Mama, I just killed a man…

THOOOM!

Dirt and debris exploded again as a small cacophony of smoke started to whittle out of existence as soon as the damage was done. I frowned at it as I reared back again while at the same time putting another "x" mark on my notebook.

THOOOM!

A very young tree got its bark splintered into a thousand pieces as I watched it fall on its stump violently before being stopped by another tree close by where it slid back to the ground. I hissed at that result. It was far… far too distant from the source that I wanted to hit.

It was starting to get annoying as I put another x in my notebook.

Frustrated, I let go of the rather large rifle that I was using while prone and took off my goggles and headphones. I looked at my notebook and saw how my scoring worked and I found myself very embarrassed with the results.

If anything, I was pretty pissed off with how it all turned out. Especially since I was pretty confident with my aim after practicing with the smaller rifles and handguns that Mom let me use. Plus, I still don't think I'm used to the rather large recoil of the gun that some would think is as close to a cannon. My shoulder and arm still ache quite a bit after extended use and that's surprising given how quickly I'm used to smaller weapons both in rifle range and even that of shotguns and handguns.

Sitting on the small rug that I used to lie prone on, I sighed heavily as I looked at my notebook.

Maybe because the gun was Mom's favorite. I often found her using it when she had to… uh, when she had to let loose some steam. Which was rare in hindsight, but it happened. Often Dad would come along as well, and they would usually pawn me to Aunt Zoe as they would spend days upon days with each other doing their…

Things… and of course with guns attached. Usually, Dad was a major pacifist. I even heard Uncle Alan say that he used to hate guns for the most part given the state of Brockton years before I was even born, but meeting my mom seemed to change that.

He was still very much apprehensive about the weapons themselves, but his stance was much more tame this time, compared to what Uncle Alan would say "the old Danny" was. Aunt Zoe of course had to cover my ears for the next part of what he said but to my knowledge it had something to do with mom being quite a catch.

The Barnes family turned into a shouting match after that affair, but they would cool down hours later. Still, it was weird seeing how well Mom and Dad sort of fit with each other.

Because to anybody, and I mean ANYBODY… would look at it and ask how my totally normal-looking dad got to marry my mom in the first place.

Existential and disturbing thoughts aside, I immediately saw a shadow looming over me as I looked up and saw my mom.

"I made it extra sweet and loving this time for my baby girl…" Mom said as she offered me a rather lavishly decorated glass of my favorite drink.

Best mom ever!

I immediately but carefully took it out of her hands and sipped it with as much enthusiasm as I could muster. It was amazing. It was tasty, sweet, and possessed such a quality of flavor that I was just left dreamy once the liquid left the end of my tongue.

Mom sat next to me as she took me in with her arm and kissed the side of my head.

"So… how'd you do?"

The emotion in my head dimmed for a moment as I looked sheepishly at my mom with some embarrassment. I could never lie to my mom as well as I could to my dad, but it was useless to even attempt it especially when she saw my notebook.

"You know… it isn't that bad." My mom said with an impressed tone.

"You don't have to lie to my face, Mom…" I said, close to a whisper as I heard my mother giggle with that loving tone and voice.

"It certainly isn't perfect, but I don't think it has to be sweetie."

I perked up at those words. "How so?"

My mom then closed my notebook and looked at me.

"To speak simply, nothing is ever perfect. Not even to someone like me. I still do mistakes from time to time and I'm pretty much flawed as every other human out there…"

Mom was strangely humble until her eyes shifted to that of a very familiar appearance with the accompanying grin that even Emma finds scary. I don't of course, since Emma says I do the same too sometimes.

"… but flaws and imperfection doesn't mean inferiority. If anything, any advantage that any creature has over everything else proves which creature is successful over the other. That's simple natural selection… and you, my beautiful, lovely daughter have as many advantages over everyone else like me… you're a predator, not just one with bite, but one that adapts… one that over time becomes as close as perfect as one could ever be… and even then, you're still my daughter and I'll be proud of you no matter what."

I felt myself blush as Mom pretty much gushed about me. Her beautiful perfect, exotic-colored hair that I inherited subtly rode against the wind as we smiled at each other. Even her glasses completed her look, and I could see why Dad fell in love with her.

Womanly assets aside… which annoyingly I still wasn't able to develop yet…

"Now… care to try again and don't worry. I'm confident you'll do better this time." Mom said encouragingly as I smiled and went prone again to settle the long rifle back into my hands in its proper stance and form. I readied myself as Mom winked at me.

I did not put my goggles or my headphones on, but I trusted my mom who was confident with my odds. I once again got back to my serious mindset as my trigger discipline was now in full effect.

"Breathe." My mom whispered as my finger hovered correctly away from the trigger.

Using her encouragement, I channeled all my focus as I looked through the scope.

Instantly I saw my target. A poor blonde man was tied to a post as he tried to scream and escape from his binds as I angled my aim towards the large watermelon exactly 1.2 meters away from his head which was moving very rapidly in panic.

"Easy." My mom whispered once more as I took another deep breath and calculated the necessary data of the trajectory that the bullet would go to in order to hit my target within my head.

Like taking a leap of faith, I let loose.

THOOOM!

It was loud and as soon as the bullet escaped the barrel, seconds later the watermelon above the man's head exploded into a splash of fruity gore as pieces and the liquid from the impact splashed around his screaming form as I took another breath and slowly got myself out of the rifle's influence.

Once I was able to sit back again after turning on the safety, I looked at Mom who was as proud as she could possibly be. I nearly jumped into her bosom as we celebrated.

"I DID IT!"

"I know you could…" she said as she kissed my cheek while we both laughed afterward.

I loved embracing my mom. She felt warm, and motherly, and spoke of home.

"Good job sweetie." She said as I leaned my head to her shoulder. She did the same as we looked at the screaming man, still tied to the post with all the gory, but fruity aftermath of the shot I made.

"Mom?"

"Hm?"

"Who's that guy this time?"

My mom snickered as her eyes flickered from their normal brow and turned into a predatory almost sickly yellow for a few seconds as she grinned. "A stupid, rich, and racist human who meddled far too deep into my business."

"Heh… betcha he didn't expect this huh?"

"I'm sure he didn't my beloved pup…"

He continued to scream a good distance away as we saw his undies starting to stain.

"You wanna leave him in Dad's hands? Or do we get to play with him still?"

"That depends, cub… because I'm pretty sure our menagerie wants a chance at playing with him."

"Aw… but I wanted us to have fun still."

Mom giggled.

"Don't worry cub, we still have their colleagues to work with, and I'm sure we'll have all the fun we can out of them."


AN: A completely unrelated snippet to the story or Looking into a Mirror.

This was largely born from my friend who asked me to think about this little concept while we had drinks. It was just a fun concept that did not need any other thought or distinction behind it, but I humored him just for the fact that I do like the trope of Taylor getting an alternate parent.

Of course, this is crack and you can speculate pretty much anything you can from the snippet… but if you're still confused as to who the Mom is. It's Koyanskaya.

YEAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH…. you can speculate whether its Koyanskaya taking the place of Annette or Koyanskaya hijacking Annette per Narcissus' Folly situation with Oberon…

Whatever the case, this was hilarious and I just had to do it.

And as for status on the newest chapter, it should be out this coming week and I'll update again when I'm close.

Again, like Looking into a Mirror, anyone who finds inspiration with this snippet is free to do so! And I will read it with great enthusiasm as well

Hope you all enjoyed.