The Weight of the Ocean

by Everlasting Night

Two Protectors born from the ambitions of Greed and the Flames of War, with no Family to serve and no purpose in Life. The only one of His kind, the last of Hers. Can they survive the trials of a dying City long enough for them to find the answers they seek, or will the weight of the Ocean crush them under heel as it has so many others?

56. Longing

Longing

Subject Omega had spent two days healing from his time in Minerva's Den as Theta took care of him, and that was describing it lightly in his opinion. The woman had hardly left his side in any of that time. She fed him, gave him water, practically carried him to the bathroom when he couldn't walk on his own, and had massaged his atrophied muscles several times a day, sometimes for hours. He was becoming increasingly more impatient as he healed slowly. She did practically everything for him, treating him like he was a fragile teacup, afraid he would break if she weren't careful, and as much as he appreciated all she was doing for him, it also began to anger him, being helpless went against his very nature. He did need her help, any fool with eyes could see that, but he wouldn't shatter if he fell down to the floor, and try as she might she would not break him no matter how rough she handled him. The brother tried to keep his annoyance down and his temper in check, reminding himself that unlike him, she had been almost completely alone this whole time. No sisters to have any kind of social interactions with, at least none that were Protectors. He realized then that she was treating him in the same manner she treated Mia. Theta had likely been with Mia for so long she had become accustomed to only caring for the Little Sister, and unconsciously treated him the same, maybe not completely like a Little One, but she was definitely treating him more gently than she should a Big Brother. It both comforted and infuriated him to no end. He was strong, he was a force to be reckoned with, a hunter just as capable as her, and yet she treated him as if he would shatter if even displeased in the slightest. He would have been happy to have someone shoot at him again. The captivity he had endured had kept him mentally sharp, though physically drained from the amount of energy his regeneration took, now though, he felt the need to expel energy. He wanted to run, to fight, and to kill. Healing was a monotonous task, and boredom set in no matter the circumstance. He missed being able to hunt, to seek out prey by their scent. He was shackled at the moment, unable to do all of the physical things he normally would be able to, and that was the most infuriating thing of all. He had been freed from one cage, only to be trapped in another of a different design.

He awoke on the third night after deciding to sleep again in order to speed up his recovery and boost his healing, and he slowly opened his glowing eyes to realize just how hot he felt. He was laying on his back on the makeshift bed of pillows, cushions, and blankets that had become all too familiar to him, his own blanket covering him to his stomach where the tender skin of freshly healed wounds dotted his flesh. Ugly lines of thin, tender pink scar tissue covered his body. They would heal in time and disappear completely, but it would take a while. Theta was half laying on top of him like she usually had for the last few days any time he slept, her eyes shut as she breathed softly, humming a quiet, broken tune to herself every now and then as she held his right hand in hers, playing idly with his fingers as she occupied herself since she didn't need to sleep, and wouldn't sleep if she could help it, at least until he was healed and she was sure he was safe. He stared down at the back of her head as she moved to look down at his hand, larger than hers as she gently picked it up and played with his fingertips, her long hair in a braid that lay behind her almost to her waist. He had felt annoyance before, but every time he looked at her, felt her joy toward him, his annoyance and anger vanished into air. He couldn't stay mad at the sister, just as he couldn't stay mad at Iota or Anna for any length of time, it simply wasn't in his nature. He was created to support and protect Big Sisters as much as Little Sisters, and Theta's happiness at his presence overwhelmed any feelings of aggravation he could hold. He had often awoke to the sounds of her crying as well, either from relief or from sorrow he didn't know, but she always clung to him, and he had tried to comfort her to the best of his abilities in those times, a gentle hand on her head, or rubbing her back. Her cries tore at his Protector instincts and opened a pit in his stomach when he heard them, no matter how hard she tried to hide them sometimes. For now she had seemed content though, happy to play with his fingers as she often did, daydreaming while she still thought he was asleep, and that was enough for him. She was by far the easiest of his sisters to read, her emotions clear to the world depending on what she was feeling at the time. Even Anna was harder to read that Theta was, and that was saying something because Anna had his own temper, and she often lost it. For all of Iota's beauty and grace, and the love he felt for her, she was the hardest to read, though she usually let her emotions show openly to him when in private. The brother found himself wondering if Theta was the same way. She was far more eager to show her joy and sadness in front of even him in his opinion, but would she act the same when they made their way back to Iota, Anna, and the humans? He didn't know, but he wanted to find out as soon as possible. Theta was an open book, easy to read, and it gave him a sense of comfort. He could always tell how she was feeling just by looking at her, and the expressions she wore. Anna would often speak her mind about how she felt, or openly show her anger, and Iota actively tried to hide any emotion at all. The three sisters were so similar in his mind, yet so different. Iota and Anna were opposites when it came to their demeanor, like ice and fire. One was ice cold and calculated, with all of the experience and confidence due a veteran Protector with years of experience under her belt, but with a temper hotter than the city's thermal reactors. The other was a hot head, magma pouring from her on the surface, yet lacking the confidence and skill of her older sister, eager to prove her worth. Theta seemed to be a middle ground between the two. From what he had seen in his time with her, she was strong, capable, confident, but she also showed her feelings openly. He didn't know if it was because of her personality or because she simply hadn't had anyone to confide in for so long. If Iota felt like ice, and Anna fire, then Theta simply felt... warm. Iota was patient, all knowing and seeing. Anna was eager, hot tempered and quick to assumption. Theta, however, was patient as well as eager. Patient enough to care for him at all hours of the day, and eager to see him strong again, healed and ready for action. He could tell she wanted to see him in action, every small task she preformed was geared to making him healthy and whole, and the way she looked at him from the sides of her eyes showed him that she was judging him, as well as encouraging him, sizing him up just as he was her.

Mia was asleep on his left side, curled into a ball as she used his left arm as a blanket, breathing softly and jerking now and again with whatever she dreamed about. He stared at the ceiling again for the thousandth time in the last few days, his mind going to Iota, Anna, and Lizzy once again. He wanted to go to them, felt them pulling at him, his Protector instincts urging him to go to them. He wanted to stand up and walk steadily for once, wanted to move around and train, but he wanted to find them more than anything, especially now that he had found two more sisters. He felt out through the bond he shared with Iota and found her somewhere off far away, something had felt different in the bond. The feeling had come the day he had first woken up in the apartment with Theta and Mia, a faint jolt of something he could only describe as... need. If he hadn't been paying attention to the bond he might have missed it entirely, but for any kind of emotion to reach him from the faint presence that he felt of her, it had to be overwhelming. She needed something, and what it was he couldn't say. It could have been him. He knew Simon was planning on broadcasting the video of his torture throughout the city, and that would be the most likely explanation for the shock he had felt in the bond, but there was also the chance that she had not seen the video, and it was something to do with Anna or Lizzy. He hoped they were okay, hoped they hadn't seen the video of him being tormented by Simon, and hoped more than anything they were safe. He let out a deep breath he hadn't realized he had been holding, and Theta's head shot up to look at him with concern, the bright light of her eyes showering him in a gentle yellow glow. When she saw that he was okay, only that he had woken up, she smiled at him and moved to hug him, laying on his chest as she stared up at him, humming softly to herself.

She did that a lot he realized, though he had no idea why. She would lie there for hours and just stare at him with the wondering gaze she often held, a beautiful melodic tone escaping from her broken throat, beautiful to him anyway, likely terrifying to anyone that didn't know the sound was a joyful one. She had large eyes and a sharp yet soft face, but the predatory eyes Big Sisters usually had made him feel like her stare was going to melt a hole through his head, not from how fierce it was, or from anger, but from the intensity. When a Big Sister focused on something, or someone, they really focused. It didn't make him uncomfortable, but it made him feel like she was judging him, or trying to figure out what made him tick, and that was what he didn't like about being stared at. She was likely waiting for him to tell her he needed something, or wanted her to do something for him, either that or she simply wanted to look at him, it was hard to tell sometimes with sisters. Sometimes it was just that, she only wanted to look at him, the first of their family she had found. That thought brought both pain and joy to him, he hated that she had spent time alone, because he knew how that loneliness felt, but he was overjoyed to have been reunited with her, even if she did stare far too much for his liking.

He realized he had been staring at her then as well, maybe he stared as much as she did he realized. She had been searching his eyes as she often did. He gave her a small smile, barely even a twitch of one really, and she gave a quiet squeak of joy that seemed to hit him like a lightning bolt as she shook excitedly and pressed her cheek down to hug him tighter, her hand coming up to lightly brush his lips with her gloved fingers. It didn't help how hot he felt with both sisters pressed against him, but in all honesty he didn't mind. It was leagues better than being strung up on a wall in a freezing room, tortured from day to day. The memory of that, as well as Simon brought rage to him every time he remembered it, and every single time he did he thought of new, horrendous ways he would kill the Splicer. That brought a smile to his face too, but it was far darker than the ones he gave to Theta and Mia every now and then. He could practically taste the man's fear when he imagined it. He hoped the Splicer was cowering in Minerva's Den, shivering with the thought that he had let one of the most dangerous predators in Rapture escape, and he had earned it's wrath. He would find Simon, and when he got his hands on him, he would show him pain and suffering on an unimaginable scale.

Omega grunted as he sat up, gently pulling his arm free from Mia as he pulled his blanket up to cover her. He was tired of sleeping, he wanted, needed to move around again. Theta reluctantly let go of him before rising to her knees to look at him questioningly, and he began to stand up shakily, his muscles still sore and aching despite how much the sister had massaged them in the past days. She tried to help him up but he refused the help with a stiff hand and a sharp, commanding grunt of a screech. He wanted to do it himself. He had refused her offers of help more and more lately, now that he could walk on his own again, though unsteady legs carried him all the while. She always looked so sad when he refused her, like he had committed a horrible crime against her, but he couldn't let her care for him forever. He finally stood up and staggered on the pillows, Theta instinctively taking his arm and helping him balance, though she felt guilty doing so with his earlier screech and look. This time he gave her a thankful nod, and she beamed with joy at the acknowledgement before slowly releasing his arm to let him stand on his own, only holding her gloved hands on his side. She always held her hands close to him whenever he wanted to walk on his own, ready to catch him if he fell. He made his way off of the mound of pillows and cushions to stand on the cold wooden floor of the apartment.

When he finally reached the wooden floor on bare feet he began stretching stiff muscles, feeling his joints pop from being inactive for far too long as eager muscles stretched in a satisfying manner. He groaned a deep, pleasure filled growl that rumbled from his throat as he stretched his arms and back, and saw Theta's cheeks color slightly as she looked him up and down. He raised his eyebrow questioningly and she simply smiled and giddily wrapped her arms around his, ready to walk around the apartment with him. This strange ritual had first begun when she helped him walk around to ease the atrophy his muscles felt, practically holding him up alone days before. Then she had held onto his arm to help keep him balanced, and to catch him when he fell, easing his passage to the ground considerably before pulling him to his feet shakily. Now he suspected she did it out of a desire to just be close to him, and again he found himself unable to blame her for that desire, nor did he resent her presence at his side whenever he went anywhere. She had stayed with him every step he had taken, and her holding on to him filled him with both purpose and duty. He could do nothing for his other sisters right now, but he could do something for the two in his current company, and that was to get better as quickly as he could. He began his rounds around the apartment, first to the bathroom to empty his bladder of bloody urine, another gift Simon had given him from such harsh beatings, though the blood was mostly gone by this point, only a little pain remained. After that he walked around the apartment following the chalk covered walls, Theta patiently walking with him as she hummed gently to herself. She was as cheerful as ever, and he suspected these past few days had been the happiest she had been in a very long time. He found comfort in the strange tunes she hummed, whether real or made up. Her broken voice had helped pull him from the void of unconsciousness he inhabited not too long ago, and he always felt a sense of calm whenever she hummed, which was often. He didn't know if she had done that in their younger years, or if it was something she had only developed after she found him, likely a culmination of both given the joy she felt by his presence. Iota liked to hum too, though she didn't do it nearly as often as Theta did, and he wondered if it was simply something Big Sisters had in common.

He was finally able to feed himself too, now that most of the function in his arms had returned, though Theta wasn't too happy about that. She enjoyed him relying on her, and all but jumped to help him with anything he needed, sometimes even knowing what he needed before he did. Her instincts were sharp, as expected of a Big Sister, but it still surprised him when she brought him water or food even before he had the chance to ask her for it, as if she knew exactly how he was feeling whenever he felt it. Even starting to pull him up onto her shoulder to take him to the bathroom when he needed it, though he wouldn't know he needed it himself until after they had started their journey. He found himself smiling at that. She impressed him with her attentiveness, being able to read the scents he gave off and the barest of facial expressions to know exactly what he needed or wanted. She was a Big Sister, a Protector through and through, and her devotion to helping him get better filled him with both pride and gratitude for the young woman.

They followed this same ritual for a few more days until he was finally able to move on his own with no support or aid. The ADAM she injected him with had worked wonders as it usually did, and slowly but surely he felt his strength return. He still felt weak, weaker than he had before being captured by Simon at least, but he was able to properly exorcise now, and made a point to do it as often as he could until he got tired out and had to rest, covered in sweat. Theta joined him most of the time, patiently going along with everything he did whether it was pushups, crunches, squats, or sit-ups, and when he needed to rest, she rested with him, though he knew she didn't need to. He didn't need to rely on her nearly as much as he had, though she made a point of wiping him down with a towel when he finished exorcising, cleaning the sweat from him, or fetching him water. He felt guilty for that for some reason and had tried to stop her from doing it several times, but the look of hurt on her face when he did always made him acquiesce, and she immediately beamed from the joy. He didn't want her to serve him, but she always insisted on doing things like that for him. He knew that was just how Big Sisters were though, Iota and Anna had done things like that for him in the past many times, and he had done the same for them, though Theta's attentions to him in the past week were beyond compare. She tended to his every need, annoyingly so. She had even left him alone when he felt annoyance at the attention and simply curled up next to him sometimes, a dejected and hurt look on her face, as if he had told her to leave him alone. That too sent a shockwave of regret through him, and soon he found himself comforting the sister despite whatever he had felt earlier. His mind flipped to Lizzy, Iota, and Anna often though, something he couldn't control, and worry plagued almost ever minute of wakeful thought.

He missed them dearly. Wished he could run to them right now, though he didn't know where they were, or how to get to them. He knew what direction they were in thanks to his shared bond with Iota, but direction was all he had to go on. He would need to get closer to her to pinpoint exactly where they were, which he planned to do once he was confident he could go back out into the city without getting himself, or Mia and Theta killed. Reed Wahl's men were likely out looking for him now, along with Simon, if the man were stupid enough to do so. He needed to be ready to fight, and he would be if he had anything to say about it.

His mind raced with thoughts of his sisters as he continued his workout, sweat pouring from his face, arms, chest, and back as he pushed himself, eager to return to them. He couldn't simply abandon Mia and Theta to do so, however, and he never would. He needed to regain his strength first, and take them with him, and he was almost there. He had regained his ability to use his plasmids as well, though it took far longer than he had liked, the agonizing, searing pain in his neck dying away with each passing day as he continuously tried to use them. He had chalked it up to nerve damage, which would make sense. He had suffered wounds in the past that had caused trouble in his ability to use certain plasmids, though this time it was far worse than anything he had experienced before. Nerves always took the longest to heal, delicate and intricate as they were, but it was reassuring to know that they were healing. His pushups intensified, picking up speed as he thought about it, Theta looking at him from the side of her eyes before matching his pace, the look on the brother's face both determined and angry as he made his muscles burn along with his mind as he contemplated matters.

The NeoSplicers were changing, he had seen it, he had faced it. The thought of the beasts made his hair stand on end, and caused fresh rage to flow through him, his pheromones even effecting Theta as she exorcized beside him, her face contorting from her usual joyful expression to one of determination and seriousness. Just the images of the NeoSplicers enraged him, especially the NeoSplicer Protector he had fought with his sisters. It was an abomination against everything that he was, everything that Protectors were, and he wanted nothing more than to exterminate the beasts in as ruthless a manner as possible. His pushups gained more speed, sweat dripping from his nose to land on the floor, Theta's own sweat mimicking his as she fed off of his scent and emotions.

They had to be stopped, had to be exterminated. They made a mockery of everything Protectors stood for. Their disgusting Charges were slug-like creatures that slithered around and prodded corpses for ADAM, no thoughts of their own, no emotion, and their NeoSplicer Protectors were little better. He growled deep in his throat as the memories returned to him, his fangs bared as he pushed himself, muscles burning, an all consuming rage filling him. He wanted to slaughter these creatures, wanted to destroy them as much as Simon or Reed Wahl for the pain they had inflicted on his family.

Time passed as his thoughts flipped between his sisters and the monsters they faced, whether Splicer or NeoSplicer made no difference, they all had to be destroyed, plucked from the city both root and stem, his muscles burning as he went through exorcizes as rage filled him. Theta was effected as much by his pheromones as he was of his memories and thoughts, her own teeth gritting and fangs bared as she exorcized beside him, eventually growling in unison with him, though she wasn't exactly sure why. They fed off of one another, in unison, enraged and shaking from a barely contained madness.

Omega finished his exorcise as he imagined all of his slaughtered foes in a mound at his feet and sat on the floor in the most open part of the apartment. He was panting, sweat gleaming off of his skin as he propped his elbows on his knees, teeth still clenched. Theta wiped his entire body down with a towel, her own jaw set and clenched as rage flew through her as surely as it did him, her scent mimicking his. Mia played on their makeshift bed with her teddy bear, Mister Gus she had named it. He found that out the second day when she had referred to the bear as 'Mister Gus' rather than Mister G. She had been angry at something the toy had said to her and decided to call him out on it using his full name to let him know he was really in trouble. It had made the brother smile then, and both the sight and memory helped to calm his nerves and rage. He took in a deep breath of cool air, closing his eyes to steady himself against the torrent of anger he had felt earlier. The Little Sister's presence helped to soothe him, balance him just as she was designed to do, and Theta's own anger began to die down alongside his.

When Omega finally stood again he inspected his arms where the spikes had been impaled through his flesh and muscle, running his fingers over the barely visible scar tissue that would be gone in a few more days. He flexed his hands and nodded approvingly at the progress he had made. He felt stronger now than he had in days, two weeks at least, and he turned to Theta who was watching him curiously, still panting through barely clenched teeth as her eyes looked him up and down. He gave her a playful grin that was more fangs than anything as he took up a stance that said he was ready for a fight. The sister watched him for a moment before she grinned playfully, her head tilting back as her chin lowered. She scrunched her nose, and let out a broken giggle as she began removing her suit. She didn't want to take any chances on harming him with the armor that covered her body suit, and she definitely didn't want to use her harvester for a simple sparring match. Omega watched her as she undressed to match his own lack of clothing, the dim light glistening off of her smooth, sweat covered skin. He had to admit she was pleasing to the eye at the very least. She was the same height as Iota, though a hand taller than Anna, all of them easily a head shorter than he. Like all second generation Protectors, Theta had the typical physic of a Big Sister, a lithe but supple body with lean muscle that spoke of years of conflict and training. When she turned to face him he drank in the details of her body. She stood slightly pigeon toed as she faced him, an abashed look on her face as her cheeks flared slightly, her eyes searching over him. Her slender neck led down to breasts that were slightly bigger than Iota's, something he hadn't noticed since she always wore her suit. He found himself taking note of the things that made the sisters different. Theta's darker skin complexion the color of caramel contrasted Iota and Anna's pale tones, the freckles that dotted across Theta's face just under her eyes from cheek to cheek in contrast to Iota's clear face but matching Anna's own light freckles, and her long black hair tied into a wrist thick braid that hung loosely behind her to her bottom in contrast to Iota's neck length hair, or Anna's long unruly locks. He found himself wondering how she would fight with such long hair, but she obviously knew how since she had chosen to keep it so long, even having to wear a helmet with it. He assumed she would put it into a bun and use it as extra padding for the back of her head, though he didn't know for sure, Big Sisters were mysterious in that way.

As Theta strode across the floor to stand in front of him she peered up at him with those wide eyes, and gave him a gentle smile before she got lower into her own combat stance, taking on the playful sneer she had worn earlier. She was slightly pigeon toed like most Big Sisters due to broken legs never healing properly as Little Sisters. That was something she and Iota had in common, one of many things he had taken note of. Their slightly inward facing feet caused them to look cute at a first glance, but he knew it was a deadly disguise. Big Sisters were lionesses, or at least that's what he had heard the humans describe them as in the past, some form of elegant yet deadly beast that stalked the surface. He didn't know much about whatever a 'lioness' was, or much about the surface, but anyone that underestimated a sister ready to fight, even in sparring, was a fool.

Once he was ready he nodded, and they began circling each other with dark eyes, wolves circling a kill. He was the first to strike, throwing a punch that she dodged with little effort. It was a test to see her speed, and he had to admit she was impressive, even with his weakened state. She returned the gesture in kind and he dodged hers as well, though barely ducking under the blow as it grazed the hair on the top of his head. She grinned happily when he ducked out of the way, and he responded with two punches, two jabs. She weaved between them with lightning speed before throwing her own two. It was a dance, they were testing each other to see how the other would react, what their reaction times were like, if there were any openings in their stances, and what they would need to account for during actual combat. It was something that the sisters often did, gauging their potential hunting partner's strengths and weaknesses, and since he was the only Big Brother to hunt alongside them, he did as well. The first actual hit didn't come until they had both begun continuously attacking. They threw punch after punch and kick after kick, both countering and dodging, both grinning madly, though anyone else observing the sparring match would've thought they looked like monsters. Theta was overjoyed that she had someone to spar with again and cure her boredom and loneliness, and Omega was overjoyed that he could move and fight again, as well as overjoyed that he could relieve Theta's loneliness.

Sparring for Protectors acted as many things. It was a social activity for them, one they performed as often as possible whenever they could. It was a dance, it was play, practice, and a way to bond, a way to grow closer to each other. Theta was ecstatic as sweat slid down her naked body, her face full of joy, reverence, and excitement as she gazed at the brother. Omega had taken the first hit to his side when Theta had dodged a jab he threw, and she had taken the second hit when he faked a jab and caught her with a hook instead, his fist slamming into her ribs that caused her to both grunt from pain and give a sharp screech of joy. Their hits were not pulled, they never were, just as they would never be pulled in a real fight. The Protectors didn't see any point in sparring unless they could make it as real as possible, no enemy they faced would ever take it easy on them, so they never took it easy on each other. They sparred until they were both sweating and panting again, Theta was giggling broken mirth as she cried happily, a broken cacophony of joy and relieved longing, and Omega smiled at the sister, both of them covered in fresh bruises and welts from their attacks on each other. She threw herself at him, but rather than attacking him again, she simply embraced him, letting her broken laugh escape her throat as she pressed herself against his chest and stomach. The gesture had caught him off guard but he finally lowered his fists and wrapped her in a hug, his hands sliding over her slick back before finding ground and resting around her. His heart ached for her, knowing how much this meant to her, how much joy it brought her. Her being so alone for so long was something he still felt pain for, and likely would for a long while. He couldn't help but embrace her, pulling her tightly to him to comfort her.

She caught him off guard again when her leg swept behind his, locking her knee behind his as she pulled him to the ground, his back landing flat on the cold wood below as his head cracked the wooden boards beneath. He broke his fall as he landed on his back, and she began crawling up him to sit on his hips, straddling him as she stared down at him, her bottom cradling his lower half in a way that made his heartbeat thunder in his chest. He had brought his fists up instinctively when she climbed onto him, but the look on her face made him drop his guard as he stared up at her with concerned eyes. She was gritting her teeth with a look of pure pain and sadness on her face as she cried, wept really. She flung herself forward and grabbed hold of him, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed, gripping his shoulders tightly with both hands as she buried her face into his neck. He felt his blood run cold, concern burning inside of his chest as he felt her cling to him.

He hugged her again, his mind still wondering what had brought her to act like this, and then it hit him. This was all of the pain and loneliness she had felt finally being released, finally showing. She was letting herself be vulnerable with him. His grip around her tightened, his Protector instincts yelling at him to make sure she was okay, to make things better, to make things right. As his arms tightened around her as she cried louder, a screeching wail that filled the apartment and shot pain into his chest. All he could do was hold her, and let her get it all out, all of the pain and anguish she had felt for so long without another to confide in. She had needed to be strong for so long for Mia, and now that he had gained most of his strength back, she could finally be weak for once, finally let go of all the emotions she had pent up and pushed down in order to keep her Charge safe.

He let her cry and cry until she couldn't anymore, until she simply lay on top of him sniffling as she stared at the wall, shaking. She would have stayed there forever if he let her, listening to his strong heartbeat as it helped to pull her back and calm her down. When she finally raised up again and looked down on him with those sad eyes, he gave her a small, understanding, and accepting smile, as gentle as he could make it, and she returned the gesture just before she leaned down and pressed her lips to his.

That had caught him off guard too, and he just stared in surprise as she pulled back quickly, her lightly freckled cheeks coloring as she stared at him with wide eyes, unsure if she had made a mistake in kissing him. It seemed to catch her off guard as much as it did him. It was clear by the way her fingers came up to touch her lips that she hadn't meant to do it. He blinked at her, studying her for a moment before his hand came up to grasp the back of her head, his fingers gently stretching through her dark hair, pulling her down closer to him. He looked into her glowing eyes for what seemed like minutes before finally pulling her down to meet his lips again and she gasped, sniffling with cries, joy and anguish mixing inside of her. When she pulled away she cupped her hands on both sides of his face and searched his own illuminated eyes. She sat back up and brought her fingers to her lips, her eyes moving in thought. She slapped her hands over her face to cover it and let out a broken squeal that Omega knew could only be a mixture of embarrassment and joy. Movement caught both of their eyes when Theta peaked through her fingers at the Protector she was straddling, and they looked to their side in surprise. Mia was crouched beside them staring at them with a knowing smile as the same glowing eyes washed them in a dim light. They didn't know how long she had been there, but she jumped to her feet and began skipping around them in a wide circle when they looked to her.

"Big Brother and Big Sister sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" She sang as they watched her skip, just before she pulled Mister G up in front of her and tilted her head. "What's a tree, Mister G?" She asked suddenly, then began giggling again. "Mister G rhymes with tree! Mister G is in the tree! Mister G is taller than a tree!" She laughed to herself as she spun her bear around falling to her back on the floor with a loud thud as she laughed. "Big Brother will get his tuxedo all dirty if he let's Big Sister lay on him in the floor like that! Her dress is far too pretty to be on the floor!" She laughed as she shook the tattered bear she held above her. "They are a bunch of lazybones today, huh Mister G?" She agreed with her Teddy's imaginary words. Both Protectors smiled at the delusional girl before turning to each other.

When they finally separated Theta wore a content though sad smile as she ran her fingers along Omega's face, She rushed and began slipping into her body suit as she attached her armor pieces back on, rubbing her tears, and blush from her cheeks with the back of her gloved hand. Omega gave a questioning screech to get her attention as he stood to his full height, then pointed to himself, then he tugged at the sleeve of her suit with his thumb and index finger. She jumped slightly when he had reached for her, looking at him wonderingly until she understood what he wanted. The sister's face lit up as she realized what he was asking and held up a finger for him to wait a moment as she darted to the pile of pillows and cushions they had been sleeping on in place of a bed. She dug around in the cushions for a moment before pulling his suit and helmet from somewhere in the pile, giving an excited screech as she ran back to him, her long braid bobbing behind her. She grinned in wonder at him as she held his suit out for him, stooping to pick up a sleeve that had begun to fall, and gazed at him with wonder, eager to see him wear his armor again.

He took the black body suit from her as she ran back to retrieve his armor pieces from the pile, he hoped she had gotten all of them when she rescued him from the Splicers and the old woman that had helped him escape. He slid into his tight body suit with practiced speed and breathed a sigh of relief as he felt it wrap around him, the thick padding and insulation felt comfortable after not wearing it for so long, though it was a little looser than he remembered, probably due to his muscles deteriorating from the dehydration, starvation, and atrophy he had experienced thanks to Simon, who he swore again he would return the favor ten fold to. That would correct itself in time though, especially now that Theta had fed him well and encouraged him to exorcise as much as possible. He gave a small chuckle in his throat, she had all but forced him to eat at times too, but never enough to make him sick. When she returned to him again she stared at him in wonder when she realized how much bigger the body suit alone made him look with it's protective padding, and after he attached the armor pieces to it she gaped openly before grinning, her glowing eyes full of relief and awe.

He attached his harvester to his right forearm, and finally his helmet. The two long visor slits that sat perfectly placed in the middle of his helmet where his eyes would be flicked to life, first a Crimson color, then yellow, and then green before flicking back to yellow, their default alert state. Theta stared in amazement at the black suit and armor, bringing her gloved hand up to trace several battle scars in the dense black metal. Claw marks, bite marks, and bullet indentations dotted his armor, but the suit was like nothing she had ever seen before, especially the helmet. It was more form fitting than the standard Big Sister helmets with their spherical shape and single porthole. His helmet was fitted more closely to the head for support, and the two visor slits one on top of the other were menacing. She reached up and traced the first visor slit since it was slightly longer than the second. After she traced it her fingers moved down to the second one only an inch below the first. She bit her lip as she moved her hand back to his chest armor, giving it a rap with the back of her knuckles, feeling how thick the plating was. He was a full head and a half taller than her and she wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around him and have him shield her from anything that might happen. To any Splicer he would look like death itself, but to any sister that saw him he was the very essence of safety and comfort. Her biology and design drew her to him more than anything, just as Little Sisters were drawn to the Big Daddies, Big Sisters were drawn to him. He wasn't as tall as a Big Daddy, but he was a good middle ground between the height of a sister and the height and bulk of a Big Daddy, large and imposing as he was designed to be. She felt herself instinctively want to gaze at her feet under his eyes. She wanted to wrap her arms round him and nuzzle as deeply as possible into him as his pheromones called to her, causing her body to heat and shuffle uncontrollably. She gaped when she thought about her earlier actions, when she had climbed on top of him to cry on his chest without a shred of clothing, then unconsciously kissing him. It made her face burn, but his scent, his mere presence had taken hold of her, and she relished in it, even if it caused her to act like a fool.

Theta felt butterflies in her stomach and quickly retrieved her helmet, tying her long braided ponytail into a bun on the back of her head with surprising speed as she put her own helmet on, latching it into place and sealing it. As she placed her Gatherer cage and air tank on her back Omega gave a deep barking screech to Mia to get her attention, and unintentionally getting the Big Sister's as well, her heart had skipped a beat at the deep sound. She whirled around to look at him before watching him reach out his hand toward the Little Sister. Theta watched the girl take his hand, massive compared to hers, and lift her up onto his back as she giggled and squealed with joy. She had thought the Alpha series air tanks were a strange addition to his suit, but when she saw Mia riding on the metal step bar on his back and holding onto the two smaller air tanks, well protected against them, she realized how well designed the suit actually was. Her own Gatherer cage was bulky, and so was her large air tank, but everything about his suit screamed armored mobility. The little girl had her harvester in one hand and she wore Mister G across her back with a string slung over her shoulder that connected the bear's one good arm and opposite leg. A small addition Theta had made when she realized the sister had taken a liking to the bear. She had needed to replace her Big Daddy doll when it was blown to shreds in a fight, and the battered bear was the only thing close at the time. It worked just as well though, Little Sisters were easily distracted with new toys. Where Theta saw a torn and dirty bear, Mia probably saw the most elegant and regal teddy bear in the entire world thanks to her mental conditioning.

"Weeeeeeee! Go faster, Big Brother!" Mia shouted and slapped his shoulder guard as she pointed ahead, laughing and bouncing up and down on her mount even though he was only walking. His heavy footsteps thudded on the wooden floor of the apartment as he made his way to the sister and she had to stop herself from staring at him even harder, the image of him carrying Mia sent a shiver down her spine, one of pride and respect that bordered on something she didn't know. She hugged him again, tightly for a time, humming softly before leading him over to a hole in the ceiling and jumping up into the roof itself. He followed her, his heavier frame banging in the small passage when he jumped up into it, and they worked their way down a dark, cramped tunnel that housed most of the water pipes and air vents for the building, crouching almost in a crawl as they navigated the passage. Then they dropped down another hole and changed directions, passing a large fan that helped push air throughout the complex. Winding around a few more dust filled corners as rats passed them in fear, Theta lead him to a hole in the floor, leaping down and quickly scanning the area for threats, her harvester raised with a steady hand. He followed, his bulkier frame sending a tremor through the flooring as he landed, even after he had tried to quiet his fall. The floor creaked under their combined weight as they moved through the hallway they had fallen into, and she reveled in the comfort of having him behind her, watching over her, and the hallway. She couldn't help the shiver that ran down her spine as he crept along behind her, knowing he was behind her. Her breath shook lightly inside of her helmet, she hadn't felt anything like this in such a long time, the feeling of not having to watch every angle, dark hallway, or doorway all at once. Just having another Protector with her was almost enough to send her to her knees, and she had to quell the urge to turn and embrace him again. She had hunted with sisters often in the past, and that always made her feel joy as well as companionship, but hunting with her many sisters and hunting with her brother were two entirely different things. He had been spread thin due to the disparity in numbers between he and the sisters, and she hadn't hunted with him often in the past, but the times that she had made her heart soar for a number of reasons. She had to steady herself and clench her fists, shaking her head slightly to stay focused, hoping he hadn't seen.

The hallway was dimly lit with warm wall lamps, like many apartment buildings in Rapture it had basic colors, dark brown wooden floors, dirty wallpaper and flickering or broken light fixtures. The wall to their left held a large window half way down the corridor that let in dim blue light. The glass had been cracked in some earlier year and a stream of water poured in to land in a puddle on the carpet, likely soaking through the cheap fabric and dripping down elsewhere in the building if the brother had to guess.

Theta began creeping her way down the hallway, quiet as a mouse, her head on a swivel as she listened closely and smelled the air. Omega could see the vents on the top of her helmet open, just as his were, though his were located on the front of his helmet behind the armored plate that covered the outside where his nose and mouth would be. He took in a deep breath and smelled a mixture of scents, Theta's, Mia's, his, moldy carpet, sea water, metal, wood, dust, old blood, decaying flesh. No scent that could indicate threats though. Theta had likely thoroughly cleared this building if she had taken up residence here. He knew she had in fact, there was no way a Protector as competent as her wouldn't clear a building they intended to live in. As they passed the door just adjacent to the leaking window, Theta opened it and looked inside. It was an empty maintenance closet, but he nodded approvingly at the fact that she cleared it, and likely did every time she came through the hallway. The way behind them was clear, only because the hole they had jumped down from was right in front of a large collapse in the building, and nothing short of a large explosion was getting through there.

Big Sisters had a superpower for finding the most hidden and most defendable places to hide or take shelter with their Charges, and Theta was no different. They could find nooks and crannies that would put a mouse to shame. The two Protectors crept through the hallways, checking rooms and making sure there were no threats until they reached storied balconies that all centered around a large open lobby at ground level. A large squared space left the center of the building open up to a higher ceiling, all of the balconies stacked on one another with the cheapest rooms being on the floors that faced the lobby below. Omega suddenly knew where his sister had found all the cushions and pillows for the unfinished apartment room they had lived in, and again he felt guilt for her having to be alone all this time, such was his nature. They had picked up the scent of Splicers as they crept along. The acrid scent of stale breath, rotting teeth, and unwashed bodies filling their noses. The stink of the vermin drew them to the balconies, and got stronger the closer they got to the center of the building. Peering down to the hardwood floor two levels below them they saw what had drawn their noses in that direction. Three Splicers were rummaging through luggage on the ground floor as they rambled to either each other or themselves. One of the worms held a revolver in his right hand as he smoked a cigarette with his left, a filthy white tuxedo and black bowtie hanging loosely on his gangly frame, the bird-like mask he wore concealing wild eyes. The second rat wore the same baggy skin and boil covered face as the first, but with a beak for a nose and a black tux to offset the white his ally wore. The third, a woman, wore a black and white dress spotted with blood and dirt. It might have hugged her tightly and been rather appealing in Rapture's golden days, though those days, like the woman's prime, had long passed. She wielded a lead pipe, and shouted at one of the men something about his rudeness as she shook her head, her greasy blond hair licking at her shoulders in a mess. The way they twitched and scratched at their sagging skin filled the Protectors with disgust and anger as they studied them like livestock ripe for the picking.

Theta pointed to the Splicer she wanted, and Omega did the same. Both of them picking the two tuxedo wearing men. Omega would kill the one in white, while Theta killed the one in black, then they would race to see who could kill the female Splicer first. Theta looked up at him and he could feel her smiling at him again, grateful for the hunt. He nodded at her as both of their helmet lights flicked to red, and she let out a purring growl, barely audible to even him as she shook her fists excitedly, ready to hunt with another Protector for the first time in forever. Mia clutched tightly to Omega's back and whispered, "Are you gonna put the monsters to sleep now?" to which the brother nodded in response, causing the girl to smile and nod knowingly as she held on and stayed quiet. Stalking his way along the balcony opposite the way Theta had gone, he kept track of his sister's own movement, and the enemies below. They would hit the unsuspecting Splicers from both sides with shock and awe, and they wouldn't know what hit them until they were already dead. He seethed with hunger for their lives, the first time he had hunted in weeks. His body tensed as his muscles prepared to do what he was designed for, what he was made for. He drew in a deep, eager breath as he stalked along the dark balcony above the Splicers, hungry eyes taking in their forms, his blood heating as he watched their prey, ready to pounce.

They got into position, both Protectors looking down on the group like hungry wolves waiting for the right time to spring their ambush. When Omega nodded to his sister, barely a shadow on the opposite balcony, she leapt from the metal railing and landed right on top of the man in the black tuxedo, skewering him in the back with her harvester, right in his heart. A split second later Omega's heavier frame crushed the Splicer in white, his heavy boot crunching the man's body to the floor before he even had time to scream at Theta. For only a moment, she had been the last thing his eyes saw before dying. The female Splicer screamed as she turned to run for the exit, the sudden deaths of her colleagues jousting her to flee just before both Protector's hands shot up to snatch her off of her feet with telekinesis. They both wanted the satisfaction of killing her, and they both held her with their telekinesis as she flew to stop in between them, whimpering as they held her in the air, both pulling as they tried to bring the woman to them. It became a game, a tug of war match between the two as the woman screamed in fear and pain. Mia giggled loudly as she called the woman a butterfly because she was flailing her arms and legs so much.

Both Protectors pulled and pulled with their minds, ripples of invisible force pulsing from their clenched fists, trying to snatch the woman to them until finally, a moment later, she torn in half at the middle, both Protectors claiming half of the prize. Theta gave another broken chuckle as she dropped the upper half of the woman, and Omega wiped blood from his helmet as he dropped the lower half. His sister all but danced around the lobby as she scanned for more threats, her pheromones signaling that she was riled up in more ways than one because of their hunt, and overjoyed at their success. They scavenged what they could from the dead Splicers, which wasn't much at all, a few Rapture dollars and a candy bar for Mia. Afterwards they exited the apartment complex, scanning the street outside, broken and littered with damage and trash as it was.

They were in a red light district the brother had realized, the rooms with heart shaped beds and various toys laying around some of the rooms had helped him piece that together, but once they were outside and they saw the kinds of posters hanging up on the outside of the apartment complex, it was driven home. Theta had stopped to examine one of the posters, standing there slightly pigeon toed as she tilted her head, and the sight of her doing so sent a flashback through his mind of when he and Iota had been in the same position once before in Siren Alley. He screeched lowly to get her attention and she quickly bounded toward him to give him a sudden hug before walking beside him, hanging onto his arm. He knew she was happy to finally have someone of her kind for company, but he began to wonder if her obsession with him would cause problems in a fight. It hadn't in the previous one, but those three Splicers were hardly a fight, and he would punish her severely if she prioritized him over Mia at any point. He glanced down at her and watched her bounce on her feet as she walked happily at his side, quietly humming a broken tune to herself. He shook his head as he turned back to scan the streets, she should be showing that devotion to their Charge, to Mia, not to him. He had needed to discipline sisters in the past for such things, their biology and emotions causing them to focus on either other Big Sisters or more likely him, and he regretted having to do it, but their Charges came first, always, and he wouldn't accept anything less. Were he dying on the floor and Mia crouching over him, he would expect Theta to carry the girl off to safety and leave him behind, just as he would do if it were Theta lying there, though the thought pained him. Discipline and duty outweighed emotion however, as it always had, and always would. He had a mind to correct the sister's behavior just then, but before he could act on it Mia spoke up, drawing both of their attentions to the girl.

"Big Brother... I smell an Angel!" Mia said in a low, sing-song like tone as she inhaled the air and patted his helmet with her small hand, both dark and light tones in her voice echoing to their ears. Theta looked at him behind her helmet but her posture told him she was concerned, likely due to the Splicers that gathering would attract. He gave her a nod as he jerked his head in the direction Mia had pointed, and she had no choice but to follow him when he sped up his pace, yanking his arm away with slight annoyance. The presence of a Little Sister shocked his mind into action, forced him to focus on her, and he found himself angry with the thought of Theta not paying attention as closely to the girl as he was. He knew it was because she had spent more time with the girl, knew it was because he was unaccustomed to having a true Little Sister nearby, unlike her, but he couldn't help what he felt thanks to the leftovers of his mental conditioning.

"This way." Mia said as she hummed out the words, pointing down a different street, all but singing the words. The two Protectors turned and followed her finger as they walked, scanning windows and balconies for any signs of life, ready to pounce on threats like leopards. They followed her directions into a nearby bookstore, or library, neither Protector knew which, and neither really cared for that matter. They couldn't read so the books that lined the walls of the building held little interest to them. What did hold interest to them however, was the dead Splicer that lay in the center of the book store where reading tables used to be. The metal tables were still in the store, but they had been moved around throughout the years, or overturned. Some still held green shaded reading lamps on them, though others were shattered on the floor. Books had been the least of any Splicer's concerns when Rapture fell. The store looked like it was in better shape than most places in Rapture since it lacked food or money to be looted. Bookshelves lined the walls with the hard backs of different colored books neatly organized on the shelves, aside from a few that had been knocked off here and there and scattered on the wooden floor. Some held gold or silver lettering on the spines, while others held black or grey. The Protectors entered the building with sharp eyes as they scanned the area, their helmets darting between shadows and around corners as they held their harvesters at the ready. Omega glanced to Theta approvingly as she stalked through the bookstore at a distance, her focus on anything and everything other than him. He might not have to discipline her after all. He found no joy in doing so, and the thought that he might not have to was a welcome one.

The shelves and furniture around the store had layers of dust on the surfaces, and they could tell no one had been in the store for quite some time. It was warmly lit inside, as most stores were in the gloomy underwater city, each store trying to imitate natural light that clashed with the deep blue lighting that the windows let in around the store. Carved bookcases and furniture of dark wood and metal had made this place a popular reading and lounging spot in Rapture's past, and now it was a dust filled tomb, silent and eerie like most places in the city now.

"There it is!" Mia shouted. "There's the Angel!" She added in a peaceful, melodic voice, satisfied at finding it. There was no sympathy in her voice, and no remorse, it was just a fact that there was an Angel, and she was happy to gather their ADAM. Omega put his hand over his shoulder and Mia grabbed on with both of hers, gripping his larger fingers tightly, careful not to jab her Big Brother with her harvester. Theta watched the entrances to the building, both the main entrance they had come through and the two side doors at the far side as the brother lifted Mia off of his back mount and gently sat her down on the floor. He watched as the girl held her harvester in both hands as she circled the dead Splicer, smiling down at it serenely.

"Silly Angel, sleeping with the lights on. I'll tuck you in." She said softly as she knelt and lifted her harvester, ready to stab it into the Splicer's stomach. Both Protectors took up positions on opposite sides of the store, ready to guard the girl from any enemies the ADAM would attract.

. . .

---

Mia looked down at the beautiful Angel, sleeping with it's hands tucked to it's chest. It wore a very nice suit with coat tails that lay flat by it's side as it slept, a shiny red mask covering his eyes. His hair was cut short and brushed neatly to the side, and he had glowing wings drawn on the ground around him in white chalk, illuminated by the bright light that bounced off of the City's golden walls. He looked like a Prince, but she knew he was much better than any old Prince could be, he was an Angel, and the only thing that could compare to his dashing appearance was Big Brother and Big Sister. She got down onto her knees next to the sleeping Angel and giggled at how peaceful his pretty masked face looked, sleeping on the clean marble floor. He was surrounded by red rose pedals that tingled her nose and smelled sweet, blue butterflies flying around her as she knelt, giggling at their dances in the air.

"Silly Angel, sleeping with the lights on. I'll tuck you in. Nice and warm, nice and warm." She said softly as she raised her harvester to the Angel's stomach and stabbed it in, wondering how he could sleep under such bright, golden light. As soon as she did the world shook around her, and she was in the nightmare again. It was suddenly dark, and the Angel looked like a monster with bones sticking out from under it's sagging skin, it's mouth hanging open with yellow teeth and red, bleeding gums. She winced as she looked around, fear shooting into her like lightning every time the nightmare came back. She was trying to find Big Brother or Big Sister, seeking safety in their presence. The silver and white silk sheets that had been hanging all around the white marble walls and gilded pillars were stone and metal now, harsh and cold. They looked cracked and old compared to the real world with all of it's golden, perfect splendor. The plush red carpet with intricate designs of a darker red throughout it became a dirty wooden floor, and she was on her knees in a red puddle that made her stomach drop from the sour stench it gave off, instead of the funny smelling roses that she had been on in the real world. She looked up and found Big Brother standing nearby watching a doorway. The wonderful black tuxedo he was wearing was gone now, and scary black armor took it's place, though the regal way he held himself never changed no matter the dream. Big Brother's clothes might have changed in the nightmare, but she knew he would protect her, even if he didn't look the same, and the sense of safety he gave off was powerful, filling her with reassurance. She looked over to where Big Sister was, and the flowing white dress she had been wearing was gone too in the nightmare. She had a suit like Big Brother's now, but hers was a little different. She wore a lighter colored suit with dark metal armor on her arms, shoulders, chest, and legs. She smiled, despite the change in her clothing. Big Sister would protect her, just like she always did. She felt the same sense of royalty from Big Sister as she did Big Brother, though Big Sister was scary at times, especially when she didn't want her to play with Daddy. Mia turned back to her Angel then, and pulled her harvester out of it's stomach before quickly jamming it back in, trying to suck up as much ADAM as she could. Good girls gathered after all, they gathered and gathered.

She heard a loud noise that caused her to jump, and when she looked up at Big Brother he was giving the monsters bruises, hitting one of them in the face with a clenched fist as it screamed. She pulled her harvester out again as her hands shook, before sticking it in a different spot in the Angel. She woke up from the nightmare then, and smiled at the Angel, golden light replacing the dark, scary light of the nightmare. The Angel looked far better in the real world as he smiled in his sleep, peaceful and content under her needle.

"Almost done, pretty Angel, almost." She reassured him with a soft, angelic tone. She smiled as she looked up to Big Brother again. His tuxedo looked amazing on him, and he was as handsome as any Angel she had ever seen, enough so to make her eyes water with adoration. He was dancing with a beautiful woman in a mask now that looked like a bird, her red dress twirling as he spun her around, their gloved hands locking together. She giggled as he picked the pretty lady up into the air above his head before gently laying her down on the ground, her red gloved hand coming up to rest gently across her forehead, the silk skin of her face smiling happily with bright lipstick of the same color. She fell asleep as soon as he set her down and she giggled. Big Brother always was a good dancer, just like Daddy and Big Sister.

"Big Sister will get mad at you for dancing with other girls, Big Brother!" She warned him as she smiled. When she looked back to her Big Sister, she was wearing her beautiful flowing dress with white roses sewn down the sides, the crown of white flowers around her pretty face shook slightly as she danced with a man in a white tuxedo. She was spinning toward him gracefully, almost like a ballerina as her dress flowed and danced behind her, and when he caught her, rose petals flew from his jacket and he had to sit down to rest against the white silk that covered the wall. He fell asleep too as she gently pulled her silk gloved hand away from his own, giving him a curtsy of thanks. Her Big Sister was such a good dancer, and none of the boys except her Big Brother could keep up with her. She giggled at the thought, and hoped they would dance for her again soon, she liked when they danced together.

The nightmare came back, and she gasped as Big Sister kicked the monster's head into the wall, red shooting out to land on her suit and the floor. Her head shot to Big Brother, and he was holding another monster up in the air by it's neck as it growled at him, hitting his wrist as it tried to escape his grip. She saw the monster hit her Big Brother's arm and a sudden flash of anger went through her. She scrunched her eyebrows as she jammed her harvester into the Angel harder.

"Give him stars, Big Brother! Give him stars and birdies!" She shouted, and watched as he threw the man into a bookshelf nearby, books falling onto his limp form. He didn't move after that, and Big Brother turned to another monster that was after him, ready to fight the monsters as they came, just like he always did. Big Sister was poking a monster with her harvester when she looked her direction again, and Mia waved at her as she smiled.

"Nobody's stronger than my Big Sister!" She shouted happily as she watched her sister lift the woman into the air, growling.

The nightmare vanished when she stood up away from the Angel, now resplendent on the floor once again, safe from the monsters and the nightmare. "All done! You sleep tight little Angel. No nightmares for you." She said happily as she put the bottle of her harvester to her lips and drank the delicious ADAM it contained. It was only a few gulps, but it was the best thing she had ever tasted. She felt it warm her up as it traveled all the way to her tummy, and she got the hiccups because she had drank it too fast. She giggled as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and Big Sister came over to her, her flowing white dress gliding across the floor as she held out her hands, white silk gloves going all the way up past her elbows. She looked beautiful as she stared down at her with soft, glowing eyes, and a smile that told her she was safe with her no matter how many monsters or nightmares there were. Mia took her hand and Big Sister lifted her up and danced with her before reaching Big Brother. She saw Big Sister lean up on her tippy toes and kiss him on the cheek before she took his own white gloved hand and he escorted them out, looking for a new ballroom and a new dance.

. . .

---

Omega walked toward the exit of the book store, stepping on or over the shattered bodies of the Splicers he had killed at the entrance. He was breathing heavier than he would have liked, but it couldn't be helped, he still wasn't at full strength yet, but he was getting there. He would need to be careful and not bite off more than he could chew just yet. He had been cut by the woman he killed moments ago, his side burning with familiar pain. Theta had inspected the wound when she reached him with Mia, but it was superficial at best, though the face she made at the sight of it made her features flash with both anger and sadness. She had kicked the dead woman in response, her boot sliding the bloody corpse a few feet away, and that had seemed to be enough for her to let her anger go. She was clutching his arm as they walked across the scattered dead, humming even louder than she had been earlier. She had liked his performance, even as weak as he was. She had barely been able to focus on her own fighting when she watched him kill with cold efficiency. He had gotten two more Splicers than she had, but it made sense because he was at the main and largest entrance to the store.

They had searched out two more ADAM filled corpses before Mia finally announced she was too tired to play anymore, and they decided to go home. It never failed, the gathering took a toll on the little girls, and the ADAM they ingested took time for their bodies to process, a system put in place by the scientists that created them. Once their bellies were full of the glowing miracle fuel, they would get sleepy and have to go back to the pediatric ward to rest while their bodies doubled the amount of ADAM they had drank. Once their stomachs were full to bursting, they would throw up the excess ADAM nearly tripling the amount they could get from the ADAM slugs. They were programmed to return home so they wouldn't throw up the precious drug on the streets. They needed to make a profit on it after all, and you couldn't very well do that if you couldn't collect it.

The return trip was relatively uneventful, though Omega noted yet again how Theta was clinging to him, walking a thin line between dereliction of duty. Her helmet never stopped moving though, and she scanned the surroundings even more thoroughly than he did, and that was the only reason he hadn't chastised her yet for not thinking of Mia first. He had to shake his head, pulling himself away from those kinds of thoughts. He realized he was judging the sister far too harshly when it came to her duty to Mia again. He had to keep reminding himself that she had been with Mia far longer than he had, she had protected her far longer than he had, kept her alive, safe, and healthy. He had no right to judge the Big Sister on her methods, not until she actually did something to put Mia in danger. He had to keep himself from growling at the scraps of mental programming that remained in his head. He hadn't realized just how powerful they would be until he was in the presence of a Little Sister. He had to fight his own instincts now more than ever. He had been free from the behavior when he was with Iota, Anna, and Lizzy, since Lizzy wasn't a Little Sister anymore, not in the true sense that Mia was. It was easier for him to think for himself around her, but with Mia nearby, it was a struggle not to focus on the girl, and even judge Theta harshly as he had done with other sisters in the past when they hunted. The mere presence of the little girl caused him to tense his muscles and ready for a fight at any moment. Lizzy had caused the same sensation with her own presence, but with Mia it was almost uncontrollable.

When the Splicers had shown up, seeking the ADAM she carried as she gathered, he had felt such blinding rage and offense the likes of which he thought he would never be able to shake off. It was concerning to say the least, especially now that he could think clearly with no threats present. Everything about Mia made him want to defend her so strongly he was ready to abandon Theta to do so if the situation called for it, and his chest grew tight when he thought about that, or abandoning Iota, Anna, or Lizzy. He became a different person when Mia was in danger, far more so than when he protected Lizzy, and that caused him deep worry. He loved Lizzy, loved her as much as he loved Iota, and Anna, and the thought of abandoning her against his own will in order to protect Mia made his stomach tie itself into a knot. He knew it was part of the mental conditioning he had undergone, knew if he had a choice he would never abandon any of his family, but Mia's existence forced his mind to work differently than how he wanted it to, and the worst part about it was the fact that he was aware of how much control she had on him. He would jump in front of bullets to defend her, gladly, not only because she was a Little Sister, but because she was family just as much as Lizzy and the rest. He only worried that he would put Lizzy in danger in order to keep Mia safe, unintentionally prioritizing the true Little Sister over the former one.

When they reached the apartment they had been staying in, Omega moved to the large pile of cushions that served as the bed for himself, Theta, and Mia, and he suddenly felt tired. He removed his helmet and tossed it away beside him as he sat there, contemplating the effects Mia had on him. Theta sat the girl down on the cushions, already half asleep. The sister covered the girl with a blanket before sitting beside him, leaning against him to hum softly to herself as she laid her helmetless head on his arm, oblivious to the troubles that plagued him, or perhaps trying to comfort him as she hummed softly. She could likely smell the scent of anxiety he gave off, though she wouldn't know why.

The pit in his stomach was as deep as the ocean, which he had been told was very deep by Mark, and he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him. The thought of abandoning his family to keep Mia safe tore at him, deeply. He wanted to vomit when he thought about it. His mind telling him to protect and stay with his family if something happened was at war with his Protector instincts to stay with Mia and keep her safe. Not prioritizing Mia's life over Lizzy's or Iota's, Anna's, or Theta's went against his very existence. He had been made to protect Mia, all Little Sisters, even over Big Sisters and especially over humans, but... He didn't want to prioritize Mia over the rest of his family. He slipped as his mind darted around in his head, and let a shaking sigh escape his mouth, and regretted it the moment it had.

Theta heard the struggle in his sigh, the pain he was feeling, though an internal one, and she was already on her knees at his side checking him over for wounds. He grimaced as she lifted his arm up to check his sides and legs before finally staring at him questioningly, concern in her illuminated eyes. He shook his head as he tapped his chest plate with his fingers, then the side of his head, and finally tapping the knuckles of his fists together with a tight mouth. Theta understood then that something in his heart was at war with something in his mind, and she hugged him, despite not knowing what was wrong. He had managed to tell her in the Protector's simplified hand talk that there were two more Big Sisters, and another Little Sister somewhere in the city, and her eyes had almost rolled from her head. She had needed to sit down from shaking legs when she understood him, and she cried deeply as she hugged herself, before he knelt to hold her. She assumed the struggle inside of him now had to do with the other sisters she hadn't seen yet.

He had drawn the symbols for Iota and Psi in chalk on the wooden floor for her, and she was elated that Iota was still alive. She didn't know Psi though, in truth she hadn't even known a sister with that name, though she wasn't complaining, not in the least. Any sisters, even one she didn't know, were better than no sisters. She had gazed at her brother when he had given her the information, with all of the love and gratitude in the world. Mia's existence had kept her sane for so long, needing to be strong for her sake, but he had given her a reason to live, a reason to be happy, so many reasons in fact. He had explained in crude chalk drawings that there were a number of humans with them too, 6 in total, and that there was a Big Daddy with them as well. He had explained that they were to leave the city, with an arrow drawn from buildings of chalk and fish swimming around them. That idea made her eyes narrow, and she wondered what Mother would think about it, if she even still lived. The idea of Mother being killed by Subject Delta made her feel failure on an unimaginable scale.

Omega was there though, with her. He was Mother's most capable hunter aside from herself, Mu, and Iota, and without Mother's presence or orders they would all follow him regardless of what Mother had ordered in the past, whether they wanted to or not. Just his biology alone drew them to him, commanded them, his powerful presence and the air of authority he gave off made them want to flock to him. Just as a Little Sister's biology made Protectors want to protect the girls above all else. She felt his pull on her now as she hugged him, wanting to serve him, to be commanded. She had been alone for so long, second guessing herself on every decision she had made as a Protector in the absence of orders, and she was happy to follow any orders he gave. Even if they contradicted the last order she had received from Mother. Mother's word was absolute, and could never be questioned or disobeyed, and Omega spoke with Mother's voice whenever they were in the field or had no contact with Mother on their missions. Her word was absolute, and that meant his word was absolute.

When she pulled away from him, she stared up at his face again, drinking in his features, feeling her heart pound in her chest. He was staring at the drawing of the other sisters and humans he had made with grim determination. He wanted to find them, and she did as well for that matter. Today had been a test run, to see where his strength was, and if he was fit to travel to them. He was, though he still tired easier than he should have. They would move soon, and she was ready for that, the moment he was ready she would follow without question, and they would seek out their lost siblings. Her chest ached to see them since she had learned of them. She wanted to meet Psi, and she wanted to see Iota again after so long. She wanted to bond with both of them so much it almost hurt to sit still, she wanted to go right this second. She craved the companionship other sisters offered, the comradery and teamwork. She had missed that aspect most of all, missed having others to lean on and bond with. Her cheeks flared with color when she remembered sparring with Omega, both of them naked and covered in sweat. She didn't think it was possible but he felt more fierce than he had in the past, and somehow more warm, more comforting. She wanted to spar with him again, she had wanted to the moment they had stopped before, though laying on top of him and crying felt as blissful as a glass of water in a building fire. She wouldn't mind doing that again either, among other things that made her study the floor with even darker flushed cheeks. Her mind flashed back to her kissing him, and then to him kissing her, and she felt her heart begin to race. She wondered if he belonged to Iota and Psi already, and they to him. She shook her head, it didn't matter. She had saved him, and taken very good care of him, bathing him, feeding him, tending to his wounds. He belonged to her now too, and she had belonged to him from the moment she saw him surrounded by Splicers, his eyes gouged out and bleeding all over the stone floor, still fierce and defiant as bloody as he had been.

She looked up at him again, and met his eyes as he gazed at her, her breath catching in her throat. She would need to show him that he belonged to her, and she to him, somehow. She doubted it would be soon, with Mia so close, and both Iota, Psi, and the other Little Sister out in the city. They would need to find them first, then she would show him, make him understand. She felt giddy at the thought, and her mind ran wild with ideas of what she might do to him, and what she hoped he would do to her. She realized she had been biting at her lip and had to look away, blinking out the thoughts, her mind snapping back to her. She drew in a deep, shuttering breath to steady herself. She wasn't used to being around him, it had been so long that she had become used to his absence, and now that he was back, and she was sitting against him, his pheromones were making her body react in ways she hadn't expected, her mind too. She shook her head again stronger this time, yelling in her mind to focus. She had to focus on Mia, on finding Iota, Psi, and the other Little Sister.

Omega was certainly focused, his eyes flipping from wondering what she was thinking to the chalk drawings he had made on the floor panels, grim determination washing over his face. Theta felt her heart skip another beat as her cheeks flared, she liked the stern look on his face, and she had to suppress a growl of annoyance at the way her thinking had flipped so fast. For Omega's part, he could smell her scent, her own pheromones, while strong and informative as to how she was feeling and how he was effecting her body, were little more than a milder distraction to him, his mind still running wild at the thought of the girls he had been taken from. He was grateful none of the humans had been separated with him, they would have died in the flooded district anyway, and even if they somehow survived they would only slow himself and Theta down as they made their way back. It was a small mercy, but one he was grateful for. They could move at their speed now, which was far superior than having to travel with regular humans. They wouldn't need to sleep for days, two weeks if they really pushed themselves, though he doubted it would take anywhere near that long to reach Iota with how hard he planned to push them. The only thing that would slow them down really was the fact that they would need to scavenge for food, and a lot of it with two Protectors and a Little Sister to feed. He looked over to Mia as she slept next to him on the bed of pillows and nodded. They would be able to travel outside of the city now too since they both had sealed suits and Mia was all but indestructible unless her ADAM Slug was ripped out of her. The thought of being able to move far faster than he had been able to with human Allies brought new determination to him, and reinvigorated him for the journey back. It also made him sigh at the thought of traveling with the humans again, a tedious crawl through a collapsing city filled with enemies. Theta had maintained her suit well, patching any damage or oxygen leaks. It made him grateful for her attentiveness again. He and Iota hadn't been able to travel very fast after their old suits were damaged in the explosion in the Kashmir Diner, but now, now they could travel as they were meant to, and that filled him with more hope.