"Well, that's a shame," Frannie stated, being the first one to speak at the stunned silence that had seemingly struck the audience. She tears her eyes off McKinley who has started to head back to the tunnel. "Sebastian was a promising recruit. If Summit hadn't snatched him up I certainly would have offered a pitch."
"What was he thinking?" Leroy asked, shaking his head as he watched Sebastian being carried off on stretches off the field.
"Do you know what he took?" Hiram asked looking at his husband.
"No. I mean I can guess, there are quite a few illegal street drugs that temporarily increase an AI's abilities. Many of them have terrible consequences. Which is why they're illegal. I remember my first case, an AI in a psychotic break. Miguel had to step in, to keep the staff safe. First time I've ever been glad that he was part of the staff. It wasn't a temporary psychosis. There was nothing we could do and the AI was taken to a secure facility. What I do know is that we don't know how to undo the damage that taking these drugs can cause."
"So, he just threw away what I can only imagine was a promising career to beat Charlie?" Judy questioned shaking her head.
"And you wondered why I didn't want any of my grandkids in this silly competition," Lawrence grumbled.
"This wasn't Charlie's fault," Quinn said quickly coming to her twin's defense. She knew this was not what Charlie wanted. She probably just wanted to smack Sebastian around before she got bored. Charlie hadn't even wanted to compete, she hadn't taken this seriously until she had found out what the prize was for getting McKinley to Nationals.
"Don't misunderstand me Quinn, I'm not blaming Charlie for this. But as your grandmother has stated multiple times, your strength invites challenge. Teenagers are still children; they think they're invincible and they make silly harmful decisions. It's not fair, life isn't fair, but this was—predictable." Lawrence crossed his arms over his chest.
Russell nodded along with his father-in-law. "If it wasn't this, then it would have been something else. I've said it since you were children and it still stands, people will be jealous, they will crave your power. Lauren already resents Charlie for her abilities—"
"Russell," Judy said reproachfully.
"They aren't normal children Judy," Russell reminded his ex-wife. "We've tried our best to give them normal lives, but if we're being honest, if it wasn't for your mother intervening the government probably would have whisked them away and trained them to be weapons—"
"Enough Russell," Judy snaps putting an end to this conversation. It sounded like he was blaming Charlie for being special. This wasn't something Charlie could help, and it sounded like both her father and her husband were placing the blame on the fact that all of her children were special. She suspected all of her children were lonely.
Artemis had been quiet for the entirety of the conversation before she stood up and motioned for Cassandra to make room.
Cassandra narrowed her eyes, as she pulled off her shades to study her mother. It only lasts a few seconds before she stands up. "I'm coming with you. I need to stretch my legs."
Artemis blinks at Cassandra's declaration before nodding her head. "Very well. Frannie?"
Frannie turned to look at her grandmother, before groaning. "You're babying her."
"Perhaps," Artemis states simply, deciding not to say anything more.
Frannie sighed, and opened a portal without looking up. "I don't have this building mapped so you'll have to figure out how to get to her."
Artemis didn't say anything she merely stepped through the portal, with Cassandra following her.
~ O ~
Shannon Beiste looked over her team, she had promised herself that she would allow them to figure it out on their own. She had already been forced to get involved when it came to dealing with Lauren, and she had only stepped in because McKinley had been on the verge of being kicked out. She had been surprised that Charlie had used her influence to keep McKinley in the competition, but she had disappeared soon after the judges had rendered their decision to give them another chance.
But this was different, this was the time for intervention. Drugs that boosted abilities were dangerous, and she needed to make sure that no one on the team was using them. There technically weren't any banned substances, but that was only because there had never really been an incident like this before. Personally, Beiste was certain that there were students who were taking steroids, or other performance enhancing drugs. No one cared because it was an open secret that quite a few heroes took steroids. But drugs that boosted abilities were far more dangerous. It was like playing Russian Roulette except instead of just one bullet in the chamber, the gun was fully loaded.
The problem was she didn't exactly know what to say. She doubted it was as simple as informing the students that doing drugs that boosted AI abilities was foolish, and life threatening. They had all witnessed what had happened to Sebastian. It should be obvious that doing drugs was a terrible idea.
After pacing for a good two minutes, Beiste sighed and decided to enter the locker room, she would start by telling them that she was pleased with their performance and inform them that doing drugs was bad. She takes a deep breath and opens the door.
"—I get it. Quite a few of you would enjoy kicking my ass, you want to beat me so you can prove that you're the best. I understand that, hell I admire that drive and ambition. Which is why if you want to fight me, then I'm always down for a good scrap. But do it with your own power, and more importantly think about your career. We're all here because we want to be heroes, we all want to be the hero. The ones that every kid looks up too, the one with all the toys and the action figures, the one that kids will dress up as at Halloween. Sebastian—Sebastian, would have gotten into a number of the top tier schools. Maybe they can fix him, hopefully they can fix him, but even if they do—does anyone think he'll be going anywhere good? Do you think any of the top hero firms will want him?" Charlie asked, looking at everyone on the team.
No one says anything, and Beiste is sure that no one knows what to say. It was probably the best PSA not to do drugs that they could have received. "I'm certain that after this event, new rules will be put in place and I'm certain that Dalton will be banned from competing next year," Beiste adds. She looks around the room and spots Charlie turning to leave. "Look I know this isn't how you all expected to get to the finals, but you're there and you're one step away from getting to Sectionals. I think the next competition will be a battle royale. I have a very good feeling—"
The door to the locker room opens and then closes causing everyone to turn and watch as Charlie left the room. She normally stuck around when Beiste was talking about plans and stuff even if she was bored. This was new even for Charlie.
"She's probably just hungry again," Finn said hoping that it brought some morale back to the team.
Beiste frowned, she doubted that was the case. Charlie usually informed someone that she was off to get food, or she would complain loudly that she was hungry. She had just walked out on the team. "Probably—anyway I do have a good feeling about this," she flashes them a smile. "Take a breather, relax and get ready for the next fight. We're no longer the underdogs, which means that everyone is going to attempt to crush us. We need to focus on teamwork." Shannon flashed them a smile. "Lopez, Zizes, with me."
Lauren scowled and got up shuffling behind Santana, as they exited the locker room. It was obviously a private conversation but she had no idea why she was here. Beiste had benched her until further notice, she doubted she was going to get another chance. "Thought I was benched till further notice?" She questions when Beiste turns to look at them.
"You got lucky Zizes, Sebastian's actions have taken the heat off you and if the next event is a battle royal, then we are going to need you. We don't need to win, but our point total because of your actions are lower than what they should be. If you want to make it up to the team, if you still want to be a hero then this is your chance to show everyone that you can work in the confines of a team. This is your one and only chance Lauren, prove to everyone that you belong here." Beiste said.
Lauren blinked, "You're letting me into the next event? You don't have faith in your wonder girl?"
Shannon sighed, "I'm giving you an opportunity to rehab your image. Despite what you think of Charlie, when they shoved cameras and microphones in her face, she made a point to give you and everyone else on the team a rub, to get them to focus on you. Charlie is not your enemy Lauren. So, get rid of that chip on your shoulder and think about what you want. It's your future, and the only thing holding you back at this moment is your attitude." Beiste studied Zizes for a moment, it didn't seem like she had learned her lesson. But if Charlie decided that she wasn't going to fight then they would need her. Santana couldn't hold down the fort on her own. "You can head back to the locker room," she said dismissing Zizes who scowled and turned around.
Santana waits until Lauren is back in the locker room before she turns to look at Beiste. "You wanted to see me?"
"Good job out there Lopez, you were on point. I know that I've been particularly hard on you but I see you going far. Your attitude much like Lauren's was what was holding you back. I'm glad that you've made steps to correct some of your more problematic behavior."
Santana narrowed her eyes; Beiste wasn't one to butter her or anyone up. It was obvious she wanted something. "What do you need?" she asks, cutting straight to the chase.
A small smile graced Shannon's face, glad that she could just get on with it. "I needed to make concessions to get Charlie to join this team. One of the concessions was leading this team, the other—was allowing Charlie to opt out whenever she wanted. She doesn't have to fight if she doesn't want to. I think she might exercise that right, before the third event."
Santana blinked, "You gave Charlie the option to abdicate responsibility on a whim?"
Shannon doubted very much that this was a whim. "She made valid points about the team depending on her—"
"That's what teams do!" Santana snaps, throwing her hands up. "We're supposed to depend on each other. She's the captain of the team, which means there is more pressure on her to keep this team going! She can't just walk out on us, because she feels like it."
Shannon nodded, it would be heartbreaking if McKinley didn't make it to sectionals. "I need you to talk to her."
"Shouldn't the hob—Rachel, be the one to talk to her. They're friends, they dated for five minutes," Santana made a face at this. "We don't even like each other."
Beiste tilted her head, that was the biggest lie she had ever heard. "Santana, everyone has a role on this team, and if Charlie didn't like you she wouldn't have said that she wanted you on the team from day one. She's had more faith in you than anyone else and even if you're not friends, she respects you."
Santana bit her lip, this was news to her. "I'll go find her and talk to her but no promises."
"That's all I ask. I'll hold the fort down." Beiste said heading back to the locker room. They needed to raise morale and fast.
~ O ~
Finding Charlie wasn't exactly a herculean task. Charlie was in the one place that she had expected to find her, what she wasn't expecting was Charlie to be sitting in front of the vending machine staring at the vending machine. She had expected Charlie to be on her fifth bag of Cheetos, or on her eighth bag of mini Oreos. "Did you forget your wallet?"
Charlie doesn't look away from the bag of Doritos, that she's currently staring at. "Yes." Her tone was rather sullen.
Santana rolled her eyes and pulled out her wallet, she didn't know how she kept getting roped into attempting to feed the beast that was Charlie, but if they wanted to get to Sectionals, then they needed Charlie to be okay. "What do you want? Though with your powers I'm sure you could have taken whatever you wanted."
"That would be stealing," Charlie reminded Santana. "Cool Ranch Doritos please."
A disgusted look crossed Santana's face, and she turned to look at Charlie. "Cool Ranch? Nacho Cheese is right there!" Santana pointed to the bag beside it. When Charlie just stares at her, she rolls her eyes. "Is it because the bag is blue?" Santana asked as she paid for the bag of Doritos. She watches as the bag falls and she grabs it and tosses at Charlie. "Well?"
"Well?" Charlie repeats.
"Is it because the bag is blue? Is it your favorite color?" Santana presses.
"Or I could just like this flavor of Doritos," Charlie points out, but when Santana just gives her a look like she's crazy. Charlie snorted and tilted her head back so she could rest it on the wall. "But it's probably because I knew it would irritate you."
Santana rolled her eyes, that was probably it. Who chose Cool Ranch when there was Nacho Cheese right beside it? As far as she was concerned, Cool Ranch was only an acceptable choice when and only when there were no other choices, as in the entire store was empty and it was the only thing left, and even then she might choose to starve. "Heathen."
Charlie opens the bag and picks up a chip and takes a bite, she chews slowly, her eyes focused on Santana. A rather comfortable silence that falls between them, interrupted by the sound of Charlie munching on her Doritos.
Santana sighs and finally moves to sit beside Charlie. "I don't know what's going on in that head of yours," Santana admits. "But Sebastian and I—we weren't exactly friends but I liked him."
"You liked him?" Charlie asked turning to look at Santana like she had lost her mind. He was a food thief!
Santana let out a laugh, "No, not like that. Even though he was an annoying pain in my ass, he acknowledged that I belonged with the rest of the top prospects. I think he was the first person—that believed in me. You know my parents aren't even here, they came to the first Inter-High, but McKinley came in last, when I was a freshman, we didn't even get past the first round. We didn't get past the first round when I became captain, but at least we didn't come in dead last. My parents thought that this year would just be a waste of time, and my mom is now questioning my decision to be a hero."
Charlie was quiet for a moment before she popped another chip into her mouth. "You. Rachel. Artie. Tina. Matt, have all generated interest with the scouts, and the agents." Charlie admits, when Santana shoots her a shocked look she shrugs her shoulders. "Frannie's really good at her job, don't tell her I said that. She might get the notion that I care about her."
Santana let out a small chuckle. "Your secret is safe with me." There is another moment of silence that is punctuated by a crunch everytime Charlie bites on a chip. Santana waits for a moment more before deciding to just ask the question that was on her mind. "Beiste doesn't think you want to participate in the next event."
Charlie crumpled the empty chip bag and sighed. "Sebastian would have made a fine hero once he matured, but he did something stupid to try and beat me. Lauren is throwing a tantrum because she thinks my star shines brighter than hers, and maybe I don't want to deal with people resenting me or blowing up their life to get at me. How many more people will risk it all to beat me? I have a—"
"Don't put yourself in a box to make them feel strong. If they can't handle it, if they want to do something stupid and dangerous to prove something to all these people then that's on them," Santana interrupted. "You were the one that informed me that there would always be someone stronger. You were right, there will always be someone stronger. One day I'm sure you'll get your ass kicked, and I will be there with a camera and a huge smile on my face. But there will always be someone smarter and someone faster. Making yourself small doesn't do them any favors."
Charlie laughed, "You're giving me a pep talk?"
"Yes. Your pep talks are shitty Smurfette, you should probably work on that if you want to inspire people," Santana informs Charlie, and smiles at Charlie's grin. "I know the others may seem ungrateful, but I know that you're our captain and you've managed to lead us this far. I trust you, and I think the others trust you as well." Santana looked away, Charlie's gaze was making her uncomfortable. "And I've been in your shoes Charlie, so if you ever want to talk or something, or you need someone to lean on—I've got your back."
Charlie smiles and reaches up to move a strand of hair off Santana's face, causing Santana to turn to look at her. Once again the comfortable silence is back and Charlie leans in to kiss Santana only to feel Santana's hand pushing back on her chest. She immediately stops and flushes, she was usually a lot better at reading the cues. "Sorry—"
"You have Cool Ranch breath," Santana informs Charlie. "I'm not kissing someone with Cool Ranch breath."
Charlie blinks once before flashing Santana a grin, "So I can kiss you when I don't have Cool Ranch on my breath?"
Santana hesitates for a moment, "If we make it to sectionals, you can kiss me as long as you don't have Cool Ranch on your breath," she says after a moment.
Charlie pulls back and sighs, rather dramatically, "You drive a hard bargain Lopez, but fine, if you seal it with a kiss." Charlie taps her cheek.
Santana groaned and rolled her eyes, if it would get Charlie to participate in the battle royal, then she could give Charlie a kiss on the cheek. She leans in and brushes her lips against Charlie's cheek, ignoring the cheeky gleeful grin on Charlie's face.
"Seriously!"
Santana jumps back immediately and turns to see Quinn, who looked like she was about to have a coronary, Charlie's grandmother, who looked amused and Cassandra, who didn't seem to care. Still a shiver runs down her spine when Cassandra deigns to look at her.
A smirk graced Cassandra's face before she bends down, so she's at eye level with Santana. "Boo."
"Cassandra." Artemis snapped at her youngest daughter, noting how Santana's back stiffens her breathing stops. She immediately steps in front of her daughter blocking Charlie's access, as she gets a whiff of ozone. She knew that one day they would kill each other. "Behave."
Cassandra's smirk fades and she looks up at her mother, irritation flashing across her face as she stands back up. "I was just teasing the weakling."
"Cassandra." Artemis repeated firmly.
Cassandra holds her hands up in defeat. "I'm going to go have a look around. I'll meet you back at the seats by the third round. Can't wait to watch little Chuckie's team of weaklings defy the odds for the umpteenth time."
Santana immediately got up, her cheeks aflame. "I'm going to go check on the team. Finn might get some ideas," she said moving in the opposite direction of Cassandra.
Charlie tilted her head as she watched Santana go, before turning back to her grandmother and twin. "What are you doing here?"
"Rachel could have been—"
"Quinn, you wanted to see Rachel," Artemis reminded Quinn, interrupting her before she could launch into a long spiel about Rachel. "You should probably follow Santana." Quinn blinked and immediately ran after Santana.
Artemis waits until Quinn is out of earshot and looks at her youngest granddaughter, "Firefly."
Charlie puffed out her cheeks and looked around, before smiling at her grandma. "I'm going to keep competing," Charlie informs her grandmother as she slowly gets up. She glances down the hall for a moment, her eyes lingering on where Santana had been. "I can't make myself small, just so other people can feel big."
Artemis follows Charlie's gaze for a moment and smiles, "You're quite right, Firefly. I guess I didn't need to come check on you after all."
Charlie bit her lip, "You really should be helping Quinn, she needs you more than me. It's getting kind of sad."
"Quinn, just needs to find her confidence. It probably won't be with Rachel. You should help her find a nice girl to date."
"Grandma. Quinn will think I care about her," Charlie gasps.
Artemis lets out a laugh and turns to down the hall, wondering where Cassandra had wandered off to. "Charlie, when you do compete, you should make it difficult for yourself. Don't show the world what you can do."
Charlie's brows twitched and she looked up at her grandma. "More training?"
Artemis nodded at her granddaughter, "Of course."
~ O ~
Quinn studied Santana for a moment, "So—you and Charlie?"
Santana stopped immediately and turned to look at Quinn. "Stay out of my business Fabgay."
Quinn rolled her eyes, Santana would find out on her own what a terrible idea getting involved with Charlie was, but she still needed to give her the heads up. "Falling in love with Charlie will only lead to heartbreak, so don't fall in love with her. For your sake."
"We're not in love. Even if we were, it is none of your business. Just like it's none of my business that you've managed to convince yourself that you and Rachel are meant to be."
Quinn blinked, "How did you—"
"Everyone knows Quinn. Everyone. Except for Rachel. Not that, once again, this is any of my business, but for fucks sake do something about it. Because this—" Santana gestured at Quinn. "— isn't attractive."
Quinn scowled at Santana and was about to say something when the door to their locker room swung open, and Beiste popped her head out. "Well?"
"Handled it," Santana responds with a simple shrug. "How is the competition going?"
"Predictable—Quinn? Shouldn't you be in the stands?"
Quinn shrugged, "I just came to see Rachel and check on Charlie—and wish the team good luck for the final event," she adds after a moment. "Charlie should be back soon, probably getting constructive criticism from my grandmother."
Beiste hesitates but nods and steps aside so both Santana and Quinn can enter. Santana promptly heads over to her locker and takes a seat on the bench. Quinn on the other hand makes a beeline to Rachel.
"Rachel!" Quinn says ignoring the fact that she's talking to Finn. "You were amazing in the first round. I don't think I'm supposed to tell you but you piqued some interest. Frannie thinks that you did enough to impress the scouts and agents, so expect some people to reach out to you."
Rachel grins at Quinn, "Really?"
"Yeah," Quinn hesitates for a moment before reaching into her jacket pocket and pulling out the ice rose that she had made. "I know you're supposed to wait until after but I mean—"
"Do they really have to have their shitty little romance here, in front of all of us?" Lauren interrupts. "Some of us are trying to get ready for the next round."
Rachel scowled at Lauren, "Quinn and I are just friends. She's been incredibly supportive, perhaps you can learn something from her behavior."
"If by friend you mean someone who wants to fuck you, then sure Quinn's your friend," Lauren snaps back, at Rachel's look of confusion Lauren scoffs. "Seriously you don't know? Everyone knows that Quinn wants to fuck you. Even Finn knows." Finn blinked as all the attention was on him and he does the only thing he can think of which is to take a step behind Santana, who is rubbing at her temples.
"Seriously Lauren?" Santana snapped, they didn't need this drama. Not before they even knew what the next event was.
"I'm doing her a favor—"
"You're being a bitch," Santana retorted. She glances around the "Look, everyone should be focusing on getting some energy for the next event, and thinking of what they can do to help the team get to Sectionals, not bringing up drama."
Rachel hesitated and looked up at Quinn who had a flushed face, it takes her another moment, before it suddenly clicks. "Oh."
It's the simple oh, that breaks Quinn's heart. Rachel had finally figured it out and she wasn't sure what she expected, but it wasn't a simple word. She swallows, but it feels like something is stuck in her throat. "I only came to wish you good luck and tell you about the fact that you've got some interest. I'll be cheering for McKinley in the next round," Quinn says putting on a brave face as she turns to leave.
Rachel winces, and reaches for Quinn's arm. "We'll talk after the competition. I need to focus," she offers Quinn.
"Sure," Quinn nods and pulls her arm away and makes her way to the door, only to nearly bump into Charlie, who was munching on a chocolate bar.
Charlie's brow raises as Quinn sidesteps her and basically runs out the door and she glances at Santana who immediately flicks her gaze to Rachel and then back at her. Charlie turns her attention to Rachel who flushes and looks away. "I see," Charlie says, popping another chip into her mouth. She chews for a moment, "Santana, Lauren, Matt, Kitty, Finn, Sam, Jake and myself—if the next event is a battle royal then that's who will compete," Charlie announces. Immediately Rachel holds up her hand and Charlie sighs. "Rachel, I've seen you throw a punch, and unless your powers have evolved to the point where you can hypnotize all the other teams and get them to walk out of the ring, then my decision stands."
"I—" Rachel sputtered. "Jesse insisted—"
"Who?" Charlie questioned.
"Captain of Vocal Adrenaline," Santana supplies for Charlie, before pausing and looking at Rachel. "You honestly don't think it's fucking weird that he keeps going after you?"
"I think he cares because our abilities are similar," Rachel pushes back, swallowing, when Santana narrows her eyes at her. "At least he sees my potential," she mutters.
"I see your potential just fine," Charlie replies biting into another chip and studying Rachel. "But again, this is about getting to sectionals and I need to make the most of the team. Sectionals are in March Rachel, and that's when I want you to really show what you can do there, when all the higher tier schools start to pay attention. I'm asking you to be patient, and continue busting your ass. That goes for all of you, if we make it to sectionals then I'll get you to the point where everyone here can shine. Even if that means working with each of you individually—and giving up my weekends. We've had a month as a team and we're this close to getting to sectionals, because you—most of you have pulled your weight." Charlie's gaze lingers on Lauren who glares at her. "I know it sucks but we're supposed to be a team, and I want it to get to the point that everyone—and I do mean everyone either gets invited to a hero firm, or gets into a top tier hero school. Now excuse me, I want to eat my chips in peace." With that Charlie takes another loud bite of a chip and takes a seat beside Santana.