Hello again~... I literally can't stop writing today lol Wrote an update for my longest story as well as this in the matter of a few hours lol

I started on this yesterday ironically lol Though I rewrote it twice as I was trying to get used to Milla's character. Was rather hard at first, but I think I got it for the most part. Kinda? I need to do my research on these guys more lol And probably replay the first game more to get the details right lol

But yeah lol I hope you guys enjoy this kinda surprise one-shot lol I have a lot of writing energy so be expecting another soon enough lol

Much love!

I found him when he was a young little thing. A Little cowering child in the darkness of a laboratory. It was obvious he was special if the crazed counselor kept his brain on his shoulders. His wide green eyes pleading and frightened as Sasha and I took a single step closer to him.

"Don't hurt me! Please!" The child was already choking back tears as he curled himself into a ball in the corner of what looked like his own little cell. "I promise I'll do better! I promise!"

"Raz?" Lili seemed to recognize the child as she pushed past Sasha and I. I tried my best to stop her with how obviously fragile he was in this state, but her voice seemed to awaken something within him. As if he was waiting to hear it for however long he was in here.

"Lili?" He looked up toward her voice which allowed us to get a real good look at his face for more than just a second. He was bruised and bloodied. As if he was being interrogated for information but nothing was coming out. It was obvious he had nothing to give either by the state of his clothes. They were patches and ripped and seemed as if they were hanging together by threads. The only piece of it all holding together were the giggles around his neck. Even though a lens was cracked.

Despite this though, Lili rushed toward him after he got to his feet. Wrapping her arms around him in a way I have never seen from the fiery driven little girl. It was obvious now to me that this was someone she cared about. The reason she was so stubborn to join us on this mission. It wasn't just for her father. But for him too.

"I'm glad you're okay." I heard the girl mutter to the boy who desperately clung to her as if she was his last lifeline. That he was set adrift at sea and she was his raft. "Everything is okay now, alright?" I could see him nodding his head into her shoulder as he buried his face into it. "You're safe now."

"Funny how the tables have turned, huh?" The kid joked as it seemed Lili's presence alone was doing him some good. "I save you, you save me."

"Only fair." I watched as the child smiled fully at the boy as she pulled back from him slightly. Her hands now on his shoulders. "We're friends. We even have bracelets, remember?" This caused the broken boy to beam at her in a way that I honestly thought wouldn't come from him with how he seemed not long ago.

"Friends."

"Sorry to break the small reunion, I'm guessing," I looked over toward Sasha who adjusted his glasses as he spoke affirmatively. "But who are you, young man?" He took a small step closer which caused little Zanotto to get into a protective stance before the boy. "More importantly, how did you end up here?"

"I'm Raz. Rasputin Aquato." His voice was soft as he gave Sasha a small nod which added a hint of politeness to his introduction. "As to why I'm here, I don't know all too much. All I remember when I was first thrown in here was that I'm-." He hesitated for a moment as he looked down at the ground he was once on. Frightened by our sudden presence. "Special."

That was easy enough to see. I could tell this child had a strength within him. That his brain and his abilities were unique at the slightest. He had to be for that crazed dentist to be told not to mess with him. Had to be if Lili Zanotto was so protective of him.

"But that's all I really know. Other than the fact they stated at times that I was needing to be broken. That I needed to be like them."

Had to be for them to try so hard to make him a little soldier.

But now, now he has shown why he was so important.

He was a prodigy in the making and his budding talents was how we were able to make so much progress saving the world. Not once either. Twice. He was the fastest one to get through the intern program. Only lasting in it within a few days before becoming a junior agent. He was a natural. It was as if he was meant for this line of work.

And it made it obvious to me why they wanted him so badly. They saw his potential. They saw how talented the young boy could be if groomed in the direction they desired. Yet, the boy stayed true to what he believed. Stayed true to his moral despite how desperate the situation.

Much like Lili as well, I grew quite protective of the young child.

I saw him as if he was my own. Especially since I did everything in my power to teach him all I could. About levitation and thoughts. Of what it meant to be an agent outside of the little comics I knew the darling loved dearly. He was like my own little apprentice. But through teaching him, I realized he was much more than a simple apprentice. He was more like an adoptive child.

"Do you have a family, darling?" I asked the boy softly as I placed a hand on his shoulder. His eyes softened as he took a second to seemly collect his thoughts despite I could tell there wasn't anything quite ragging to grasp onto.

"I do." He spoke finally, but it was in a broken tone. One not much different than the one I first heard out of him. "It's complicated though. I ran from home a while back to go to camp. I was raised in the circus, but it never felt like home." I nodded as I rubbed my thumb on his shoulder as if it could make him feel more comfortable speaking about the situation. It seemed to have helped him though as he continued. "My family is a bunch of acrobats. I was raised to be one since I was little. Though I never felt much for love there. Especially not from my siblings. My little brother would show affection at times. And sometimes my sisters too, but I never really felt like I belonged. The last time I talked to them, all they spoke about was how I abandoned them after they told me to basically abandon myself." I saw the hurt in his eyes as it was obvious he was trying not to cry over the situation. "And how my own brother said if it wasn't for me stealing my sister's horse, that they would have never noticed I was missing."

"So to say you don't affiliate with them is an understatement." He nodded softly as he gave a small shrug.

"They haven't bothered to find me since." A memory crawled across his mind which he blocked me from picking up on. Only letting me see the cringe he had before shaking his head. "Don't think I could stand seeing Dion anyway."

"Well, darling, I wish I could do something about that for you." I took my hand away from his shoulder as I gave him a soft smile. A thought I've had for some time rolling off my tongue before I could stop it. "But there is something I can do to help you from now on."

"What do you mean?"

"I want to adopt you as my own, darling." I gave him a smile as I chuckled lightly at my next statement. "Would help with your ironic name since your curse of water."

"Are you-?" Raz seemed to be at a loss for words as I could tell he was starting to tear up. "Are you sure? I've never been... wanted before."

"Don't let Lili hearing you say that." I laughed lightly as I placed both my hands this time on his shoulders. "She'll light whoever made you think that on fire faster than they could get the sense to run." I gave him a genuine smile as I squeezed his shoulders lightly. "But yes. I would love to have you as my son. You already are in many ways."

All I remember from the rest of that memory was the tears cascading down his face and he just simply nodded his head. All before we shared a crushing hug that would stick in my memory for as long as my brain will let me.

Which leads us to here.

I smiled widely as Raz put his arms behind his back and puffed out his chest with pride as his senior agent badge was placed on his chest. It was a moment he has been dreaming of for years. One he has accomplished in less time than anyone before him. With the young agent only being sixteen years old now.

"He's going to be gushing about this for weeks." I looked to my right to see my son's long-term girlfriend standing close to me. A smile taking over her face as she kept her eyes on Raz. "Not like I'll mind though."

"I would so." I smiled at her as I felt a hand take over my shoulder.

"You must be proud." I glanced over to Sasha as I knew all too well what he meant. Reading his mind or not.

"We all are." I placed a hand on Sasha's as I looked back toward Rasputin. He looked over toward us at the same time with a great joyful gleam in his eyes. A look that was much happier than when I first found him. He shot us a smile as I placed my free hand on Lili's shoulder at the same time.

We are all proud of you, Raz.

All proud of our boy.

I smiled widely as he took his green eyes off of us to look over toward those also becoming senior agents with him. His pride glowed graciously as he shared the moment with those around him.

Proud of our Raz.

Proud of my son.