for Jazz, and The War of Roses wasn't actually a literal war between two roses. It was little things like these that made the days enlightening and bearable. However, it was the moments with Wang that became the highlights of her days.

"This week I want you to read these." Wang said, giving her the stack of books in his hands, and began reading the titles aloud for her, "Frankenstien, Dracula, Carmilla, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius—"

"Why is List letting me read these?" Aerith couldn't help but ask, interrupting.

The doctor looked at her with a strange look on his face.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, I was thinking about what Strucker said last week—"

Wang groaned, "Aerith, don't listen to that bald-headed prick—"

"Swear!"

"Penny." he immediately responded and said, "He doesn't like a lot of things, especially when it's not under his jurisdiction."

"Is Strucker not the leader?"

"Technically, yes. He heads the project, but he doesn't have much control when it comes to the actual trials."

Aerith hummed in thought, "Why is he mad at List letting me read then? If it's out of his power, then that means he really has no place to get angry about it."

Wang sighed, removing his glasses, and giving her an exasperated but fond look.

"I wish it was that simple" he said, "but humans usually have an opinion on something — even if it's something that doesn't concern them."

Sensing a finality in his tone, Aerith nodded mutely, dropping the case entirely. Wang continued on his list of books before he turned on his laptop and they began watching another animal documentary. The hour would go by quickly with Aerith utterly captivated by the commentary and the footage before her. So, when it ended, she was left wanting.

As Wang turned to leave, he stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. Aerith was quite curious with the way the good doctor seemed to slowly turn into a raspberry.

"Be honest with me, flower girl." he began but his next words seemed to meld together.

Aerith blinked, "Excuse me?"

She watched the doctor take a deep breath, seeming to calm himself down. His tone was slow and tempered; almost as if he was willing himself not to go any faster than the space he set himself on.

"Do you think the cell is a conductive practice space?"

Taking time to register his words, Aerith hummed to herself. Her palm placed under her chin as she tried to construct her answer.

"How do you define what a conductive practice space is?" she asked first, still pondering.

"Well, can you practice productively with your powers? Does it limit you? Is it lacking in certain areas?" Wang elaborated, pulling out a pen and small notepad from his coat pocket.

Humming once more, Aerith said, "It is...a bit hard to practice."

At her words, Wang straightened up. His notepad was snapped open and his pen scribbled across the white pages.

"Hard in what sense?"

For the next thirty minutes, Wang had asked her numerous questions. His hand never stopped as he wrote. Aerith wasn't quite sure why, but she could sense that it was important to the doctor. When the questions were done, Wang thanked her and left — a manic and excited gleam in his eyes.

Shrugging off the encounter, she was left to her own devices. Picking out the first book on the stack, the words of Carmilla were read in peace. However, still, her mind wandered. She wasn't really quite sure what List and Co. were aiming for her to learn. Wang didn't actually answer her original question, and so was left to continue speculating. However, she had to admit that — while grim, drab, and very tragic — these were fascinating and engaging books. Well, usually engaging.

Dropping the book onto her chest, Aerith huffed out in disappointment. Putting the book away, she laid back onto her cot. Perhaps, sleeping would lay her musings to rest. Settling herself for a long sleep, it was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Looks like you've been getting cozy?"

Aerith jerked herself out of the bed, recognizing the voice. Looking around the empty cell, her eyes stopped at the mirror wall and whispered, "Sera?"

A huff of laughter echoed through the cell. Her own reflection laughed and giggled before rising and walking towards her. Crystals formulated, cracking the mirror. From the sheer glass was a tall, dark-skinned woman with snowy white hair and sharp golden eyes.

"Miss me, Iova?"

Sera Zwingli had finally arrived.

LIST

"Maybe it would be presumptuous to ask — well, it had always been presumptuous to ask, fuck, what am I saying?"

Outside, in an empty hall, David Wang had been standing in front of a door. His hair was wilder than when the day first began. His glasses fogged over and were constantly wiped with his coat sleeves. While normally disheveled anyway, it was a curious sight to see the man look quite unhinged. Soft mutters were whispered under his breath, constantly shifting in his stance and adjusting his sleeves. From an outsider's point of view, they could see Wang continue a cycle from raising a hand, dropping it, and muttering furiously to himself with the occasional head slap and nervous shifting. Not exactly a sight one expected to see in the hallway.

Unfortunately for him, this was the exact scene List had walked into.

"Doctor Wang?"

His ward whirled around to face him; ears reddened and a sheepish smile on his face. David had always been this way, from what List recalled, especially when he was about to propose something. Though, List hoped it wasn't another plan to get an ice cream parlour in the cafeteria.

"Reg!" David blurted out, "How long were you...uh standing there?"

The young man leaned awkwardly on the office door, trying (and very much failing) to assume a casual position. One that betrayed a painful amount of awkwardness instead. It was accompanied with an equally painful smile that List could guess actually betrayed a tinge of actual mortified pain. Internally sighing, List had accepted that this was one thing that his ward would never be without. At least, not without three shirley temples and a whole box of imported Choc Nut. Even then, his terrible penchant for nicknames would have been completely unbearable.

"Long enough to see the start of the inevitable car wreck," he drawled, ignoring the way his ward's bronze skin became tinged with red.

List shooed him away from his office door. The young man jerking away from it like a young foal on their first gallop. Inserting his keycode, List opened it and headed straight for the desk.

"Make it quick, David." he said, sitting down and going over paperwork, "I have to check on the Maximoff Twins again soon. Apparently, Walker was almost choked to death by the girl."

His ward — closing his door — snorted and said, "Let me guess, Junior Scientist Walker was being a dick then."

"Language, David." List absently reminded, going over his notes, before commenting, "Must I remind you that Walker is your colleague and not your Third Grade archnemesis?"

FLOP!

Without a single look, List knew he had occupied his leather couch. Perhaps, with his arms crossed, a large frown, and a string of expletives.

"I know that!" he said defensively, grabbing a throw pillow behind him and hugging it close to his chest.

"Then why — pray tell — do you antagonize him?"

Squawking like a bird in surprise, his ward protested, "I don't antagonize him, he antagonizes me."

"I suppose he started the food fight last Christmas? Or the apocalyptic prank wars?"

Moving his chair to the left, List narrowly avoided the throw pillow aimed at him. Sighing, he rolled his eyes in exasperation.

'The things I tolerate for this boy.' he thought to himself.

List looked up at his ward, seeing him sir upright and attacking his complementary candy bowl. He can already feel his wallet mourn the inevitable loss of the banknotes in its grasp, judging by the rate the candy bowl was being chewed through. Though List refused to admit it, he was worried for him.

David was a stress-eater, something he inherited from his mother. (Although, he knew his mother was more of a stress-cooker than an eater.) Point still stood that David didn't quite have the healthiest de-stressors or coping mechanism. He was glad the boy didn't pick up alcoholism from his father, but still gorging through a whole bowl of sugar did not spell good things for any situation. However, List knew better than to stop him or pursue conversation unless David initiated it first. Not a minute later, his ward did so.

"I just can't help it okay!" his ward blurted out, tossing perhaps the 36th candy wrapper in the bin, "He just has such a punchable face and he thinks he can lord shit over me being younger than him. Jesus, I'm thirty-fucking-five! It's not like I'm a pimply teenager—UGH! Why are we talking about that dipshit?! I'm here for another reason."

"If it's another of those ideas" List drawled, peering at him with a knowing look, "then you could assume the answer would be a No."

Looking quite affronted, Wang protested, "That ice cream parlor was a good idea!"

"But in the middle of winter, David!"

"Okay, fine." he accepted, raising his hands in surrender, "Should have waited in the summer!"

Heaving out an exhausted sigh, List gave him a tired but impatient look. This snapped his ward into action. In a clumsy flurry, the young man took out his small notepad. He flipped through it rapidly and placed the open page in front of him. Looking down, List could gather it's a rough blueprint of something. At first, he was going to dismiss this as another plot for confectionary, but there was one thing that stood out amongst the garbled chicken scratch.

"A greenhouse?" List read out in curiosity, looking up at his ward.

David stood before him nervously, but there was a serious note within his stance. Immediately, he could see Wang's plans and proposal were something different this time around.

"To put it bluntly," his ward began, clearing his throat, "I don't think the cell is a conductive practice space for Ae 一 er, Subject F18— fuck, okay, Miss Jude. For the past few days, I noticed a bit of difficulty she has and how many clean-up crews that went up. So, I thought of something that can let Ae一Miss Jude practice better and exercise her powers in a safe environment without endangering anyone."

At the end of his little speech, List gave him a considerable look and looked down at his notes. Aside from the little sketch, there were little lines and descriptions about his proposal. On the next page were numerous safeguards they could employ to make his plan work. Honestly, reviewing it, List could understand and see the reasons why his ward thought of this solution. He was aware of Miss Jude's discomfort and struggles to summon plant life within her cell. After all, her power was centered in manipulating the biological elements of nature. When Miss Jude does eventually summon a plant from the earth, a crew would be sent for clean to make sure no speck of dirt would be used for possible escapes.

Creating a greenhouse 一 with glass panels lined with a degree of concentrated electromagnetic radiation that repels plant life 一 and implementing a disinfection routine would be all entirely possible. However, it was probably going to take a few weeks or months to establish. Not to mention, it was going to cost. However, reviewing the specifications, List felt it was worth the risk.

List hummed, "I can approve of this."

If they were anywhere else, seeing his ward choke on his own spit would have been comical.

"Wait! Seriously?"

The incredulousness in the young man's face almost made his lips twitch 一 almost.

"It's a good, detailed, and solid plan, David." he remarked honestly, "However, since this is your plan, you know this project shall be your responsibility."

As childish and often immature as he could be, there was a potential within his ward that he could not let go. David Wang could one day be great. However, seeing him bowl over in shock and then step out with a spring in his step, a part of him 一 one he would never admit to have 一 hoped he would never have to. For the price of greatness in their world was a price that would change a man to his very bones. In the silence of his office, List sat and 一 in the enclaves of his haven 一 he mourned.

A/N: Hi guys! I'm sorry this took a while for me to post, but here it is! Honestly, for those who have read the original story, you'll find that it going to take a little while before Aerith meets the Maximoff Twins. I am laying down the groundwork to make it more cohesive and natural. That being said, Chapter 7 might take a while to post. This week is focused on college things. I got accepted to my dream university and I have to prep the needed documents and requirements for enrollment. Can't exactly put a date to when I'll post, but as long as I get it sorted, I'll post it immediately.

That is all for now and I hope you guys have a good day!