Content Warning: Violence, including against a child, blood and injury, attempted murder of a child

"I'm being threatened, Wu" Acronix hissed, casting an anxious glance down the hall.

Wu didn't seem concerned, "No one's going to hurt you here, Acronix, if anyone tries, I'm sure the orderlies will stop them"

Acronix groaned, "No, their a dirty coward, it's blackmail" he said, "I could handle any of these people physically, hell, I'd love to!" he declared throwing out his arms, "I haven't had a good fight in ages! Do you know how hard this is for me?"

Wu bit his lip.

"I'm sorry" he said, than, abruptly "has your brother visited yet?"

"Only you, the second I'm not dying it seems like no one wants to see me" Acronix fell silent, staring across the room.

"it's only been a week, Acronix, I'm sure he just needs time"

"How's he doing, anyway?"

Wu winced, "he's barely left his house, sadly, I've tried to speak to him but he won't answer the door"

Acronix's face fell, he thought for a moment "well, can I visit him? I'm sure he'd-"

"No, but I've got something special for you" Wu reached into his bag and pulled out a package. "Pyotr put this together for you, be careful where you open this, Acronix, I had to pull a lot of strings to get it in here without being looked through"

Acronix look it, turning it over in his hands, "can you tell me what's in it?"

Wu smiled, "nothing much, just some... Pictures from the outside, maybe a few flowers ... lilies, I think"

The fangpyre's face split into a grin, "oh, thank you, Wu!"

He took the package excitedly, turning it over in his hands.

He stared at it, his grin fading into a smile as his expression grew distant.

"I hope he forgives me" he said suddenly, "maybe then he won't have to raise her alone"

Wu shifted uncomfortably, glanced around to make sure they were alone, then said "we aren't in private, Acronix"

Acronix scoffed, "no one's here"

As he spoke, Hannah came in from the hallway, rubbing her eyes. She stopped when she saw them talking, and sneered when she caught sight of Wu.

"Sorry to interrupt" she said, although her tone was far from apologetic.

Wu was careful not to look at her, "it's fine, I was just leaving" he said, getting to his feet, "I wish you well, Acronix"

Acronix ran to his room immediately after Wu left, the package rustling quietly in his trembling hands.

His door had no lock, so he shoved the chair under the handle before taking a seat on the bed.

Carefully, he unwrapped the package, revealing a cardboard box which appeared to have been reused at least once, with the tape holding it closed being the second layer.

Acronix got up to look for a knife or pair of scissors, before remember his claws.

"Ah, right!" He chuckled to himself, "guessss being a ssserpentine has its advantagesss"

With that, he stuck a claw in the seam and dragged it through, neatly cutting the tape.

Inside the box, he found a bunch of polaroid pictures, neatly tied together with rubber bands. He shuffled through them, a smile gracing his lips as he did.

The subject matter varied, all with the date and time written on the back. There was a picture of him and Krux, goofing off in camp, Pyotr, showing off with his earth powers, Lily at her first birthday party, having cake for the first time.

The more recent photos, taken after the war ended, were more domestic. A lot of them featured Lily as she was now, a bright eyed little five year old.

He heard a child scream from the other room and leaped to his feet, terror seizing his heart, he threw down the photos and kicked the chair away from the door, running full speed down the hall.

He spotted Sally crouched behind the couch, blood pouring from her head and mouth and left arm hanging limp.

Thomas had Hannah pinned, his hands wrapped around her throat.
Before Thomas has noticed him, he'd darted over and kicked him in the head.

Hannah wasted no time crawling out from under him, rushing to her child as Thomas turned his attention on Acronix.

Thomas swiped out with his tail, trying to knock Acronix off his feet, but the time master leaped over it, jabbing him hard in the throat before punching him square in the jaw.

He was on the ground in seconds, spitting blood onto the carpet. He glare up at Acronix.

"You .. you bastard, you... They should've killed you" he wheezed.

"And yet here I am" Acronix was smiling, a gleam in his eye.

He stomped on the anacondrai's arm and a sickening snap rang throughout the room. Thomas screamed, and Acronix dragged him up by the shoulder, slamming him into the wall.

"What the hell were you doing?" he hissed, twisting the man's broken arm with a harsh yank.
Thomas met his eye, "I was putting that thing out of its misery"
At that moment, he heard the door slam open behind him.

"Stop!" Someone screamed, and he felt warm human hands wrap around his shoulders and yank him away. Acronix let them, Thomas sliding to the floor as he was let go, a whimper leaving his throat.

Acronix caught his eye, flashing a fanged sneer.